Part 8

20.

I tried to concentrate in class in institute. It was chemistry.

‘To bachcho agar aap phenol ko copper chloride aur HCL se react karaenge aur uske baad agar…..’ He continued speaking as he drew a benzene ring(hey, I know that’s benzene, not that bad) along with some arrows, followed by even more arrows.

‘Ah, not again. Can’t they take it lightly. Always fucking us up.’ Jatin said.

‘Well, I am used to it.’ I confessed.

‘Haan, Safdar ne teri itni maari hai. Tujhe to aadat pad hi gayi hogi. Aur Maths ka homework kiya hai?’

‘Bhai kuch nahi aata. Kaise karu ye bata de.’

‘Wo bhi hai. Koi nahi. Kisi se chep lenge class ke baad.’

‘Bhai kya fayda. Wo puchega ‘KAISE KIYE HO’. Saale ki gand mein kida jo hai.’

‘HAAN sahi kaha. Saala kutta hai.’ Jatin supported me.

After Chemistry class I sought Sumits help. Sumit was the topper of our class, and a really humble guy.

‘Bhai kuch question bataade homework wale.’

‘Hmm. Bata kaunsa puchna hai?’

‘Pehela hi batade. Saala Safdar aate hi mujhse puchega.’

‘Ismein to direct de moivre’s theorem ka application hai. Wo to aati hi hogi tujhe.’ He said.

‘Bhai agar beizzati karni hai to batade main chala jaata hun.’ I gave him a submissive look.

‘Are nahi yaar. Chal shuru se bataata hun,’ Sumit explained me a few questions. But I still prayed Safdar kept his eyes of me.

………………………..

‘Mr. R.K.Puram, khade ho jao. Batao pehela question kaise kiye ho,’ He said, pointing at me.

‘Haraami saas to le liya kar.,’ I said under my breath. He had barely entered the class, and he never forgets to discuss about the homework.

‘Sir ye de moivre’s theorem se ho jaega.’ I said softly.

‘Achcha. Pakka ho jaega?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Achcha theorem ko prove kar sakte ho,’ He said, looking at me suspiciously.

‘Fuck you, fucking retarded asshole,’ I thought. ‘Sir proof nahi aata.’

‘To aata kya hai tumhe? Roti banaa leta ho.’ He said. Everyone laughed.

‘Bolde haan.’ A boy next to me said. Like I was going to say that. I just stood at my place, shamelessly, until he told me to sit down.

‘Bhai iska murder karwa de. Mai tera naukar ban jaunga,’ I asked Jatin, frustrated.

‘Bhai agar ye karwa sakta to kabka karwa deta.’ He said in a sad tone.

Later that week, I was attempting the test in the institute, when my cell vibrated.

‘He kuch answers bata.’ It was Jatins message.

I looked around. Invigilator far away. I quickly punched the buttons and send him the answers. Actually I had solved none question. All done by teawork.

‘Hey, now you send me some.’ I added at the end of the message.

We helped each other out. That’s what friends do in difficult and dark times. A couple of hours later, I handed my OMR sheet to the invigilator and left the room to find Jatin waiting for me.

‘Kaisa hua?’ He asked

‘Jaisa tera,’ I replied.

HAIL TEAMWORK.

………………………………………

A few days later, I was on my way to computer lab, when Sandhya caught up with me.

‘Hey hi.’ She greeted.

‘Hi. How you doing.’ I greeted back as I saw Sabinah close behind her.

‘I’m just doing okay. I actually wanted to ask about the computer project. Could you figure out anything about it?’ She asked curiously.

‘Yeah dumbo, I have it all figured out,’ I thought, but that’s when something snapped in me.

‘Uh, well you see, I’m working on it. It aint that easy. You know. You need to go about algos, map up the flow charts, then structure the program. Well I was checking the net the other day, it’s pretty complicated you know.’ I tried to sound really serious. I was acting pretty well, and the bewildered expression on Sandhyas face stamped it.

‘Oh! Please you gotta help us. We have no idea how to do it.’ She was almost begging now.

‘Don’t worry you. I’ll handle it. I’ll find a way out,’ I looked upto Sabinah as I spoke the sentence. Even she was looking at me with hopeful innocent eyes(you have no idea what intentions could be hidden in them).

‘Are you sure?’ Sandhya’s voice broke my day dreaming.

‘Oh. Damn sure. Just forget about it now. It’s upto me.’

