Flashback to 7 years ago:
"Kripa Sharma!" Kripa cringed as she heard her art teacher's booming voice. She had been caught coming late yet again. She put on her best innocent smile.
"Ms. Shukla, I can explain."
Ms.Shukla raised an eyebrow.
"Please do, Ms. Sharma" she snorted. "Make it creative this time, mmkay?"
Kripa smiled sheepishly. She glanced quickly at her classmates, and her eyes fell upon a handsome young man, who seemed engrossed in his sketch. She had never seen him before, but there was something about him that made her hold her gaze.
The guy must have sensed her eyes on him, because he suddenly looked up. Kripa quickly averted her gaze, and nervously bit her lip looking at Ms. Shukla.
"Last time" the irritated teacher said, sternly.
Kripa nodded and looked for a seat. Incidentally, there was an empty seat next to the guy. Nervously, Kripa sat next to him, glancing sideways to take a peek at him, but without him noticing.
"What the heck is wrong with you, Kripa?" she thought to herself.
She had never been nervous before, not because of a guy, at the very least. But there was something different about this guy, something intriguing; something that made Kripa's heart skip a beat.
Kripa began sketching in her sketchbook. All throughout the class, she looked for excuses to start a conversation. She'd dropped her pencil at least twice hoping that he would pick it up for her, hence giving her a leeway to make small talk, but the guy barely noticed. By the end of the class period, Kripa was pretty frustrated.
Just as the bell rang, Ms. Shukla gave some last minute instructions, and then turned to the boy sitting next to Kripa.
"Mr.Prithvi, I hope you enjoyed for first class here at the institute."
Kripa saw Prithvi nod his head and smile slightly. "Now, class, Mr. Prithvi here is new to the school, in fact, new in town. Anyone here nice enough to show him around?" Not sooner had she finished her sentence that Kripa's hand shot up. Ms.Shukla looked at her amused, while Prithvi raised one brow, throwing her a sideways glance. Kripa nervously bit her lip, and slowly brought her hand down.
"It's all set then, Ms.Sharma will do the honors." Ms.Shukla said. Kripa ignored the subtle sarcasm in the teacher's tone.
************************************************************ *
After class, Kripa and Prithvi silently walked the halls of their institute. Kripa was unsure how to start a conversation, and fiddled nervously as people turned to look at the "new guy".
"I didn't catch your name in class" Prithvi said, suddenly. Caught off guard, Kripa just stared blankly at Prithvi. He again gave her one of his 'looks'. "K-kr-kripa." Relieved that she finally got it out, Kripa repeated her name. "My name's Kripa." They both smiled. His eyes twinkled when he smiled, and he had a dimple in his right cheek. He had a well-defined jaw, and art ran through his veins as evident from the sketches he made. Kripa was smitten. "How do you like it here so far, Prithvi?" Kripa asked, finally mustering up enough courage to finally start a conversation.
"It's not bad" Prithvi said half-heartedly.
"Wow, I love your enthusiasm" Kripa said in her usual, sarcastic tone, then, instantly regretted it. She didn't know his man, and it would be inappropriate to scorn him. Prithvi looked at her for a minute, and then smiled. "Funny"
Kripa smiled back and thus began a new friendship.
************************************************************ *
The sky was a cool blue, except for the last stubborn rays of the crimson sun, setting. Kripa, tears revived, sat with her knees up to her chest, rubbing at her arms. Angad looked at her, and then back to the sky. He ran a tired hand through his hair.
He took off his light jacket and placed it over Kripa's shoulders, moving closer to her in the process. She looked at him now, lines of distress creased into her forehead. A strand of her dark caramel hair teased her left cheekbone. Instinctively, Angad reached out and gently swept it out of the way. Kripa looked back at her hand, fidgeting in her lap. A certain anxiety had been creeping up her spine, and now it was commanding her rib cage. Angad reached out and gently stroked one of her hands, surprised at its softness. He squeezed it gently, in reassurance, urging her to move forward.
After a pause, Kripa continued, "You know, I was only seventeen then, and quite stupid. I dreamt of a fairlytale, and I got one. Except, mine didn't end in a happily ever after"
Before Kripa could continue any further, she heard Adi call out to her. "Kripa Didiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii". At the screeching howl, they both looked up to see Adi running towards them. They both were on their feet by the time he reached them. "Come quickly, Dadu's been taken to the hospital".
Okkkkaaaay, so I finally continued. Sorry guys, it seemed as though I had totally lost my inspiration to write. But, ill try to continue as often as I can. Sorry if the part was boring, but I'm trying to build up a story, without giving too much away all at once...so hang in there š Ummm, oh yeah, Adi calls Kripa "didi" even though she's his "bua" cause Kripa's a bit, er child-like herself.
CID
Web Series
29