Part 3

6.

Second term had started, and going by the trends, we were to be repelled by the classes, which was exactly what happened. Now, more of our time was spent at bunkers.

So like usual, we were sitting at the bunkers. By we I mean Me, Kartikey, Mahima, Raveena and Nayan. That’s when Sanskrit came.

‘Hello guys.’

‘Hi’ Raveena and Sanya called out in unison.

I caught a glimpse of Mahima, who made a disgusted face. Somehow she didn’t seemed to appreciate Sanskriti as a girl for Milo. She claimed that Sanskriti was a cunning girl. By then even I got to know Sanskriti a bit and going by that, she was far far away from cunning or clever. She just looked Milo as her friend at the moment, but she might fall for him later, I thought.

Raveena and Sanya made space for Sanskriti as she sat next to them. Sanya, Raveena and Kartikey engrossed themselves into a conversation.

‘Hey I’ll be back.’ Nayan said, who stood up and prepared to leave.

‘Ruk, main bhi chalti hun.’ Mahima said.

They both started to leave as I stared at them, smiling naughtily. Nayan looked back at me and a smiled formed on his face as well. I winked at him as they left. Lately they both had looked interested in one another. They both really complemented each other. At least someone’s getting a girl.Thinking about myself, man, I do nothing but just stare at that girl as I pass her at the corridors or at the ground. But sometimes I had noticed her staring me back. It might have been my imagination as I was not a really good looking guy, bit fat. I had seen her many times with Sanskriti. Maybe I could ask Sanskrit to introduce me to her.

I turned my eyes to Sanskriti. She was busy in her conversation, so I decided against talking to her about my fantasies just yet. I could hear Kartikey flirting with her again. That bitch won’t fall in line.

About a day or two later, all of us were at Priya for Raveena’s birthday bash. We all gathered at the McD, but for some reason Milo and Nayan left us for a while and we were left waiting for them.

‘Hey Kartikey look.’ I said, pointing at a couple.

At a distance the couple was literally making out at a corner in broad daylight. They were snogging as the boy groped at the girls chest while the girl had her hands in this jeans.

‘What the fuck is that going on. Come on lets go and check it out.’

As we approached the couple, the girl saw us and the couple disappeared into an alley.

‘Shit, we missed it.’ Kartikey said in dismay

‘Man, that scenes are enough for hardness for about a day or two.’ I said.

We turned back and started back when we noticed that everyone had disappeared.

‘Where are they?’ I asked.

‘No idea. Call them.’ Kartikey replied.

I called Mahima to ask their coordinates.

‘They are in the park in front of Priya.’

‘Chal fir.’

We searched the whole park but they were nowhere to be found. After fifteen minutes, I called them again.

‘Where are you guys?’

‘I’m sorry yaar. We all are at McD. Be here quickly’

‘Bhenchod hum chutiye hai kya?’ Kartikey shouted with frustration.

We walked back to McD and again, we found no one of our concern.

‘Where are you guys? Do you think we are fools or something?’ I shouted at the phone, exasperated.

‘Abe yaar sorry humne socha ki Nirulas chalte hai. Tum log nirulas ajao.’

‘Hum ghar ke liye nikal chuke hai. Byee.’

I hung up as me and Kartikey headed to hire an auto back to our homes.

‘I’m not hanging around with them anymore.’ Kartikey claimed.

‘Me neither.’ I nodded. We felt unimportant and unwanted at the moment. So we decided to break off.

So that was the start of the withering of a short lived group called ‘Smackers’. I had somehow known this was bound to happen. A group consisting of both boys and girls never lasts too long.

Two days later at school, it became official that Nayan and Mahima are couples. So the subgroups were formed within the group. Me and Kartikey started hanging out alone, and it was evident that we no longer wanted to be with them. Though there was nothing personal with anyone, it was just the group was disintegrating.

Kartikey kept on trying it out with Sanskriti, and so did Milo. But Milo till then had no clue about it. But obviously one day or the other he had to know it, and that would be the day when Kartikey would get a fistful.

At this time around I happened to mix with Atul and gang quite well. It first started when I sat next to them in Maths period and the class had been stretching too long than what we could bear.

