Hearts Entwined (I)

Beginning of the Journey

Rahi's POV

Beginning. A word I always wanted to follow but ended up being unable to. Because of my horrible procrastinating habits. The toughest part was the beginning. And I am about to have a new one today.

My 10th standard boards ended 15 days back, and today, I am getting ready for going to the renowned coaching institution, which my parents admitted me in. Forcibly. Keyword: Forcibly.

While I was giving my 10th standard boards, they began to pressure it down on me, to go for science stream. I decided to contemplate it for a while, but They had already signed me up in every tuitions already. Nice. Of course, everyone's opinion matters in my life except mine, right?

"You're too young to make important decisions, Rahi. We are your parents, your elders, whatever we're doing, it's for your own good."

Oh, the number of times I heard this dialogue!
এতবার ঈশ্বরের নাম শুনলে এতক্ষণে স্বর্গে পৌঁছে যেতাম। {if i had heard God's name for that many times, I would have reached heaven by now.}

"RAHI-IIIII!!!!"

I flinched slightly at the commonly heard booming voice of my mother dearest. She is a living loudspeaker. In two seconds, she will enter the room and shoot her taunts at me. Two...one...

And here she comes.

"Yes, Ma? See, I am already ready."

"Why don't you answer when I have been calling you for the past 10 times!!! You know I can't shout much!"

For someone who shouldn't shout or speak in high volume according to doctors, my mother is a loudspeaker. Totally.

Clearing my throat, I avoided the argument, and decided to get my bag, double checking for the notebooks.

"Your food is served. Better come and eat fast, and you better eat full without any remnants." And she left, no, stormed away, her phone in her hand.

Cracking my neck a bit, I sat at the table, and began to have the rice porridge, খিচুড়ি, basically. Which was hot, bland, and...opposite of tasty. I ate up the whole thing with no change in my expression. As usual, like always. It is the most filling meal for me to stay the day at the institution, according to my mother. And nobody spoke over my mother in our house.

Getting up, I took the portrait of my Kanha within my bag, to go out. I would be meeting Aarshi in the bus-stop, and we'd ride together from there. I am a bit awry of her, because, she is a bit...how do I put it? She is...a bit close-guarded from heart, yet. We haven't warmed up to each other much yet. And I will never admit it, but I get very insecure when I am with her. Like how stars all become invisible during daytime in presence of the bright sun.

The journey to the institution was amidst small talks. Reaching there, I got a bit nervous for a moment, because the institution was huge, as huge as my anxiety. Gulping, I followed behind Aarshi whose eyes gleamed with a eagerness found in toppers.

Our classroom was huge, and cold. It is a perfect resemblance to a morgue, living morgue. Only extra thing was a closed window, and a huge projector screen board, and speakers and all, aids for teaching. Listening to Aarshi, I sat with her in the second bench, my anemic body already feeling cold in the air-conditioned room.

The first lesson was of Physics. It started with basic things. I noted down all our sir taught, but I was sure, I could retain only half of the newfound information by the end of the day. Classes were of twelve long hours, with two short and one long break. (Duration:- 15 mins, and 35 mins only.)