Part 1
1 or 2 books are lying around in the room. Clothes are all the over place. The music system is playing loud music. The laptop is still on. The person is sleeping peacefully with a smile on their face.
"Wake up!!!!!" There is loud banging on the door. After 5 minutes the person opens their eyes. Suddenly the smile disappears and is replaced by a frown. "Riddhima!! Wake up. Do you want to be late to school on the first day???" Padma yelled over the music. "Open the door and get ready."
Riddhima walked over to her music system, turned it off and then opened the door. On her way to the door, she grabbed a few chips from the packet and munched on them. She opened the door and asked sleepily, "What is it maa?? Why wake me up so early??"
"Early???" Padma asked. "This is early for you young lady??? Go get ready. It is already 6:30 and you know how long it takes you to get ready."
"How does it matter if it is 6:30? It's not like it is the first day at my new school." At this Riddhima realized that it isthe first day at her new school today. She ran to the bathroom and got ready. Padma just smiled and went downstairs not bothering to clean the room; because if she did clean it, she was dead and she knew the fact very well. She packed lunch for her daughter and prepared breakfast.
"Good morning dad." Riddhima said unwillingly as if it was forced upon her to say a good morning to her dad. She and her dad Shashank didn't get along quite well.
"Good morning." Shashank replied in the same tone as Riddhima. Riddhima silently had breakfast, put her lunch in her bag and walked out of the house without saying a bye to anyone. That happened to her every time she talked to her. She would get too pissed off and will be rude to everyone. She reached the bus stop. There were a few people from her school. Anyone could tell that she was angry by the look on her face.
Riddhima knew something was different about today. The bus arrived and she got on the bus. Suddenly all her anger went away. "New School. Fresh Start. New Beginning." Riddhima thought to herself. She went and found a seat for herself and smiled to the old lady next to her (It is public transport that Riddhima uses to travel to school). The old lady returned her the smile and asked her if she was new to Sydney. Riddhima answered a yes and asked why she asked that question. The lady said because all the school kids sit at the back of the bus, only the new ones sit at the front because it is cool to sit at the back. Riddhima just said "Oh" and looked away. "Nice. So I will be sitting at the back tomorrow. You gotta be cool you know." Riddhima thought and smiled to herself.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
Books are open and pens without lid are lying around the room. The person only uses one bag but there are around 5 of them lying around. The bedside table is full of piles of story books. She is running around her room looking for her hair tie. Then she rummages through her stuff to find her lip gloss. She picks up her bag, runs outside, puts her bag on the table, runs to the kitchen, gets her lunch and puts it in her bag.
"Mom, I am going. Bye." Muskaan said.
"Muskaan, wait. First of all, drink your milk. And secondly, I will be coming with you to your school today. It's your first day at school and I am not letting you travel alone on the bus." Muskaan's mom said.
"Fine, But don't be too late because I don't want to late." Muskaan sighed. "Why are my parents so over-protective about me?" Muskaan thought. "Well maybe because I am the only girl in the whole family."
Her mom came and they went to the bus stop. She got on the bus and found a place to sit. She wondered how her first day at a coed school was going to be like. She had been in Dubai for a long time and had studied in a girl's school. She had a weird feeling about it. But it was a weird good feeling.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
Riddhima looked at the girl standing next to her in the line. She looked nervous.
"Hey I am Riddhima." Riddhima said.
"Hi I am Muskaan." Muskaan replied.
"Indian???" Riddhima asked, and then mentally kicked herself for being such an idiot to ask that question. Of course she is Indian.
"Umm. Yes. Doesn't my name yell it out??? Heheheee.... :P" Muskaan replied.
"LOL sorry. Dumb question." Riddhima said and they both laughed and talked like they were childhood friends. They both were then led to a class room which was for the new admissions. In recess they looked around the school. The school was confusing so they stayed close to their classroom. After recess they were welcomed by the Head Teacher of 9th Grade (yup! Muskaan and Riddhima are in 9th standard) to their new school, Parramatta High School. They sat in their class getting bored. They were not even allowed to talk. Finally the bell went indicating the end of day and both Riddhima and Muskaan went home.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
The next day at Parramatta High
We hear a teacher telling a student to keep quiet and do his work. "Armaan. Please be quiet and do your work. This is the 5th time I am telling you to be quiet. So please just keep quiet and stop disturbing the whole class.
"Ok miss." Armaan replied and he turned around to do his work.
Riddhima reached her Maths class. She knocked on the door. The teacher asked her name and she told her name. She then went and sat down behind a girl. The girl turned around and introduced herself as Alice. Riddhima introduced herself to Alice and they both went back to doing their work.
Armaan was staring at the new girl. She looked up. "Riddhima" he remembered her name. He smiled at her and started talking to her. "Hey Riddhima. I am Armaan. You are new?"
