RagNa OS: Just Chat!

Just chat! Who doesn't like to talk? Especially if it's me. All day long, I talk talk talk.

Well... my mum calls it bak-bak.. not that I agree with her.

Sometimes, I feel that my listeners get tired but I never am tired of talking. I just wish there was someone to just.. listen to what I have to say.




They say, I am in the 9th grade. I should wisen up. I don't get it.🤔




Today, Paakhi and I met at the bus stand as usual. Before I could even begin talking, she told me to shut up!

She is a nerd. Her nose is always stuck in her books. She has no time for listening.

"Paakhi!" I cry. "Listen! So last weekend I went to valley fair and..." On and on I went.

Pretty soon, Paakhi had turned back to her book but still, I talked. "The Wild Thing, man you should try it! you know-"

"oh!" Paakhi cried out, as she looked up from her book.

We had been so lost in our usual tactics that we hadn't noticed that the bus had already shown up. The bus driver was now yelling furiously for us to get on or else he would leave us behind.

"This happens every day," a guy mumbled, as we got on.


On the bus, I tried making conversation with Paakhi.

"What book are you reading?"

Paakhi shoved her specs up on her nose, and then glared at me.

I gave her an apologetic look, and satisfied she went back to reading.


"Maya, what's that magazine you are reading?" I asked her, politely.

"It's about fashion," Maya replied. "You know I love fashion a lot na.. I got this dress that they advertised in this one maga-"

"Oh, I get it!" Kalpana went on, sounding interested. "Now listen, last week I went to the valley fair. You know the-"


Maya had now turned back to her magazine, which made me a little furious. Everyone has time to talk about themselves but no one has time to just LISTEN. Or at least, talk about one topic na..

[Like you aren't like that yourself..." a sarcastic voice said in my mind]



Feeling worthless, I trudged along to Study Hall. "I need to talk, or else my mouth will start hurting!" I muttered to myself. "Who will listen to me?!"


Well, my wish was about to become true!

"Class," our instructor announced. "We have a new lad joining our class."

Everyone started talking at once. Only thing is, I was sitting by Paakhi and her nose was stuck in her book!!

"Raghav Singhania.."

A handsome fellow chewing guy shuffled his way up to the front of the class.

He shot the teacher a disgusted look before speaking up.

"It's R.S.," he told everyone. "Don't listen to this..." he paused. "Teacher."

"Yes, R.S. please take your seat.. you will be sitting by-"

"Mam, I haven't even finished talking yet," he told her calmly.

"Anyway, everyone. Lemme tell you all that if anyone here has the habit of messing with a new student they better..." he made a hand signal, which the teacher apparently didn't deem "school appropriate".

"Enough!" she said. "We better get going.. we have lots to be learning right now..."


Raghav... oops R.S. made the same signal again and said, "Peace, Mam!" "What did you think I was gonna make any weird gesture! Teachers these days," he blabbered on.

"I've had enough haan, just go take a seat somewhere..." said the teacher distractedly, as she shuffled through her notes.


He marched right across the room towards the back, and I realized happily that R.S. was aiming for the seat besides me.

I smiled eagerly at him as he settled himself into his new seat.

"Hii..." I said breathlessly, as I noticed his neatly brushed hair.

"Hey!" he said, sitting up. "How's all?"

"Everything is good!" I said, now eying at the phone he was using openly.

"What are you doing?" I asked him curiously.

He looked at me closely. "You like to talk, don't you?"


"Well.. yes.." I say, a bit embarassed.

"Don't worry, I do too! We'll make great buddies!" he said holding out his fist, which I bumped apprehensively.

"I just like texting my buddies, ya know," he told me, as he powered off his phone.

"No life without da phone now, is there?"

"Nope," I said, agreeing with him.

"Shut up, and do your work guys!" Paakhi said, grumpily.

"First put down your book then talk!" R.S. hissed.

"Heeey, she's my friend.." I snapped.

"Whatever," he said rolling his eyes.

"What's my name, you must be wondering?" Kalpana went on.

He looked up at me patiently. "I guess.."

"Kalpana Jadhav," I told him brightly.

"You mean K.J.?" he asked me.

"Well yes, I suppose so..." I trailed off.



"Wanna meet up at the library after school?" R.S. asked me, a few days later. We had been having quite a few long discussions during our study hall. Of course, the teacher looked towards us meanly but every time R.S. made the peace gesture, she would turn back to her work feverishly.


"Not the library," I said. "Librarian rarely let us talk."

"I think never," Raghav said, agreeing.

"Well, come to my place.. I have a treehouse," I told R.S. eagerly. "My dad and I built it when I was younger."

"Okay.." Raghav agreed.


...


"Mum this is R.S.," I said cheerfully.

"Another friend?" Kamla asked in amazement.

"Yep, Paakhi, R.S., and I will head up to the tree house, then."

Kamla nodded telling us to take a few snacks up there as well.


...

As soon as we were up the ladder, Paakhi lay down at her usual place and started reading.



Raghav looked quite appalled. "Doesn't she ever stop reading?"

"Not at dinner," Paakhi snapped. "Papa doesn't allow it.

"Right," R.S. said, giving mea look.


"So Raghav, what do you think about the future of this country?" I asked him, keenly.

"Awful!" he told me. "'Our generation is just sooo... technology addicted and.. well, they can't make proper decisions."


"Agree, but I think there are some good people also na.." I told him.


"Well, I suppose.." he said looking at me, ready to listen.

"That and...


...



I Kalpana Jadhav, or should I say K.J..? :)

I finally have someone to chat with!!😃 R.S. is always ready to listen, and in fact I don't mind listening to him either. He is quite interesting!


So... Just Chat!