Chapter Twelve
As the five-hour journey begins with all of the students settled in their seats, - me and Anaya sitting together and Maan and Ayush sitting in the same row as ours - the students seated at the end of the bus begin singing and screaming. Ayush gets up from his place to kneel down on his seat, facing the singing group and joins them from that very place. Anaya and I engage in casual conversation looking at the buildings of the city soon fading and greenery appearing. Maan, on the other hand, pops in his earphones and closes his eyes to avoid the chattering Jess who keeps walking up to him. Soon enough, the whole singing lot falls silent as almost everyone is cradled to sleep by the rhythmic motion of the bus. Anaya too, slides in her seat and leans back to relax.
Chhoti texts me to know the details of my trip and we chat for a while. Reading her messages, I can say that she's more excited for my trip than I am myself. I shake my head at this. Such childishness she has in herself! The bus stops at a fuel station at the foot of the hills and the students refresh themselves, buying some snacks and drinks from the little shop at the station. The remaining three-hour climb of the hills actually makes me feel like the trip is for fun. Almost every student hoots whenever the bus takes a steep turn, laughing and chatting noisily. I pull out a book to read but put it back after a few failed attempts of trying to concentrate amidst all the talking.
-------------------------------------As we near the hotel, one of the in-charge professors instructs what we have to do, how much time we'll have for settling down in the designated rooms before we have to go for lunch and then we'll be free to roam around the small town. We reach the hotel, get down from the bus, take our respective bags and head inside the fairly big building. The rooms are small, but comfortable for two people to occupy one room. Ayush and I take one room, while Anaya takes Geet with her in the room next to ours. After relaxing for half an hour, we head out to the hotel's restaurant for lunch before being set free to explore the whole area, after we're instructed to be back by sunset.
Our group of four decides to explore the local shops. In fact, all the students end up on the same road, walking back and forth, entering this shop and that, appreciating the handicrafts. I heave a sigh of relief when Jess doesn't appear in front of me. Apparently, she's gotten down to her assignment right away and she might not be around me for a while.
Good for me. Anaya and Geet walk into an artificial jewellery shop and I see them picking up various things. After a few minutes of Anaya bargaining with the shopkeeper, they emerge with smiles on their faces and brown paper bags in their hands. Anaya excitedly shows the intricate locket with her name's initials woven in it while Geet puts her shopping in the small purse she has strapped diagonally across her body.
The next thing we do is walk over to the vendor right in front of that shop, to have some hot chocolate, or juice, whichever we want. I go for a hot chocolate and Geet goes for the same as the weather has started to turn a bit chilly with evening mist settling in. Anaya and Ayush, on the other hand, order slush and I see Geet staring at them incredulously. She doesn't say anything though. Standing in the street, we wait for the order to be served. Ayush challenges Anaya to have more than one glass of slush, to which she daringly challenges him back. Once we get our respective drinks, Anaya and Ayush begin drinking theirs quickly, eager to win the challenge. I and Geet enjoy our hot chocolate slowly, watching the two. Not half a glass later, Anaya's teeth start chattering while Ayush's lips turn blue and their defeated looks make me and Geet laugh. They both dump their slushes and order for hot chocolates, accepting that it's stupid to be drinking crushed ice when the weather has actually dropped by a few degrees.
------------------------------------Even though our original plan was to visit the new shopping centre, - the only shopping centre of this area - we postpone it for tomorrow, seeing that the sun is setting and we have to get back to the hotel within a few minutes. Ayush insists we can still spare some time but none of us three agree with him so Anaya holds his hand and starts dragging his grumbling form back to the hotel, walking ahead of me and Maan. As we're walking on the edges of the road, cars pass by. After one particular car comes really close to where we're walking, though nowhere close to hitting me, Maan tells me to move to the side while he walks on the roadside. I smile at his subtle attempt of protecting me while keeping my eyes trained on the two walking ahead of us. Something suddenly catches my attention. Ayush has stopped acting like the crybaby but the two are still holding hands as they walk. They don't seem to be aware of it though. I sneak a glance at Maan to see if he's noticed and his eyes are fixed on their hands too. I shrug off the thought that crosses my mind.