‘Bhenchod, ye randy kya bakwaas kar rahi hai.’ Atul threw his pen down in frustration.

‘Ye GB road ka naksha bana rahi hai. Gujju ki maa waha par pakadi gayi thi kal mujra karte hue’ Vinayak laughed in a shrill voice.

Goma, our maths teacher turned around and glared at the laughing boys.

‘Kya baat hai bohot hasi aa rahi hai? Achcha Atul khade ho jao aur batao ye wala question kaise hoga?’

Atul’s face turned pale as he stood up. After a moment he said in a bleak voice

‘Ma’am, I don’t know.’

‘At least try to karo, answer apne aap andar se aayga.’ Goma said, with circular motion of her arms.

‘Ma’am subah se kuch nahi khaya. Andar se kuch nahi aayga.’ Atul replied. I burst into laughter and so did others at a hearing distance, while Goma gave him a defeated look and turned away.

‘Oye Adi, jaldi copy dikha, question kiya hai?’ Sarth asked.

‘Haan bhai, ye le.’ I handed over my notebook to Sarth. Lately I had been studying a bit, perhaps due to the shock of the recent first term results. Few seconds later, the bell rang and Goma us to ourselves.

‘Aur Adi, padhai shadhai chal rahi hai lagta hai.’ Sarth said.

‘Kaha yaar, chuda hua hun. Lode lage hai.’ I said in an unenthusiastic tone.

‘Haan bhosdi ke, kaatle humaara chutiya. Sector chaar mein to kabhi dikha nahi tu. Khelne tak nahi aata’ Atul cried.

‘Tum log kahan khelte ho be?’

‘Gumbad ke samnein wala ground dekha hai?’ Sarth asked me.

‘Haan’

‘To aja aaj khelne paanch baje.’

‘Chal thik hai. Aaj meri class bhi nahi hai to ajaunga.’

I was at the ground that evening. I got a message from Sarth that he would be there in ten minutes, so I waited there for a while alone. At a distance I saw a huge elephantish boy walking into the playground. He resembled a lot like the wrestler BIG SHOW, just a little smaller version though. Soon Atul showed up in his trademark style and shook hands, then called out to that BIG SHOW Jr.

‘Oye A BIG, saale jaldi bat ball la.’

‘Wo kaun hai be?’ I asked him.

‘Abhishek hai wo, par hum sab use A-BIG bolte hain.’

I didn’t really need to ask the origin of the name A-BIG. It was self-explanatory. Soon Sarth came but instead of starting the play, they talked about some girls which I listened to intently.

‘A-BIG bhosdi ke khidki se hat kar humse bhi baat kar liya kar.’ Atul started.

‘Bhenchod, Tumne mujhe kab dekh liya khidki par?’ A-BIG said,confused.

‘Haan maadarchod, DK square se baat kya hone lagi hum bhaiyon ko to bhul hi gya.’

‘Haan bhul gaya, ja ab gand maraa.’ Poor A-BIG clearly sounded frustrated. But I wasn’t getting what they were talking about the window and DK and all that stuff.

‘Oye Rawat, whats all that stuff?’ I asked Sarth. We often referred Sarth as Rawat as his surname was Rawat.

‘Bataunga baad mein. Long story hai.’ He replied.

‘Okay.’

After a couple of hours, we all departed for our homes and I walked back with Atul.

‘Aur Adi aajkal smackers ke saath nahi ghumta?’ He asked, partially laughing.

‘Tujhe naam pata hai?’ I jumped, surprised.

‘Ooo. Puri class ko pata hai.’

‘Bhenchod, I told them that it would be stupid. But they just wouldn’t listen.’ I whined.

Soon we parted for our homes. So this was how I started hanging out with these guys, and like I had mentioned, they were real bitches whom I’m glad to have in my life.

7.

‘I have had enough. Now I just can’t stand here and keep on looking at her all my life. I have to go and talk to her.’ I said out to myself, as I saw the girl whom I had a crush on. But I need some help. Sanskriti was her friend and maybe she could introduce me to her.

I called Karitkey.

‘Hey bitch over here. I have a very important work for you.’

‘What’s it you whore?’ he asked.

