Part 9

22.

Later that week, I worked up my pencil as I scribbled and erased repeatedly. The paper was a mess due to constant rubbing.

‘Hey, lemme see.’ Jatin kicked from behind.

‘Lemme get it dog. This aint no fith grade paper. So just chill. I’ll tell you the answer as soon as I figure them out myself.’

Okay, it’s been a tough week. And I studied somewhat for the exam at the institute. It served the dual purpose as the school exam were drawing close as well. They were scheduled for the first week of October and we were already into mid of September.

‘Ahh. So what do you want me to do till then?’Jatin whispered back.

‘Just chill your fat ass down you son of a bitch. Get some ice cubes and pop em in,’ I said. He was really bugging me off now.

I scribbled, and rubbed, scribbled and rubbed again.

‘Ah godamn. What the fuck!’ I felt like going upto the teachers and banging their heads to the table.

‘Man I aint going no where.’ I whispered back.

‘Fuck you. Could have said that half an hour ago. All this while I was copying shit.’

‘That’s what you get given your brain.’

I had sworn not to cheat. Not this time around. But given the opportunities to cheat, I was literally drooling over the prospect.

‘Fuck this shit. Next time I will study,’ My moralalities had lost the fight. My conscious went for walk and my eyes flickered around for answers. Sometimes it’s better to swim with the flow.Thats what I did that moment.

…………………………………….

‘You know what. You are the dirtiest bitch I have ever come across,’ Jatin repeated that for the second time as we walked aimlessly around after the exam.

‘Good for you? Wanna kiss my ass? That’s what the dogs do,’ I repeated back calmly.

‘You really seem to know a lot about dogs?’ He replied.

‘Been hanging around with one for a long time now.’

‘So how’s your girl?’ He asked. One of the most popular topic among boys.

‘Oh, She is really pretty, beautiful, and..’

‘And hot?’ He interrupted.

‘Bhabhi hai teri maadarchod.’

‘Number liya?’ He asked,

‘Nope. Never asked for it.’

‘Then do it bro. Else when? After twelth?’

‘I will dude. Don’t you worry about it.’

‘Hey wanna take a trip to IIT?’

‘What?’ I was taken aback by his proposal.

‘IIT? Think you heard of it?’

‘Not sure. How is it?’ I enquired.

‘Don’t know myself. They say its awesome.’

‘Well. Obviously you are not expecting pretty hot chicks over there? Then what’s so awesome about it?’

‘Not been there man. Don’t know. Let’s just check it out. Or do you feel like going home early?’

I wasn’t sure. Somehow I didn’t like the idea of visiting that cursed place (cursed for me, I say). But going  home seemed worse.

‘Okay. I aint going home .Moreover uncle’s at home.’

‘Much better. Let’s get going.’

We walked through the narrow streets of Kalu Sarai, which gave way to a busy road. We crossed the road and we were at the boundary of IIT Delhi. We walked along the boundary for few minutes until we reached what was called THE IIT GATE.

‘So here we are,’ Jatin declared.

‘So what’s the big deal. Get your sorry ass movin,’ I instructed.

As I stepped into the college, I felt like I was entering a forbidden kingdom, a territory not meant for me. I looked up at the security guard who gave me a mean look, a you-not-allowed-here look. As if I was gate crashing a high society party.

We walked until some old fashioned buildings came into view, which looked more sort of a government scientific research buildings. Don’t know if it was just in my mind, but the buildings wore a nerdish look. But as I observed, the campus was awesome. Just a perfect place to live. Quite and peaceful, full of greenery. We walked further and a playground came into view. A cricket match was in progress as the white shirts were scattered all over the field. We walked upto the field and spectated the game for a while.

‘Man, This is closest engineering college to my home, yet the farthest from me,’ I said sulking into thoughts.

‘Yeah, your damn right,’ Jatin nodded.

I took a look around. There were few signboards. I read one of them.

“What starts with T, ends with T and is full of T?”