It's normal for friends to hold hands, isn't it?-------------------------------------Dinner turns out to be a noisy affair with all the students eating and talking at the same time. Ayush sits beside Anaya and I let him, seating myself beside Geet on the other side of the table.
Not a good decision, my brain tells me after Jess sits in the seat to my left. Throughout the dinner, she tries to grab my attention, asking me to pass one thing or another. She even drags her chair closer to mine and I discreetly drag mine away from hers, in turn coming closer to Geet. As we eat, my right arm brushes against her left and she pulls away slightly. I apologise to her and she smiles. Jess calls my name again and I grit my teeth. Geet laughs silently and thankfully decides to jump in, calling me and talking about the assignment we have to submit in a month's time. I gladly turn my back to the annoying nasal voiced-girl and pay full attention to what Geet says, actively chatting with her. I whisper my thankfulness to her and she grins as an answer, making her dimples prominent.
-------------------------------------As the day has been a long one due to the journey, and we all have to head off to camping the next day, the professors call it a night and tell us to sleep. Sitting for an hour in the room, I don't feel like sleeping. I ask Ayush if he wants to go for a short walk with me and he suggests we check on the girls too. We both silently come out of our room and I knock on the girls' door. After a few moments, Geet opens it and we get a view of Anaya sitting on the bed. Ayush pushes past me, entering the room and telling the girls to come with us for a walk. Anaya immediately refuses so Ayush jumps on the bed to bug her, trying to force her to come. When she doesn't relent, Ayush says he won't come either.
'Who am I going to bug if she won't come!' His answer earns him a smack on his head and the two start their silly fight again. I roll my eyes at them and look at Geet, who's still standing by the door looking at the two.
'Do you want to come, Geet?' Before she can answer, Anaya speaks up.
'Yeah, sure! Take her with you. She didn't want to sleep yet anyway.' I look back at Geet to know her will and she shrugs.
'I don't mind. Provided that we don't go too far at this time.' I smile.
'Of course. Just near the hotel.' As she walks to where her shoes are, I call out.
'You might want to take a jacket or a shawl or something. It's gotten a bit cold outside.' She nods and opens her bag, taking out a shawl and draping it around herself before we quietly make way to the road in front of the building.
-------------------------------------After a few minutes of silently walking along Maan, I wonder what I should talk to him about. Then I realise that silence isn't all that awkward when it's around him.
'You really don't seem to like Jess.' I giggle a bit.
'Oh please! I don't like her at all. It's only been some time that her family has moved to our neighbourhood but she's such a... such a... chipku
- if you know what I mean - that I can't tolerate her presence for long.' I nod.
'Mmm-hmm. I've seen that.' I laugh more openly this time, remembering his plight at the dining table.
'And anyway, she's not my type.' He shrugs and I playfully ask him what type he prefers.
'If somebody asked me this question earlier, I would've said I like adventurous girls, the ones who mingle easily. Someone like -' As he speaks, his description fits Anaya perfectly so I complete his sentence.
'Anaya.' The traces of playfulness and smiles all gone from both our faces, he continues, holding his index finger up.
'But, not anymore.' I raise an eyebrow at him as we slow down our pace.
'It's been quite sometime that I have begun to like silent girls. Girls who have a personality of their own, who talk and mingle when they wish to but they still stand out of the crowd.' His words increase my breathing as I realise he's describing me.
No Geet. He's not talking about you, I tell myself.
He's just saying it all generally. Before I can compose myself enough to answer him and diffuse the sudden lull fallen over me, I hear something which alerts me.
'Did you hear that?' I whisper to him. The sound of leaves crunching under feet comes again and my eyes widen.
