Hide & Seek

Risks

Change. I waited for change as long as I can remember. I knew it was coming, slowly. But it started intimidating my intrinsic schedule a week in after summer break.

"We have a new alliance." Miha said, dragging me across the lushy green field towards the canteen.
Miha, my friend, yes I did got a friend other than a ghost, had her hair in ponytail today. Her blazer, even in this hot, finely brushed and suited up.
Before we go further, few words about my friends; Miha and Eshani.

Miha Yagnik, she is beautiful, has this red cheeks that the first time I sat with her I thought it of some colour or red tomato wedging out of it. She wants to be an archaeologist. She is crazy about history. Ask her, who Trojan was, there, she's ready with his biodata and even the accounts of Trojan war. Ask her about the invasion of Europeans in America, India, the Chinese and African labour, there, she knows it. Ask her about...well, you get the idea. It's like she memorized not just the book in the syllabus but the books ahead of it. She's a muggle Hermione Granger. And she dresses well. Her father is in navy and her mother is a doctor so yeah, pretty rich. Few months ago she had a boyfriend but he was a jerk so left him, it did hurt she admitted but now she's over it. For a scrawny tall girl she's very strong. Other than that, she is single and well. She has known Eshani long before me. They used to be neighbors but then Eshani's father got a job in this University and she moved, though, they met again, in school and have been together since. Eshani Mahajan is Marathi and has a sweet voice and very long hair. Really, if it were golden she would have give Rupanzel a run for her money. Her mother is very religious and would send ladoo in lunch, almost every day. And she sings. We all do. For present she wasn't sure what she would be going do, though I was absolute she would make up her mind pretty good.

As they both trawled me towards the canteen I wondered how had we come together from being just sitting roll number wise to this. Inseparable. Well, technically, they won't let me. Get out of their sight, I mean.

It's not like I never tried to be friends with anyone else. Reya had endeavoured from the commencement of my eleventh grade to set me up with various groups of friends with her derisory 1990s ideas.
Once She made me memories all Justin Beiber songs, you know keep with the trend and made me sing it to myself (even though I would rather do some from BTS which she didn't like and I just scowled at her. I mean, how could you not like BTS?) while musing over a book near a group of girls which ensued downright mortifying because after I was done they just stared at me. Blank. Like I had just spoken Greek, which to be frank would be a substantial procurement. Then one of them, forced a smile and said. "Well, that was some song. Lets go." They turned and walked away.
And once, I don't know how she found out, but a couple of girls from my class visits this cafe down my street so Reya had me dressed in a vintage skirt and black tunic and heels and deep red lipstick with a white purse. (My mother did frowned at my new fashion incurment). My hair falling on my shoulder in soft curls. "Vogue." She had said.

And we both went to the cafe. As soon as I walked in I wanted to crawl back out and hide behind the big car. Because, well, the girls from class looked casual. Not just them but all around, everyone were in jeans but me. In a 90s trend. And I wanted to die, right there. Before that, I wanted to murder Reya. Because, she just prompted me inside. I sat a full hour under speculative eyes and snickering of my classmates while Reya kept muttering, "Be bold. Be brave. Square you shoulders. Chin up." I was so embarrassed, I didn't finish my coffee and ran. That day I swore I won't be taking fashion tips from my ghost friend.
And once....well, you get the idea.

Almost every 90s trend we gave whirl to, I strived to mingle with everyone in the class, in vain however, not with the girl I sat with. Miha. The thing was she already had a friend. Eshani. And I felt if I seek to, it would be like intervention between the twos.
But then one day, they ascertained I do Kathak practice after school. You see, I used to have this classical dance classes but because of my poor heart I couldn't continue, though I remembered almost everything so when this telugu classic dance teacher heard about me, I had vague feeling from my parents, she wanted me to pick up the threads.

And, when my friends discovered they were so fervid to know everything about it and.....it was like they reached out their hand and this time I didn't hesitate, I took it and they let me in. Perhaps, they were waiting for me try. It felt like I belonged with them, as if I have known them always.

Sometimes what we think is the most impossible or abash can be possible and wonderful. We just have to take risks and try. Every one in every school is a part of some group. Ten, five, or just of three. It doesn't matter how long you have been together or how close you are. If we turn a little and see through the depth we will find there are other people who are worth letting in. You know, broaden the group. It's don't always have to be the same people. We must know new ones and let them in. It doesn't always have to Hermione, Harry and Ron. Ginny and Nevile are worth letting in. Even Luna. It's just about seeing the depth and taking a little risk. Knowing, the more the merrier. The disparate the intriguing.