‘Hmm. Is full of T… T?? Oh! It must be Tea… so it could be a Teapot. Yeah! That’s it.’ I thought, really pleased with myself. After wandering here and there for a while, I was getting a bit bogged down by the place.

‘Man, lets get the fuck out. It’s kind of depressing over here.’

‘Woah, wait a sec. We just arrived,’ Jatin protested.

‘Yeah, and we’re leaving,’ I said.

‘Okay fine. You’re such a whore.’

…………………………………………..

‘So how is it going with Sabinah? Haan bola ya nahi?’ Atul said, with a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

‘Kahan yaar!’

‘Achcha? Tu uske saath ghumne to bhot lag gaya hai.’

‘Are yaar, wo dimaag kharaab karti hai. Wo dharma varam ki bakwaas kar rahi thi.’

‘Are haan Adi. Uske liye to tujhe convert karna padega,’ Atul’s eyes glistened as he said that sentence. He had received fodder for his bitching routine.

‘Loda mera.’

‘Kyun Adi. Pyaar ke liye to log jaan dedete hai. Tujhe to bas convert karna hai.’ He started snickering as he completed the sentence.

‘Ghanta pyaar. Ja maadarchod doodh lele. Mother dairy aagyi.’

Atul trotted quickly upto the shop and stood next to the milk vending machine. Every now and then he would look back and would smile naughtily. In a few minutes, he jogged back with a container full of milk.

‘Haan to main kya bol raha tha. Tu sector chaar ke masjid mein jaake convert hoja.’

‘Saale dimaag na kharaab kar.’

‘Are Adi ek tu tujhe salaah de raha hun.’

‘Mat de.’

‘Achcha ab bata to usne kya kaha?’

‘Bola to. Wo relation mein isliye nahi reh sakti ki kyunki wo muslim hai.’

‘Hat bhenchod. Aisa kahi hota hai. Jab Krishna ke saath wo relation mein thi tab ye baat yaad na aayi use.’

‘Bhai pata nahi. Ye suna tha ki uski behen ko un dono ke relation ke bare mein pata chal gaya tha. Isliye usne break up kar liya. Ab wo kisi relationship mein na rehena chahti.’

‘Hat saale chutiye. Wo tera katta kar rahi hai, KATTA. Saale abhi bhi keh raha hun dur reh usse.’

‘Wo aisa kyun karegi? Manaa karna hota to sidha sidha nab hi to kar sakti thi.’

‘Bhai Adi wo sab mujhe na pata. Bas wo bandi ajeeb hi hai.’

‘Tujhe kaisa pata wo ajeeb hai. Badaa janta hai na tu to usko.’

‘Haan tujhe bataaya na ki wo ninth mein saath mein tution padhti thi. Gandaa wala ghurti thi wo. Bhenchod mujhe to wo daraawni lagti hai. Kahi tona totka karti ho.’

‘Abe seriously bata be.’

‘Abe haan Adi. Aur kya batau. Ajib hi thi. Dumb type ki.’

‘Hmmm. Haan dumb to keh sakta hai.’

Our conversation was interrupted by a song tune, which made Atul reach out for his pocket.

‘Bhai danger ka call aya hai.’

‘DANGER?’

‘Haan be. Maine ghar ka landline number DANGER ke naam se save kiya hai. Ab ghar jaana padega. Chal fir kal milenge.’

‘Mast hai be. DANGER.Chal fir bhai. Byee.’

So the weeks passed by quickly, barely noticed. In school I was subjected to repeated comments by Pant, Atul and other guys. Comments were okay, till they stay within limits. But for someone like Pant, limits were crap. You don’t fuck around him. He is one of those kinds, ‘KHULA SAAND’. Kind of pervert. Just do what he wants you to, then he is fine with it.

‘Don’t lie you. I know the exam was cake walk for you,’ Sabinah repeated. It was the first week of October, and the first exam just got over. I was conversing with Sabinah and Sandhya.

‘What do you think I am,’

‘Stop acting. I know you study a lot a home,’ She replied.

