Schoolmates (14 page)

“All is done !! Why don’t all you girls take an auto rickshaw and Dev and Danish can come on Dev’s bike. I will bring Riya . . .” Kabir spoke sliding his cell back into his jeans.

“What? Aa . . . Oh!” Anjali was lost for words, a rare event. I was jumping with joy covertly, yet maintained a decent composure. I was excited about sitting on his bike... And this would be the befitting reason as well, since the group had become larger.

As they all headed away for the restaurant, we both walked towards Kabir’s shining new bike.

“How’d you manage the table?” I asked him, as he held my hand while we walked towards the parking lot.

“I know the manager of that joint from my sports club. He is a fantastic swimmer and his son is in our school. So I just rang him up and he said that by the time me and my gang would arrive, a suitable table would be ready!” Kabir smiled as I stood beside him while he sat on his bike and roared the ignition to life.

“Sit.”

“Well, be careful.” I sat behind him and placed my hands on my thighs. He pulled out the bike from the parking and we drove on. Those minutes were the moments of sheer excitement and thrill. I had never felt the blood rush to my head so fast! The joy of being with him had numbed my sense to the weather as well! The traffic was oblivious, the blaring horns were reduced to just a fussy noise! I was flying!

“Where are we going Kabir?” I asked. I noticed he had missed a turn.

“I thought why not let the others have a meal by themselves, while I take you to this new place I and Dev found last week.” Kabir looked back as we stopped on a traffic light.

“NO! Anjali would be waiting Kabby and she would be hurt if I did not show up. Besides, what would others think of us?” I sounded alarmed.

“They think a lot already,” Kabir replied, smiling mischievously.

“Yet, what about Anjali? This was supposed to be our time out. Then you showed up and she knows I’ve loved it but still I know as well that this is her limit of sharing! Anymore and she would snap! Please just let’s go back,” I insisted.

Kabir took a moment to consider what I’d said. He stopped his bike and looked at me.

“Ok. I’ll head back. But only because you said you loved my coming. Yet, I want to take you out. Alone, just the two of us.” Kabir spoke seriously.

“How? When Kabby?” I replied.

“Don’t you worry about that. Just let me know, a sign, anything and I will manage the rest. Ok . . . my flightless little bird?” He touched my cheek with his palm. I felt relieved and loved all together. He had this amazing habit of soothing my irritated or over exerted nerves. I loved him way too much to see that all he did was agreeing to everything I said. But, it was a magical intoxicating feeling, sitting behind him on his bike, driving through Delhi traffic. It took us a while to catch up with others. I did a bit of thinking as we drove towards others. I realized how much I wanted to spend time alone with Kabir. But I also realized something important that day. I could never bear to be away or be the reason of hurt for Anjali. She had been my friend, or I must now admit, more than that, since class first, when a very scared I had first entered the classroom and it was only Anjali who had pushed her bag aside and made a seat for me. From that day on, till today, I knew, there was always a seat for me, reserved, beside one important person. Then how could I just forget about that same person, only because someone new, equally important had come silently and occupied the next seat vacant by my side? That would be mean and cruel of me. It would leave a wound, so deep in Anjali’s heart that I would feel its ache in mine.

I was clear on one thing. As Kabir rested his heavy bike on its pedal stand and looked at me smilingly, I knew Anjali and Kabir were like my two eyes. To see clearly, I not only needed them both, I also needed them to see together.

“Where HAVE you been?” Anjali practically shouted on spotting us. Apparently we were quite late and the order for pizza and drinks had been placed. While Kabir revised the order and spoke to the manager, I had taken the opportunity to reach the table first, to calm down the testy Anjali.

And so it was, our first group outing together. Dev knew of cource, so there was no questioning from him or Danish. Guys know these things I suppose.

Our table was the best one in the joint, next to the large window and a wonderful view. Kabir sat opposite to me and I was sitting next to a grumpy Anjali. I had a lot of cajoling to do and by the end of the event; she had calmed down an octane. Anjali was not the kinds to take ignorance easily. She was a dedicated and loyal friend, asking for the same back in return and nothing else. I knew she was feeling left out ever since Kabir and I became a thing. I knew, even though she hated his guts, she had accepted Kabir and my friendship with a lot of maturity and not to mention, difficulty.