‘Oh. Thank you very much.’ She turned around and walked away with Sabinah.

‘Yeah. I could probably woo Sabinah by pretending how much I care for her,’ I thought. I was really pleased with myself.

Days passed and days wasted. Study weren’t even on my TO-DO list. All I would do is to pretend studying whenever uncle was at home. Sometimes I would even dare to sit on my computer, facebooking my time away, and as I noticed my uncle approaching, I would quickly punch Alt+Tab keys and switch onto a word document. He would ask me about my intentions, and I would go in lengths about projects straight out of hell onto the teachers desk to fuck our souls out of our bodies (Hey I am just exaggerating. You know I won’t say that in front of my uncle). I would pretend to Sandhya that the project was a David vs Gullian affair, really pretending that it was eating on my night’s sleep. And she would even believe me. How dumb can you get. So I stepped into the last week of August, and it was my birthday.

‘Aur Adi Happy Birthday.’ Atul said as he punched my back numerous times.

‘Aah. You’re killing me you asshole.’ I screeched in pain. Birthday bumps do take a toll on your body.

‘Hey my turn.’ Kartikey jumped. Everyone took turns in ass whooping round.

‘Happy B’day Adi.’ Nayan wished me.

‘Bhai mariyo mat. Aaj hospital jaana padega.’ I begged.

‘Na na nahi maar raha.’ He said.

Milo peeped from behind.

‘Happy b’day bhai.’ He greeted as well.

‘Thanks bhai.’

Lots of greetings and even more bumps came my way. It was most painful birthday up till then. Yeah, I say up till then.

‘Hey, stay here you. Got a surprise.’ Kartikey said.

‘What? I don’t want to get punched by you fag friends from B section. Bitch please, hold it.’ I said.

‘Will you stop scowling.’ He ordered.

Few seconds later, I saw Sabinah and Sandhya came into sight, and I got a clue what could be the surprise. Sabinah approached and my heart beats increased with every step she took.

‘Ah, hi Adish, and Happy Buthday.’ Sabinah said extending her arm.

I stood there dumbstruck for a moment, guess cat caught my tongue.

‘Th. Thanks,’ I stuttered.

‘Thank you,’ I managed to blurt out and extended my arm as well for the handshake.

‘Happy B’Day.’ Sandhya said.

‘Thanks.’ I replied nervously.

‘Would you like to join us. We were going to canteen.’ Sandhya asked.

‘Ah, thanks but I need to complete my practical file. You know Charulata.’ I replied.

‘Okay. Bye.’ They left leaving me a bit dazed.

 ‘What happened,’ I questioned myself. I quickly walked into my class to find Pant involved in food fight with Gujju, snathing his dhokla from his tiffin.

‘Some things will never change,’ I heaved as I sank in my desk.

‘Fuck you Charulata! WHY TODAY. WHY YOU NO LEAVE ME ALONE,’ I silently cursed her as I started scribbling into my practical notebook. Bloody idiots even make you write down the practicals, what an irony.

…………………………………….

‘Kya baat hai Adi, saale tu to CS mein pro ban gaya.’ Sarth said.

We were at a computer café in Munirka playing CS. I had been practicing lately, like I promised Atul, and it showed.

‘Take that, you fatso!’ I yelled as I gunned down Atul for the hundredth.

‘Bhenchod, madarchod, hack laga rakha hai maa ke lodhe.’ Atul typed into the in-game chat, as poor guy couldn’t express THOSE feelings openly in the café.

‘Haan sale, ab haar raha hai to ro raha hai.’ I replied.

After an hour, we left the café, Atul still in a state of trance, probably because of the ass whooping he faced.

‘Ab bol Atul? Noob kaun aur Pro kaun?’. Noob was often used in Gaming for the amateurs, probably standing for ‘newbie’.

‘Hat saale cheater,’ He won’t accept the fact that I’m better. That’s not his way. We three crossed the road to enter our sector from Munirka.

‘Adi bhook lag rahi hai.’ Atul rubbed his tummy.

‘Chal fir bye.’ I knew what he meant.

Kyun saale bye? TU khilaega mujhe,’ He said loudly.

‘Chal sale. Ghar jaake khaliyo. Tera ghar yahaan se sabse paas hai,’ I held onto my dear wallet.

‘Saale aaj birthday kiska hai?’

