The Thing We Call First Love

Chapter 15 - The Bodhi Tree

'THANK GOD. I TRIED TO PRANK HER SAYING THAT YOU FELL DOWN THE STAIRS. HAD I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE ROLLING DOWN THE STAIRS' was his answer. His answer with his accent and expression brought a bright big smile on my face even when I thought I would never smile again.

But he started shouting at me after that for screwing up things so bad. He also praised himself saying that he was the one looking after me and without him I would screw up. After what I had done, I couldn't come up with anything to shut his mouth.

But, suddenly he stopped talking. Then he did something that he hasn't ever done. Never once since I've known him. He spoke his heart. He told me how he really felt. He told 'I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE MY FRIEND. I WOULDN'T LEAVE YOU EVEN IF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN US. I WOULDN'T LEAVE YOU EVEN IF YOU BETRAYED ME. SO YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE A SOUL BESIDE YOU. YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE EVER.'

His heart was speaking. You could just feel it when someone's heart is speaking. It was special. Every word he spoke made me realise how gifted I was to get a friend like him. That meeting under the tree changed me. I didn't know what tree it was. But for me it was my bodhi tree where I got my enlightenment.

Suddenly the lunch bell rang. We ran for our classes. It was then I realised that I hadn't taken my lunch. My stomach was growling and angry with me. But my heart and mind though, was at peace after being in a chaos for the last couple of days.

In the evening after the classes, I took Rohan to the canteen. After that, on our walk back home we discussed how we were going to tackle this problem.

The first question he asked me 'DO YOU WANT RAMYA IN YOUR LIFE?' Without hesitation, I nodded my head. He could see my desperation and guilt in my face clearly. We then made up a plan to bring Ramya again back into my life.

The first part of the plan was the hardest part. It was the most horrible part. Even Rohan thought the same. But it had to be done to get Ramya back. It was apologising to Arjun and befriending him again.

The next day, our mission began. I saw Arjun in the morning assembly talking to his friends. My heart asked me to move towards him. But my legs wouldn't budge. It was my ego that was controlling me. I failed that morning and I failed bad. I couldn't do it.

In the morning break, I went to meet Rohan and demanded a change of plans in which I didn't have to apologise to Arjun. His reply was simple. He said that if I really wanted Ramya in my life it is the only way.

Though it being hell, I decided to apologise to Arjun just for Ramya. In the class, I was thinking of how to speak to him. Finally I decided to ask him to eat lunch with me under my bodhi tree. For I was a little superstitious that the tree brought me luck and happiness.

Finally, the lunch bell rang. I took my lunch and headed out. It was my day alright. I came past Arjun right infront of the class entrance. He was alone and had his lunch in his hand. After making eye contact for a split second and asked 'LET'S EAT TOGETHER UNDER THE TREE ARJUN.'

He was perplexed. He stood there without uttering a word for about 20 seconds. He had the right to be confused. It was the same awkwardness I imagined he would have in my head.

Fed up with the awkwardness I spoke again 'COME ON ARJUN. IT'LL BE FINE. I PROMISE.' Though being not fully convinced, he agreed. I was happy and at the same time scared. The thought of me spending the next 40 minutes with a guy who I had punched for a girl scared me.

It was the most awkward walk to the tree. We sat and opened our lunches. He had brought Cauliflower Manchurian. It was his mom's special recipe. I started the conversation with the Cauliflower and enquired about his mom. He was still hesitant. Then the tree did it's magic or should I say I did it. I seriously didn't know.