'Its probably some animal.' His words almost bring me to panic mode as I realise we've come a little farther from the hotel.
'Run.' He holds my hand and we both break into a run back the way we came, not stopping or turning to confirm that whatever the thing is, isn't following us.
As we reach the hotel, our stride doesn't break until we stop outside the door to my room, breathing heavily from all the running. Thanking our lucky stars, we enter the room and tell Ayush and Anaya about the adventure we just had. They're thrilled and so looking forward to our camping. After relaxing for a while, all four of us sitting on the bed, the boys leave the room and Anaya turns the light off. Sleep overtakes me almost as soon as my head hits the pillow and I welcome it, relieved to be getting rest after an eventful day.
-------------------------------------Bright and early the next morning, we get ready to enjoy the half day we have in this town before we have to leave for the campsite, which is almost an hour away from here. After breakfast, all the students are requested to visit the local fair, which supposedly has some rides and some shops. We reach the area and find out that it is actually a huge fair. A group of a few students wants to ride the Ferris wheel and Anaya takes us with them. As the students pair up, deciding who will sit on a single chair, Ayush holds Anaya's hand and says that he'll go with her. I don't object as I want him to have some time with Anaya, but that means it isn't confirmed who I'm going to sit with. I see Jess skipping towards us with a wide smile in her face and not wanting to take any chances, I grab Geet's hand, asking her to save me from sitting with Jess.
I get a not-so-gentlemanly satisfaction when I see Jess' face fall a bit when I claim that I have already promised Geet to sit with her. She passes a forceful smile to Geet before turning around to find herself a partner, I assume. As the wheel stops, Anaya and Ayush take their place followed by Geet and me. I hold onto Geet's hand even when we sit on the chair with no danger of Jess dragging me with her. She doesn't notice it though her grip on my hand is soft but firm.
-------------------------------------As we sit on a chair and the wheel starts moving, I realise I'm still holding Maan's hand. I think of a way to let go but not making it awkward for us at the same time.
'You can let my hand go, Maan. I'm not scared of heights.' I chuckle a bit and he looks down at our hands before releasing mine slowly. Almost unwillingly.
'So you're not afraid of heights, eh? I wonder what you are scared of.' He says lightly.
'You already know the only fear I have.' I shrug matter-of-factly before changing the topic. We laugh as we talk about Jess sitting all alone in the chair right behind ours, holding a camera to her eye and clicking pictures of the beautiful view from this height.
-------------------------------------After having a good time in the fair, we go to the shopping centre. Impressed by the modern architecture, we roam around in the building, checking out shops and doing some window shopping. While surging through the shops, Anaya realises that Ayush isn't with us and is nowhere to be seen. She looks around frantically, asking Maan in an anxious voice where Ayush is. Maan doesn't know but he tries to calm her down. I try too but to no use. As she steps a little ahead to go search for him, the man in question appears across the floor, coming towards us in a leisurely pace while whistling. When he reaches us and Anaya charges at him, her worry channeling out in the form of fury, he explains casually that he went to the loo and Anaya needs not worry so much. As Anaya turns away from us, I see Ayush look at Maan with a smile which Maan returns, both starting to follow Anaya with me trailing behind. My mind churns out a few questions.
That is so unlikely of Anaya to panic the way she did. Was it only a friend worrying for a friend in an unknown place? And what silent conversation did Maan and Ayush just have?The top floor consists of a gaming room where video games are set up. Apart from that room, there's almost nothing, making the floor a deserted place. There's no one on this floor except for the employees and seven of us: Maan, Ayush, Anaya, me and three other students. As we try to enter the lift to go back to the ground floor, Ayush puts a hand on Maan's chest and says the lift is full, telling me and Maan to come in the next round. The lift is indeed full with five people already in it.
-------------------------------------As soon as the door dings close, I receive a text message on my phone. It's Ayush.