‘Baad mein liyo party. Abhi na hai,’ I was saving every penny frrom those hungry dogs. It would be really painful to let go of even a single buck as I was in a crisis situation.

‘Saale ek patty to khila de. Itna kyun ro raha hai, bhai na hai kya,’ Atul started what he was famous for. He started manipulating me, stating events from the past with so much stress as if they were equivalent to saving my life.

‘Chal saale. Ab dimaag mat kharaab kar. Kha liyo jo khaana hai,’ I wasn’t in the mood of arguing anymore. We three quickly trotted upto the market. Atul had his munchies and so did Sarth. I couldn’t  saved my bucks for the future, some sacrifice. It was a good day though. In fact, excellent, for the sore reason of Sabinah taking the initiative to talk.

‘Oye aaj Sabinah aayi thi mere paas.’ I said as I walked out of the shop after paying my dues.

‘Maa chuda saale. Uska naam mat le mere samne.’ Atul shouted in an agitated tone.

‘Kyun be kya hua?’ I said. He hurt my feelings(okay now, I am just being melodramatic).

‘Bhot chant ladki hai wo.’ Atul said.

‘Haan haan tu bata chuka hai.’ I said in a monotonous voice.

‘Waise Adi Atul sahi bol raha hai. Wo ladki jo dikhti hai waisi bilkul nahi hai.’ Sarth added.

‘Itna achcha se kaise jante ho tum log usko?’ I asked them. I wasn’t still ready to accept whatever they said.

‘Adi wo mere saath pehele mere tution mein padhti thi. Ninth mein.Monu bhi humaare saath tha. Isliye main janta hai.’ Atul revealed.

‘Hain??? ‘ I said in a long tone. ‘Pehele to tune kabhi ye bataya hi nahi.’

‘Kya fayda Adi. Tu koi baat maanta hi nahi.’ Atul breathed.

‘Chal chhod yaar. Sabki apni apni thinking hoti hai,’ I decided to end the topic.

21.

Days went by. My academic conditioned worsened. The syllabus fattened as I grew thinner, and my hairline receded(that is not supposed to be taken literally). I had thought I would be hanging out with Sabinah. But that was not to be. There was not much of speaking, except some heys and hellos as we passed by each other. So as we entered mid September, slowly the tension started to built in. The word BOARDS were a bit more intimidating as it was a month ago. And obviously I avoided naming (more importantly, thinking) the institute which should not be named, the INSTITUTE OF INFINITE TENSION (IIT). But the requirement of the moment was studying for the upcoming exams at school in first week of October.

But still in dark times we look for hope, a ray of light. My ray of light was hooking up with Sabinah.

‘To kal tu use pro marega?’ Kartikey asked.

‘Haan bhai. Ab jo hoga dekh lenge.’ I said brushing my hair.

‘Hmmmm. Sahi hai be. Chal fir kal milte hai.’

Okay, so tomorrow is the judgement day, I thought as I hopped onto my bed, though it was a restless night.

The next day, I discussed the plans with Kartikey.

‘To tu use kab marega pro?’ He asked.

‘Dekho yaar. Lunch mein shayad.’ I said.

‘Hmm. Tune abhi tak usse zyada baat to na ki hai.’

‘Kari to na. AB jo hoga dekh lenge. Saala dil mein nahi rakhunga ab baat ko.’

‘Wi bhi sahi hai. Agla kiska period hai?’ He asked.

‘Mera to computer ka hai. Tera phys ed ka hai.’ I barely could complete the sentence as the bell rang.

‘Chal main nikalta hu.’ I said as I picked up my books and rushed towards the computer lab. As I reached the lab, I found out that Mamun was absent. That meant it was a free class. On discovering that, I quickly jogged back to the class to catch up with Kartikey.

‘Kya hua?’ He asked as I walked upto him.

‘Mamun na aya.’

‘Sahi hai fir to. Iska matlab Sabinah bhi free hogi.’ He said grinning.

‘Haan. So what?’

‘To chutiye saale abhi maarde na pro.’

‘Abe yaar. Jaldi mat kar.’

‘Saale isse achcha mauka na milega. Lunch mein bhid ho jaegi.’ He said excitedly.

Soon he was able to persuade me into going with the proposal at that moment itself. He went away quickly and came back into the class.

‘Jaldi jaa. Wo bahaar khadi hai.’ He said with a huge grin.

