The Green-eyed Monster

Chapter 4

Sameer had made a conscious effort to get to school earlier than normal that day. Naina would be there, he knew. He would get a chance to talk to her, to ask for forgiveness, and all would be well again. What he did not expect, even in his wildest dreams, was to witness this scene. Naina, and a boy. Hand in hand, alone in the classroom. His mind was unable to process, and his muscles unable to move. He stood there, watching the entire scene, and unable to make sense of anything. Suddenly, he snapped back into focus, and swiftly walked out of the room, going against his instincts of walking into the class and breaking the hand that held Naina's. What was happening to him?

*
Prem was, simply put, happy. He was happy that Naina had accepted his friendship. The day was turning out to be great already. The connection between their hands broke, and Prem gave a cheeky smile to Naina.

Prem: Hmm.. to dost kya aap mujhe school ke darshan karvayeingi? Vaise bhi class shuru hone mein kuch samay hai.

Naina smiled at his emphasis of the word dost. He was a goofy fellow, Naina guessed, good-natured and nice too. Prem and Naina walked out of the classroom, and went around the school, talking all the way, with Prem talking a considerably lot more than Naina. He told her about his old school, his friends, and basically anything he could think of. Naina learnt that he had studies at St Sebastian's until Class 10, one of the best schools of Mumbai, and had moved back to Ahmedabad, his mother's home-town, with her. He loved to play Basketball, and played the Drums. He hated Tinde, and loved Paneer. Naina also learnt, that he and his mother were the family that had moved into Narayan Kaka's house, who lived 3 houses down from the Agarwals.

Prem: Aaj to mera lucky din ho gaya Naina. Ek nayi dost banayi, Jo kaafi achi hai, aur saath hi saath meri padosi bhi. Mujhe to laga tha kahin main aone doston ko Mumbai mein peeche chodke akela na padh jaun. Lekin tum mujhe mil gayi ho. Ab main akela padh hi nahi sakta.

Naina: Prem tumhe kabhi kisi ne bataya hai? Tum Paagal ho!

Prem: Haan Naina, Maa mujhe bachpan se hi ye roz bataati hain, ke main duniya ka sabse bada paagal hun.
Prem said it so casually, that Naina couldn't stop herself from bursting out laughing. Prem just smiled and looked at her.

Prem: Hasti raha karo Naina. Tum haste huye bahut achi lagti ho

At this, Naina looked up at Prem in surprise. She hadn't even realised, but the past 10 minutes since Prem had entered her life, she had completely forgotten about all the troubles of her life. Problems within her family, her Taiji's taunts, her father's harsh words, Sameer's betrayal, her broken heart- all of it. She had laughed for the fist time in days. And it wasn't fake. It wasn't put up for the happiness of her family, nor for her "strong" image. It was genuine. It was from the heart. And it was in that moment, that Naina accepted Prem as a true friend from the heart.

Naina: Thank you Prem.

Prem: kis liye Naina?

Naina: Phir kabhi bataungi. Ab chalo, class shuru hone vali hai.

With this, the two friends walked back into the classroom, separately of course, and joined their classmates, and friends, in case of Naina. She smiled at Swati, who could see through her best friend, and knew that today, after DAYS, Naina's smile was true. "Finally!" Swati thought, and thanked whatever that was out there that had brought this smile back to her Naina's face. Seeing her friend smiling after so many days, Swati finally sighed with a little relief.

*

Storming out of the classroom, Sameer went to search for a quiet corner. He wandered in search of a place that he would be alone with his thoughts in. Disturbed with what he had witnessed, and what he was feeling, Sameer slumped under one of the trees in the playground behind the main school building. No one would come here, he knew. He pondered over what he had felt, watching Naina with him a few minutes ago. It felt like he had been stabbed in the heart with a dagger. He was sure that if Naina had took his heart and threw it on the floor, it would have hurt less. The feeling of drowning, the feeling of sinking was still so pronounced that he could feel himself getting breathless, and struggling to breathe. Sameer consciously took deep breathes, trying to bring himself back to normal. Naina was his friend. Of course, he would be worried about her. She had become a true and genuine friend of his over the period of the bet. He was worried for her. As a friend.

And then, he stopped breathing altogether. For he saw her. With him. Walking around the school building, and talking. Naina would occasionally point things out to him, probably telling him about the school, but his eyes were fixated on Naina. He would keep looking at her and keep talking. And Sameer's eyes were fixated on him, observing his actions, reactions, his interaction with Naina. And then, they stopped. They stood in one place, and he said something to Naina. She replied, and he said something again. And she burst of laughing. And Sameer died a little again. She was laughing. She was happy. But that wasn't what disturbed him. No. he'd give his life if it made her happy. But she was happy because of HIM. HE made her laugh. HE made her smile. And Sameer couldn't bear this. She straightened up, and smiled at him. A genuine smile, Sameer could see. His heart leapt to his throat and it was at that moment that he realised it. She wasn't just a friend. She had never been just a friend. And she couldn't ever be just a friend. It is said that one doesn't realise the value of something/someone until they are at the verge of losing the thing or the person. And this is not because you are suddenly about to lose it. No, its because you never thought that you would ever lose the thing/the person. And now, when Sameer thought that their story had reached the point of him losing her, he realised what his friends had known, what Naina had thought she had known, and what he kept on denying, even to himself.

He was in love with her.