The Thing We Call First Love

Chapter 6 - Results

After that, my stay in bangalore became a hell. The mobile roaming service made me to ever roam to the recharge shop to the extent that I even became friends with the uncle in the shop. Had it been another day or two, he would have definitely byhearted my mobile number. The six days were really a nightmare. Though there wasn't much of a conversation with Ramya, I didn't want her to feel that I'm ignoring her not even for the slightest bit. Yes, there wasn't much of a conversation. There were just greeting texts and some forward message jokes and eventually some 'WHAT'S UP?' texts. That was it. Even though a part of me longed for the old times; my other part was pretty elated that she had forgiven me and had started talking to me again.

After the hellish trip, I finally returned back. But I kind of missed the recharge shop uncle though. On the last day, I even gave him a gift. It was not a big one though. It was an orange cap which had a bit of royal blue stripes on it. It was because of him that I was able to talk to her in those six days. I always wanted to visit him again but the chance never came.

With Ramya, I was right back in the beginning again. I had to regain her trust; show her that I was the same 8th grade guy she liked and voluntarily wished to talk. I had to show her that nothing has changed in me. This was my next mission. But she kind of always sounded someone distant even though I tried my level best.

20 days passed without much change. Wait. It was time for my 10th grade results. I had literally forgotten about it. It was the morning of the result day.

Everyone around me were so excited about my results. But I didn't feel anything different. I really didn't know why. Finally the results were out. 99 percent. I got 99 percent with 3 centums. Though it wasn't the best, I was satisfied with my marks. Everyone around me had a slight bit of disappointment but they didn't show it out. My parents found me a bit concerned. They thought it was because of my marks and began consoling me. They didn't know that I was worried about Ramya.

I hadn't received any reply since that morning. I was so worried of what had happened. I forgot to get her registration number. I started panicking. I wanted to find out whether her marks were the reason for her silence. So I decided to go to the school to check her marks. I got dressed, hopped up on my bike and went straight there. There was a bit of a crowd near the notice board. But I couldn't wait. I decided to barge in. With a little bit of struggle, I could finally see the notice board. My eyes searched for her name. Yea, there it was. She had scored 97.4 percent. It was definitely less for her standards.

Thoughts came piling into my mind like it always does. Is she depressed? Is it because of the marks? Did her parents scold her? Who invented this god damn examination system? were the questions in my head. I knew the answer for the last one though. It was Henry Fischel. He was lucky because he was dead already.

I didn't want to trouble Ramya. So I didn't pester her with messages. I silently sat waiting for her reply. But my silence was mistook as disappointment and even today my parents would tell everyone of me being disappointed on seeing my 10th grade marks.

It was 5 in the evening when my mobile finally beeped for the first time that day. I ran towards my phone which was plugged to the charger port hoping that it shouldn't be the notification beep indicating that it is fully charged. Luckily, it wasn't. It was Ramya's message. She had replied finally. There was happiness again on my face after seeing her name on my phone. What might be her reply for 'SAW YOUR MARKS IN THE SCHOOL NOTICE BOARD. CONGRATS?' What might be the reason for her sudden silence. Thinking about it, I unplugged my phone and went inside my room.