Let's Meet After School

CHAPTER 06: WHERE ARE YOU?

It's weird to think how spending time with someone can make us feel different things. Am I making it too much tough for you people to understand the para? I mean what I'm trying to say is... we have these certain people in our lives who make us feel many different emotions... all at once. We feel loved, cared for, respected, and interested and we feel like we matter... we feel all warm and fuzzy. Well, sometimes we have to face those days when that someone won't be there due to some reason. Maybe that person is facing some issues and due to that he/she won't be there to see you today or have a talk with you today... means there's zero involvement regarding that person for the day or a week or more than that sometimes... I guess I'm not that good while trying to justify the story into these small paras to connect the dots with our realities and their fiction.... Woah... that was a good line... hmm... wait... we should focus on the story... so where was I?

Haa... I was saying that it seems that he's been away from her for a couple of days now... I don't know what happened but she's absent from school for a few days now.

3rd August 2015

We see Aarav walking towards his home after school... it seems that he's kinda upset. As he's walking, someone pats on his back. He looks back and we see Shreya standing behind him. They both are now walking together.

"So... you appeared to me a bit upset today... what's the matter?" says Shreya in a curious way.

Aarav replies, "It's just that I feel a bit tired lately... nothing much."

"Have I told you... Ankita lives in my neighborhood?"

"What... why she didn't come to school today? And why is she absent for so many days now?" he suddenly asks her.

"Calm down bro... it felt like you wanted to ask me about it for days now."

"How's she... Is she sick?"

"Aarav... she's alright. Ankita has gone on a trip with her family due to which she's absent for so many days now. I lied to the teacher that she was on sick leave. So, keep this secret from everyone."

Aarav sighs... "Better... I thought she would be sick."

"Can I ask you something... Aarav?" she says.

"Do you miss her?"

"Ye--- wait... uhm... I'm just curious... and maybe a bit concerned." he stutters.

"Really?"

"Yaa... really."

"Well, it seems to me that you're not just concerned or curious... you miss her not being here."

"What... that sounds rubbish" he denies her words.

"It sounds like the cat is out of the bag... huh?"

"What cat? and I don't like her... and I don't miss her either. Okay."

"Who said anything about liking her?"

"Huh?" he says in a confused state.

"I said that I never said that you like her... but for some reason, you brought that up... so... do you like her?"

"Hahahhaha... that's a good one. I will tell Ankita about this joke... she would laugh too... hahaha."

"Laugh and pretend all you want... I know the truth---"

"I wanted to ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why are you leaving school every time at a different hour?"

"Are you trying to divert my attention from your topic?"

"No... seriously. Whenever I meet Ankita, sometimes you are there and sometimes you are leaving so late... it makes me wonder."

"I stay back to read books..."

"Books? Library?"

"Exactly! I love reading books... all types of books, fiction, non-fiction, documentaries, etc... you get my point."

"Oh... that's a good hobby"

"It's so good... I mean it feels so relaxing and... it just feels perfect for me. I hate people talking to me nonstop or me talking to people during long conversations... of course, there are exceptions as well. But reading books feels like meditation to me and the library is my second home...(sighs)"

"So... am I there in the exceptions?"

"It's fine as we don't talk much often... and I won't mind you... because whenever we talk, all you talk about is Ankita. So, I'm fine with it."

"What--- wait... uhm... see---" he struggles to answer her back.

"It's fine bro... I get it... I support you... I always thought that Ankita would be single for a long time... she's just so into her social work thing, but now you're here... her hero?"

"What?"

"She told me about you that day... it seems that she finds you cute."

"What?"

"I guess she finds you cute as a friend... for now at least... are you just going to pretend that you don't like her, Aarav?"

"I... I like her... as a friend," he says in a rather not-so-confident way.

"Okay... I get it... Deny it Mr. Shah... she will be back soon... till then, keep missing her more."

"Uhm... I'm just concerned about my friend." He says hesitatingly.

"I know... Ankita's dear friend" she says with a sarcastic smile.