Okay now. Perhaps Atul was right, I thought (about the dumb part).

‘Forget it. So…’ I was interepted by a call from the back.

‘Saala ye mulla kahan hai?’ I turned around to discover Pant, eying me. He said that intentionally. Along with him stood Atul, Rawat and Monu.

‘Bhenchod batao na mulla kahan hai,’ he repeated, looking at me.

‘Hey I think you should leave now. You must be late.’ I told Sabinah.

‘Nah, not really. Why you want me to go,’ She enquired.

‘No no. It’s not that.’ I heaved a sigh of relief. She showed no sign of hearing what Pant had just blabbered.

‘Okay I think I must go. See you later,’ I rushed towards Pant.

‘Maa ke lodhe saale Chikki chod kya bol raha tha,’

‘Kya bola?’ Pant said, armtwisting me.

‘AAHHH. Chhod bhenchod. Saale shuru tune hi kiya tha.’

‘I was just joking man,’ He said, releasing me.

‘Bhai yaar aise karega to wo teri bhabhi kaise banegi. Co operate man.’

‘Hat saale. Main tujhe tera dharm bhrasht nahi karne  dunga.’

‘Saale mat bola kar.’

‘No way Adi. Agar bajrang dal ko tere baare mein pata chal gaya to wo tujhe ghar se utha kar lejaenge,’

‘Achcha chal bhai. Tujhe kuch khila ke laata hun,’ I said, knowing what might calm Pant down. Just needed to get him away from her.

‘Ye baat tune achchi ki. Chal fir diamond bakery,’

We all walked upto the market in sector four, where Pant gobbled up pastries and patties at my cost, while I struggled to hide my tears. I had been saving those. But that ‘BHOOKI PAIDAYISH’ gobbled every penny. Sometimes I wondered he really was a human child, or a grizzly. Maybe he eats too much in summer, and hibernates in winter, given the winter just round the corner. Moreover, my geography teacher once told me stories of bear raping humans (Yes, he really told me that, no joke).

 After feeding that ‘son of a bear’, I departed along with Monu and Rawat.

‘To Adi kahan tak baat pohochi?’ Rawat enquired.

‘Abhi kahi tak na pohochi.’

‘Hmm. Messages par hoti hai baat?’

‘Na. Number na liya abhi.’

‘Lele number. Ab mangega to de hi degi.’

‘Yaar aise sidha sidha mangna ajeeb lagta hai. Kahi wo ye na soche ki saala Despo hai,’

‘Na nahi sochegi. Mangle number,’ He said.

‘Chal dekhta hun. Aur bata  abhi ayga online?’

‘Oo. Main to kabhi bhi mil jaunga online.’ He replied.

‘Hmm. Kal ke exam ke liye na padhna?’

‘Na be. Chemistr mein chahe jitna padho, wo saali number na deti,’ He laughed

‘Haan wo to hai. Pichli baar to main grace marks se paas hua tha. Chal fir milte hai kal,’ I said, taking leave.

‘Chal sahi hai. Kal milte hai.’

……………………………………………..

The chemistry exam was as per the expectations. REALLY INTIMATE (I mean anal). Ever seen those iron rods they use for construction? Just heat it up and then let your imagination run wild. That exactly teachers had in mind while preparing the exam paper.

But then again, I stood there unfazed. After all, It was expected. Somehow I drifted through the paper.

‘I aint clearing this shit this time,’ I thought

‘So let me see. Hmmm. What is the standard reduction potention of hydrogen? Hey I think I know that,’ I thought triumphantly. ‘Okay now. 1 mark secured. Now twenty seven more to get.’

After attempting the paper of about thirty marks, I went on killer mode. Writing all kinds of rubbish and bullshit which my mind could produce.

‘Oh yeah, I attempted at least worth forty marks. I guess I could clear it after all. Yeah baby,’ I was so pleased with myself.

I left the examination with a satisfied face. I went out to find those bastards already in a huddle.

