Part 13

27.

After going through a low point, I finally managed to recover myself, thanks to those dogs who were there. I had finally got into study mode and slogged it over ten hours a day.  January last week was the farewell. It was all emotional event, girls and teachers crying. When we talk about school, it is really the friends that we talk about. And since I knew all of them will be with me even after twelth standard got over, the farewell had lost its charm somewhat. After all, most of them lived a few blocks away. And Farewell was also the last time I conversed with Sabinah for over a month.

During the early February, our retests were conducted, and were checked on the spot. I cleared chemistry finally. Scored Thirty eight. That was a confidence booster. A week later we were supposed to receive our admit cards. Charulata gave me mine after checking all the pending dues I had to pay to school.

‘Best of luck,’ She said with a smiling face, which was extremely rare. I touched her feet Yes I did that. Was somewhat religious. Take your ‘Guru’s’ blessings, the elder ones had said.

I did slog it out in the last month before Board. Really had lost senses of myself, didn’t care how I looked like. It was the final lap, and the desicisive lap of the race. Couldn’t just blow this one up. Me and other guys would conduct groups studies(mostly time waste) but we always ended our day meeting at the ground every evening. I barely remember much about the last month. But it flew by, faster than any other. March came along with holi. All I did was call all the guys and asked each ones preparation, FUCK WISHING!. Holi was forgotten. And then atlast it was time. The calendar had finally ticked on the BOARD date. First exam was physics.

…………………………………..

The first three exams arrived and dissipated. And for a change I fared pretty well. So Physics, Chemistry (such a pain in the ass it had been)and English were struck off the list. Physical, Maths and Computer were still to be tackled.

‘Oye. Pagal ho gaya hai kya? Math padh abhi. Physical ek din pehel padhiyo,’ Sarth said.

‘Pakka? Sale chud na jau.’ I asked.

‘Abe paagal hai. Chudna wo bhi physical mein aisa hai jaise randy ka lund,’ Sarth drew his comparison.

‘Abe Adi par saale tune li hi kyun physical? Tere to computer mein achche aajaenge!’ Atul said.

‘Abe why take risk dude.’ I replied.

‘Chal fir Rawat tu hum dono ko padha dega na?’ Atul asked.

‘YO!’

………………………………………………………

‘Bhenchod maine tu puri baba ramdev ki kahaani likh di us yoga wale question mein,’ Atul said as we walked down the road after leaving our examination centre.

‘Pure number hai tere to,’ Pant replied.

‘Saale usmein baba ramdev ke chutiyaape na likhne the.’ I added.

‘Maa ki choo paper ki. Saalo chup ho jao,’ Rawat replied.

‘Haan bhenchod. Anti banti shanty, ab jisne paper discuss kiya uski maa randy,’ Pant added.

‘Saale ab parso maths ka hai,’ I shivered.

‘Sabki maiya chudegi,’ Atul added.

‘Dekho ab. Abhi baat chodo in sabki. Chalo munirka. Mujhe roll khane hai,’ Pant broke in and that was the end of our discussion.

………………………………………………

I left the examination hall, and I felt like I was stoned. Math was one hell of an exam. But I didn’t want to think about it anymore. It was over, and nothing could be done about it anymore. So just let the topic suck dicks!

About twenty minutes later, we finally left the centre, with Sarth, Pant and Monu in cheerful mood while Atul and me weren’t too keen.

‘Bhenchod khatm boards. AAAKHIRRR!! Aaj to jaunga G.B Road!’ Pant declared triumphantly.

‘Sale bol mat. Abhi humara computer ka bacha hai. Main fail hone wala hun ismein,’ Atul cried.

‘Hai hi chutiya tu.Kisne bola tha computer lene ke liye,’ Sarth spoke.

‘Mere baap ne.’ Atul snapped back. ‘Bhai Adi agle exam mein main tere piche hi baithunga na?’ He tuned towards me. My role number was two and his was five. And no one in between us had opted for computers. So he would be sitting behind me.

‘Haan to?’ I replied.

‘BAS! Set mera tu. Sale dikha diyo Adi bhai please,’ He pleaded.

‘Adi mat dikhaiyo is maadrjaat ko. Fail hone de. Jab baap ke jute padenge muh par tab dekhne mein mazaa ayga,’ Sarth snapped.

‘Abe dost hai. Dikha dunga bechare ko,’ I replied, and Atul’s face suddenly lit up.

‘Chal paas to ho jaunga paper mein.’

But there was a saying I heard from a friend. It goes like this:

Jab kismat mein lage ho lodhe, to kaise milenge pakode.

In this case it was so true for Atul. No we didn’t get caught cheating. For that to happen, we should be able to cheat at first case. Like I told you, my roll no was two, and I was section A, the first section of twelth. Moreover, roll number one hadn’t opted for computers. So according to the seating arranged, I was at the last bench of a room, while Atul occupied the first bench of next room.

‘Bhenchod pilegi aaj to. Kya karu bhai,’ Atul was literally crying.

‘Kya kar sakte hai yaar? Tune kuch bhi padha hai?’