‘Aye bhagwan, bacha lena aaj to,’ I thought nervously as I slowly walked out. Sabinah stood just next to door, and gave me a warm smile as I approached.

‘Hi. Kartikey said you wanted to talk about something.’ She said sweetly.

‘Ah, I think so.’ I said really softly. Sound barely escaped my mouth. With a little more force, I said

‘Would you like to walk with me, uhm, if you don’t mind.’

‘Sure, why would I,’ She replied.

We walked a few steps that’s when I started the topic.

‘Actually Sabinah I always wanted to say something,’ I started the conversation and then looked at her. She nodded, a sign to go ahead with what I was speaking.

‘Ah, actually I have feelings for you, and was wondering would you like to be with me as someone more than a friend.’ I had been thinking whole night about the proposal. I didn’t want to end with an irritating line like ‘I like you, do you like me.’ Though that was the best I could come up with. After saying the sentence in one breath, I looked at her, trying to read her expressions. She bore a confused look.

‘Hey, can’t we be friends.’ She replied, and all my emotions broke away. That is the most polite way of refusal.

‘Yeah, we are friends, I guess.’ I said very softly, my voice choked with emotions of rejection.

‘No, I don’t think so. You barely talk to me. You barely stop for a conversation.’ She replied. I was silent. I didn’t feel like replying or talking. At that moment, just felt like being alone was best.

‘Adish, are you alright?’ She asked, kind of concerned.

‘Yeah I am fine. I guess I should be back in my class.’ I said as I tried to excuse myself, but as I started parting from her, she held my hand.

‘Are you sure you’re fine?  Did I hurt your feelings?’ She asked with a worried expression. Blood rushed into all part of my body, and my heart starting beating hundred times faster. SHE HELD MY HAND. For the moment, I totally forgot about the rejection and all, but I soon came back to my senses.

‘No worry. I am fine. Will catch up with you later.’ I said, forcing a smile on my face as I left. As soon as I entered the class, Kartikey rushed towards me.

‘Kya hua? Kya bola usne?’ He asked while I just shook my head.

‘Usne bola kya?’ he repeated and I updated him with the rest of my story.

‘Tu yahi ruk, main usse baat karke aata hun.’ He pointed at me.

‘Kya baat karega. Chhod na use.’

‘Tu ruk na. Main ata hun.’ He said and disappeared. Minutes later, he burst into the door.

‘Kya baat hui?’ I asked.

‘Pehele to jab main waha pohocha, wo boli ki wo mujhse bohot gussa hai.’ He said.

‘Tujhse gussa? Kya matlab?’ I said, confused.

‘Sun to. Use laga ki maine tujhe bhadkaaya hai pro marne ke liye. Wo bolti ki wo tujhe haan nahi keh sakti aur use is baat ka darr hai ki tu ab usse bilkul bhi baat nahi karega kyunki usne tujhe mana kar diya?’

‘Bhenchod ye kya bakwas hai? Waise wo haan kyun nahi keh sakti mujhe?’

‘Wo bolti ki wo Muslim hai aur tu hindu, isliye!’

‘Bhenchod kya chutiya kaat rahi hai ye. Krishna bhi to hindu tha.’ I was irritated.

‘Maine bhi usse yahi bola. Par fir wo thik se answer na de paye. Baat ghuma di usne. Bolti ki wo galti se hogya gaya.’ He replied.

‘Achcha. To usse bol mere saath bhi galti se karle.’ I said laughing, which formed on my face after a long while and added:

‘Achcha to ye bata. Tu bol raha tha ki use is baat ka darr hai ki main usse baat karni fir band kar dunga. To kya wo mujhse baat karna chahti hai?

 ‘Haan shayad.’ He said thinking.

‘To shayad mere liye uski koi feelings ho.’

‘Haan ho sakta hai.’ He replied.

‘Oye yaar ek kaam aur karde. Ye puch liyo ki mere liye koi feelings hai ya nahi. Par thoda ghuma kar puchiyo. Directly nahi. Aur mujhe bolne ki zarurat to hai nahi ki mera naam nahi aana chahiye.’

‘Tu tension mat le. Sab mujh par chhod de.’ He said, giving me a thumbs up.

Later that day after lunch.

‘Teri baat hui usse?’ I asked him after the lunch got over.

‘Haan hui.’ He said with a smile.

‘Kya bola usne. Kya bola usne’ I asked shaking his shoulder

‘Hat saale.’ He said slaping my hand off.