‘Bhenchod main to double figure mein bhi na hun,’ Rawat declared.

‘Itna bhi na mushkil tha paper,’ Atul contradicted.

‘Haan maadarchod. Tu saale pure din apni gand chemistry ki book par rakhta hai. Tere liye to kahan se mushkil hoga. Saale Randy ke.’ I said.

‘Saale tu to bol hi mat. Khud to padhta reheta hai,’ He replied.

‘Chal be. Main kahan padhta hun.’

‘Haan bhadwe pata hai. Tauji teri gaand mein lathth dekar rakhte hai.’

Now now. He was partly right. But not in the way he said it( Not to be taken literally). Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kartikey approaching.

‘Kaisa gaya?’ He asked.

‘Waise sach bolu Lode to lag gaye the. Par paas ho sakta hun. Tera kaisa raha?’

‘Thik gaya. Padh kar aya tha,’ He replied.

‘Achcha to yaar ye bata. Ye jo question fifth tha……….’ And then it began. The more I discussed, surer I became I was screwed. In the midst of my introduction with my destruction, came in Sabinah and Sandhya.

‘Paper kaisa gaya?’ Sabinah asked with a grim face. Girls face showed the state of her mind, while the boys, man we are just opposite. I was just so fucked up and I stood there laughing and declaring ‘I am fucked.’

‘Thik gaya,’ Kartikey replied.

‘Aur tumhara?’ She asked me while I just shook my head.

‘Jhoot mat bolo.’ She replied.

‘Nahi ye sach bol raha hai. Iske saare answer galat nikal rahe hai.’ Kartikey added while I gave a sarcastic ‘thanks for the support you son of a bitch’ look.

‘Ye tumhara tumhara kya hai?’ Sandhya asked Sabinah.

‘Kya matlab?’ She said, confused.

‘Itni izzat deni ki kya zarurat,’ She said.

‘Oh. Bas wo naturally aata nahi,’ She replied, giving me a naughty and cute smile.

‘Man, I’m melting away,’ I thought. That’s when I saw Pant and Atul calling me.

‘Adi chal be. Hum jaa rahe hai,’ They called.

‘Fuck you. Fuck you. Can’t you guys let me atleast be with her for a little while in peace,’ I thought. But to me no matter how strong the crush is, friends were foremost.

‘Okay I think I gotta go, bye,’ I waved them bye as I joined those devils.

‘Aagya mulle,’ Pant said.

‘Haan maadarchod saale chatarpur ke bhadwe. Aagya. Kal maine news mein dekha ki chatarpur mein kuch randy pakdi gayi. Kahi wo…’ Before I could finish, he l landed number of hard punches.

‘Get off you son of a bitch. Those hurt,’ I said jerking off his arms.

‘Oye batau kahan chalna hai?’ Atul called out to all.

‘Tidde ke ghar chalte hai. Dadi ko Namaste keh kar aaynge,’ Rawat suggested. (Tidde a.k.a Nishant Tiwari ).

‘Oye madarchod. Saalo mera ghar hi mila tum sabko,’ Tidda said.

‘Oh yes,’ Rawat replied.

‘Saale tere ghar chalte hai na. Dadaji ko main Namaste bolunga,’ Tidda replied.

‘No way. No way,’ Rawat replied in shrill voice.

‘Haan yaar Tiwari. Tere ghar hi chalana hai,’ Pant added. That meant trouble for Tiwari.

Tiwari was literally bullied by all of us into submission. So we headed for his house. Poor guy, liitle and timid. All he could do was use profanity all the way to his home.

‘Namaste dadiji,’ Atul burst into his house.

‘Tum lafandaro ko to sakool mein hona chahiye tha,’ Tiwari’s grandmother scolded.

‘Are dadi ji. Ye Nishant humesha humein sakool se bhaga ke le aata hai,’ Atul replied.

‘Are dadiji aap chinta mat karo. School ki chutti ho gayi hai jaldi,’ Tiwari didn’t care about explaining the issue.

