Schoolmates (20 page)

“You are such a good artist mama. I love you!” Raibir hugged her.

Riya felt blessed for the umpteenth time. She was the luckiest woman. There were still two people in her life who loved her with equal intensity. And a third one was due shortly. She touched her belly and missed her husband’s warm caresses.

CHAPTER-34

“W
ill I never take you out for a ride now? “ Kabir had asked me as we stood in queue for our annualmedical check-up.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answers for. It is an invitation for trouble.” I replied.

“But I miss you Riya.”

“I miss all that too. My movements are still watched Kabir. How can I ever manage to escape that?” I said hopelessly.

“You just say yes. And I will do the rest.” Kabir held my hand stealthily.

“Let’s not get into trouble Kabir.” I had replied.

There was a marriage function a few days later. I recall how delighted Kabir was to see my henna covered hands. I never figured out his enthusiasm, but he took information regarding the venue and the time from me many times in that week.

As I stood with a few relatives looking around in the wedding hall, my cell rang. I saw it was Kabir’s number. I took a few steps aside and answered his call.

“Come outside. I am waiting for you in the car park. Tell someone you are going for food or something.” Kabir spoke.

I was thrilled and very frightened. I walked up to my mother and said I was going out to get some fresh air. It was November and the Delhi weather was changing shades from warm to a very soothing cool evenings.

He was there. Waiting in the shadows of the trees.

“What are you doing here?” I asked surprised.

“Taking my bird for a ride. Hop on.” He patted his back seat.

“Kabir, I don’t know if we should . . . I mean . . .” I stood there torn between my head and my heart.

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring you back soon. Just a while. I really have been too away from you, my love.”

I did not have the power to refuse him. I sat down behind him and we drove off once again like the good old days. I remember nothing more than clutching Kabir tightly as I never wanted that ride to end. I was flying and the fresh wind brought back colour to my face. I knew my life with him was complete. But a fear had gripped me and it was destroying the beauty of this moment. Even though I was happy to be with the boy I loved, cheating my parents was a thought which was haunting me. The fact that this was prohibited and that I was doing wrong kept lurking in my mind. I was happy but not completely.

“Let’s go back Kabir. I’m beginning to worry.” I said finally. Kabir did not protest. He never did these days. The only time we had a tiff was when he was made the team captain and I had sympathized with Tejas.

Kabir had stopped refuting anything I said. He was way too much obedient. I liked that about him, his understanding nature but . . . there was something that had begun bothering me now. He was a little too obedient. I wanted him to think independently and make choices without me in them. But his world revolved around me and sometimes it felt that I was making his choices as well.

“Happy?” he asked as he dropped me back. “Immensely . . . I’m so proud of you Kabby.” I said “I love you.” He said and smiled at me. I looked down with shyness.

“Yes, I know . . . I . . . me too.” I did not say it, but I knew he knew as well.

He left and I joined my people back. My father saw me entering and walked up to me.

“That took time. Where were you?” “Outside, dad.” I hesitated. Looking him in the eye and lying was not something I could do. He touched my cheeks and then stared at me. I felt he knew where I was, but somehow, may be since we were in a crowd of relatives, he choose not to say anything.

I was scolded the next day. He had felt my ice cold cheeks and knew I was out for a reason. Though he did not have proof of it, still I was warned again and again. My mom had intervened finally when I had started to cry and insisted that dad come to his senses and stop berating their only child.

He had retired to his study then and my mother sat me down for a little talk.

“Riya, did you meet him yesterday? Do not attempt to lie. I need to know.” She asked.

I nodded in affirmation.

“Why? When we have asked you to concentrate on your studies why do you do this? That boy is no good.” She said.

“I am concentrating on my studies mama. I know you two are concerned. But trust me; Kabir is not the evil boy you two have in mind. He is a good human being. His grades are not what they once were. He has improved tremendously, all because he does not want people to tease me. Go and meet our teachers they will tell you.” I said wiping away my random my tears.