‘Bhen ke land, saale bhaav na kha. Bata saale bhadve ki aulaad.’ I said in an irritated and restless voice.

‘Usne haan bola, ki tere liye feelings.’

‘Sach bata!’ I asked, jumping off my chair.

‘Haan be. Sahi bol raha hun.’

‘Kya baat bhai, kya khabar di. Girlfriend to fir aaj nahi to kal ban hi jaega. Chal aaj tujhe treat khila kar lata hun.’ He had given me probably the best news since a long time. He deserved a treat.

……………………………….

‘Faad be, mast hogya tera bhi. Try marta reh. Haan bol hi degi,’ Nayan said as I narrated the previous day’s story to him.

‘Pata nahi yaar. Ye ladkiyon ka kuch pata bhi hota hai?’ I said, recalling Sanskriti’s case.

‘Are tension mat le. Hojaega.’

‘Hmmm. Kuch tips de yaar,’ I said, almost begging.

‘Tips kya yaar. Baat karta reh thik thak. Show that you’r a nice guy and not a tharki one,’ He said grinning.

‘Very tough task man. I will try,’ I laughed.

‘We all are the same from inside,’ He giggled.

‘Aur nahi to kya. Men will be men.’

Later that day, Kartikey had somehow managed to convince Sabinah to bunk the computer class so that we could spend that time together. So much for hooking up a girl. As the computer period started, Kartikey shoved me towards Sabinah, who was standing at a corner in the corridor.

‘Hii.’ I greeted meekly which she reciprocated.

‘Aur kya chal raha hai?’ she asked.

‘Kuch nahi. School, institute. Wahi sab.’ I lie sometimes.

‘Oh. Haan tum to IIT ki prepration kar rahe ho na?’ She asked.

What the fuck, and where did IIT come in between, I thought.

‘Do you really think I can clear IIT?’ I asked sarcastically.

‘Haan kyun nahi,’ she replied.

‘Ah, I guess we need to know each other better then.’

We walked down to the bunkers spot, where I got seated. Sabinah also first seated herself in front of me, then thought for a moment, and then got up and sat beside me.

‘Tum Leo ho na?’ She asked.

‘Leo? Oh, haan leo hun. Kyun kya hua?’

‘Main bhi Leo hun. Aur Leos ki kaafi achchi jamti hai,’ She said fluttering her eyes.

‘Oh achcha aisa hai,’ I didn’t know that.

‘Aur batao, tum to mujhse baat hi nahi karte the,’ she touched the dark past. I thought for a while for the best answer.

‘Kya karogi jaan kar? Ab to kar raha hun na baat,’ that was the best I could come up with.

‘Kya fayda, Puri eleventh aur adhi twelth to nikal gayi,’ She said in a dismal voice.

‘Hmmm. Par abhi aadhi twelth to baaki hai na,’ LE-ME  Mr.optimistic.

We chatted for a while, don’t really remember about what. Probably the sun and the moon and the stars and the rain and all other non sense stuff. But the most important thing was that the ice was broken.

A week later, I was in the institute, copying the math’s homework from Sumit’s notebook, the topper.

‘Bhadve saale copy idhar kar,’ I yelled at Jatin who was doing the same.

‘Gand mein lele, main na likhu ke?’ he replied back in an equally ‘loving’ tone.

‘Oye Sumit, Ye kaise hua?’ I asked for help as I couldn’t understand a step in the solution.

‘Are kuch nahi yaar, parallel lines hai, to cosine ke ratios equal karke lambda ki value nikaal li. Isse tu point ke x, y aur z axis nikaal sakta hai,’ He said.

‘Oh, sahi hai,’ (hey I understood it. I’m wasn’t that dumb, mind you.)

 ‘Kuch test ke liye padha hai jo next week hai?’ Sumit asked.

‘Bhai kuch chal to raha hai,’ I replied.

‘Chal koi na, main to hun,’ He said grinning.

Few minutes later, chemistry class commenced. The chemistry teacher had a habit of getting quite excited during the lecture so much so that once a teacher from another room had to call him to lower down his voice.

‘To bachcho, jo Grignard re agent hai, wo nucleophile bhi hai aur base bhi. Par idhar wo as a base react karega…’

‘Saala aisa kyun. Base kyun aur nucleophile kyun nahi?’ I questioned.

‘Bhot mazaa arha hai kya padhne mein,’ Jatin asked.