We all went into his room and straight away lapped onto his pc. That’s when his maid came to clean up his room, and we had to stay put onto his bed. After she left the room, Pant started.

‘Bhenchod Tidde, teri kaam waali to badi mast hai.’

‘Abe o pant chutiya ho gaya hai kay?’

‘Abe sahi mein yaar. Baat karwa de,’ Really Pant would get started anywhere. Dangerous guy. After an hour of muddling around, it was time to leave him in peace. Pant went one way, while me, Monu, Rawat and Atul went the other.

‘Maths kitni padhi?’ I asked them all.

‘Kuch na. Lode lage hue hai,’ Rawat replied.

‘Haan be. Saala pichli baar dus no aaye the,’ Atul cried his sorrows.

‘Hmm. Is mamle mein main fitbhi thik hun. Saala institute ke teacher ne itni zyada gand jo leli.’

We all discussed our trials and tribulations of life, while Monu snickered at them. Bloody cock sucker had opted mathematics as an additional subject. Lucky him.

………………………………………………

Finally I came out of the hall after writing and submitting the last paper. I bore a look of a man on a mission. I desperately looked through the crowd. That’s when my eyes fell on her.

‘Hey, how was the paper,’ I asked, walking over to Sabinah, while she just shook her head.

‘Hmmm. It was tough a bit.’ I took pains to reply myself on her behalf, as she chose to stay mum.

‘What about you? Tumhara kaisa gaya?’ she spoke, FINALY.

‘Thik gaya. Computers aati hai thodi bohot.’

‘Okay. That’s good.’

‘Hey mind you if I ask something?’

‘Hmm.go ahead,’ I took a deep breath and went on.

‘Would you mind giving me you number?’ she thought for a while.

‘I mean, you know, the computer project. I need to consult you guys. That’s why,’

‘Uh. Okay. I’ll write it down for you,’ She was kind of low that day. Maybe the fucked up exam to blame. She wrote down her cell number on a piece of paper and held it out for me. It grabbed it gently, and carefully put it into my pocket. Though I wanted to stay with her or a little while more, but her mood discouraed me.

‘Okay. I better leave now. Bye.’ I left her with a really content face. I GOT HER NUMBER. Boy, Party!

23.

I burst out of the school building along with the rest of my gang.

‘Aye Monu. Could you take your ride out. Wanna race?’ I challenged Monu.

‘Huhuhu Adi, No chance,’ He played the bad sport. I was bursting with energy. Damn excited. Exams were over, and I GOT HER NUMBER. This calls for a celebration.

‘Hey come on man. A little ride wont hurt.’ I pestered around Monu, trying to convince him to get his ride out. More over, the weather was cloudy and windy, perfect to go out biking. My cousin was out of town, so his bike mine. He had allowed me take it out for a ride anytime, provided I dusted and cleaned it regularly till he stayed away. I preferred the former way, and the latter one would rarely be carried out (I planned to do just once,  few hours befor the cousin was back).

‘No way Adi. I’m heading straight home. And aint coming back.’

‘Damn you mufucker.’

‘Yo Monu, Adi’s right. You should take out your bike. Even Atul’s up for it,’ Rawat added. But the headstrong of Monu’s kind wont shake.

‘Ah fuck him. I’m taking out mine,’ I offered Rawat.

‘Yo no problem Adi, I’m in,’ Rawat offered his name for the pillion.

‘I’m in too,’ Atul came into the fray.

‘Hohoho. No tripling.’ I refused.

‘No problem. We will go one by one,’ Atul said, coming up with the solution.

‘Okay now stay here. I don’t want my aunt to see yall. I’ll be back in a minute with the ride,’ I ran into the house, threw my bag out of my sight, grabbed the keys and ran out even before aunt could smell want happened.

‘So whose riding first,’ I asked. Rawat straight away hopped onto the seat.

‘You son of a bitch,’ Atul shouted.

‘Don’t worry. Will be back in a minute,’ I whizzed away as Rawat held ont the rear bars of the seat for his dear life.