"Yes, I am new. But how do you know my name?" Riddhima asked.
"Well I think you just told your name to the teacher and I am sitting in front of the teacher. So therefore I could hear you." Armaan replied.
"Oh ok." was all that Riddhima could manage to say because the teacher told them off and asked them to do their work.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
Muskaan reached her Maths class, went inside, gave her name to the teacher and sat down in front of a boy. The boy would not shut up and that was annoying her big time.
The teacher yelled, "Rahul. Shut up and do your work. Since the beginning of the day you have talking. Just be quiet."
"But sir, you weren't there with me at the beginning of the day. I had roll call. But yah you got the point right. I have been talking since the beginning of the day." Rahul replied.
The teacher just shook his head in disbelief and sat their. He knew there was no point in arguing with him because he would win. The whole school knew that. He just silently prayed that Armaan wouldn't land in this class, because if he did, he was dead and so was the whole class.
The bell went and Muskaan made her way to her next class. She could hear someone yelling "Hey new girl. Wait. Hey you. Wait up women." But she just ignored it because if someone was calling her then she didn't like being addressed like that. Finally a boy blocked her way. It was Rahul.
"What are you deaf??? I have been calling out for you for so long." Rahul said.
"Excuse me. No I am not deaf. And hello. I don't like being addressed like that. Call me by my name. Get it?" Muskaan retorted.
"I am no magician who will find out your name without you telling me. Have you forgotten that you are new to this school and not everyone knows you?" Rahul said.
Muskaan looked embarrassed. She had actually forgotten that she was new.
"Here. Your wallet fell out of your bag. There you go." Rahul said. Muskaan didn't reply. "Your welcome." Rahul said.
"Um. Thanks." Muskaan said.
"What room do you have now?" Rahul asked.
Muskaan looked up. She checked her timetable. She had Computer Studies. "Room 3" She said.
"Oh. You do Computing. Cool. That's where I am going. Let's go." Rahul said and Muskaan followed him.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
"What room do you have Riddhy?" Armaan asked.
"I have room 3. And where did Riddhy come from?" Riddhima asked.
"I will drop you to room 3. I think Rahul will be there. If you need anything ask him. And the name. I just gave you that name 'cause I like Riddhy. I hope you don't mind." Armaan said.
"Um. Nah I actually like the name. Thanks. I feel special. :P Let's go." Riddhima said.
She followed him to room 3. Both the to-be-couple were walking to room 3 together and everyone's eyes were on them because they looked like they were meant to be for each other.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
Armaan ' Riddhima and Rahul ' Muskaan reached Room 3 at the same time.
"Hey Rahul. Got a new chick with you again!" Armaan said naughtily.
"Armaan. She is Muskaan, my friend." Riddhima said with anger in her voice. She was pissed off. She walked away without saying a goodbye. She dragged Muskaan into the class. They went and sat down. Riddhima literally threw her bag and chucked her books and pencil case on the table in anger. Then she turned to Muskaan. Muskaan didn't say anything. She didn't care actually. She thought "Aise phaltu logon ki baat kon sunega." She was angry but didn't want to stuff up her second day at school because of some morons.
"Muskaan, yeh saare ladke aise kyun hote hain? Ladies ke liya thodi si bhi respect kyun nahi karte?" Riddhima said.
"Yaar chod na. Second day pe apna mood kyun kharab kar rahi hai. Aur waise bhi, un ghado ke kehne se kuch ho to nahi jaega na. right?" Muskaan said.
"Haan. I guess tu sahi hi bol rahi hai. Anyways teacher aa gayi hai."
So they sat and the lesson began. It went smoothly as they were not sitting anywhere close to Rahul. They thought he would apologise and all that but actually Rahul wasn't that type at all. He couldn't care less and wasn't going to say sorry. The bell rang and they went outside. Muskaan was asking some questions so Riddhima decided to wait outside. She was walking but was blocked by someone. She looked up and saw Armaan. She tried to walk away but he kept on blocking her way.
"What is your problem. Let me go will you." Riddhima said with anger, frustration and irritation in her voice.
"I will let you go once you listen to me." Armaan replied.
"You know I don't have time for your stupid, moronic, retarded and idiotic talks. So just let me go."
"Look. Please listen to me."
"Ridz kya hua?" Muskaan asked. Her eyes fell on Armaan and she got pissed off. She thought that Armaan was annoying Riddhima. She went up to him and said, "Look Mr. Who-ever-you-are. We are not interested in your talks. So let us go."
"Look Muskaan - " But Armaan was cut off by Riddhima who said, "Don't even bother. Chal Muskaan." And they both left. Armaan didn't bother stopping her because he knew she wouldn't forgive him that easily. He went up to Rahul. "Did Muskaan listen to you?"
