After the exams, lectures become so boring and one only needs a time-off so desperately, that even a lunch break appears blissful. There goes the signal for the lunch, perking up our energy levels.
"Aki, will you come with me to toilet?” I uttered.
"Why, you want me to whistle for you.”
"Not really. You sit here and hatch eggs, till I come back.”
What an annoying person? It was useless to talk to anyone. I went to the toilet unaccompanied. When I came back, my lunch box was on my desk exposing all its parts. Without an evidence of any foodstuff. I knew it was not Aki's job alone. How could Sunny not be a part of this conspiracy? And to add more to it, both the culprits were missing.
It was not a new scene for me. Both my friends found themselves grown enough to feel ashamed of carrying lunch boxes. And their pocket money gets assaulted in some or the other useless things, leaving them to hunt for my lunch box. And that was not all; they didn't even leave anything for me when they get chance like this day. What a way to test my tolerance. But that was enough. This time, I sincerely wished to chop them into pieces.
I knew where they could be. Just outside Rin Supreme's (Principal's) office, there were few rows of plants, producing fine-looking flowers. And why wouldn't it be? It had been taken care of by the best nursery in the city. Could say Rin Supreme respected greenery and if not, was doing enough to attract new admissions, in his style.
Normally, it was a place where no student was permitted but my chums liked no restrictions. They often visited this place; even I accompanied them to check out something new.
I went there and was lucky to find them. They were busy discussing, without a hint of my presence. It would be better to rain before giving them a chance.
"You bastards, you ate all my meal. What will I do, now?”
Both of them turned to me. They didn't look surprised after getting caught. It appeared as if they were expecting me.
"Why don't your try the grass, out there,” said Sunny, laughing.
"So easy for you to say, why didn't you try that way,” I replied instantly.
"Enough of your cries. I want to show you something,” poked Aki.
"No, I am not interested in anything,” I yelled.
"Instead of shouting, just look there and you will automatically get your interest back,” said Aki, pointing towards a rose, which emerged to be an ultimate blend of fragrance and beauty. The leaves around the flower were arranged so superbly that it illustrated the love vegetation held for its gorgeous progeny. It stunned me for a moment, till I came back to realize that I was fighting for something.
"Hell with your Rose! Arrange something for me, I am hungry,” I remarked.
"What a person you are?” said Aki, "Are you sure you are really in love? Such a lovely flower, doesn't it remind you of Riya?”
"Forget it Aki, this silly fellow is only worried about his stomach,” commented Sunny.
"I had never expected that you will ever insult such a beautiful thing,” said Aki.
"Listen you…I saw the flower it's beautiful but this will not be enough to satisfy my hunger. Now, cut the crap and take me to canteen and mind you, I will not pay.”
"It's not a crap, dear. You are making us worried about your love. We were very much content that our friend is a true lover but now you have challenged our belief,” said Aki.
It was going too much. I knew they were looking out for an easy skip but I had no intention to fall in their trap.
"Can we now, move to canteen?” I said.
"Yes we can,” said Sunny. It appeared as if he wanted to add to his sentence. After a brief pause he started, "Yes we will go to the canteen and I will pay the bill and there will be no restriction regarding the order. You can order anything only if….” He stopped.
"Only if?” I asked.
"…only if you give this Rose to Riya. What say?” completed Sunny.
"Are you nuts? Don't you know plucking flower here is crime? Aren't you aware, if you will get caught you will be plucked out of the school? Are your ready to face Rin Supreme?”
"Yes, I am. I will do anything just say whether you are ready to accept this condition or no.”
"Forget it, he can't do it. I know,” added Aki.
I really hated these kinds of underestimating statements. It boiled my blood. I only tried to be humble but they didn't have enough common sense to understand. Why they always had to show that I was unpromising?
"Shut up Aki, there is nothing in it that I can't do. I am just thinking of its consequences.”
"The one, who has faith in himself, doesn't bother about the consequences. Let's move to canteen. I will pay your bill...please don’t do anything,” extended Aki.