‘Bhai mazaa kisko aata hai padhne mein, par padhna to padega hi na,’ I acted like a matured ADISH.

‘Bhai tu thik hai na. Tabiyat sab badhiya? Aisi baate kabse karne laga,’ He asked in awe.

‘Bhai bandi mujhe padhne waala samajhti hai. To bhai usko galat thodi prove karunga.’

‘Oh teri, saala itna maine baap ki baato mein bhi dhyaan na diya hoga. Aur ek minute ruk. Teri bandi kab bani?’ Now there was a topic changer.

‘Bani nahi, par ban jaegi,’ I said confidently.

‘Oh sahi hai, naam kya hai, aur photo to dikha, aur saale mila kab, story to bata,’ He send a flurry of requests my way.

‘Haan haan, class ke baad aaraam se bataunga, abhi padhle,’ I said.

‘Saale maadarchod naatakbaaz,’ He made a face.

At school my conversation with Sabinah had increased considerably, we used to hang out together more often, and grew comfortable with each other. Definitely that was also a distracter to studies which was already in doldrums. (The newfound interest in studies barely lasted couple of days.)

That evening after the class Sarth called me.

‘Adi aarha hai ground khelne?’ he asked.

‘Kya kheloge?’

‘Cricket hi khelenge.’

‘Chal dus minute mein aya,’ I said as I rushed towards the home. I burst into the door, threw my bag on the desk, and as I began to walk back outside, a voice interrupted.

‘Kahan chal diye?’ I turned around to discover my uncle.

‘Khelne ja raha hun.’

‘Bas khelte hi rahoge ya fir padhne likhne ka bhi koi iraada hai?’

‘Abhi class se aya tha to isliye ja raha hun. Thodi der mein wapas ajaunga,’ I defended myself.

‘Pata hai hum tumhaari umar ke the to padhne ke liye time nahi hota tha. Khud khaana banaate the, kapde dhote the, aur ghar ka saara kaam karte the. Tumhe to itni facilities mil rahi hai tab tumhara ye haal hai,’ He glared at me while I just nodded. What was I supposed to say. No boy likes ‘jab hum tumhaari umar ke the’ by his parents. After getting over with the lecture, uncle left me alone while I left the home and ran towards the ground, the quicker, the better. In the ground I found Sarth along with Atul, ABIG, Monu and Harsh, the hairy guy.

‘Aur saale Sabinah se baat waat hui ya nahi,’ Harsh asked in his hoarse voice. Ever since he got to know about my crush on Sabinah, he kept nagging me to talk to her. I wondered why.

‘Kar lunga na saale, tujhe kya ho raha hai?’ I asked in a shrill voice. There was no way I would tell him that I had already proposed her, and that I was on good terms with her.

‘Bhosdi ke fir kab baat karega, jab twelth khatm ho jaegi?’ He replied.

‘Kar lunga jaldi, Tu kyun tension le raha hai?’

‘Main chahta hu teri aur Sabinah ki setting hojaaye aur main teri lu uske saamne,’ He said

‘Hat bhenchod, gand mara.’ I yelled.

………………………………………

After getting over with the game, we wrapped up the kit and dumped it at ABIG’s place. Atul and Sarth stood there for a bottle of water.

‘Saala mota pata nahi kitni der baad paani layga.’ I complained.

‘Kya hua Adi. Kis baat ki jaldi hai tujhe?’ Atul demanded.

‘Saale agar ghar jaldi na pohocha to tau maar lega meri,’ I whined.

‘Haan Adi, tujhe IIT jo nikaalna hai,’ Atul poked.

‘Bhenchod naam mat le,’ I don’t know why, I used to get frustrated whenever someome named IIT.

‘Are saale tu to senti ho gaya. Chal rahe hai abhi.’

‘Tu aaj bhi doodh aur sabziyan lene jayga, kyun mote?’ Sarth commented.

‘Haan maadarchod jaunga. Teri tarah vella na baithne dete mere ghar wale. Bhen ka land jab bhi dekho facebook par mil jayga. Saale tu apna permanent address facebook hi likha kar,’ Atul blurted out in a single breath. He has a habit to blurt out words like a machine gun whenever he gets pissed. His best talent that was. Soon ABIG’s pity fell on us as he dropped a bottle of water from his window.

‘Thanks bhai ABIG. Bhagwaan kare tujhe tomar ki padosan mil jaye,’ Atul said.