"I didn't even try talking to her. Let it be dude and since when are you so concerned about a girl being pissed off at you. Let it be. Chill. That's so not like us. Let those girls with attitude be. Let's got." Rahul said. Of course he didn't care but this time he did. And for some reason he thought that it wasn't right to say something bad about someone and then not even apologise. He went to recess trying to figure out what to do.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
The day passed and Riddhima was now in her Health class. Armaan was there in all her classes except for English and Computer Studies. She got changed into her sports uniform and went outside.
"We will be playing basketball today. You guys want to have a boys v/s girls match?" The teacher asked and the whole class yelled "Yes!!!" "Ok! So, as usual, Armaan you be the captain of the boys' team. Girls' team'' your captain is'' Riddhima. You ok with that?"
"Yes ma'am! Perfectly fine with that." Riddhima said. She went to the front and whispered to Armaan. "Get ready to loose."
"You wish! You're gonna loose because no one has ever defeated Armaan in basketball." Armaan was smirking because he knew that only he could win. Riddhima just walked away to the basketball courts. They started playing. The game was team v/s team but it actually it looked more like Armaan v/s Riddhima. The scores were level when the teacher blew the whistle indicating the end of the match. No one was tired because they hardly played. Only Riddhima and Armaan played. They were tired but not tired. Basketball was their favourite game. They stared at each other, the frustration reflecting in their eyes. Everyone then went for a little break. Only Armaan and Riddhima stayed back.
"Riddhy. I challenge you to verse me. In basketball. You loose, you listen to me. But if I loose, I'll do whatever you say." Armaan said.
"Anything Armaan?? Just give it a second thought." Riddhima replied.
"Anything."
"Ok. All done. I accept your challenge."
They informed the teacher and she agreed. The whole class came back and Rahul and Muskaan's class came their as well the teacher had asked them to watch their match rather than playing badminton. They agreed and so now they were at the courts watching them glaring at each other. The game begun and everyone was surprised to see Riddhima play so good. Scored were zero all. Armaan was having a hard time playing against Riddhima. Everyone was cheering for Armaan except Muskaan. She didn't want to distract Riddhima and make her loose, so she didn't cheer. The game was becoming more and more interesting. Finally Riddhima scored and everyone was caught by surprise again. She was giving Armaan a tough fight. Only a minute was left in the game and Riddhima was still leading. The teacher blew the whistle and Riddhima won. She jumped around like a kid as she was very happy to defeat the basketball champion of the school. A victorious smile plastered her face. Shock plastered Armaan's face. The teacher declared Riddhima as the winner. Armaan went towards Riddhima. Everyone was silent. Rahul and everyone else were not so shocked because when Riddhima had scored, they had doubts about Armaan winning.
"How did you beat me?" A shocked Armaan asked.
"I just did Mr. Armaan Mallik. The basketball champion of the school now the ex ' basketball champion of the school." Riddhima teased him. "So, now it's my turn to tell you what to do. I hope you remember your challenge."
"Ok. So what do you want me to do?"
"Hmmmm' it's not that hard. Just say sorry to Muskaan on the PA System."
"What!!!!! No way. Are you insane? Armaan never says sorry. And you're asking me to say sorry and that too on the PA system." Armaan was literally yelling.
"Dude, stop yelling. You challenged me. You said you would do anything I will tell you to do. So let's see. Is Mr. Mallik scared?"
"Stuff you Riddhima. I am not scared." And Armaan ran off to the office to use the PA System. "Hey guys. Please pays attention. This is important. My sorry is gonna be short. I am informing you before hand Riddhima. Ok. So today I said something shitty about someone. That someone is Muskaan. I am sorry Muskaan, I know I shouldn't have said that. But what can I do. I don't have brains to think. I hope you will forgive me and Rahul as well. He is a bit arrogant and so please forgive him for not even saying a sorry on my behalf. And Riddhy. Please forgive me. I know I hurt you. Please forgive me. I hope I have obeyed your orders properly and by the way, good game."
Riddhima smile at his last sentence. Se didn't know why, but she just smiled. Muskaan hadn't even cared but she still had forgiven him and Rahul. Armaan didn't know why he added Rahul's name in there, but he thought there was something that was gonna happen between Muskaan and Rahul. He came and saw Riddhima smiling. He felt good, no wait, he felt great to see Riddhima smile. He didn't know why, but he just felt great to see her smile. He went up to her said very cutely, "Am I forgiven?"
"Yes." Riddhima smiled and Armaan returned the smile. "Yes you are Mr. Mallik." Suddenly Armaan's expression changed from happy to angry. He was going red with anger. She looked up and got scared. His eyes were filled with anger and Riddhima thought he was gonna kill her.
O~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~O
Edited by jm2506 - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
Real Estate
23