Riya looked at Anjali’s picture in her yearbook. She stood holding the trophy and scholarship certificate in this shot. Riya smiled and recalled how happy she had been that day. Anjali was a great friend. She had been with Riya through the worst phase of her life, never criticizing or questioning her friend, just supporting and giving hope. Riya missed her. Kabir and Anjali were the two she loved the most and missed the most as well.

‘Well, at least Anjali I can speak to . . .’ Riya thought to herself as she picked up her phone and made the international call.

CHAPTER-24

T
he month of October saw the beginning of the basketball tournaments and the practice sessions for the annual day. This time Angad Pal Singh was the team captain. Angad had been in team A since his entry in school. He was currently in the PCM with Computer science section and a very able sports man. He had a huge figure, gigantic body size. His muscles and legs were bunched up as he played squash as well as football at the local gymnasium and club. His father and mother were both dentists and their business was flourishing superbly. He had two elder sisters, all married and settled in Canada. Needless to say, money was never an issue. He drove around in the latest cars, wore expensive clothes and accessories and was a sober student as well. We knew he would not clear the MBBS papers, yet he would become a dentist by clearing the BDS surely. Another thing about Angad was his simplicity. Despite his huge stature and large physique, he was a gentle soul. Always ready with a smile and a humble bow, ready to help whoever needed it.

On field Kabir and Angad were fast friends and worked well as a team. Tejas was practically tutored by Angad and so the coaches were expecting a better discipline from the teams this year.

Along with this, the school annual day was in its final stages. I was in the ballet as well as Kabir, Anjali and Ayesha. She was happy to be made the princess while Anjali played the role of the queen. Kabir was the prince.

“You know Riya, that Ayesha is over the moon that Kabir is her prince!” Anjali spoke in the recess that day.

“Really? I did not notice.” I pretended to be reading Harry Potter.

“Oh shut up! I saw your face yesterday when he did that scene where he kisses the princess’s hand. You were green with jealousy . . .” Anjali replied.

“NO, I wasn’t!!” I closed my book.

“Yes you were! And darling, I’m not the only one who saw this. All the other characters that were on stage that time saw it. People are just babbling how lucky Ayesha is and how unlucky you are that despite being in the same ballet, she got to be Kabir’s princess and you were made the minister of the Kingdom.” Anjali spoke calmly.

“So what do you want me to do? Cry? Throw a tantrum? Hmm? We all know Ayesha is the pretty face, so it was bound to happen . . . stop saying anything more about this.” I replied and began fumbling with my book. I had snapped it before putting the book mark and now my irritation was piloting.

The recess got over and we went back in our classes. It was biology and Ms. Gayatri was explaining the various aspects of Organic evolution.

I was sitting, dejectedly with my head down when I heard a familiar phrase.

“May I come in Ma’am?”

I looked up to see Kabir holding our class registers in one hand, standing at the door.

Ms. Gayatri allowed him inside and he placed the registers on her table saying that the Maths teacher had sent them and that they were to be distributed.

He then looked towards me and I tried to smile. There was a moment of grin on his gorgeous face and then a worry line developed on his fore head. He tilted his head a tiny bit backwards and inquired in signs what was bothering me. I still wonder how he knew it always that there was something on my mind. I nodded in denial, of cource, but I knew the idea had not left him, as I saw his eyes questioning me when he exited from my class.

The next class was Library. Since our library was huge, I and Anjali selected a corner to ourselves and sat down to read a book. Anjali preferred to read the newspaper; she said that the variety school offered was not available in her home. I wondered what more did she want after her dad had prescribed three national papers, two international magazines and five Indian magazines for his daughter. I got up to go to the literature section to check for something I fancied. A hand came out of nowhere and pulled me aside.

“What? Who . . . Kabir? What are you doing here?” The sudden appearance of the reason of my worry jolted me a bit.

“What is wrong?” he looked straight at me.

“What? Nothing is wrong, what do you mean?” I knew what he was implying yet I was not prepared to tell him my feelings, not yet.

