Entwined Lives

XV

Sivi's mother was hellbent on ridding Sivi of this unhealthy fascination of a boy. She learnt many a times of Sivi's meetings with that boy. Sivis mother had appointed Sivi's bus conductor as a secret spy. He would enter the school in the morning and afternoon and discretly see who all Sivi mingled with. Sivi's mother was scared and annoyed. She one fine day when she'd had enough and all her emotions overpowered she confronted Sivi.

'Sivi! You are still meeting Poso!'
'I am.'
'Why dont you listen to me?!'
'Because I have a mind of mine and also because its logical unlike yours.'
'Mine's illogical? It may be. I dont know. But i know that I love so much it would hurt to see you hurt.'
'Did you hurt on 21.12.12?'
'What?'
'That day I hurt. Did you hurt?'
'What happened that day?'
'I lost a race.'
'Im sorry Sivi. But understand that whats in the past cannot be brought back.Im sorry I wasn't there. Im really sorry about.. Just listen to me. It really is for your future happiness.'
'You cant convince me to do as you like by making me believe you know whats better for me more than I do when youve not been here for the most part of my life.'
'Sivi! I made mistakes. Ive learnt from them. And want to give you the same.'
'Oh. So its that what you think I will do? Run away with Poso?'
'No. I know he will become a distraction for you later on.'
'Then let him be. I can at least promise you I won't run away. So I think that should settle it.'
'You will not meet him hereafter.'
'Okay mother. As you wish.'
'If you do.. If I hear you meet him again I will change your school.'
'As you think fit.'

Sivi called Poso up.
'Hello?'
'Hi! Poso! It's me. Sivi.'
'Oh hi Sivi. What's up?'
'Hey do you want to... continue hanging out?'
'Of course. Yeah. Why are you asking?'
'And will you hang out with me even if I tell you that my mother is kind of against it?'
'Of course I would. But why does she have a problem with it?'
'It's a long story. I'll tell you tomorrow. And ya, we can meet only during classes. I'll come and call you. Don't talk to me any other time, okay?'
'Okay then. Tell me everything.'
'I will. See you tomorrow.'
'Yup.'

Sivi saw Poso during the first period. She bunked her Chemistry class and called Poso out of 12th C from his Business Studies class. He excused himself from class saying he had to go to the washroom once he saw Sivi signaling to him from the other side of the class' window.

'Hey.'
'Hi.'
'Where can we go?'
'Let's go check which class is empty. There must be at least one class which has PT in the first period.'

'Okay, now tell me everything. What's up?'
'Okay then. So when I was 6 years old my mother ran away with another man. I don't even know who that was. There was just a letter I remember that said that she had found someone who was right for her and that that's why she was leaving me and my father. But she's back again. That man turned out to have psychological issues and my mother left him and came back to us. It's been around 2 years since then. Now she thinks that you will become a distraction for me and that I will run away with you. She's crazy. I'm sorry.'
'Wow.... Wow..... And why are you being sorry? You are not your mother. I can't hate you because I hate your mother now.'
'And and my mother is also observing all my moves closely. That's how she found out that we were talking. I think someone gives her information. That's why I called you now instead of the break or morning when everybody is out of their class. I think it's someone from my bus. Some kid. No one else even knows my mom from this school. It has to be some kid.'
'So when can we meet? Not in the break. Not in the mornings. Not in the afternoons. We definitely can't be missing classes everyday... When?'
'I don't know. My moms killing me. What's wrong with her? I won't run away with you! She's so stupid to think I will! I have better things to do in life! Just because she did doesn't mean I will too!'
'........'
'Say something.'
'Yeah. That's is really stupid, what you moms doing.'
'Ok yeah. So that was it and I told you.'
'Yeah it was like everyday stuff. Totally.'
'Oye. Not now.'
'Tomorrow then?'
'Mind never?'
'You'd die!'
'If that's dying. I wanna die.'
'How can I ever top that?'
'You cannot.'
'Wait. But baby death isn't just a state of mind, it's a state of being. And wanting is a state of mind. Doesn't go together.'
'That's bullshit deep talk. You still haven't topped mine.'
'I give up.'
'Baby. Don't feel bad. Everyone has to.... Even my mom.'
'Badass.'
'That's all anyone ever needs to be.'

'When will we meet?'
'Lunch break. Someplace new and deserted everyday.'

***

Sivi whilst returning back to class to attend classes from the second period onwards encounters Mrs.Mytla exiting her class only then, against already should having done precisely 5 minutes prior.

'Sivi where are you coming from? Where were you instead of being in class?'
'Ma'am... I was.... Um....'
'Sivi come and meet me in the lunch break. By then either convince yourself to tell the truth or at least come up with a satisfactory alibi, for your mother would be waiting on the telephone line to know which very important business you were taking care of in the first period of school.'
'Sorry ma'am.'
'Lunch break.'

'Go on tell me.'
'Ma'am.. I was with Poso.'
'Your relationship with Poso is none of my business and that shouldn't be interfering with mine either.'
'I had to tell him some really important stuff.'
'Was the chemistry class the auspicious time to do this talking. Couldn't it have waited until the break?'
'It for sure could've but if it had to be done in the lunch break problems could've been posed.'
'Oh really. Please help me understand what problem might have presented itself.. if you had used your break time to do these important talks.'
'Can I rather not? Ma'am I'm sorry. It will never happen again.'
'You know you can be in serious trouble if I report your absence in class.'
'I very well do. Sorry ma'am.'
'Look Sivi. I know you think you're old enough to know what's right from wrong. I did too. But remember you're still in school and not entirely grown up. Sometimes you don't always know what the right thing is. At your age, rebellion is at the acme of your thoughts. Consequences and repercussions are still not part of your thinking. I know you're smart enough to already know this.. We, adults just want to make sure that your generation doesn't make the same mistakes we made.'
'Omg. What is it with your generation that thinks it can save us if we are bound to be doomed or want to doom ourselves?'
'Pardon.'
'Even my mother seems to think the same way. She doesn't let me do certain things because she fricking couldn't handle it when she was younger. I can be smarter than her or even destined to make the mistake...that might set everything right for me. But no, I just have to blindly comply to some instructions that of course damage my individuality as I don't take my own decisions but also might mess up my future.'
'Look Sivi. It's an ample suggestion. Not an order. Respect the lives that your previous generation has lived. We know this world a little better than you do. It's nothing but an advise. And parents sometimes to protect might put these suggestions across as orders. It's okay.'
'Its seems okay to you. All parents think that way. You all are selfish wanting your children to live a standard life and you promote this idea in the name of love.'
'I am not a parent. I am only an adult who knows better than a 16 year old.'
'Oh. Sorry.'
'Go back to class now.'
'Yes, ma'am. Sorry. It will never happen again.'

Like sand on a painting hiding the art which wind blows to reveal something nobody knew existed, equations of individuality were revealed, tearing apart all ties of age, temporary identity. Both of them were being forced to view the other despite the earthen body, faceless. And though, friction was what was holding them together a while longer, a thin string of unexplainable familiarity held them near for the brief first time their rocky roads crossed.