Young Love

The Grey Staircase

Teachers were in the classes teaching the eager as well as the bored ears while she sat on the staircase, alone. Curling a strand of hair behind her ear, wiping her cheeks as the slow tears fell down, she felt miserable. The solace was her only comfort. The grey on the staircase perfectly reflected the grey in her heart.

Walking coolly yet with an awareness of his surrounding he was looking to not run into anybody. Few years of practice and experience had taught him that getting caught is really a mess. He was one of those, as you say, unimaginative lot. Making up excuses didn't come to him naturally. Though he had a few tricks up his sleeve, he secretly wished that he never gets to use them.

Given the timing, he never thought he would see her sitting there. Trying to not make it awkward, he hoped to walk down the stairs pretending as if she was not present. She had a same hope. Not before the last step did he hear the soft sobs which she was trying so hard to hide. Stopping on the step, he contemplated on whether to turn or not, after only 5 seconds, he remembered his mother's saying "Never let a girl be sad, irrespective of the reason." Approaching the step, he sat down beside her.

Dead silence ensued for the next five minutes broken only by the soft sobs. He did heed his mother's advice but didn't know what to say. Thank you mom.

"What happened Sakshi?" He said gathering some courage.

No reply.

"You know, talking helps."

Though he had known her only through casual encounters at the classroom entrance and some parties, he never really talked to her.

After a few minutes of silence, he lost all hopes when suddenly she broke down. All at once, at first he did not know what to do, but she herself lay her head down on his soft shoulders. The small drops of tears had now turned into a swift stream. He let them flow knowing that they were the impurities in her body and mind which needed to be cleared.

"How could he do this. All this while I believed in him, loved him. He didn't even care about me. He stole my first and only love and gave it to that bitch." She went on like this for a long time. He didn't care to count, he was only interested in listening to her.

"How will I love anyone again?" She said pushing back the tears which had almost run out, "I don't think I can. I had given my everything to him."

He couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop it." He said it in a harsh tone but he meant well. She stopped, surprised at this sudden outburst. She got her head up from his shoulder and looked at him.

"Stop it." He repeated, "This is not the end of the world. He is not going to be your last love. And this love, you call it love, which can be easily broken by some random chick. Love is what sticks forever, it is what only fades away to be rejuvenated by something else. Love is not what happens at the age of 17."

He was no master at the matters of love. Even he was surprised when he said this.

Dumbstruck, she sat there with her mouth wide open. She wanted to say something but didn't know what. Some part of her heart knew that he was right, or rather, it hoped that he was right.

Realising the dumbest thing he had done, he just sat there, not even an apology could come out of his mouth.

TRRINNGGG

The same annoying bell announced the end of their conversation. Suddenly, something struck him, might be the bell. He took her soft cheeks in his hands and swept off the trail left by the unforgiving tears. Then he whispered slowly in her ears, "Forget all about him and live your life. You will surely find someone else."

Saying this, he got up and left. Soon the corridors were filled with students. She tried but he was now camouflaged among the other creatures.