After that little misadventure with Madhu, Shravan had suddenly found a renewed dedication towards our group, and especially towards me.
It was partly because I hadn't sold him out in front of the teacher but mainly because of his little 'talk' with Madhu the following afternoon. We do not know the details of the conversation between the two, but I can never forget the smile that Shravan had glued on his face when he came back to us afterwards.
We could manage a hint, evident from the little "Hi" and "Hello" s they shared during the beginning and ending of the class, or when they crossed paths in the corridors. Once, I even caught them chatting in the hallway during the break. On being confronted, Shravan resorted to his 'tomato' face but Madhu just waved and departed. Silly boy wasn't so silly afterall.
The session ended almost suddenly. Probably thats what happens when you are enjoying a little too much.
The new year began with a whole new load of syllabus and a bag load of books. All of us resorted to home tutions in order to cope up with the immensely vast and complex carriculum. This meant the free time we had after our school were completely spent. Kavya was busy with her studies and couldn't spare much time for us. Even me and Dhruv couldn't catch up outside school. Life had started to get real hectic.
Coping up with it cost us the entire year with minimal meetings with each other. Apart from the weekends and holidays, we hardly saw each other. Even during the Puja breaks, Dhruv rushed off to his Granny's house (like always) and Kavya had decided to spend to spend the Holiday with her sister in Kolkata. To sum up, that was the most uneventful and boring holidays I had ever spent in my life.
The following year was almost the same. More so if not less. We were frankly asked by our teachers to suck up with the academic pressure, as we were nearing our boards. This was supposed to mentally prepare us for the oncoming qualification exams. And like the herds and cattles in the farm, we obeyed.
School days, tutions, exams, testpapers, assignments, these were the only things that occupied our minds for so long that the Puja vacations that year were a welcoming releif. All of us were there, me, Kavya and Dhruv, and together had even decided beforehand all the many things we would do. But alas, Dhruv had to go and fall sick. This dude sure knows how to ruin some perfect plans.
It was the day of the Ashtami when me and Kavya had decided to visit Dhruv. We went up to his room, and saw him sprawled out on his bed. He seemed very delighted to see us. As we sat there gossiping and laughing at our stories, I felt more content than I had felt in a long time.
At the end of the evening, as we exited his house and made our way back, Kavya suddenly asked me, "Sid, what about that girl from your school you told me about. Madhu. And your friend, Shravan. Whats happened of them?"
"What about them?"
"Are they-like-together?"
"I guess."
"You guess? You don't know for sure?"
"Umm-not exactly. Shravan hardly tells us anything. I have told you how he is. And Madhu-"
She nudged me for a reply.
"Me and Madhu, we don't really talk much nowadays."
"Why?"
"I don't know. She almost avoids me. She's changed. I don't seem to recognize her anymore. Wonder what's happened to her."
I hadn't noticed but we had reached home by then and Kavya had grown awfully silent. "Whats the matter with you?" I inquired.
She opened the gates to her house, then turned around. "I think I know what might have happened to her"
"What?"
She just smiled in reply. "I'll tell you some other time. Good night Sid." Saying this she went in.
I walked back to my home, pondering the reason behind her smile but guessing nothing.