‘What’s that girls name?’ I asked excitedly.

‘Sabinah. Why? Do you like her.’

‘Yeah, you can say that.’

‘Forget it. She is way too good for you. Moreover she is Muslim.’

‘Maa ke lodhe, I know that. But what’s wrong in trying you fag? And what if she is Muslim. Obviously I aint marrying her.’

‘Perhaps nothing. So what do you want me to do?’

‘I want you to ask Sanskriti to introduce me to her.’

‘Bas samajhle hogya.’ He said.

The next day I was standing along Sanskriti and Kartikey.

‘You like her? I mean seriously?’ Sanskriti asked me in an unbelieving tone.

‘Haan, aisa kuch.’

‘AAwww. How sweet. Main teri pakka setting karwaungi.’ She said.

‘That’s great. Kab?’

‘Chal abhi.’

‘Oh. Ye to zyada jaldi nahi hogya?’

‘Chal na ab.’

We walked upto the section B where I stood as Sanskriti walked inside. A few minutes later, she and Sabinah walked out, while I just stood there dumbstruck.

‘Have you met my friends? This is Adish and he is new to our school.’

‘Hiii.’ Sabinah held her hand out with the warmest smile which melted me away.

‘H… H.. Hey..’ I stuttered as I pulled my hand out of my pockets to shake her hand.

‘And this is Kartikey.’ Sanskriti finished.

‘Isko to main janti hun.’ Sabinah said.

We chatted for a while. By we I mean Sanskriti and Kartikey said while I did all the listening part. I was bit too nervous at that moment, though I had a few eye contacts with Sabinah. The bell rang and the heavenly time got over.

That afternoon Sanskriti somehow arranged a casual chat. She was with Sabinah when she called me over. She spoke to us both when Sabinah whispered something to her ear.

‘Nahi yaar, even I don’t him really well, perhaps just as much as you do. I don’t even know his surname. Adi tera pura naam kya hai?’ Sanskriti finished turning over to me.

‘Dwivedi. AdishDwivedi.’

‘Okay.’

What. I just can’t believe it. Sabinah was asking Sanskriti about me, which means she was taking interest in me. That’s awesome. Maybe I’m not that bad looking anyway, I thought. Sanskriti sought some reason and left both of us to ourselves. Great. But what followed later was purely my foolishness running wild. Seriously, I had no clue how to talk to a girl. Man I was so nervous I was barely able to speak. Stammering here and there, standing awkwardly. Damn, I had fucked myself up. A normal girl would have pushed me and send me tumbling downstairs.

‘Tu pata hai kya hai?’ Kartikey asked when I narrated him the incident.

‘Kya be?’

‘Tu sabse badaa choootiya hai. Chooootiyaaa.’ He replied, stressing on the word ‘chutiya’.

‘Choosle mera. Ab main kya karun ki main nervous ho jata hun.’

‘Aise to pat chuki wo tere se.’

‘Saale tujhe meri help karni chahiye.’

‘Hmmm. Pehele to tu patla ho. Abse roz subah uth kar running kar aur crunches maar.’

‘Bhenchod, chuda main to.’

‘Bandi pataani hai ya nahi.’

‘Haan haan thik hai.’

So began my daily workouts.

The next week I was back at school after a day or two of self made holidays. I could sense there was some kind of tension among Nayan, Mahima, Kartikey and all. Suddenly Milo appeared at the door and boomed.

 ‘O bhen ke lodhe. Idhar aa teri maa chodta hun.’

Karitikey stood up and moved towards and both disappeared from the door. Suddenly I realized what could have happened. Milo had gained the knowledge of Kartikey flirting with Sanskriti. He would have eventually, someday or the other. One thing about Milo was nobody wanted to pick a fight with him. People didn’t want to get on his bad side.

After Kartikey, everybody followed and so did I. We moved out of the class and saw Milo push Kartikey into a vacant class and lock the door. We tried to peep in what was going on in there. But all that was going on was just a serious chat between them.

‘Adi comeon let us fight as well, for symmetry.’ Nayan said, arm twisting me. He was getting all pumped with all that commotion. But my nature was different. I was very reluctant to get physical so I jerked my hand off.

