Oh my goodness, I didn't realise it had been nearly a month! 😲 Haha, well better late than never! 😆 Here is the next part, just a little note- this FF will come to an end in 2/3 chapters- I have loved writing it, but the end is near! 😳 For those who don't know a thing about 'Othello' the play, just know that it inspired the film 'Omkara,' so hopefully you would have seen that film! 😆
PART EIGHTEEN
Heer sat in the library, lightly tapping her fingers against the desk as she waited for Prem. She stared at the clock on the wall and wondered why he was late. Ten minutes of lunch had already passed and yet she was still sitting alone in the library. She questioned whether it was worth all the effort, and sighed, thinking back to her life before meeting Prem. If she thought about it now, the things she used to do and the way she would act all seemed meaningless. If meeting Prem taught her one thing, it was that there were far more important things in life than being popular and getting everything that she wanted. There was something about him that intrigued her, and deep down she knew what is was.
~
Prem stepped out of the classroom, making his way to the library but stopping in his tracks as he heard Meera's voice call him from behind. 'Off to the library again?' she asked him with a raised eyebrow, her hands resting on her hips. Prem nodded and smiled, 'You caught me' he shrugged. Meera shook her head and grabbed his arm, tugging at it. 'It's lunch-time, meaning time to eat- not time to study. Come on, have lunch with me and Ravz for once,' she said, in her motherly tone. Prem panicked and hastily shook his head in refusal, knowing that Heer would be waiting for him in the library this very moment. 'No Meera, I really have to go to the library- I...Ur...forgot to take out a book...one which I really need for the exams,' he spluttered. Meera rolled her eyes as he squirmed out of her grasp and almost sprinted away, leaving her to wonder if he would ever think about himself for once.
She turned and left to meet Ravjot at the canteen. She placed herself in the seat opposite to Ravjot who abruptly looked up to her. 'See...didn't come again, did he?' asked Ravjot, smiling, for both knew Prem all too well. His absence during break times was a chronic tradition. Meera nodded and let out a laugh. 'That boy will never change,' she said, squealing as she noticed a certain special someone walking their way. Ravjot's eyes did not waver from her food, knowing exactly why this squeal had escaped her best friend's mouth. She took a bite out of her sandwich, rolling her eyes as Gaurav chose to shift her aside and shuffle in the seat between her and Meera. 'Hi Jaan,' he bent down to whisper in Meera's ear, leaving a peck on her cheek and she giggled as he linked his hand with hers.
'Oh- hey Ravz- how are you?' asked Gaurav, turning to acknowledge her presence, and Meera smiled at his gesture. Ravjot looked up from eating her sandwich, stunned that the crazy-in-love duo could actually notice her when both were around each other. She gave him a small smile and placed her sandwich back down on her tray. 'I'm fine Gaurav, thank you so much for asking. I was just eating my sandwich, I made it myself. Thought I'd give my mother a break for once- although I do love riling her up. I think she believes I am the devil of the family. But hey- how are you? Looking forward to the ball? I heard you picked out a tux...that so reminds me of James Bond...' she droned on, thoroughly enjoying the bewildered expressions that found themselves on Gaurav and Meera's face. Oh, how she loved being mischievous.
~
'I'm sorry I'm late...' said Prem, shoving his bag down on the table as he sat down opposite Heer, not noticed the brightness that shone across her face at the sight of him. Heer smiled and took out her books. 'It's okay...I wasn't waiting long' she lied. Prem fumbled through his bag and took out a book. 'I thought we'd do English Literature today' he said simply, pushing forward his copy of 'Othello', by William Shakespeare. 'You do know that Othello is the play that will come up on the exam, right?' he asked and she nodded, holding up her own copy of the play with a grin. He smiled and opened up a page, and she glanced forward to look at the page number, nervously opening her copy to the same page. 'Have you read the play?' he asked hesitatingly.
He hoped that she had done, otherwise it would make things much more difficult if she hadn't. Heer nodded timidly, although reading the play was one of the most difficult tasks she had ever had to do. Shakespeare's plays were not exactly things she was fond of, with their excessively complex form and structure. It took her five reads before she actually began to understand what the underlying themes of Othello were. Prem breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her nod. 'That's good,' he said. 'I have studied the past exam papers, and I have a really good feeling that a question on women and their inferiority in Othello will come up,' he said, shuffling through his notes. 'What do you think of that...as in Shakespeare's presentation of women in the play?' he asked her and the pace of her heartbeat increased.
'Ummm...well...I think Shakespeare is trying to show the struggle of power between the different sexes. The women in the play are more like their husband's property or possession rather than their equal. For example, Desdemona, throughout the play she is accused of being unfaithful and then is killed by the man she loves the most, her husband. Then there is Emilia, constantly mistreated by her fiend of a husband, and then she gets killed by him too. Not to mention Bianca, who only has the status of a mistress, nothing more' said Heer, in a breath, suddenly feeling hot and flustered as his gaze rested on her. Prem stared at her, completely overwhelmed. She had so much knowledge inside her, all she needed was a little push from him. He smiled at her and nodded.
'You're right,' he said. 'Desdemona's role throughout the play is made to be weak and subservient in contrast to Othello's...Same as Emilia and Bianca. Yet, on the other hand Shakespeare shows strength in them too. Desdemona is independent right to the very end of the play- she defied her father by marrying Othello, asserting her liberty. Emilia disobeyed her husband by ultimately telling the truth at the end of the play, and Bianca always has asserted her right as Cassio's partner,' he said. Heer nodded, understanding the point he was making, scribbling down notes as he talked. 'The exam is coming up next week...I want to cover as much as possible,' he said softly. Heer slumped down in her seat, shifting uncomfortably, dreading that word 'exam.' Prem reminding her about it did not make things easier.
Noticing her anxiety Prem leaned forward and placed a hand over hers, causing a small gasp to escape her lips. 'Don't worry, the exams will go fine' he whispered, 'And if you fail, which I'm pretty sure you won't, you can put all the blame on me' he said grinning, his hand slowly withdrawing from her hand. The touch and warmth of his fingers still lingered on the back of her hand, and she couldn't comprehend why this ache that tingled at her heart existed. She came back to reality as his words filtered through her thoughts, and she ended up dropping her pen on the ground. Both chose that moment to poke their heads under the table to pick it up, their hands brushing as both reached for the pen at the same time. She looked up and saw his eyes fused on her.
She pulled her hand back awkwardly and he picked up the pen, passing it to her, and she took it smiling at him uneasily. As they raised their heads to come out from underneath the table, both yelped in pain as their heads collided with the top of the table. They looked at each other for a moment and suddenly burst out laughing, whilst rubbing their heads to soothe the pain. 'Sssshhh!' sounded the librarian's voice from above them. They cautiously came out from under the table to see the librarian glaring at them. 'This is so unlike you Prem,' scolded the librarian, before turning on her heel back to the main desk. Heer raised a hand to her mouth, stifling her giggle, whilst Prem grinned, running his hand through his hair in embarrassment.
That's it, will try to post the next part as soon as possible, and yes I won't take a month this time! 😆
Love Zahra xx
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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