‘Adi slow, Adi slow.’ Rawat cried from behind.

‘Slow? Remind me to check the dictionary,’ I went into full throttle.

‘I’m gonna give this bitch a fuck of her lifetime,’ I thought eying the speed meter while Rawat probably prayed for the sins he had commited. I zoomed past the school building as kids there tried to figure out who the fuck showed off.

‘Adi slow, Adi slow man. Calm, Calm,’ Rawat cried as we approached a T point. I stepped onto the brakes as we slowed down quicker than we acclereted until it was safe to turn. Another round of demonic speed show till we reached the spot where we left Atul. Atul was still there, along with Harsh. I stopped infront of them as Rawat immediately hopped of, counting his legs and his arms to see if anything was missing.

‘Atul, ride at your own risk,’ He warned Atul. But before any of them could make move Harsh occupied the rear seat.

‘Hey lets go,’ He started.

‘What about you Atul. I thought you wanted to take a ride?’ I asked Atul, as he stood unsure after studying the rattled condtion of Rawat.

‘Maybe some other day,’ He replied.

‘Okay, Harsh you ready.’

‘Yeah. Go ahead.’

I changed the gear and held onto the accelerater as we once again went into the thrill mode. A few speedy curves when I heard Harsh say,

‘Hey let me drive.’

‘What? Are you sure? Have you driven earlier?’

‘Yeah a couple of times.’

‘Okay,’ I stopped the bike round a corner and offered the drivers seat to Harsh.’

‘Okay now look. First gear’s down, then all other are up, got it?’ I instructed.

‘Yeah, fine.’ He said, probably ignoring my preachings. He pressed the ignition button and changed itno first gear. As he released the clutch, the bike jerked a bit then went off.

‘Hey, you released the clutch too much man. Release it a bit slowly and give a little accelerator.’ I instructed him. He again ignited the engine and did what I said, though partially, resulting into disastrous consequence. He did give the accelerator, too much though and released the clutch even more. Yeah you got it what happened. The bike impersonated an aeroplane, went ninety degree up in the air, throwing me back, then it skidded as it went down.

‘You son of a bitch,’ I cried in horror as the bike skidded off on the road.

‘Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit,’ Harsh cried as he stood dazed. I ran upto the bike, picked it up and applied the stands. I took a close look for the damage done. There were scratches at the silencer, and the front brake handle had broken into half.

‘Bitch, If you didn’t know how to drive, Why did you even ask?’

‘I had driven earlier man. Splendour.’

‘Splendour? Woah. Man there is a heck lot of difference in splendor and FZ,’ I shouted. I again took a look at the damage. Nothing more to it. I hopped back onto the bike and as I turned the handle, I felt something wrong.

‘The handle is disaligned. Damn.’

‘We need to go to a fucking mechanic.’ I said as I drove the bike off the accident point.

‘I guess so,’ Harsh said. Motherfucker didn’t have any regret in his voice. Regret or no regret, I knew I was screwed, big time. First of all, my brother would bash me all around the house, second I wont be able to touch his bike ever again. Though I could make it with the first one, second one sounded more painful and unbearable. I drove straight to my home, parked the bike there, and covered it as well. Then we both walked straight upto Monu’s house. He owned an FZ as well, so probably he could be some help.

‘He Monu, we need to talk,’ I said to a startled Monu who was confused to see Harsh at his doorsteps.

‘Why what happened?’

‘I’m telling you, just come out first,’ I whispered. He came out cautiously, as if I was going to kidnap him as soon as he stepped out. I slowly narrated him the story, and his face seemed to show glimpses of satisfaction, or amusement as I proceeded.

‘So Adi what do you want me to do?’

‘Look I want you to park our bike outside my house till I get the repair work done,’ I asked, almost begged.

