Schoolmates (13 page)

CHAPTER-22

S
chool reopened and I was now in a different section. I had taken biology and Kabir had taken commerce.

“I will study biology too!” Kabir had insisted that day, in the pottery class once.

“NO!” I had spoken firmly, my hands all imbued with clay. “You hate biology! I remember well how I had made all your and Dev’s diagrams! I swear I can’t do it for two more years. Besides, you must study something YOU wish to study, not what your friend is studying.” My pot was made.

“But you can teach me, I am a swift learner!” Kabir was just standing next to me. We were in casuals. I was wearing knee length straight beige tights with platform slip-on’s and a pink shirt and he was wearing a cool summer shirt with light blue khakis and sneakers.

“Kabir, please roll my sleeve!” I extended my arm towards him. He held it lovingly and began rolling my sleeves. There were a few who sneaked looks at our end, but we were oblivious to all that.

“See, who would do that for you in A section?” he made a face, he knew I was right. God! I loved that innocent look on his face.

“You will. I will call you from your C section.” I smiled and he took a step closer.

I had not realized that he had pulled height in these holidays. He was taller and much more brawny now, I suppose those gyms in Chicago pumped in loads of muscles into his biceps. I felt my pulse rise.

He came and stood behind me and placed one of his hands on my extended arm, sliding his hand slowly down my arm. I felt my entire body shiver and I let out a tiny whisper calling out his name.

“Kabir! “ I whispered. I knew he was having fun. He knew my hands were soiled and I couldn’t move.

“Yes . . . ma’am,” he soiled his hands in clay as well.

Suddenly the teacher appeared and Kabir swiftly picked up the pot I had prepared and handed it to him.

“Here Sir! Is this fine, I was just watching how she did it.”

The teacher looked fumbled and left. I saw Kabir, eyes filled with laughter and passion and I smiled blushing lightly.

“God! you know when you smile shyly like that I feel like . . . , let’s just say it will be a wise decision that we will be in separate sections, or else, I would surely have failed this year, my flightless bird!” Kabir had said.

Life was busy in eleventh. I was, as always, the class monitor and Kabir was the captain of team A. Tejas, as always was team B captain, yet another bone of contention between the rivals. They were in the same section as was Ayesha, Joy and Jagriti.

Anjali, Mamta, Ameesha and I were now in the Biology section. There were new admissions as well. A new boy student, Ronit Chandra, had joined us from USA. He had the American dream written all over him. His topics glorified America and the works of Americans. He had a funny accent as well. We allowed him to narrate his tales just to hear him in that American accent. Anjali had a gala time downsizing him in debates.

It was already the time for our second formative assessments. I had promised to help Kabir in English and Mathematics as those were still common between us. Now, English was taught to me by Ms. Josephina Mathews, an Anglo Indian, and aged but extremely talented senior English teacher. Kabir had Ms. Payal Suri. And both of these din’t see eye to eye.

Right after the teacher’s had shown us the answer sheets of our English formative papers; there was a huge commotion in the staff room. Apparently Kabir had written one of Ms. Josephina’s answers and Ms. Payal had deducted marks for it, since it represented a narrow opinion of the topic. This was objected upon by Ms. Josephina and as was doomed to happen, Kabir was again in the Principal’s office.

“I did not cheat ma’am. I merely wrote this answer. It is same as Ms. Josephina’s as I revised it from Riya’s notes.” Kabir had explained. The Principal, with all her wisdom felt small in frontof her student for the crass tactless behaviour displayed by her staff.

The gossip circulated for a few days then died down soon. A new gossip had taken wings.

Carrying cell phones to school was prohibited. Yet many students frequently sneaked them in and even used them, sometimes foolishly enough to get caught. Ayesha had planned to get even with me for a while now. I realized this after the incident of ‘The cell and the bell’ . . . as it was famously referred to afterwards. Apparently Kabir had been bringing his cell for quite a while and everyone knew about it. Me included. But I swear, I had tried putting sense in him.

Ayesha had tried in vain to win Kabir’s heart with all her girly charms and womanly tactics. Yet he remained aloof. She was taking it very hard, especially when Dev had told her point blankly that it was Riya, Kabir was in love with and that we were solid as a rock!

