Finally our English teacher came asked us to take out our home works. I too opened my notebook and glanced at my poem. It was just like my condition. I so my missed my best friends, Sharon and neha. But still life has to go on. Suddenly sir came and popped me out of my thoughts. He looked at my poem and found it nice, so he told me to read it to the whole class. I did the same. He gave me as an example to the class and said this is the best way you can make the reader experience the feelings you want to say. I sat down, overjoyed. It was lovely to be praised for your creation. I randomly looked here and there, when I saw his gaze over me. OMG, Rey was staring me?! But why?! I started feeling uncomfortable. Then sir came to my rescue and started informing me about a recent debate competition. But little did sir know that my attention was long ago diverted.
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Finally it was the last period, or the second language period. I and Aakriti had chosen Hindi whereas Rashi had chosen Sanskrit. Even Rey had chosen Sanskrit. Well it was the Sanskrit students' good luck and our bad fate that the Sanskrit teacher was absent. And our-always-present Hindi teacher was as usual on time to check the homework and teach us. Sadly, the Sanskrit students enjoyed a proxy period.
So as we were sitting and debating over whether Gyaanmargi' writers and poets or Premmargi' writers and poets were superior, sir interrupted our accusations over the other and ordered me to fetch the unit test papers, which were kept in the Maths lab, and commanded all the others to write the questions' answers.
I peeked out from the corridor's railings as I saw govind bhaiya, the peon of our school, standing near the bell, chewing his paan mercilessly. I estimated almost 10 minutes max left for the bell to be rung. Still slow marching towards the maths lab, I saw the Sanskrit students chatting away in the dance room. I waved to them, but nonetheless, they were just too engrossed in talking.
Finally I reached the Maths lab. As the door was ajar, I shifted the door a bit to get a note of the presence of the teacher. But what I saw left me shell-shocked. I had no words to speak. Reyaansh was kissing Suniketa. The door I had held till now slammed to the wall. It brought their attention to me. I quietly collected the test papers and turned my back to them.
"Look Kria..." Rey begin.
"You look mister," I said as I turned to look at his face. "As I am not a person like this, I won't tell this to anybody. But make sure you close the door next time. If teachers see this it would be a great deal."
"See..." even Suniketa started.
"I get it ok? I don't need any explanation. "
Then the bell rang and I turned back, running against the crowd of the students to find the solace snatched away from me a few moments back.
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It has been almost a week since that incident. I have been avoiding them like plaque. Suniketa waved me hi sometimes; to which I replied with a weak smile. And about Rey, I sensed him staring at me still. I still grew highly uncomfortable. I could even imagine him smirking at my reaction. And that is when I regret witnessing that moment. This is a serious heart break. Even after this serious heartbreak, I kept this news to myself, because somewhere in my heart I still couldn't believe that he didn't have any feelings for me. Well, love is something I seldom understood.
The only thing that has kept me a bit happy and occupied is the interschool debate competition. My childhood friend, Emanuel, who is 2 years elder to me, is also representing the school in this competition. He has been my neighbor when I was back in Dehradun, and has recently shifted here. It was wonderful talking to him again. He insisted I call him bhai, as I used to when we were in Dehradun. So subsequently he also calls me chotti like the earlier times. But there was a condition. We would only mention these names in private.
The debate competition was nearing. We had done our preparations with dedication, and also by pushing our limits. Finally the day arrived. We spoke, and fortunately enough, I got the first prize and bhai got the second position. We were overjoyed. There was an honoring ceremony also in the evening. After a lot of advices over the phone by neha and Sharon, I had dressed my best in the only black gown I had.
As soon as I entered, I felt somebody linking my arms with his. I twisted my face only to see Rey. Even he had dressed perfectly. Every girl was drooling at him in his fitting black jacket with a casual white shirt and tie. But my face had only shock and no drool.
"What are you doing?! Are you out of your senses?" I whispered urgently.
"Just relax Kria. Just smile."
"I would love to do that if you would leave my arm." I said, even though I was loved the way his arms were linked by mine.
"Okay, I'll do that." He said, pushing my whole form against his. "But if anyone comes this close to you, I won't hesitate to give him a hard blow." Then he gently left my arm, leaving me dazzled once again.
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The ceremony was almost over. I had collected the prize and was talking to bhai. Out of nowhere, Rey came and asked bhai to come aside. Meaning, he wanted to talk in private.
From a distance, I could see things turning aggressive every moment. They were on the verge of beating the other up. And that was when I ran, to save the lives of the two most important people in my life.
"STOP BOTH OF YOU! JUST STOP!" I yelled, making them leave each other's collars.
"Chotti, he is telling me to stay away from you. I mean..." Bhai started. But I was quick to interrupt.
"Bhai you go. I need to sort out some things."
"Are you sure chotti?"
"Yes bhai. You go." I replied. Bhai went away giving Rey glares.
"What is your problem?" I began, totally frustrated by the events happening in my life.
"I told you earlier I can't see you with anyone." He stated, gritting his teeth.
"Why? This is my life and you are no important part of it, DO YOU GET THAT!" I yelled once again, my hatred all breaking loose.
"NO! You are wrong Miss Ghai because you are an important part of my life. I LOVE YOU GOT DAMMIT!" he replied making me stunned. Tears were flowing down my eyes. But I wiped them and replied again.
"No you don't Mr. Reyaansh Singhania. If you would have, you would have never kissed Suniketa, never ever!" I replied, turning my back towards him and letting my eyes get wet.
He slowly came towards me and made me face him. Wiping my tears, he said, "I wasn't even this close to her. I was just comforting her because she lost her mom." My head rose on this. I never knew this. "I somewhat knew you would have assumed we kissed but we didn't. I tried talking to you many times but you never listened. And then it doesn't matter much, because you're already dating Emanuel."
I widened my eyes in shock. When did this happen?
"It is nothing like that, I swear!" I replied. And then narrated how bhai was related to me.
"Didn't you notice it when I called him bhai?" I asked him.
"Nah, I was too angry to notice it..." he replied shrugging it off.
"But you didn't answer my indirect question." He said.
"What question?"
"Do you love me Kria?"
"Umm, yes!"
"Really!!" He said and started twirling me around. This was absolute happiness, which was experienced by him and me.
He finally put me down; our foreheads touching each other. As we were about to kiss, I pulled apart.
"What happened??" he asked, utterly confused.
"Umm, I know it is sort of weird but I always wanted my first kiss to be shared with another first kisser. And you, I don't know it must be your second, third, fourth... "
"Ssshh..." He said, putting his finger on my lips. "This is my first ever kiss that I am proud to share with you Miss Kria Ghai... "
Whispering this, he meshed his lips on mine, driving me to the world of sweet fantasies.
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So this is it!
Don't complain about the length now. It is above 1500 words!
Parigya 😳
Anupamaa