'Did it for you, buddy. Enjoy!' His message ends with a wink and I smile at his attempt. The lift is empty when it comes back up and we both step in. After a moment's silence, Geet asks me an unexpected question.
'Maan, how do you like Anaya?' I blink in surprise.
'She's a great girl. A wonderful friend. Why?' She smiles and shakes her head, indicating it was a casual question. I wonder if she's started to think the same that Mom and Ayush used to believe; that Anaya likes me.
That doesn't sound very good. Before another thought can enter my mind, the lift jerks and the lights flicker. Both of us look up at the lights when the lift comes to an unsteady stop and the lights go out completely. I try opening the door but it seems like we're stuck between two floors.
Damn the new shopping centre!I look at Geet who's eyes have widened and she's beginning to shiver a bit. I don't get a word of condolence out of my mouth before she starts shuffling on her feet and whispering in a panicked voice.
'Oh my God! We're stuck! It's so dark. I'm getting claustrophobic. We have to get out of here. Open the door someone!' Her voice gets louder and I can feel her panic rising by the second. I think desperately of how I can tell her to relax. My phone isn't even catching any network as we're in a lift.
'Open the door! Open the -' Her call for help is cut midway as I put my index finger on her lips.
'Chup! Bilkul chup!' My whisper is enough for her eyes to focus on me and she falls silent. I feel a little flutter in my heart when I realise how close I am to her. I slowly remove my finger from her soft lips and take her hand in mine.
'I'm right here with you, see? No need to panic at all. I'm sure somebody's already at work to get this lift moving.' I try to sound as soothing as possible, concealing my own concern about being stuck, and she holds my hand tightly between both of hers, shifting a little towards me.
Three minutes pass and there's no sign of any help. She starts to think aloud why no one has come for help yet, but her voice sounds more composed, more like the controlled Geet I know. I again console her, making her sit on the floor with me, as I try to distract her by the silly game I often used to play with Ranbir when we were younger. It's called
'word chain'. I offer her a word and she says another word linked to the one I say, and the cycle goes on. I visibly see her relax when we play the game, and within the next two minutes, the lights turn back on, the lift starts moving and we reach the ground floor. We're informed that it was an unexpected power cut and they were trying to get the generators going so it took a little time.
-------------------------------------After having lunch at a restaurant, we set off for the campsite. An hour later, the place we reach is a very vast expanse of almost level land. We're informed that bathrooms have been built a few feet behind the site for the campers. Almost two hours of hard work and helping each other out, we set up tents and decide to rest for a while. Ayush, who hasn't even helped a lot, claims that he is the one who's most tired and all of the students give it back to him, some with glares and some with their words. In the end, Ayush sits with a flushed face and I, along with Maan and Anaya laugh at his state.
As the sky darkens, we sit around the fire lit between the tents, eating from the packed food our professors have brought. The discussions of what we'll be doing the next morning continue for a while before the question arises what we are going to do until the time that we sleep. Various suggestions pass through the group with someone suggesting we sing songs, or listen to one student play the guitar he has brought with him. Ayush's suggestion, though, gets the most votes. He says we should share spooky stories. Most of the students want to listen to ghost stories just to get the thrill of it so Ayush says he'll narrate one first.
As the story of a man hearing strange voices around his house finishes, almost all of the people around the fire are clinging on to each other in fear. I've never quite been a fan of ghost stories myself, but I contain the tiny fear that bubbles up within me, telling my self that it's just a story Ayush has made up for fun. To lift the fearful air that has settled around us, someone suggests we play a kiddie game like tag. Without thinking, most of the others agree and the game begins. After running for a while, the sounds of
'tag, you're it!' echoing through the site, it's Anaya's turn and so she stands in front of a tree to count till ten before she begins the game. All eyes fix on her, bodies ready to break into a run when suddenly a figure jumps from behind the tree and screams.