So in cahoots with Tejas, she managed to slip Kabir’s cell phone in my school bag, after recess. She knew if discovered, I will never take Kabir’s name. My parents would come to know and then everything about me and Kabir would be revealed to them.

Somehow she did manage to do this swapping. And it was in the seventh period, Chemistry, that there was a sudden burst of sound on our door.

I saw a panting Kabir, looking more alarmed than tired asking permission to step in. A few heads turned my way. I ignored them, keen to know the cause of the furore.

“Ma’am . . . there is a phone call for you, in the staff room!” Kabir told Ms. Anita Bishnoi, our sweet and simple Chemistry teacher. She left immediately and Kabir rushed to my side.

“Quick! Search your bag Riya. My cell is somewhere in there and it will ring soon . . . quickly!” he began picking my bag.

“What? What do you mean?” I asked dazed.

“Do as I’m saying! It’s a plot!”

I did not have to look far. There it was, neatly tucked in the pocket of my chemistry lab coat.

“What . . . how?” I looked at him.

He had a serious look on his face.

“Sorry sweet heart. I’ll take care of the rest.” With that he touched my arm lightly and left swiftly. I stood astounded when all of a sudden there was the sound of the cell phone ringing. It became clear to me what Kabir had done, to save my skin.

Needless to say, he got detention for five working days, but so did Tejas. The call had come from his cell phone. Ayesha managed to go scot—free.

I met Kabir in the park that day, en-route to my coaching for medical entrance.

“I knew she had planted it to get even with me. Ayesha would go to such extend, I had no clue. I’m sorry Riya!” Kabir held my heavy books in his hands.

“Please, it should be me who ought to apologize, Kabby! You got detention which I was supposed to face! You took the blame on yourself! Ayesha did it to make ME look bad, not get you out of class. That blew up her idea totally!!! Everyone knows the real story by now.” I was holding his free hand. Kabir rubbed my fingers. It felt great to be with him. I missed him in school.

“Come. Let me drop you home, your old man would be walking outside wondering where is darling, apple of the eye is.” He turned the ignition of his bike and took me home. Those five days without him in school, but with him on his bike were the better days of our togetherness. I was hesitant of holding him first, but soon, I started placing my free hands on his back for support. He was never fast or jerky, he knew I got scared.

I used to cover my face with a scarf while he drove. En-route he would stop and we would drink coconut water.

“You know, this is actually called Endosperm of the coconut seed!” I had remarked one day. “It contains free nuclei floating in this liquid!”

“Oh yeah! I knew all that . . . hmm . . . sure!” Kabir smiled, a pleasing, attractive grin and my day became a bit sunnier.

As Riya sat down on her work table the next morning, she recalled her numerous trips on Kabir’s bike. Her son, Raibir, had gone to school and she was working from home. She was not a doctor, as she had once planned to be. She was a lecturer in the university, teaching Biology. These days she was on a short leave. As she sipped her coconut water, recommended by her doctor, she felt the liquid wash up the fond memories once again. She extended her arms to pick up her senior school yearbooks now.

CHAPTER-23

T
he weather had taken a humid turn in Delhi after the August rains. We had a day off on 15
th
August, the Independence Day. It was planned that all of us would go to see a movie. I was allowed as well since Anjali was coming along. Jagriti’s elder brother had arranged five tickets for us girls. So Ameesha and Jaya were also in.

All of us were dressed fashionably. I was in jeans and so was Jaya. Ameesha surprisingly wore a salwar suit and Anjali was in a long blowy paisley sprint skirt, looking very feminine. I had tied my hair in a bun since the weather did not permit any loose strands today.

“So, after we finish the movie, I feel a snack of Pizza is in order?” Anjali spoke, as we stood outside the auditorium awaiting the doors to open.

“Yeah, that is if we find anything left with seats . . .” Jaya spoke sipping her cool lemonade.

“I know, everyone is out it seems . . .” I looked around the crowded space. There were families and groups of people justlike us. Popcorn vendors were minting money, selling corn at gold rates!

Since we had come to watch a family movie, there were people from all walks of life. A few dads were still busy on their cell phones. An old couple was seated with their grandchildren. A mom was adjusting her son’s trousers, who was too young to realize what was happening.

Amid all of them, I saw suddenly, with a wave of amazement, three familiar faces approaching us!

