Enemies Became Friends Forever

6. Cheating - Fighting

The week has passed and our half-yearly exams started. It was our third exam, which was English. Ashish didn't trouble me from the day-1 of exams. I think he's busy with preparations and I'm happy that at least now I'm free from him. From morning 10 am to 12:30 pm its Paper-I and from 2 pm to 4:30 pm its Paper-II and because of exams there was no tuition. After writing English Paper-II we all straight away headed to our respective homes to prepare for the next day's exams i.e., Mathematics Paper - I and Paper - II as there is less time.

When I took a glimpse at the watch while practicing the problems it was already 12:40 am and I still had much more to practice as both the papers were on the same day. Moreover, when dealing with Maths who cares about the time? And, I even had to revise everything again before I sleep as I can stay awake the whole night, but if I hit the bed once, then it becomes hard for me to wake up at 4 am or 5 am. Though I'm not an early rooster, I have been getting up early in the morning at 6:30 to go to school so it was hard for me to wake up before that time. By the time I finished practicing the problems and revising everything it was 3:10 am. I kept all my books and stationary that I used on my study table after stretching my body with satisfaction. All the time when I was practicing my mom visited my room, every one hour to check if I need anything. No one can replace mother's love. With that thought I went to bed and dozed off.

I woke to the sound of my landline's ring. I raised my head with a grumpy look and glanced at the clock which was on the bedside table. It showed 7:50 am. I flopped my head onto the pillow closing my eyes, then after a second I stretched my hand to take the receiver and held it to my ear but didn't say anything.

After a few seconds the person from the other side spoke  as I didn't speak anything, "Hello Naina!! Are you there?" With that voice I came to know that it's Preeti and I just hummed in my hazy voice.

"Idiot, are you still asleep?" She asked to which I hummed again in the same hazy tone.

"Naina!! Wake up!! Do you know what's the time now? Didn't aunty wake you up?" She literally shouted now and my sleep ran far away with her high-pitched tone.

"Ahh.., stop shouting Preeti. I know it's 7:50 and I said to mom not to wake me up till 8 O' clock." I replied her rubbing my eyes while sitting on the bed.

"Why? Aren't you planning to write the exam today?" she asked in a mocking tone.

"What's the matter?" I asked, rolling my eyes getting annoyed with her mocking.

"Whatever!! Come to Shruti's home by 8:30. We can start to school at 9:30 from there itself. Now go get ready and if you don't make it in time like you always do then I'm going to kill you for sure. Remember." She announced.

"But..," before I could replay anything she hung up the phone.

"Ahh.., this girl will make me mad one day for sure," I cursed her and headed towards the bathroom to take a shower.

At sharp 8:30 am, I was in front of Shruti's house. I went inside and asked aunty (Shruti's mom) about where these stupid girls are. Aunty said that everyone is in Shruti's room. Everyone? I questioned myself and went upstairs heading towards Shruti's room. When I opened the door to her room, I saw around 8 of my friends from 13 of our gang deeply engrossed in books explaining each other. I raised my eyebrows in amusement. Some of them turned their heads and saw me while some others were still kept fidgeting with their books.

"2 minutes late." Preeti said, to which I rolled my eyes and replied, "Shut up Preeti!! I'm in time. And don't act as if you are punctual. Forgot? Even you come lately to school every day."