The Way We Were

Chapter 2

(June 26: Bal Bharati)

Khushi Kumari Gupta was parking her new cycle in the lot beside Payal. Over the last two months since she had come to Delhi, she had realized how innocent her life back in Lucknow had been.

Here, in the metro city, she was reborn. Payal showed her the ropes of being a city girl. Khushi had protested, but Payal had taken her to a parlor within a week to get a haircut and get her eyebrows done. Khushi had screamed at the parlor lady, then at Payal, then at the progressive society of being so stupid about looks. Her forehead had pained for a week afterwards.

Her hair, which used to be waist length was now chopped a few inches shorter with something Payal mentioned was a step cut. The parlor lady had recommended it owing to her luscious mane. Then there were the fringes. Long strands of her hair that framed her face, tucked behind her ears. Her mother had glared at her change, but Payal's friend, Lavanya, had oohed and aahed.

"Hello, girls!" Khushi heard a slight cycle ring and turned to see Lavanya stop her cycle beside theirs. A pretty round face, long eyelashes and shoulder length layered hair suited the girl extremely well. "Are we ready for the best two years of our lives?"

Lavanya was, in short, the chirpy diva of Bal Bharati.

"Tie your hair before a teacher catches you. Or worse, the head-" Payal stopped.

"Say it out loud, Payal." Lavanya teased, extracting a hair tie from a pocket in her skirt. She bunched up her hair. "There is no head boy right now. He transferred." She grinned.

Payal blushed.

"Payal, you too?" Khushi groaned. It wasn't unusual for girls her age to have crushes, but finding such a thing about Payal was surprising.

"It was nothing like that. He was just... sweet."

"Come, let's find someone sweeter for you this time." Lavanya grabbed her bag. "Should be easier considering we are all in different streams. More networking."

It was true. Khushi was a Science student. Payal was in Arts. Although Lavanya had the grades to pursue Science stream, she had opted for Commerce, stating that Physics-Chemistry were not her cup of tea anymore.

"As you wish, my queen!" Payal encouraged her.

Lavanya led the trio towards the higher secondary building, chattering away and pointing out the layout of the school to Khushi, who nodded in thanks everytime.

Finally they reached the second floor. "Khushi, we're at opposite sides of the stairs!" Payal whined.

"I'll be fine, Payal." Khushi was still on the last step of the stairs when Lavanya came back from the right corridor.

"You are that side." Lavanya pointed to the right corridor. "We both are on the opposite. If you need anything, come to us shamelessly."

"Will do." Khushi laughed lightly as Payal and Lavanya skipped off. She shook her head. That Lavanya was a complete nutcase. But she was nice.

Khushi took the last step forward and turned, crashing into someone. She closed her eyes instantly. A strong sense of familiarity struck her, with a masculine scent. She opened her eyes to find a pair of chocolate brown eyes looking at her in concern. Her knees weakened. It couldn't be.

She wobbled on her feet and the tall boy she had crashed into caught her. "Are you okay?"

His voice was huskier now. Khushi was having second thoughts if it was him at all. Maybe she was hallucinating.

"Did you hurt yourself? I'm so sorry." He caught her by the shoulders and carried her slowly to the first classroom. "Please tell me you are fine. What's your name? Which class are you in?"