‘No way. Mere ghar wale maar denge. Aur saale tere ghar walo ko pata nahi chalega number se ki dusri bike hai?’ He asked

‘Abe ghar wale itna dhyan na denge. Bike covered rahegi. Aur tu apne ghar walo se bol diyo kit u jaa raha hai CP ya kahi aur. Bhai try kar na,’ I begged, almost on my knees this time.

‘Chal Adi dekhta hun,’ He replied.

‘Chal bhai. Teen din baad bhai aayga. To bhai kal ka try karliyo.’

‘Chal thik hai. Bata dunga,’ he went back to his home.

Harsh and I walked past the bushes next to his house as we moved towards our homes. I shouldn’t have even taken the bike for a ride. But I need to forget it now. What’s done is done. I took out my cell along with a piece of paper. I examined the paper closely.

‘Hey it’s Sabinah’s number,’ I thought. Yeah, something to distract me. I punched some keys on cell and send the message to Sabinah. A little while later my phone vibrated. It was her reply.

‘Hiii. Howr u? BTW u lukd smart on bike. Hee.’

Oh! So she saw me on the bike. Bike! The word got me itching again. Other day I would have puffed up at the compliment. And what is this hee. Probably a giggle. I fiddled with my mobile as I replied, changing the topic. I reached my home after a brisk walk that’s when I bid her adieu. I straight away fell onto the bed. Exams over finally, but I had a lot on my little mind to grind on. FUCK!

………………………………………………………..

‘Sorry bro. Kuch nahi ho sakta’ Monu said the next day as we chatted over the phone.

‘Bhai yaar try kar na. Main mar jaunga,’ I cried.

‘Bhai yaar ek do ghante ki baat hoti to kar bhi leta. Par tu bol raha hai ki chodni padegi bike kaafi der. Wo risky hoga,’ He said.

I guess I had to figure out another way to deal with the crisis at hand. I need to try something different. If I can’t get the repairs done, I could possibly put the blame on someone else. Then suddenly an idea struck me from nowhere. My ingenious plan. YEAH! It was simple but if everything goes as planned, I could be saved. Though the execution would be a bit risky. But no other way out. With cousins arrival was two days away, I needed to act quickly,

‘I would do it tonight,’ I thought.

That night, I waited for everyone to fall asleep, deep into the world of dreams. I laid wide awake on my bed as I waited, and waited, and waited. After a long time I checked out my mobile. The clock struck about two in the morning.

‘It’s time,’ I thought as I slowly got off my bed. I slowly and cautiously made way for the inner room where my uncle slept. I tiptoed inside, using my cell as flashlight. My uncle was sound asleep, if you went according to his snores. I crawled upto the place where all the keys were kept, heart beating really heavy. But I needed to take this risk. I slowly searched of the bike keys, and the key of the main door of the house. Since these were important keys, they were kept at a place easily accessible. So I found them with ease. I slowly crawled out of the room.

I walked upto the main door of the house, and slowly pushed in the key and turned it three times as the door snapped open. The heart beat was really heavy, and my shirt was soaked in sweat. Though the work wasn’t over yet. I peeped outside, looking for the night watchman. They could be a pain in the ass. But there was no one in sight. I slowly walked upto my bike, inserted the key and unlocked the handle. I walked with my bike about twenty feet away and then dropped the bike there, cautiously. As I did that, motherfucking dogs started barking from all corners of the area. Nobody taught these son of a bitches to stay quiet. I quickly ran back into the home, with the fear of getting hounded by those good for nothing savage beasts. I slowly locked the door back. But still it wasn’t over yet. The keys needed to put back into the place. I crawled back into my uncles room where he laid peacefully snoring. Guess he was used to the dogs barking, given they do it every night. I kept the keys back into the place. I made my way silently  out of the room and back into my bed. As I laid on my back, I heaved a sigh of relief. All done, at last. Now I just had to wait, and wait I did, until I fell asleep.

…………………………………………………………………………

‘Hey wake up. Come outside. Quickly,’ My uncle woke me at about six in the morning.

‘What is it?’ I asked sounding innocent.

‘Someone tried to steal the bike I guess.’ He said sounding really serious. Dead serious.