It was going to a greater degree. I couldn't resist myself even more. Had to prove myself. I knew if I didn't, they would not spare me like that. They would continue to tease me with respect to this topic.
"Ok, I will do it,” I agreed. Both gave me an astonished look still not ready accept it as true.
"I accept your challenge,” I settled confidently and within no time Sunny plucked the flower, inserted it in his shirt. We immediately rushed out of the place, to avoid getting caught.
We reached to our place, in the classroom.
"Here, you take care of this pretty thing and don't take too long to give it. Got to go to canteen also before the bell,” said Sunny, forwarding the rose after pulling it out from his shirt.
"Now will you please, shut you mouth. Do you think it's some kind of joke to give a rose to a girl? Let me work at my own pace. If you are in so much of hurry, you go to the canteen,” I revolted.
"Ok, calm down both of you. We will sit here only watching how you do it. Without any disturbance, much far away from you. Raj, take your own time. And Sunny let him concentrate,” said Aki.
"Better,” I replied.
They both chose to sit on their benches, keeping their wide open eyes on me. I started on my way to Riya. She was there on the first bench, in her place, entrapped by 4 to 5 girls exchanging notes. I don't know, what actually happens to people when they reach 10th. All of a sudden, you try to immerse yourself in thousands of notes.
With every step towards her, I was able to feel the gravity of the work which I was going to do. What would I call myself, a fool or a big idiot or may be both? Was there any need to get excited to that extent? And what would be its effect- if I didn't do it my friends would cremate me alive because of the pains they took to steal the flower and if I did it then there was every possibility of losing Riya, leaving myself ready for cremation.
If my destiny had failure in life, I couldn't refuse it. With this I moved forward without thinking of the cost. I went closer to her. What to do with this flower? Would it be a nice idea to hide it like we see in most of the films? Nothing of this crap. It would be still pathetic to do something of this sort. But how would I give her this rose in front of her friends? Couldn’t afford to get slapped by Riya, in front of her friends.
Before I could draw any conclusion, she saw me and came to me, leaving her bookworms aside.
"Raj, why didn't you tell me before?” she said, approaching towards me much in excitement. What was she talking? Was she expecting that I would propose her? Was that, she was also affectionate towards me?
"What…I didn't understand.”
"It's enough dear, now tell me who is she?”
"Whom you are talking about?”
"Stop it Raj, it's not at all fair. I am your friend and have every right to know, for whom you are carrying this beautiful rose,” demanded the candid eyes.
What to tell her? Would I tell her that it was for you, so that she could add one more name to her stalker's list? I looked back; both my supporters were still alert, far enough to hear anything.
"Hey day dreamer, come back to reality and give answers. I will not let you go like that.”
'Day dreamer' this compliment was not new to me. It was Mrs. Dass who entitled me with this nickname and at the moment it would be Mrs. Dass who would rescue me out of this situation.
"Actually, it's for Mrs. Dass, it's her...birthday...today,” smuggling things back to work, for me.
"Wow! That's so sweet to know that you have so much respect for her without holding any grudges, for the humiliation that day.”
It was working for me. Who the bloody hell cared for that bitch.
"Why should I have any complaints against her if I was wrong? In fact by giving this rose, I wish to show the respect I hold.”
"Great, she is indeed an excellent teacher. You go ahead,” she said moving back to her place but my mission wasn't over yet. Got to come up with something exceptionally out of the world.
"Hello Riya, listen.”
"What Raj?” she halted.
"Actually, I changed my plan.”
"What's that?”
Allow me a second to think of it, before I could say anything.
"Actually…actually, it's our English teacher's birthday, right.”
"Raj, you only told me that.”
"Yes, I know. But don't you think it would be an insult to her, if only one student wishes her.” I uttered, getting the track.
"I think you are right. We have her period after the lunch. We all will wish her together,” she said, garnishing herself with innocent dimples.
"Not like this…She adores you most in the class…I will be happy…if you…present this rose to her on behalf of all the students.” This time bang on target.
"So sweet, you will give this flower to me?”
"Not to you but through you. Anything for my class.”
"You do care a lot. Now, give that cute thing to me.”