“But when we have asked you not to meet him, why do you do so?” she asked again.

“Because I tried to stay away from him . . . but I can’t mamma . . . he means a lot . . . I love him!” There. I had said it out loud. It felt a huge release of pressure.

“Please don’t take it in the wrong sense mamma. We both are focused on making a great career first. We will not give you or dad a chance to be mad at us again . . . but, I can’t stay detached from him. Don’t ask me to do that.” I held her hands.

My mother had been a wise woman from her youth. She saw in my eyes what my father had not seen. Determination, the very same force she saw in Kabir’s eyes that day when she had first seen him. The day dad had slapped him. She knew very well, that stronger than love was the faith and determination we both had in common that joined us together in our bond. And this was something no outsider could break.

“Riya, I understand what you are saying, but don’t you think making a career is something that you two can’t do as long as you stay together. School life is not what actual life is outside. That boy follows you around. He needs to become a man first. And you, young lady, you are over the moon for him that will get you nowhere. I’m not mad at you; I know a thing about love too. Your father, my husband, is a very sensitive man, his anger stems from his love for you. My child, you two need time away from each other. See the world outside once. Learn how it revolves and then decide what it is that you want. Riya, you have the potential of becoming successful even with a distraction called Kabir. But honestly ask yourself, can he do the same?” My mom left after that and I could not sleep the whole night. I knew she was right but somehow I was fighting to prove her wrong. I and Kabir could not bear to live apart. We could be successful along with each other.

Or couldn’t we?

CHAPTER-35

T
he next day was the beginning of interschool tournaments. I was busy with the literary fests while Kabir led his basketball team from one victory to another. It was December and the school was alive with so much fun and activity that we both got ample time to spend with each other.

It was about this time that Dev met Surbhi and fell in love with her simplicity. Kabir told me later as we sat in the auditorium that Dev was such a shy guy when it came to expressing is love for Surbhi that it had taken him two whole months just to walk next to her. But now, they were probably going to replace us and be the new famous couple in the school.

“That’s amazing! I never thought we were that famous!” I said. “Yes we are Madam Curie.” Kabir replied.

“Pity then, our spot-light will go. I will miss being famous!” I said mockingly. It was meant as a joke but somehow Kabir took it to heart.

“That . . . I will not allow to happen.”

“Chill Kabby, I was joking. Besides, I like the focus to be off now. Too many eyes watch us. I don’t appreciate being the gold fish everywhere I go!” I said sipping coffee that Kabir had brought for me.

“How did your dad find out about the ride?” Kabir asked suddenly.

“He is an army man Kabir. He knows how to spy. He touched my cheek; they were cold from the wind, too cold for a normal person who was just strolling for air. Anyway, I knew they would find out we were still together.” I replied.

“Maybe I should join Army, perhaps then he would like me.” Kabir said.

“Ah! I doubt it; you wish to be something new every day. Wasn’t it yesterday when you wanted to be a Chartered Accountant so that you could manage my finances? And before that you just wanted to be an international basketball coach, just like Dev! I mean, when will you seriously work towards a career? You are aware how high the cut-off lists are for commerce students! They go beyond us science lot . . . I wonder why! But the real fact remains this that I will perhaps with sheer grit may clear an entrance, but you with a meagre percentage won’t get admission in B.Com . . . ever thought of that Mr. Casanova?” I finished my coffee.

“Well, I will get admission where ever you are studying. Leave that to me.” Kabir replied. He looked at the crowd of students filling the auditorium for the next declamation round. Their match was to begin soon as well.

“I don’t think that would be wise Kabir. It is not that easy as well. You ought to study where it will help you secure a better life.” I protested. I was shocked how relaxed he was regarding all this.

“My better life is sitting next to me now. So I will go where she goes.” He looked at me and smiled lovingly. I saw my face reflecting in his deep brown eyes and the love that caressed them. I knew any woman would be the luckiest one to obtain that look from the man she loved. Very few had seen that blessing. Yet there was a nagging feeling in my thoughts.