The next moment, all chaos breaks loose as everyone begins to run haphazardly, trying to save themselves from the supposed ghost, who, by the way, turns out to be Ayush, standing right there and laughing away holding his stomach. I see him but probably nobody else does because I'm not running helter-skelter and everyone else is. A girl bumps into my shoulder making me do a 180-degree turn as I lose my footing and almost fall, had it not been for the hands gripping around my waist. Maan, I realise, has been standing beside me through all the chaos and he breaks my fall, asking if I'm alright.
As he steadies me, he calls for everybody's attention in a loud voice, announcing that it's Ayush who did the prank. Ayush receives the murderous glares and he sprints for his tent before anyone can catch up with him, still screaming that his prank was fun. Shaking heads and muttering curses, all of us go to our designated tents. The tents are large and can hold three people in them. Anaya, I and another girl have been told to stay in one tent.
-------------------------------------As planned, the next morning we set off to hike and explore the lush green land. We start on a path leading up north as we talk and click pictures on the way. At a point where a gazebo has been constructed with four benches and a table in it, some of us stop to rest. Anaya decides to take pictures so all four of us take turns holding the camera while the other three pose. We also take pictures in pairs and Ayush tells a boy from our class to take a picture of all four of us, with Anaya and me between the two guys, Ayush beside Anaya and Maan beside me.
Continuing our hike, we come across a stable. Many of us want to ride the horses, but the owner tells that the horses aren't for strangers to ride on. After requesting him to let us ride for a while and he consents, all of us take turns. Ayush, then Anaya, then three other willing students, then Maan, after whom Anaya insists that I ride too. I sway a little while getting on the brown horse so Maan holds my hand and tells me to swing my leg on the other side. When I get down from the horse, Jess comes in pushing her way through the group standing at the front. She says she wants to ride too and pretend to have trouble while getting on, calling dramatically for Maan's hands as one of her feet dangles in the air. I look at Maan to see him step away at the exact moment that Jess reaches out for him, causing her to fall flat on her back.
She gets up with the help of another guy and stomps away, throwing an icy look my way. I turn to Maan to tell him it wasn't nice to not help her but he beats me to it.
'I know it wasn't nice of me to do it, and I'm sorry that she fell. But I'm not going to be helping her around.' He shrugs and I look at him amusedly, thinking that he helps me every time without me having to ask, yet he's indifferent towards Jess.
-------------------------------------After her grand fall, Jess almost ignores my presence. Good for me, I think. But I notice her trying to talk to Geet in a very sweet voice. Geet, being Geet, answers back nicely and I don't interrupt the two walking ahead of me. In a matter of a few minutes, Jess' words turn snide, the venom of jealousy dripping through her falsely sweet voice. Geet still doesn't say much, rather she turns quieter as Jess speaks.
'How come Maan has befriended a girl like you
? I mean, look at you. You're so ordinary. Not very beautiful and not very tasteful in dressing too.' I see Geet turn to look at me for a moment as I take a deep breath to shut Jess up. Geet's firm voice with very slight traces of hardness stops me.
'That's because appearances matter for you
, my dear Jess. Not for me and certainly not for a good-hearted person like Maan.' Her reply stumps me and she excuses herself to join Anaya and Ayush while Jess glares at me in fury as I cross her to join my three friends.
-------------------------------------That night, which is the last night of our trip, a few decide to play Truth or Dare and we fetch ourself a bottle. Sitting around in a circle, the bottle is spun several times, funny truths and daring dares are unveiled, as the night goes on. I luckily don't fall prey to the bottle's head and neither does Maan. As the bottle stops on Ayush, the girl sitting in front of him dares him to announce to the girl of his choice that he likes her, not only as a friend but more than that. He looks at Maan for a moment and I notice the latter nod subtly. Ayush takes a deep breath and gets up only to kneel down in front of the girl sitting beside him. I gasp as I hear him confess to Anaya in front of the whole lot of seniors.
