The forever kind

Swathi

I attempt to plait my hair and beat it into submission without soaking it in oil. It is proving to be a waste of time. As on all days, Vish and I are late for school, scrambling to put on our shoes while our mum and dad yell their disapproval at our tardiness. Lunch boxes stuffed into our already bulging bags, we set off at a brisk pace to reach the gates of SRK - not dreamy, not romantic but just a plain and huge building housing 1,000 students. Don't mistake me, it is one of the biggest schools in the city and I am grateful to be a part of this experience but I cannot wait to graduate and be off to college.

If all the movies I enjoy on big screens are to be believed, that's where I can be pretty, make important decisions and change my life. CANNOT WAIT!!!

Vish waves a quick goodbye and rushes towards his block while I drudge up the stairs to reach my classroom - XII B, in all its glory. I see my friends struggling to contain their laughter while our English sir, with a hint of annoyance, asks me to find my seat quickly. I do it.

We call ourselves the fearless four - me, Arya, Jhanvi, and Nandini. Found each other at the right age of 12 and stuck together through teen crushes, emotional rollercoasters and overall classroom chaos. I promptly forget everything while we chat each others' ears away.

We just started grade 12 so we aren't allowed cell phones or frequent phone calls. So we do what any responsible teenager would - sincerely update friends on each others' tiniest detail of life, during class hours. So we did just that till the school bell ringing broke our bubble.

The afternoon sun was upon us mercilessly while we found a nice, shady spot under a tree to have our lunch. We were of course joined by our girlies from other classes. I do have my moments where I think school is horrible and so are the people in it but at times like these, it's hard not to enjoy the good company and silly jokes.

"Jhanu, if it is your mom's potato fry for lunch, then it is mine". Jhanvi's mom makes the best sambar rice and potato fry in the world. Period.

"Uh oh, you're the only one who likes this better than the biryani our friends have bought" says Jhanu - my first and foremost friend.

Arya chimes in "Our vegetarian rabbit cannot have this biryani anyway." I make a face at them and continue enjoying lunch when I felt a sudden fluttering in my stomach.

It might sound cliche but your instinct does give you a warning before your world changes. In my case, seeing Sid at school. I lower my head as he walks past us with his band of friends (more like thugs). He stops to chat with my friends and ignores me. MY FRIENDS, THE AUDACITY.

I am happy though. I don't want to talk to him either. But hearing his rich voice sends delicious shivers down my body that I had to force myself to calm down. I continue ignoring him and eat my lunch.

"Will the queen not deign to say hello to visitors?". I know the voice is directed at me and I am not liking the things it is doing to my mind.

I look at Sid in the eye (big mistake) and throw a dry hello. He lazily smiles back which has my insides melting. "So much attitude for such a small packet". Wait, did he just call me a packet???

I might be shorter-ish but who the hell is he to comment on my appearance?

"My good attitude is reserved for someone decent, Siddharth. Why don't you look up what that word means?" His jaw clenches. I close my box with a loud thump. I walk away, not waiting for an answer nor my friends.

I could hear his laugh fade away as I rush to class.

"Sid, you're such a snob. Why poke her? You know she doesn't like being called queen. Look at her now, she has gone without finishing lunch" admonishes Jhanu.

"Your friend needs to get off her high horse and treat us like humans. Then we can talk about not provoking each other" says Sid while walking away from the group. With one last look at Swathi's receding figure, he's off to his basket ball practice session.