Us │✔

14│Under The Sea

Jivika~

"Okay children, tie up your supplements, graphs and maps," announced Ms. Dipali. Her well drawn eyebrows flexing with every word of hers, making her appear intimidating.

"Jivika, hand over your paper."

Scribbling the last few words, I moved towards the end of the seat, further away from the stretched hand.

"Ma'am two minutes, please."

"Jivika," she repeated in an exasperated tone, knowing that it was hopeless. Preparing to snatch the paper, she stretched her hand further, trying to reach the paper while rest of the students snickered at the scene. This was something they were used to watching over the years.

Sensing their classmate's helplessness, two shouts echoed throughout the room.

"Ma'am thread!"

Thank God! Lavanya and Amaan ended up being true saviors.

Flipping through the pages one last time, I handed over my paper, shooting the teacher a smile through my braces. Pushing my spectacles against the bridge of my nose, I stood near Maahi who shoved her writing pad and bottle into my hands, the small human struggling with her bag.

Making sure everything was in place, she panted out a 'Thank you!'.

"Guys! Near the bus! Finally this shit is over, I can binge-watch Greys Anatomy for the umpteenth time!"

Kiara rushed away after making the statement. With snail pace we followed, cracking out knuckles, fingers aching. Breaking the silence, I asked.

"How was Sanskrit?"

"I don't know."

Confused, I glanced at her. Great! She was more confused than me. Sighing, she spoke up.

"Only sir knows what we write is correct or not. In fact, I doubt that even 'he' knows what we write is correct or not. All he bothers is whether we got the size and number of margins right or not! You are lucky that you picked Hindi!"

Laughing, I stopped near the stairs.

The rush was admirable. Students and teachers, all alike, pushing, pulling, screaming at each other. One who lost her bag while the other lost his shoe. Preparing myself for the war, I entered the crowd. And so did Maahi.

Her small petite structure, slipped through the people easily while I struggled. A hand slapped me and someone screamed out a 'sorry'. Almost tripping forward, I reached the first floor. One more to go.

And after a few minutes, I was free. Catching hold of Maahi, we both walked towards the bus. The others waved like maniacs on spotting us. Embarrassed, we were totally embarrassed. Rushing through the crowds, I bumped into few before reaching them.

"Here you go, saved one for both of you!"

Kiara handed over two chips packets. I was touched! Really!

"How was the pa—?"

Interrupting her was he, the one and only. Shoving the damned Hindi question paper into my face, he said something. And I could not even make the head or tail of it. My eyes shrank, that's what I meant when I said that the paper was shoved into my face.

"Repeat please?"

"Whatdidyouwriteforthefifthquestion? Itwassecondoptionright? Right?"

"What, what, what?"

Taking a deep breath, he repeated his question. Clearing his doubts, I watched him satisfyingly arguing with Parth, on how he knew he was right all along.

Remembering all of a sudden, I thanked him for helping me during the exam. But he need not have done that.

"What were you scribbling in that paper?" he asked.

"Amaan, it was a Hindi paper. H.I.N.D.I! Are you forgetting those essays and colored advertisement ? What do you expect?" I asked.

Nodding, he acknowledged the excuse.

Realizing that I lost track of time, I increased my pace and walked ahead of him, hoping to catch the bus in time. The roads were deserted. It must've been pretty late. All I wanted to do was go home and sleep.

The end of the two week torture must be celebrated.

And surprisingly, I can't see a single bus. Not a single one.

I can be the only lucky person to experience this, right? Ugh! That Amaan and his chattering.

I glanced at him.

"Okay, okay. I get it. You missed the bus 'cause of me. Chal, I'll walk you home today!"

Walk me home?

Walk me home?

What am I, a dog?

Not giving me a chance to reply, he dragged me down the road. I don't like walking. At all. And the company is terrible this time. Why me again?

"Oh my, oh my! What am I seeing?!"

Oh yes, welcome our official gossip mouth, Sachin Taneja.

Imagine a guy glued to PUBG the whole day. A guy who will use the washroom excuse to tour around the school for the whole day. A guy who would be the scapegoat for anything and everything which happened in the class. A guy caught saying the wrong stuff, doing the wrong stuff, always at the wrong time.

That's him.

"Pyaar hua ikrra—"
[Love happened and then—]

"You! Oh hero! Listen, I'll break your face!" I replied, my silver wristlet ready to prove my point anytime.

He ran away.

Literally.

Amaan looked at me, amused as ever. Laughing.

At first a smile, then a chuckle, then a wrinkle around the eyebrows, then a full fledged laughter, then a rumble and then he crouched to the ground, his knees betraying him. Sitting on the road, he laughed his heart out. Meanwhile, I still could not figure out what just happened.

"If you could drop him somewhere, where would that be?"

"Under the sea!"

I gleamed at the mere thought of the idea. Giggling he sat on the road, not moving an inch. Laughing at the sight, I offered him a hand.

I looked.

He looked.

We looked away.

And we looked back again.

~