“What are THEY doing here?” Anjali stood akimbo and looked sharply at the three guys sauntering towards us girls.

“Hi!” Dev was the first one to speak. Kabir just looked lovingly at me.

“Hi Dev!” I replied blushing from watching Kabir look at me with such intense feelings. “What are you three doing here?” I asked.

“Well, Amit is our friend as well, isn’t he? So we just pooled in for three more tickets . . . mind you, they are right next to yours!” Danish spoke.

“Danish, you’re alone? Where is your Meenakshi?” Ameesha asked, wondering how it was that Danish was alone.

“She had an appointment.” Danish spoke proudly, reflecting his great sense of achievement in having such a smart girlfriend.

We knew where Meenakshi’s appointment was . . . the high end saloons of Saket.

Kabir had not spoken a word so far. I knew the other girls were watching him, from the crowd even, he was indeed the most handsome and eye catching figure. He slid next to me and gently brushed his hand on mine. I could feel the loving warmth of that slithering down my whole body and making my legs go weak again.

Anjali stood next to Jagriti, frowning. She had this day planned for us and now Kabir had become the focus of my attention.

“I hate that boy!” she mumbled.

Jagriti heard her and spoke bemused, “Well sweet heart, you are then, the only girl who does . . . just look around yourself.” As Anjali stood there fuming, Kabir pulled me towards him and finally spoke, “Hi Anjali, you look pissed I came!”

I was surprised at his audacity.

“Yes! Totally pissed!” Anjali replied back.

I had stopped being surprised at hers a long time ago.

“Glad we understand each other!” he replied and flashed one of his victorious triumphant yet most romantic smile.

I was wondering how best to neutralize this war like situation when the doors were opened and the rush was swept towards the entrance. I held Anjali’s arm and walked in with her, smiling and nodding my head.

Kabir sat next to me in the movie hall, with Anjali on my other side. Dev sat next to Danish and the girls. The movie was good, or so I heard later. The dance sequences were appreciated and the songs were hummed a few times. I was aware that there was a great climax and that the ending was a happy one. But I did not register anything that was shown on the screen that day. Kabir had held my hand and all I remember was that those three and a half hours were the best of my life; I could spend days, just being held by him. He had gently stroked my palms, wrist and played along with my fingers. I had jerked my hand once or twice and Anjali had grumbled a bit more.

Yet, despite her numerous denials, Kabir had been a gentleman and bought her drinks and snacks, as he had for me.

“Let’s go for food!” Dev spoke after we were out in the open. The heat was sweltering and all of us were eager to enter a restaurant. Besides, Dev had a huge appetite. He had amazingly shot up in height these summer holidays and now stood a neat five-eight! He was lean yet every blood vessel on his muscular arms stood out. I had not particularly ever paid attention to him, but today I could not help notice how smart and appealing Dev had turned out. It was therefore not left unnoticed how Jaya had taken to standing next to him or moving along with him.

“Fine, where do you girls want to eat?” Kabir asked.

“Where we can sit, basically where we find a table! Everything seems full!” Jagriti looked around wondering where to head. She had a habit of worrying way too much, even on minor issues.

“Don’t you worry girl, Kabby knows half the restaurant people in this area!” Dev spoke proudly of his best friend.

“Really?” Anjali saw her chance to irk Kabir and me. “We leave it to you then, Kabby, to find us a good spot, isn’t that appropriate?” She had a remarkable ability to convince the minds. I knew her tricks though, but others were ignorant of her craftiness.

“Hmm . . . let me make a few calls. Riya, you would like Pizza right?” Kabir looked at me, pulling out his cell phone.

“Yes she would, and also a neat, comfortable seat.” Anjali stood next to me and slid her arm in mine, linking them together affirming her claim on me.

Kabir just smiled and took a few steps away from the group as his phone connection went alive.

“What are you doing Anjali? You know it’s extremely difficult finding a table today!” I spoke to her in a quick and urgent tone.

“Mr. Show-off is getting what he deserves!” Anjali replied, pleased with her plot. “Besides, if he knows someone, it should be useful now that we need help. Nevertheless, we can always go back to my place, if he does not come up with a plan!” Anjali looked around for a seat to rest her feet till Kabir figured out how best to reveal his failure to us.