The Unattended Letter

New Introductions

Here is one special dedication to a very dear friend of mine who i think loved this book the most by far. I hope everyone of you like it as much as she does. Shivanee...this is especially for you.

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The class just went by and so did my feeble attempts to ask her the very question. Finally Sir signals for a break of fifteen minutes before resuming the next session. 

Once outside I try spotting that girl who sat beside me but to no avail. 

Fifteen minutes later the bell rings and the students start pouring back to class. 

"Hey", I say when the girl finally returned. 

"Hi, I'm Pragya by the way. What's your name?", she asks. 

"I'm Dhaani", I answer and her smile broadens at this. 

"I meant to ask you something?", I waste no time. 

"Yeah. Tell me", she nods. 

"About that guy Sataksh, do you know him?", I repeat my question. 

"why are you searching for him?", she questions me back. I should have known this would come, why would she answer me right away? 

"Um..he has my book?", it came out more as a question than an answer. 

"Oh that. You should have sat in the front rows", she answers. 

"What do you mean?", I'm suspecting something but then why would this girl try solving riddles with me, she hardly knows me. 

"Are what I mea-", Sir's voice over the microphone silenced everything around me for a second. 

"Sataksh...take your copy back, let's start the class", I instantly started zooming my eyes around the stage where some students were surrounding sir but couldn't locate whom he was referring to. 

The class started and I again lost the chance to ask her about the guy. 

The class finished and I was one of the last persons to come out. I silently walk down to the bus stand this time and sit quietly, waiting for the bus to move. 

Half way to it and the conductor came asking for the ticket.  

Shit! 

"Dada I got Rs.500, no change", I made up an excuse that I knew would keep me off the hook for a while. 

"Even I don't have change for that. Wait, I'll arrange.", the conductor was sweet enough to pass me a consoling smile. Little did he know about my actual condition. 

I desperately started looking into my bag for coins. Something has to be there inside the pockets. I did find some coins but they were just half of what's required. The person sitting beside me was giving me weird looks...but I could care less. 

The conductor returned when I almost reached my stop. 

"Dada...aar neyi!", I said giving him those few coins that I held in my fist. 

"Why are you giving this to me? Your ticket has already been paid for.",he says giving me back the coins. 

"What? Who paid it?", I ask. 

"That girl sitting behind you; she said you both were together.", instantly Pragya came to my mind. 

I smiled at the thought. I haven't made friends here...I was still longing for my old friends but this girl proved me wrong. I shall have to thank her for her help.