The Thing We Call First Love

Chapter 20 - Twelfth Grade

Finally, after a week Arjun came back. It was the morning assembly when I saw him. He was all smiles and laughs. Just the sight of that made me want to punch him yet again.

But Rohan and me had planned things out. I waited for the assembly to get over to make my move. After the assembly, calling out his name, I went straight to him.

But on my way, Ramya happened to see me. Since she had told me not to talk with Arjun, her face was filled with disappointment seeing me go talk to Arjun. She immediately turned around and headed for her class.

Leaving Arjun stranded, I ran after Ramya. I stopped her in the stairs and explained her, the reason of me talking to Arjun. Hearing it, Ramya told 'REVENGE ISN'T ALWAYS AN ANSWER. THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE. IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD JUST LEAVE HIM AS HE IS AND CONCENTRATE ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT'

Important things? Well, the most important thing in my life was standing in front of me. How could I go against her wish? I decided to drop my plan of avenging Arjun just because Ramya didn't want me to be an avenger.

I headed for the class with her. I walked past my class knowingly just to see her beautiful face; just to hear her beautiful voice for another thirty odd seconds.

Dropping her off at her class, I turned around and headed for my class. But on my way, I saw Arjun who was heading towards me with a perplexed look. He asked me what was
happening.

Ramya's words were going through my head. I kept my reply simple. The last words I spoke to Arjun 'I JUST CAME TO KNOW THE REASON FOR YOUR FIGHT WITH RAMYA. THANKS AND BYE.' And that was it.

Arjun was not in my life. I just cut my ties with him for good. He was standing frozen in the corridor as I made my way to the class. On my way, I could hear a faint sorry. I didn't know whether it was real or just a delusion. I didn't bother to look either.

The villain was finally gone. It was my time to be happy. But happiness never lasts, does it? I began overthinking.

Was Arjun really a bad person? If yes, why would he give me Ramya's number in the first place? In fact, he was the reason Ramya and me talked in the first place. I couldn't find the answers for those questions.

I guess, there aren't answers for a lot of questions in this world. Such questions were these. My mind wasn't at peace. But things between Ramya and me finally becaming normal helped me a lot in coping up.

We grew close. It was indeed the happiest times. Before we knew, 11th grade was over. Just like 10th grade, Ramya's parents took away her cell phone. She was not allowed to use it till the board examination was over.

A year without texts! Just the thought of it killed me. I went sobbing to Rohan. I finally told him that I loved her and how could I live without texting her for a year.

Rohan wasn't surprised because he already knew that I was in love with her. He began consoling me saying that we could talk in the school. But my tears never stopped.

Rohan then, 'LISTEN. SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR LOVE STRONGER. SEE THIS AS A TEST TO KNOW HOW STRONG YOUR LOVE IS. MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRST MESSAGE SHE GETS AFTER THE 12TH BOARD EXAMINATION IS YOUR ‘I LOVE YOU’ TEXT. YOU'LL ALSO GET
TIME TO STUDY. WORK HARD AND STAY STRONG. IT IS JUST A YEAR'

I decided to confess my love on the day my board examination gets over. I took this one year as a test for my life. I decided to WORK HARD AND STAY STRONG.

The initial few months in 12th grade was good but after that I felt her slowly drifting apart.

When I told Rohan about it, he asked me not to disturb her and let her study. So I let her. 7 months passed. We had only 3 odd months for the boards.

You never know when a calamity will strike. You never know when your life will change. Peace is a mere word that we never have in life, isn’t it?

I should have been prewarned 'EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.'