'Anaya, I really like you. Not only as a friend but a lot more than that. I have always liked you...' He trails off not knowing what to say and I gauge Anaya's reaction.
Her face changes expressions quickly from shock to disbelief to hurt to anger. She gets up abruptly.
'This isn't funny Ayush.' Her angry voice resounds as she leaves the circle and goes in the tent. Ayush's head only lowers and I look at Maan wanting to know what to do. He gets up to follow Ayush who has walked off in a different direction while I hurriedly go to the tent to see Anaya. She's already in her sleeping bag by the time I reach there, though her eyes are open.
'Anaya?' I call out to her only to get a muffled response.
'I'm sleepy Geet. Good night.' I don't probe further due to the presence of a third girl in the tent.
-------------------------------------As the sun rises, we all get down to work after freshening up. Dismembering the tents is easier than assembling them and so it's done in half an hour. I notice Anaya being silent and not talking to Ayush, while he is back to his usual self, trying to get responses from Anaya with his stupid antics. Her ignoring him and him following her around continues through the time that we leave the campsite to have some breakfast and then leave for home. I just observe the two, and apparently Maan does the same, probably - like me - not knowing how to get them to be back to normal.
-------------------------------------As we climb the bus, Ayush sits beside Anaya, who is still very much upset with him. She turns her face away from him and I leave Ayush to handle it as I sit beside Geet, having no other choice.
You don't even want any other choice Maan! I completely agree with my heart's statement. She looks at me and then at Anaya and Ayush.
'Anaya is still angry with Ayush, right?' I sigh and nod to her question. We don't talk anymore about this and she pulls out a novel from her handbag. I notice the title of the book.
'You like Pride and Prejudice
?' She looks at me as I ask the question.
'Of course. Who wouldn't?' She smiles and turns to look back at the book.
'What, you love Mr. Darcy like all the other girls? Running after his perfect looks, are you?'She closes the book and faces me.
'Who says Mr. Darcy is perfect?' I raise an eyebrow at her.
'If not for his oh-so-charming looks, why do you like this book?' She stays silent for a moment with a slight smile on her face. I want to ask her what she's thinking but I bite my tongue.
'I love this book for two reasons. One, for the lesson it teaches. "First impression is not always the last impression." I've actually experienced this. And two, Mr. Darcy.' I chuckle.
'See? Mr. Darcy is a reason for you loving this book.' She smiles again.
'It's not his looks that I love. It's his imperfection. It's the way he is perfect, yet imperfect. Arrogant, yet kind-hearted enough to help Lizzy at the time of her need. It's his imperfections that make him loveable, not the oh-so-charming
looks, as you think.'As she turns to rest against the backrest, I ponder over what she's said. I've already known she isn't shallow enough to just fall for appearances. It's been proved yesterday when she answered Jess back. But she thinks this way, I didn't know. She's
deep. The bus is well on its way back in a steady speed, which creates a rhythmic motion and I put my head back and close my eyes.
-------------------------------------Only a few minutes after I close my eyes, I feel something touching on my shoulder. I open my eyes and look at Geet's head falling over to the side as she has slipped into slumber. The uncomfortable position her head is in makes me shift a little closer to her and her head lands on my shoulder. In her sleep, she adjusts her head properly and makes herself comfortable, substituting my shoulder for a pillow. I smile at her innocent sleeping form and don't realise when sleep takes me under too.
-------------------------------------As the ringing of my phone reaches my ears and I gain consciousness, I realise my cheek is resting on top of Geet's head which is on my shoulder. My eyes open to see Ayush standing there with a camera in his hands, grinning at me. I frown at him and mumble what he's doing as I reach for my phone. The caller ID shows an unknown number which I answer. As I listen to what the caller has to say, sleep completely leaves my body and I bark a shocked
'what' to him, which jerks Geet out of her sleep and she looks at me.
Edited by mayyo13 - 12 years ago
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