‘Abe yaar bhot kam. Aaj to pakka fail hun,’ He said.

‘Abe koi nahi. Dusro se puch liyo. Aur physical to hai hi paas karne ke liye,’ I offered him some hope.

‘Bas wahi hai. Warna aaj to pakka main second floor se high jump laga deta.’ He didn’t mean that, given the smile forming on his face.

‘Abe tension mat le. Dekh liyo idhar udhar se,’ I consoled him before I entered my room. God save the poor creature.

……………………………………….

‘Pil gay bhenchod main to,’ Atul greeted me after the exam.

‘Kya hua? Kuch likha bhi paper mein?’ I asked.

‘Oh! Bhot kuch. Sab and shand pel kar aagya,’ He replied.

‘Chal sahi hai yaar. Oye main zara dus minute mein aata hu,’ I tried to take a leave.

‘Kahan jaa raha hai be?’

‘Bhai boards khatm hai. Aaj ke baad pata nahi milegi bhi ya nahi,’ I replied, trying to make him understand.

‘Abe saale. To wo bhi to sector chaar mein rahegi. Mil lio kabhi bhi,’ He offered.

‘Abe wo bhi shift ho rahi hai, aur main bhi,’ I replied.

‘Tu bhi? Tu kahan jaa raha hai kutte?’ His face expression suddenly changed, as if he was bombed.                                    

‘Bataya nahi kya? Gurgaon!’ I replied.

‘Maa ke lodhe. Kab bataya sale,’ He was pissed. Really pissed.

‘Abe yaar. Abhi batata hu puri baat. Aake bataata hun,’ I left him in a hurry and made my way downstairs. I found Sabinah in front of her room, packing up her things.’

‘Hey. Finally over with them exams!’ I walked over to her.

‘Well. Yeah. FINALLY!’

‘So what you going to do today?’

‘Don’t know! Maybe go home and take a good nap. What about you.’

‘Ah. Well it’s the usual. Hanging out around with friends!’

‘Oh! Good for you then.’

‘So are you free right now!’ I hoped she could hang out with me at Priyas or somewhere.

‘Perhaps. But right now my brother is coming to pick me up.’

‘Oh! Poor me then!’ I gave her a disappointed look. By then Atul had caught up on me. I knew I had to leave now.

‘Okay then. This is probably the last time we are meeting!’ I whined.

‘OH? How come?’

‘Well. I have decided to shift back to gurgaon after a while.’

‘Oh! That’s bad. Hope we could meet some day. You have been a really great friend. Will miss you a lot.’ She said.

‘Me too. Okay then. I will leave now. BYE!’ We shaked hands and I departed.

That was the last time I saw her, or that was what I thought at that time.

……………………………………………………….

‘Adi kal subah ajaiyo saat baje tak,’ Sarth spoke over the phone.

‘Haan bhai. Ajaunga. Bas phone karke utha diyo subah.’ I replied

‘Chal sahi hai.’ He hung up and I went back to playing the game. It was second day after the boards got over. I was back to my old routine, playing, watching porns and all other nonsense. As I played my uncle tapped my shoulders.

‘Enough with the games! You should study now.’ He said.

‘But boards just got over!’ I resisted.

‘I know! But you should prepare for IIT now. It is barely a week away.’ He said and then left me. My cousin giggled at a distance.

‘Someone bite me!’ I flipped the main switch of the computer and stomped away.

…………………………………………………….

‘I don’t think you are serious about the exam.’ My uncle yelled as I returned home the next morning after a long morning walk. He had a counseling session ready for me as I returned.

‘I received a call from the institute. They have scheduled a test this Sunday.’ He said sternly and I just nodded. I pretended to study till he was at home.The moment he left was the moment I tossed the book out of the window.

Sunday neared as I pretended to study. I hated it, to study after the exams. But I guess I had no other option. I did not wish to give the exam, but uncle kept nagging me about the importance of exam practice and all those uncomprehensive stuff. I had planned to bunk the exam and go out with the gang.And given that uncle would be visting Gurgaon, it was supposed to be a safe bet. But with a screwed up luck I was born with, it turned out it wasn’t even close to safe.

That Sunday, I was at deer park near IIT along with Atul and Sarth. Pant was the visiting guest for the day. That’s when disaster struck.

‘Oh bhenchod. Shant hojao. Tauji ka phone hai!’ I shouted with alarm clearly dripping from my tone.

I picked up the phone and braced up for the attack.

‘Where are you?’ He said in a stern, pissed off tone. I understood the very instant what could have happened. He must have received call from the coaching classes. If that was the case, I would be doomed. Understanding the delicacy of the matter, I decided not to lie, that would have made the matter worse, which would have me subjected to third degree torture. But that didn’t mean I was telling the whole truth without tweaking some facts.

‘At the market,’ I replied.

‘And what are you doing there. You were supposed to be writing your test at this time,’ He shouted at the phone, which almost made me piss in my pants.

‘I.. I didn’t want to give it,’ I stammered as I spoke.