‘Na rehen de. Mujhe na ladna.’

‘Kya hua Adi, Dar gaya?’

‘Na bas mujhe nahi ladna. Aur hum lade bhi kyun.’

‘Adi be a man.’

Before I could say anything the door flew open and Milo walked away, while Kartikey sat there serious faced.

………………………………………..

‘What went between you two?’ I asked Kartikey that afternoon.

‘Nothing, just warned me to stay away from Sanskriti.’

‘Right. Now Just stay away from her.’

‘Are you kidding me?’ He laughed.

‘Bhosdi ke, abhi to usnein kuch nahi kiya. Saale baad mein to mirch masaala dande mein laga kar jab teri gaand mein dalega tab maanega kya tu?’

‘Use pata nahi chalega. And I want you to help me as main teri help kar raha hun.’

This left me stumped. What was I supposed to do now?

Few weeks passed by and Kartikey secretly used to meet Sanskriti at the campus. I had befriended Sabinah and we used to have casual chat sometimes. But I had grown conscious of a rival named Krishna who was also trying to woo her. I knew that it means trouble and that I have to really subtle while approaching her so that Krishna doesn’t get to know whats going on.

.Moreover speaking of Krishna, he had dark complexion and acted really cool. In short, a total asshole. Damn, I looked far better than him. THAT’S what MY thinking was.

A couple of weeks later, Kartikey proposed Sanskriti but she declined his advances. But that wasn’t a problem. Somehow Milo got to know about it and obviously it was gonna get physical and so it did.

After their encounter it met Kartikey who was a bit groggy.

‘Bhenchod ye bata use pata kaise chala? Ye baat to sirf tujhe aur mujhe pata thi.’

‘Correction. Tum dono ko aur Sanskriti ko.’ Mahima said.She, Sanya and Raveena were sitting there while Nayan and Milo were not present there. Everybody got to know the matter by then as it was out in the open.

‘Kya matlab hai tera? Kya Sanskriti ne bataya Milo ko?’ I asked her.

‘Aur kaise pata chalega usko?’ She replied.

‘Nahi yaar wo aisi nahi hai.’ I said.

‘Maine tumse pehele bhi kaha tha ki wo chant hai. Tum nahi jante use.’ Mahima shot back.

Maybe she was right. How else would he get to know it? Kartikey too was convinced as he decided that he would never speak to her again. And I was really glad he did so. But there was no way I was gonna stop talking to Sanskriti. Man she was helping me to hook up with Sabinah.

All these events had distracted me from studies. I could barely manage fifties in those tests conducted by the institute. I had totally given up on them. It was more of a ritual to go there and let your ass heat up the seats. Moreover my brother’s marriage date was fixed in near Feb, so there was already a buzz around in the house even though it was still November.

I could barely manage to survive those brain frying classes. Every teacher used to shit in the class leaving us to eat it. Neither could I understand the Fundaas of Mr. Sharma, nor could I grasp those motherfucking bonds and chemicals of Charulata. And Charulata rarely taught. All she did was cry out her sad stories of how her husband ignored her and how her mother in law was a wicked witch who made her sweep the floors of the house. I could barely stand her scorching speeches. One day I was in computer lab along with Nayan and few other boys when I found her Orkuting. She saw us and called us over.

‘Kya kar rahe ho yaha?’ She asked in an annoying tone.

‘Mam, file check karaane aaye hai.’ A boy replied.

‘Okay, now check this out.’ She said while clicking some dickhead links and opening some sort of photographs.’

‘Look, he is my husband. Isn’t  he cute.’

I stood there as my jaw dropped open. This bitch was really wild. She is showing us her personal photographs and asking how his husband looks. What are we supposed to say?

‘Machoo.’ I heard Atul whisper from behind and I started to giggle which caught Charu’s eye.

‘Why are you smiling? Have you ever looked at yourself. Look at your dirty clothes.Stop showing me your ugly teeth and get lost from here.’ She said shouting at the top of her voice.

8.

