Just another Love Story

Chapter 7

2008

Raj looked nervously at the angry Simran. Why were girls so mindful of stuff like this! So what if he didn't remember her! As soon as she had entered the class he had been looking at her, mostly. There was something in her, he just couldn't figure out what. She wasn't the ultimate beauty...he had seen many prettier faces. But still, somehow he was completely mesmerised by her. Her face, her aura...it had something different, like every new admission, but also beautiful. He had met many new people, but this girl intrigued him quite a lot.

And then as the school was about to end, she got up and stormed towards him. He got nervous. She just walked to him and banged her fist on his desk.

'ENOUGH NOW! Raj Soni, just tell me if you remember me or not!'

Everyone gasped in his direction. He looked at them all and then towards her, immediately withdrawing his eyes, frightened by her angry stance. 

For God's sakes! It was seven years since they had seen each other, and they were kids back then! But when he said so to her, she shouted back at him!

'Yeah, right. Then how do I remember you being a wetty-pants lover? You always used to make them wetty-wetty! And then once you even ate up-'

'Okay I got it! I am so sorry to have forgotten you....say....there would be some way I could make up...'

He couldn't believe he was talking so freely to a girl. Usually he used to shy around from them. Wow.

'Yes! Of course! Make up!' Simran's lips curled into a slight grin.

Uh-oh. Raj boy, you should really work up your vocabulary. It's going to land you into trouble some day, soon.

And soon he found himself in the most awkward position he would have ever imagined: sitting in front of  mirror with eyes shut tight, feeling the soft bristles of a brush sliding across his face, all over it. And then came the liner and whatnot. 

'Awww! How pretty you look! See!' she exclaimed.

He opened his eyes, and immediately regretted every moment since he had uttered make-up, and then started wondering why he was even alive. His face was all glossy, eyes looked more prominent with the liner, or maybe it was just mascara...he never could understand the difference; and he had purple lipstick on. He turned his eyes to anywhere else except his reflection. 

'And now, we will click a picture with this pretty face!' 

'NO!' 

'OH YES!' 

Snap! 

And that's how Raj's fate was now sealed in the hands of Simran. One wrong move and the photo would be doing rounds: on facebook, instagram, whatsapp, EVERYWHERE.

'Happy now?' he asked dryly.

'Hahahaha. Yes!' 

'So, can I please GO AND WASH THIS?'

She burst into laughter. Sweet, innocent laughter. The kind that boosts your mood. 

'What?' asked Raj.

'You are cute.' she smiled at him.

He stood there, gaping at her, dumbfounded. He totally forgot about washing his face and just stood looking at her when his mom came in.

'Raj dear! Let's go-' she looked at him. Her eyes grew wide and she burst out laughing too.

'Mom!', Raj snapped awake, 'Not you too!' he sprang to his feet and stormed towards the washroom.

When he came back, his mom was already shouting at him, 'You forgot about Simran? How could you, Raj! You know her since you were barely a year old!' 

He looked down. Now it was definitely irritating. He gave Simran an angry glance and she replied with the warm, innocent smile of hers. The next thing Raj realised, he was smiling too. Simran winked at him. He turned his head back down. Wait, was he....blushing?

***

2009

Raj tried to sleep; he tried his best. 

To stop that moment from replaying a thousandth time. To stop those words resonating in his mind, all around. To stop struggling to accept the fact. To stop hoping for it to be a misunderstanding. To stop hoping for it to be a dream. To stop thinking about her. To stop thinking at all.

But alas! Tonight is going to be the same as the nights of this past month. He will run after sleep, and it will play games with him. It will run around from him into the endless darkness of the night and all those weird noises from all directions will make it hard for him to follow it. But it won't run away. Instead, it will make sure he is following: stay as close as to drop of hints yet as far as to stay out of bounds. And then, in its final move, it will suddenly come to a halt and let him approach, and when he is just a few steps away, jump off the cliff into oblivion as the morning sun rises above the horizon. 

And tomorrow he had his Physics exam. Man! He hated physics. Why physics? Why!

But now, he was actually thankful. He hated his life more.

Much more. 

***

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