Bittersweet memories

Part 1- The First Meet

I was staring out of our classroom window. It was pouring heavily that day. We were all drenched in rain. Wet clothes, wet shoes, we don't get to play outside. Monsoon has never been liked by me until that one day when I saw her for the first time. She was walking slowly while others around her were running crazily to enter the school building to save themselves from getting drenched. It was interesting, she was interesting, I thought to myself. But why have I not seen her before? I have been in the same school since the beginning. How the fuck did I not notice her all these years? Is she new? Which class is she in?

My thoughts were interrupted by the bell which meant no prayers in the playground and losing the chance to look for her.

The teacher entered the classroom. "Good Morning ma'am" we all shouted in a coordinated tune. "Chidlren, we have a new transfer student here today. Please welcome her and help her in anything she needs."

A new transfer student? Could she be her? Is that really her? And there she entered the classroom. Her soaking hair, water dripping from ends of her hair and falling on her shirt made me love rain for the first time.

Did I pray a little too hard today?

She walked to the empty seat next to Kavya. She gave her a small smile and sat next to her. It was like God is finally showering His blessings on me.

Kavya, Sanju, Badri and I were repeating the same class as we failed to pass. I was not a very bright student not even an average for that matter.

The teacher now called out our names for attendance. "Rashmika Sharma", "Present". Oh, her voice sounded like melody to my ears.

She was not the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I was confused. Why was I so attracted to her? There was definitely something about her that was pulling me towards her. Maybe I was thinking too much.

The bell rang and our nightmare was about to come. The Social Science teacher. He was very strict with his rules and students. If the government didn't ban punishing or beating students, we, the bankbenchers might have been in the hospital by now.

"New Student, Introduce yourself" he said in his strong commanding voice. I don't know why but I was afraid he would scare her on the first day of school. "Good Morning Sir. My name is Rashmika Sharma......." Ahh, the voice. I could listen to her all day. She was so confident in the way she spoke I felt embarrassed for worrying about her. He then proceeded to ask her about which chapter they were in, in her previous school. They were behind us. The teacher asked the best student of our class to help her out with the notes. Argghh, why was I not a good student so I could help her with that? Well, it would have been a well-intended excuse to talk to her in person. I hated the other guy.

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