“There is something troubling my flightless bird and I want to know what it is.” Kabir stroked my palms gently. It had a hugely soothing effect and I turned away from him a bit.

“What is it Riya?” he took a step closer and I could feel his body heat besides mine. He had a genteel yet demanding tone.

“Are you bunking a class?” I asked.

“It’s our games period. Don’t try changing the topic. You know I won’t go till you tell me.” Kabir tightened his grasp on my hand and gently pulled me closer.

I looked up and saw so much concern and worry on his face for me that for a minute I could not hear the others in the library. It was just us. I wondered if I was insecure for a reason or was it just the gossip getting to me. He stood there in front of me, holding my hand and looking at me the way any girl would want her man to look only at her, and here I was wondering if he enjoyed kissing Ayesha’s hand during the rehearsals.

‘I . . . heard things . . .” I began speaking.

“What kind of things Riya?”

“About you and Ayesha . . . practicing . . .” I did not have to speak more. Apparently Kabir had heard them too. Dev kept an ear for all such things.

“Hmm. I knew you would hear those dumb things too but I was sure you would not be affected by them. You know what you mean to me Riya. You mean the entire world, my entire life my happiness and most important person for me. Still, you listen to such crap. Do I have to tell you how much I . . .” He raised my hand and placed it on his chest, right next to his heart. I could feel it beat inside.

“DO I have to say it Riya?” he asked again.

I stood there looking at him and wondering, do I really need to hear him say it? I knew, everyone knew. So why was I so bothered? Why was my heart so restless, why did I feel so listless?

“Tell me Riya . . . what is bothering you?” Kabir spoke again.

“You know Kabby, sometimes despite every realization we tend to want to be reassured. A thought which just enters our conscious somehow, engulfs it completely and we just fall helplessly in its trap. I suppose I too got entrapped as well. It’s just . . . when I see you . . . with her . . . I . . . I . . . I don’t like it Kabir!” I looked vulnerably at him.

“But you are the one for me Riya, my sweet heart flightless bird!” Kabir insisted.

“I know! I know! I . . . maybe I’m crazy! Let’s just forget it ok.” I smiled feebly and left him standing there with his thoughts.

The day got over and I was sitting on ‘our spot’ completing my English assignment when Dev came up to me and sat down beside me.

“Hi, seen Kabir?” I enquired. I knew Kabir was supposed to complete this same English assignment as well.

“Nopes. But he looked stressed today. Did you two fight?” Dev was sipping a mango drink. He opened one tetra pack for me as well, without bothering to enquire if I needed it or not. I took it readily as any denial would have hurt him. Dev always treated all his friends equally. What was good for him was good for them in his eyes. This behaviour had won him tremendous amount of friendship. There was not a soul or worker in our huge school who did not wish Dev each morning. The gardeners, the janitor, the watchmen, the administrative staff, Principal’s peon, the lady servants, the bus drivers, the lab assistants, the electricians, plumbers, sweepers . . . and all the students; everyone knew who Dev Verma was.

“That’s weird; we were to complete his English assignment today. He has been delaying it for a while now Dev. And what about the status of your work, or should I even be asking?” It occurred to me that Dev was no different. If Kabir did his work; Dev simply copied it or did not bother finishing it at all. I was actually mentoring two boys of the sports team, the supposedly rugged tough ones.

“I will finish it after Kabir does.” Dev replied nonchalantly and began browsing something on his i-pad. Carrying gadgets was prohibited in school yet these sports boys and a few other groups were chronic non adherent defaulters.

“Dev Verma, you know very well I will have to report you and your i-pad to the teachers. Mr. Bony will be mad at you again, he was livid last week when you were caught with cigarettes in your bag!” I looked at him sternly.

“Yeah. I know. I did not realize irritating Bony was so much fun.” Dev smiled mischievously, without looking up from his gadget.

I wondered what metal it was that these boys were made from. Reprimands din’t work with them, they were not affected by physical punishment, and they hardly were concerned with career blues or even their reputation in school. All Dev and Kabby were concerned was their game. Dev had told me once he wanted to become a coach; I had considered it a joke at that time. Now, looking at him, completely oblivious to what he was doing with his life, I wondered what his parents must feel like.