Without wasting a moment, Adam presented the beautiful rose to his Eve. And she accepted it cheerfully.
I went back to my intimates having the same feeling, like what Sachin Tendulkar feels after drumming an unbeaten century, leading to the victory with his single handed effort.
"Bravo! You did it!” exclaimed Aki.
"Mind blowing job,” praised Sunny with a smile, appreciating my win.
"Let's go to canteen,” said Aki.
We all went to the canteen, found the loneliest corner. I knew they were dying to listen about it. They both sat in front of me, as if trying not to miss any expression of mine. Sunny ordered my favorite snack.
"So, did she say, yes?” asked Aki.
"No dear nothing like that.”
"Now, don't play games with us,” said Aki.
"Just speak up what exactly happened,” said Sunny.
"Nothing happened as such. She just accepted my rose as a friend.”
Why to enlighten them in detail and couldn't really commit a blunder by telling them she accepted my proposal, it would take no time to get caught.
"Must say, you really did an exceptional job,” complimented Aki.
"Thank you.”
In no time, our order was on the table and we started munching it, to finish it before the bell. Till I felt a hand, grabbing my shoulder from the back.
"So here you are?” said the person who was holding my shoulder.
I looked back it was Suraj, one of the students of our class.
"How dare you, give a rose to Riya? Don't you know she is mine?” charged the fellow.
You get affectionate towards a girl and the whole world gets to know besides the girl herself. Before, I could react, it was Sunny who stood from his chair.
"Keep your hand off Raj, you stinky fellow.”
Aki become more violent and getting up from his chair, he pushed his hand away from my shoulder with a force enough to make him fumble for 2 to 3 steps.
"How dare you push Suraj, you son of a bitch,” came a voice from the back of Suraj. He was not alone. He had about 6 to 7 people along with him. Would say, Suraj came with all his gang for an intention still undisclosed.
"Listen you bastards, don't you dare to touch Raj again. Otherwise we will break you into pieces. Forget about pushing,” said Sunny, burning with anger.
"What do you think, we are all fools to allow to get beaten up. If you really think you are the son of your own father then come on, fight with us!” screamed Suraj, crushing his teeth.
"It's going too far, Sunny. Let's teach them a lesson,” said Aki, burning with anger.
"Enough of your bullshit,” I said, disrupting my calmness with words loud enough to hold everybody's tongue. I got up from my place, "I said enough. You both just sit back in your places. Let me talk to Suraj. It's my fight and I know how to handle it.”
"So you want to fight with me?” said Suraj.
"Not exactly and why should I?” I replied.
"Then how dare you present a flower to my girl.”
"What do you mean by- my girl? Is she your sister? Are you her guardian? Look brother you don't have any right to say that.”
"But…but she is mine.”
"Let her say that; then I will certainly not come in your way. Till then don't waste my time and energy.” "Let's go folks if your eating is over.”
We moved out. Suraj and troop stood confused leaving our way. This time it was my friends who followed me, for a change. I had gathered many lessons from Nikhil's case and I didn't need any fight. It's better, if you can cease the fire. Both of them didn't utter a word with respect to that. Wouldn’t matter, if they were not at ease by my decision of not letting them fight. But I knew they were pleased to find me handling the situation.
Soon after the lunch, it was geography period. And as usual, students hardly paid any heed to what the lady teacher was teaching. Could say that her lecture was only for one person in the entire class and that was for the teacher- herself, more for the reason that students hardly understood what she taught. It was our English teacher’s lecture to follow next and I dreadfully wanted to think something, to hold Riya back from celebrating her fake birthday.
I took a small page from the back of my notebook and wrote-
‘Hi Riya, my friends played a prank. It's not Mrs. Dass's birthday today. You can throw the rose in the dustbin. Sorry- Raj.'
I folded the paper and persuaded the fellow students to pass it to her. Within few minutes, there was a reply, stating-‘Hi Raj, dustbin is not the right place for the rose. If you don't mind, I will keep it with me. And must say your friends really made a good joke of us- Riya.’
(taken from 'the guy next door' by ravi kumar)
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