“Kabir . . . you can’t follow me everywhere.” I said.

“Yes, I can,” he touched my hand and then sprang to his feet. It was time he left for his team. I too got up and walked where my friends were preparing for the next round.

The day progressed well. Our school won a few of the literary competitions. Anjali won every single one she participated in. I too won most of them and stood second in the rest. Ronit was the comparer; I must admit his accent sounded wonderful on the microphone. A few students from other schools did giggle initially but Ronit’s confidence and clarity of speech won them all over.

In the adjoining auditorium, Surbhi’s work of art won all the prizes that the arts team had to offer. She was indeed talented. I saw Dev leave that hall soon after the prizes were announced. I could not help but smile. He looked completely adorable as he stood looking at Surbhi with all her trophies in hand.

“Anjali, did you know Surbhi and Dev were dating?” I asked Anjali who sat next to me writing the report on today’s activities for ‘Flashes’-our school magazine.

“Yes. All my friends are somehow magically entwined with those basketball goons!” she muttered under her breath. I knew she was shocked about Surbhi too falling for a sports guy.

“I heard they will now replace me and Kabir as the next most famous couple in the school!” I played with her a bit longer.

“What does it matter? You two are so popular that Dev will have to fail twice to create the waves your Kabby created. Either way, I care not one rupee for who is declared the bigger lover amongst them both!” Anjali scribbled faster out of frustration.

It was the last period of the day. The competitions were over for that tier and we all were in our classes. The bell was to ring in another ten minutes. I was reading Jane Austin, my favourite book when all of a sudden Manavi entered our class. She asked for chalks, which I knew was a ruse. She beckoned me to look outside the room. What I saw shook me to the core.

It left no doubt in the minds of everyone in school that day, who was and remained the ‘most popular couple’ ever in school.

Riya switched off the night lamp in Raibir’s room. Tiny stars revolved on his ceiling. The moon and sun cut outs glowed as their radium emitted their energy when the charged electrons fell back in shell to a lower energy state.

Riya nodded her head. She just couldn’t stop being a science professor. Her son was mesmerized and fascinated by the mysteries and enigmas of the universe and everything related with that concept was known to him. He dreamt of being a scientist in NASA. Riya was often amazed and spell-bound when he spokeof it . . . her husband was never shocked or surprised. What else would he inherit from his mom, if not the love for science!

Riya walked into her room and sat down in front of the television. It was getting to her now . . . the separation from him. He called daily, twice and enquired about everything. He was dedicated and loving and despite the fact that she had to take care of all his belongings, she still missed her husband immensely today. He was returning soon, but an entire fortnight without him in this big house was irritating and saddening her. Riya opened her chest of drawers and pulled out a few photo albums. There, amid numerous school pictures her eyes fell on one particular photograph.

It was not clear, since it had been clicked by a cell phone, then uploaded on Facebook and then downloaded and printed for her. But the writing that it showed was clear enough.

Riya recalled how shocked Anjali was when they both had looked out of the classroom that day when Manavi had asked them to. “Holy crap . . .” was what had escaped Anjali’s lips in amazement to the extent Kabir had gone in expressing his love for me.

Riya ran her soft fingers over the crease of the picture. It showed a banner, hung from the third floor of their school building. The words were what every teenage girl dreams of hearing . . .

“Riya, I Love You . . .” He had received a week’s detention, but ensured that we remained the topic of fascination forever.

CHAPTER-36

I
was doing over time in my study group. The exam stress was getting to me. I knew my preparations were good, yet there was the fear of failure. I had always dreamt of being a doctor. My days were full with work, study and . . . Kabir.

He had returned after a week’s detention. I was upset that he never learnt and he felt he upheld the tradition of getting at least one detention every academic year.

“You never bother to think what my parents feel. They found out and I had to listen on your account again. Why don’t you behave Kabir? We are not kids any more. Be serious,” I said in recess. The schools were to close for us seniors in a few weeks. Our juniors were planning our farewell. How time flew!