Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romance. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

A to Z: Bindiya

Read Part 1: Akash

I have always been the observer in this class. I am not exactly quiet or anything but I have always felt like an older soul than the rest of my counterparts. I like to see what lies beneath the surface and it amuses me. Today is the first day of school and already there is tension, pushes and pulls in various relationships. I stop with analyzing though. I do not speak nor advice as I think it is not my place.

Zara walked into the room, shoulders thrown back. She dumped her bag in the seat in front of me and surveyed the classroom.I knew her, but not personally, just by reputation.She was one of the most popular kids in school and not in the traditional way. She was the public face, so to say, our own Public Relations Officer. She made all the speeches, held all the offices, was the teacher's and principal's favorite. Everyone saw her as a studious, serious person. But I had always seen something beyond that in her eyes. A need to break out of her image. To be herself which must have been something different.  I saw that more now. This might be an interesting year, our last year of school.

Her eyes had stopped on Akash, the new guy. That is how all of us will always remember him. Leaning over his desk, hair falling over his eyes, he was gazing out of the window. Then I saw an earthquake waiting to happen. Nina thumped her on the back shaking her out of her reverie. "Hi, How were your hols?"she shrieked. "Did you know the name of that pretty girl who introduced herself to Farida? I hope she wants to be friends with me." There she went again with one of her crushes. I looked for Zara's reaction, she must know that she would have to pick up all the pieces again. She did not betray any reaction, " No I missed the assembly, my bus was late." she said.

Then Nina pointed, "I know who that is, that's Akash by the window. The new transfer student from England. Isn't he hot?" she rattled on, unmindful of Zara's wince. Zara furiously shushed her," Stop being embarrassing,"and flounced out in the direction of the water cooler. Akash had been observing this furious discussion between Nina and Zara and got up to go out after a whispered conference with Sam. I saw Nina move her bag in the seat in front of mine. There she went again, I am sure Zara would be annoyed but wouldn't say anything.

I picked up my book and began to read hoping to get in a few minutes of relaxation before the Terror's class. Ten minutes later, I heard a "Hmph" from Nina and looked up to see Akash and Zara half running, half dragging each other into the class, doubling over with laughter. Now I was definitely predicting a higher intensity earthquake.

Zara turned to me and smiled and put out her hand," Hi, I'm Zara. You are Bindiya, right? This is Nina. That's Akash." This was met by a sweeping glance at me from Nina and a smile from Akash. I stifled a laugh. I was definitely going to like getting to know Zara. Nina, not so much. I had known her in kindergarten and she was not someone I wanted to be friends with. They turned back to their desks to sort out their seating arrangements. Nina plonked herself under the fan and though Zara wrinkled her nose a bit, she did not say anything. This was starting to look like something of a pattern.

Friday, September 5, 2014

A to Z - Akash

I am in yet another school- my 7th school in 8 years. I can't even make an effort anymore. I smile, I wave, I make inane conversation mechanically. All the schools look the same, grey or pale green institutional colors with bars in the windows. There are more people who have coalesced into a single identity than I can remember.

As the breeze from the window hit me, I thanked my stars for having bagged the prime window seat. All my years of moving have left me with one important lesson. 'Always be on time on the first day of school'. I was inevitably late every other day. The first day for me is a milestone. The day you pick your seats and proceed to scare away everyone from you for the rest of the year with the best imitation of the evil eye. I never failed to get the seat I wanted.

"Eeeh," a shriek interrupted my thoughts. A slightly built classmate of mine was busy shushing her statuesque friend. Her friend towered over her but quailed in the line of her fierce gaze. Turning slightly, she caught me observing their conversation and it deepened into an angry or embarrassed flush. I puzzled over which it was. Wait, the taller girl looked familiar. She was a danger Sam had warned me against. Sam was my campus buddy. My first normal campus buddy, actually. Therefore by default, he was the first person I met at Avon High. Providentially, he turned out to be awesome and in the same grade as me. To quote Sam, 'She is on the prowl. So take care.' That sounded ominous and he assured me it had nothing to do with any sort of relationship which confused me even further.

Still, I took his warning to heart. I needed to figure my life out before I even thought about anything else. A school each year was hard enough without any potential entanglements. I did not work well with high maintenance. "Zara! Zara! Stop!" Nina cried out. So her name was Zara. Interesting name! She didn't pay any attention and just continued walking. "Sam!" I tapped his shoulder. He had the other good window seat in front of me." I need a drink of water!" "The cooler's down the hallway. Head straight down and take a right". "Cool! Thanks! No, I 'll find it, not a problem!" I hurried in the direction of the water cooler.