ANUGAAMINI- The Boundaries

54. Reticence

Anuj waited for Anupamaa to enter the class so he could ask about what had happened to her yesterday. That was the sole reason why he was attending the early morning lecture, that was about to begin. He called Devika but she had neither picked up nor called back since last night. He sat with Dikshant who had no idea either and told that maybe she's studying.

But Anuj knew that's Devika and obviously there's no way she could be studying.

Classes after classes went by but Anupamaa attended none. He had started to grow worried. Her tears still troubled him. This was the last class of the day. He checked the time and still had hope.

As he was lost in his own thoughts, the students suddenly rose up in unison to wish morning. He looked up and saw Arunimaa there.

"Good morning students....", her eyes fell on Anuj and she felt proud that he was in class at least keeping her expectations below the bare minimum. It's embarassing to come on inspection sort-y and find your own son bunking class to hang out with a bunch of similar friends.

The class greeted in chorus. "Good morningggg ma'am...."

"I hope you all are preparing well for your exams....??"

"Yes ma'am....", the class replied and Anuj said meekly too.

"Good.... Won't bore you all much... And-", she looked around for Anupama but she wasn't there. She felt a sudden drop in her heart.

"This is probably the last month of your cool college days... Final exams start in two weeks... And then.... Friends will be gone, contacts will rarefy, routine becomes memory, you won't be dressing up everyday for college wishing Manini Ma'am to be absent..."

Manini glared at her and Arunimaa bit her tongue. "Oh you are here didn't see....", she held her ears and the class laughed.

"Of course you did not!!", Manini smiled too hearing students laughter.

"Everything will change and you will realise the life afterwards is not like a class you could really bunk....", she stared at Anuj who looked down. Dikshant giggled at the indirect.

"It's time you all start being more serious for your future and more responsible for your actions... It's time you learn to figure out a way for yourself... Somebody amongst you someday would be a lecturer maybe like Dharam Sir...", she saw Manini again through the corner of her eyes.

'Iski to... Baad me bataati hoon isko to!!', Manini stayed calm.

"Somebody would be an artist, right Anjali?"

"Thank you ma'am... Yes ma'am..."

"Somebody would become a lawyer or could be a dancer like Anupamaa, someone a teacher, someone a government servant, someone a guitarist, a vocalist and maybe someone becomes a cool trustee like me...", she shrugged. Anuj smiled irresistibly seeing her antics and another round of applause went around.

"Dreaming is free... But putting in sincere efforts to get your dreams is not... It demands perseverance. I don't know what each of you had planned for but I hope god gives you strength to achieve it... I just want to say that you have to get used to working hard so why not start today? Let's consider these last exams of your BA curriculum as the first step you take into your adult life and put your life into it... Get good results and strengthen your faith in yourself that you can achieve anything by hardwork..."

Everybody was all ears.

"So... Who all are willing to take this as a challenge and work hard to pass with flying colours!?"

Everybody raised their hands feeling motivated.

"That's good... Hope this is the result that I get to see in the finals too...."