‘Since when have you started to behave like this. You were supposed to prepare for IIT. I am really annoyed. This is bad, really bad.’ I stood there without speaking, just pressing the phone to my ear. Atul Sarth and Pant stood staring at me with puzzled expressions on their faces.

‘Kya hua?’ Sarth whispered, but my deadly silence was self explainatory. Nothing was rosy about the matter at hand.

‘We are here working days and nights out for you people and that is what you give us in return.’ Uncles voice broke the short silence. I didn’t speak. There was nothing to speak off.

‘You have really disappointed me.’ Uncle clicked of his phone, leaving me in hell of a mental mess.

‘Kya hua be?’ Atul asked.

‘Bhenchod. Saala zindagi bekar ho rakhi hai!’ I spoke finally with some effort as my voice had started to break. I threw my cell onto the ground.

‘Abe Adi hua kya! Bata to,’ Pant questioned.

‘Kya bataun yaar! Saala humesha se sun raha hun IIT karo IIT karo. Bhenchod nahi hota IIT. Na kar sakta main. Kabhi kabhi to sahi mein man karta hain khud to taang lu, saala sab ek baar mein khatam ho jaega!’ I really tried to control my tears. But just couldn’t control. I was breaking down, wilting under the pressure.

‘Abe to bol na apne tauji se nahi ho raha! Bhai there is a life beyond IIT. Humein dekh le!’ Atul consoled.

‘Chal Adi. Ek daaru ka pauwa maar. Sab sahi ho jaega.’ Pant pulled my hand.

‘Na yaar. Main ghar ja raha hun,’ I spoke as I tried to gather my composure.

‘Paagal hai bhai. Pehele apna mood thik kar.’ Sarth said.

‘Na yaar. Ghar jana hi sahi hoga.’ Looking at my condition they decided not to push me with that one. They accompanied me upto the house.

‘Bhai thik hai na. Saale kuch ulta sidha mat karlio,’ Pant said. By that time I had finally gathered myself back.

‘Na bhai! Thik hu main ab!’ I waved him bye and stepped into the house. As I had thought, uncle was home earlier than expected. Much earlier. He was back within an hour of my arrival. He called me as he had arrived.

‘Listen. I just want you to do your best.’ He said as I got seated beside him.

‘Just give in your effort. And even if then you fail, just leave it. No need to lose your sleep over it. I just want you to give it your best shot. Atleast that way you wont regret in the future.’

‘Okay now. I have got something for you.’ He unpacked some wafer packets and cold drinks out of a polybag.

‘Would you like to have some?’ he asked and I just shook my head.

‘Okay. I will keep this in kitchen. You may have them anytime you like.’ He got up and got ready for bed. He looked a bit tired himself.

………………………………………………….

A week later I came home after appearing for the IIT JEE. And believe me, I did nothing more than appearing. It was just six hours wasted. That was obvious. You didn’t expect a miracle to happen, did you? But I knew I wasn’t bailed by my uncle, not for two more weeks atleast, until all other exams, including AIEEE was over. So I tried slogging it out ofr them. BUT FINALLY THE DAY GOT OVER, THE DAY OF AIEEE. These exams weren’t really  my forte, and that was proved time and again. AIEEE wasn’t any different. Though I managed few answers, unlike JEE.

So since most of the important exams were over, I decided to shift back to Gurgaon, with my mom and brother. I did that within two days after getting through the AIEEE exams. Really mom looked ten years younger on my arrival.

‘Bhai Adi milta rahiyo,’ Sarth messaged on the phone.

‘Haan bhai. Every week.’ I replied back.

And as I had promised, I visited them every week, actually even more frequently. Ofcourse I had nothing to do at home.

‘Bhai aur Sabinah ka kya hua?’ Harsh asked in his hoarse voice as we were seated under the shed in the play ground.

‘Pata nahi yaar. Ab baat nahi hoti usse.’

‘Achcha. Fir to kisi aur pe try maar.’

‘Achcha kis par. Tu hi bata de.’

Harsh moved his head, and he finally pointed at a few girls walking around the playground. They were D K square.

‘Tomar ki padosan par try marle.’ He said.

‘Chal sahi hai. Maardunga pro kabhi.’

‘Saale kab?’ he asked.

‘Jab bhi man karega.’

‘Facebook pe baat karle usse,’ ABIG butted in.

‘Haan be. Ye sahi idea hai.’ Harsh said. ‘Vo hai teri list mein?’ He asked ABIG.

‘Na hai. Maine add nahi kiya.’ ABIG replied.

‘Pic kaisi daali hai usne?’ Harsh asked.

‘Goggles pehene hai pic mein.’ ABIG replied.

‘Saala stalker.’ Sarth mumbled from the back.

‘Chal be. Kar lunga kabhi baat. Ab dimaag mat kharaab kar,’ I said with an irritated voice. I had not really intended to talk to her.  But Harsh kept nagging me on the topic, forcing me to end up with a girlfriend and all the nonsense. But I had too much already on my plate to worry about a petty matter like that. I had more to worry about, from my results to my future ( you don’t really worry about them until these things are upon your head), so finally Harsh gave up on me, labeling me as ‘FATTU’.