It was December and the second term exam had started, and believe me guys ‘Danda bohot andar tak ghusa hua tha.’ I just hoped to paas in the subjects, specially chemistry. Somehow I went through the perilous examinations until the day of the last exam came. I had decided to propose Sabinah after the exam, and I had promised Sanskriti that I would do so in front of her. So before the commencement of the exam I let Sanskrit know my intentions.

‘Aww. How sweet. I will be waiting for you after the exam.’ Said she.

‘Hey, you must know that even Krishna’s after her, isn’t it.’ I asked.

‘Yes, he is sure after her.’ She said, making a face.

‘Hey, who do you think is more deserving? Krishna or me?’

‘Obviously you.’ She said with a warm smile.

‘Hey do you know that she stares at me.’ I said, trying to get something out of her, like if Sabinah likes me, or something like that.

‘Yes I know, I have noticed that too.’

‘That’s great. Okay then, meet me after the exam.’

We departed to our respective rooms. The exam was of physical education, which onlu aliens studied. I was ready to lay a dumbfuck egg in the exam.

I completed my paper within an hour and submitted my paper along Nayan. Though there were tensions between other guys but I had no hard feelings against anybody. I was equally friendly to Nayan, Milo and Kartikey. Me and Nayan left together as he wished me luck.

‘Go get your first girl dude.’ He said.

I waited outside the room in which Sabinah and Sanskriti were writing their paper. I waited and waited, but as I looked in through the gaping door, all I saw was students writing their paper, ignorant to the world.

‘Guess I have to wait a bit longer.’ I sighed.

I waited a few minutes more, and finally the door creaked open a bit as my eyes lit up with hope. But the hope soon faded. Out came the bitch Krishna.

Guess the wait is still on, I thought. But Krishna walked straight towards me and stood there towering.

‘Are you proposing Sabinah?’ He boomed at me.

‘What?’ I looked at him agast as if he had asked me to take off my underwears.

‘You son of a bitch, don’t you even dare to cross her path.’ He said, clutching my arm strongly and twisting it.

‘Oye chhod mere bhai ko.’ I looked around and saw Milo appear from somewhere. Guess he was there waiting for Sanskriti.

‘Chhod use.’ Milo said again, and this time Krishna let me go. But it wasn’t a threat by Milo, more of an instruction. Moreover Milo and Krishna had very good friends in common so there was no question of Milo really fighting for my cause then as he had known me for only a couple of months. But atleast he had saved me then and I was really glad.

‘Chal Adi.’ Milo said as I walked away with him. Man, I would have been awarded a cowardice award, but still more cowardice waited.

I was in front of the school gate alongside Nayan, Milo and Kartikey, while the crow, Krishna stood in front of me. He had been waiting for me outside the school all that time.

‘Bhen ke lodhe, Sabinah se baat mat kariyo aaj ke baad.’ He threatened me.

‘Oye Krishna, mariyo mat.’ Milo said.

‘Maarunga nahi agar ye samajh jaega.’ He said turning towards me.

‘Saale tu kaun hota hai mujhe samjhane wale.’ I managed to blurt out in a shaky voice. Just as I completed, Krishna attempted a wild slog which landed straight on my cheeks which caused me to get all flashy. He attempted a second round arm jab but the attempt was thwarted by Milo and Nayan while Kartikey pulled me away.

I walked home with Kartikey soon after. Milo and Nayan had left for their homes after ensuring my well-being and that I really didn’t require a doctor or a priest to get me to my senses after being slammed by Krishna. I was really disgusted by myself.

‘Man, how can I be such a pussy? I wasn’t like this before. I could have at least laid a punch back.’ All sorts of thoughts buzzed in my head.

‘Yaar ek baat bata Krishna ko pata kaise chala hoga ki main aj use pro marne wala hun?’ I asked Kartikey.

‘Tune kis kis ko bataaya tha?’ He asked back.

‘Tum logon ko pata tha aur Sansk..’ My voice trailed off before I could complete the sentence.

‘Aur bata use.’ Karitkey taunted.

‘Yaar par maine uska kya bigaada. Usnein mere saath aisa kyun kiya?’ I asked, really confused now.

‘Jaise maine to bhot kuch kar diya tha na’ Damn. He had a point. These girls could kill you in the most subtle way possible.