Secret In Our Hearts We Held

Chapter 10

(Pavitra)

(D-day)

I went to school, had my classes this morning, all scheduled and several revision tests. I have not talked with Jai for anything, he texted the decoration and others will be here by 1:30, after school time. And I was there at 2 in the afternoon. No setup was in place, the entry gate still had not set up the main pieces, I walked in, the lights were on, I could see them working in the gymnasium, the frames were all set. Bulbs were being checked. I ticked the gymnasium on my list. The entrance still had a checklist blanked. I walked to the caterer who had just arrived. "Good afternoon mam."

"What took you so long?"

"Traffic?" The caterer said, I shoved my anger away and showed them their place to settle.

The banners weren't set. The poster I designed wasn't here, yet. The staff has asked me for the tiara and the crown, "It's in the principal's office. We'll provide that at the event time... that is not the concern now... Where are the others? Why are there no tables and chairs settled? I mean, come on! The event starts at 6.

Come on people!" I tripped in a flower pot as so consumed with walking backwards, and fell sideways, now settling on my knees. "Fuck." I had chipped my ankle, anyways to that- a little blood is considered a good omen- not that I believe in such stuff- ugh | kinda hate everyone now.

Went to the stage area, and the decoration was still not in process, the sun was harsh too and why are there no roof installments erected here! Where is that manager! Come on! "Pavitra!" I heard my name from the sweetest voice from far away, Jai. He was walking towards me, I clenched the notepad in my hand, the sun was extra harsh. "What are you doing here?" He asked. I waved my checklist. "Give me that." He took it. "Shouldn't you be home?"

"What?" I found myself shouting. "NO... Not until I see everything by myself" I wiped the trace of sweat off my temples. "Give me his number. Where is this guy?"

"God, Ease up." He stepped closer. "Here." He wiped the sweat off my face with his sleeve, making me close my eyes. "Geez, you are something else today. Look at you." His eyes shifted to my chipped ankle, before he could say anything about it, as I sensed he would, I-, "Your shirt is dirty, again." I touched the fabric between my index and thumb, heat radiating from his bare touch at the arm. "Because of me." I was stressed for many reasons...

"Here, talk to him." He gave me the call, connected to the manager.

"Hlo, sir. Yeah we are just right here... At your school gate. We are just getting in, "he says.

"Acha. You better be here, Mister. It is already late!" I said, the man on the other side, coughed. "Ji, Ms. We are here. I apologize. It's the traffic."

"I don't care. I need the set up ready till 4, you have two hours. Got it?"

The guy on the other side agreed. In the next 15 minutes, I could see them taking out the structure for the entrance piece, the decorations and roof installments ready to be erected and decorated with fairy lights.

I take a bare minimum as a sigh of relief. We have started with the base structure at least, and I was walking with him. "Alright, now... we need to check with this lighting man, Ramesh right? If they have arranged three spotlights, then tons and tons of fairy lights, We need them everywhere, in the entrance alley like I mentioned on that day... then We need them in the seating area, on the trees at the boundary. It's gonna be a bright evening. And remind me to check on the DJ at 5 o'clock. He must be here with my 6 as the event starts. I don't want them to settle up their things while the students are dying of boredom." I looked through my list. Jai hummed beside me.