‘Saale shant ho. Ghar wale piche hai,’ ABIG shouted.

Atul and Sarth filled their full and they were satisfied we started for the market.

‘Adi aajkal teri to baat hone lagi Sabinah se,’ Sarth said sheepishly.

‘Haan yar, hone hi lagi,’ I replied.

‘Kya? Kab? Kaise? Saale mujhe to kabhi dono saath dikhe hi nahi,’ Atul asked.

I thought they both ought to know. So I narrated the whole story.

‘Yeah yeah Adi, mast.’ Sarth congratulated.

‘Abhi kuch hua kahan yaar.’

‘Koi nahi lage reh. Hojayga,’ he said winking.

‘Sahi hai Adi, tu to gaya,’ Atul said spoiling the mood.

‘Kyun be? Kya hua?’

‘Bas tu dekhta reh. Meri baat to tu maanega na.’

‘Thik hai dekh lunga.’

…………………………………

Another class bunked, as I walked around the campus with Sabinah. You must be thinking about poor her having bunked her class for me, but it was her free class (that happened quite often in Ramsey school).  We chatted when the bell rang indicating the start of recess, but I was in no hurry to leave her, NOT AT ALL.

‘Tumhe khana nahi khana,’ she asked.

‘Kyun kya hua?’

‘Nahi wo lunch hogaya hai isliye pucha.’

‘Achcha. Waise tum uski chinta mat karo. Mere dost ne sab pehele hi sambhaal liya hoga,’ I said as I imagined Pant lunging on my lunch as a hungry wolf lunges on a small lamb.

‘Kya matlab,’ confused her.

‘kuch nahi. Kha lunga main. Bhuk nahi lagi,’ I lied. But inside the stomach rats were doing break dance.

‘Mujhe bhi nahi lagi bhuk,’ she said innocently as I looked at her. You couldn’t tell if she was lying. A proper artist, in the art of deception.

‘Iske baad tumhari kaunsi class hai?’ I changed the topic, too much with food and all, which made me think more about my hunger.

‘Agli chemistry ki hai.’

‘Charulata ki, sahi hai. Usko kuch padhaana to aata nahi hai. Bas chillati rahegi,’ I said carefully picking my words. You don’t want to use expletives when you are with your crush.

‘Nahi aisi baat nahi hai, wo achcha padhaati hai.’

‘Mazaak kar rahi ho?’

‘Nahi. Lagta hai tum bhaand se nahi padhe. Isliye aisa bol rahe ho.’

‘Ab ye bhaand kaun hai?’

‘Pichle saal humaara chemistry teacher tha.’

‘Achcha.’

It was supposed to be some romantic chat, but instead we chatted about idiotic teachers. I just wasn’t good enough in this field. My bad. Realizing so, I decided it was better to part at that moment, though I absolutely didn’t want to. But putting a stone on my heart, I bid farewell. On returning to the class, I saw them guys launching aluminum foil at each other, while Gujju was caught in the middle of the fire.

‘Gujju dekh tera dada jaa raha hai,’ Harsh shouted as he saw our physics teacher Mr.Sharma from the window.

There was an interesting story behind Gujju. His surname once was Nagar, but due to unclear reasons (which he wouldn’t tell), he changed it to Sharma. Moreover, given his docile nature, he turned into butt of all jokes. Some people found a resembelance in his looks and the looks of our teacher Mr. Sharma.

‘Saale Harsh maze mat le,’ He warned which sounded more of a plead.

‘Abe sahi to bol raha hun. Jab tu is school mein aya tab tujhe pata chala ki Sharma tera Dada hai. Isliye tune apna surname bhi Sharma kar liya,’ Harsh said.

‘Bhenchod Harsh saale kutte maze mat le,’ He said, trying hard to look composed (actually trying very hard, but his futile attempt).

‘Gujju tere baap ka naam Sharma hai ya Nagar,’ Pant added into the joke

That was the last straw, and Gujju ran after him, but probably got tired after few steps and returned to his original position. Thankfully for him, Harsh got bored and gave up on poking jokes on him. I felt for him. He had good enough built to pummel anybody. By his under confidence always got better of him (remember him crying when he had a fistful with Kartikey and Nayan).

I walked up to my seat, hunger burning my stomach in and out. But it was useless to check my lunch. So I just rested my ass onto the seat and put my head down, covering it with my hands, like a dog being scolded by his master.