‘Oh. How do you know?’ Okay now, I was pretty bad at drama.

‘The bike was found down the street,’ He continued. ‘But don’t know what happened. Though the car of our neighbors got stolen at night.’ He added a twist in the story.

‘What?’ I asked,aghast at the last part. That wasn’t the part of the plan.

‘Yes. Mr. Pal’s car got stolen. Now do one thing. Park the bike inside the house. I don’t want to take any more chances,’ Sure he wont.

I pulled up the bike and parked it in the house. Cousin won’t be happy at all. But I’m out of it, partially. Though if Mr. Pal decides to file an FIR an if police comes across someone who has seen me at the scene of crime. But given that we live in India, nothing like that was happening.So  this chapter’s over for good. But one thing’s for sure. I won’t let anyone else drive the bike. LESSONS LEARNT!

……………………………………………………….

‘Adi, you know what. You’re a genius,’ Monu said, patting me.

‘Well conditions does get the genius outa you. Specially when you ass is online.’ I confessed. The gang sat at the ground hearing my adventures with interest.

‘Yeah Adi. Sahi hai. Par tune Harsh ko kya soch kar bike dedi,’ Rawat asked. Probably the most intriguing part of the story.

‘Hmmm. Dimaag kharaab ho gaya tha isliye,’ I couldn’t think of anything better.

‘Sahi mein Adi. Dimaag hi kharaab ho sakta that tera,’ Monu supported.

‘Chal ye to hogya. Kal to result milega,’ I said.

‘Haan yaar. Meri to maths mein gaand fat gayi thi. Goma pakka mere baap ko number bataaygi,’ Atul cried his sorrows. His father was a staff member at school. No student should be subjected to such a mental torture.

‘Saale bhenchod maths to thik tha. Chemistry mein us kamini ne kitna gaand faad paper banaaya tha,’ I said.

‘Chal chutiye. Itna easy paper tha,’ Atul differed.

‘Haan to maadarchod maths bhi easy tha,’ I hollered.

‘Shanti, Shanti,’ Rawat intervened.

‘Haan be. Padhai ki baate chhode. Mujhe to kuch samajh bhi na aarha,’ Monu, the commerce student, begged.

We spent the evening chatting and fucking around, like always. A disaster loomed large the next day. But who cared. I didn’t, atleast at that moment. BLISS IN IGNORANCE.

The next day, I handled the maths paper. I scored fifty odd marks. Nothing to brag about. But it was much better than those single digit, which Atul had scored. Poor guy looked like a drunkard robbed of his last quarter.

‘Goma ki maa ka bhosda. Goma ki maa ka bhosda,’ Pant chanted from the corner seat, even when he had scored over seventy. He needed to be treated with a red-hot iron rod into his holes. But really, maths wasn’t much of a concern. Chemistry was. I had scored forty something in physics, and an incredible sixty in computers(out of seventy).

In chemistry class, everyone braced up for the manslaughter as Charulata assembled the answer sheets.

‘Children. Your performance this time has been really poor. B section has done much better than you.’

‘Why am I not surprised,’ I thought. She started reading out the names in the reverse order of the rollcall. Which meant  I had to wait much longer than expected to receive my death certificate. She finally called out my name and I began my long walk to her desk. Though if it was any other examiner, I was sure I would have passed, but given a heartless examiner like her, it was a distant fantasy. I must have taken quite long to reach her desk as she shouted my name for the second time. I nervously held onto my answer sheet, but I didn’t checked it out straight away. I walked over to my desk, and after offering all my prayers to THE ALMIGHTY, I finally glanced upto my score. It read Nineteen. Guess god wasn’t really pleased at this son of his, and nothing better was expected from that witch. Ten minutes of mourning, and I thought it would be better off to forget it. Though now something snapped in me this time. Probably my confidence was dented. For the first time. A chink in my armor (That meant I finally thought of giving a fuck to my studies. Well actually, I gave nothing more than a fuck! )