Schoolmates (11 page)

Kabir took a step closer to me and rested his long arms, palms facing the walls, engulfing me within.

“Look at me! Look up Riya!” he spoke. I was stiff yet, see and feel the wind bellowing in puffs from his mouth. I knew it was freezing cold but my body was numb. Kabir stood inches apart from me.

“Don’t ever do that to me again! I can’t handle it . . . Don’t do it.” Kabir said softly.

“Do what?” I was still looking at my hands, too stumbled to say anything else.

“Don’t pretend to tease me. You mean a lot to me Riya, you don’t have to do all that to make me feel jealous . . . I already feel it whenever any other boy looks at you, I don’t know why it happened but it did ok!! I can’t handle it! Please!” Kabir came a little too close.

“But you were doing the same.” I managed a line finally.

“Sorry! God I’m so sorry then! I always did that, but when you did it . . . I suppose Dev was right, as was Joy and Rahul . . . hell . . . everyone saw it!”

“What?” I looked up finally. Kabir looked so handsome in that dim morning light. His face had taken a matured look in these last months of our tenth grade. He was much taller than me and his cologne was making me go weak in my knees. I knew I would fall, any minute now.

“They saw . . . that Kabir Sharma had lost it . . .” and he touched his heart.

I swear, when I realised what he was implying, my breath caught mid-way. I lost my balance and fell right into his strong arms.

“Easy!” he caught me and I clutched his sweater.

“Sorry... “

“Don’t be. I’m not.” With that he stood me upright and pulled my dishevelled hair behind my ears. His cold hands touched my temples, cheeks and I swear I felt a shiver run down my spine.

“Kabby . . .” My mouth went dry. I began to tremble.

“Yeah, I know. Go in now, you are shivering. Never do it again, please.” With that Kabir left me. I stepped back inside my room.

I did not sleep obviously. The entire incident kept running in my mind till Anjali asked me to dress up for breakfast the next morning.

“What has gotten into you Riya? Look at the mess you’ve created!” I looked at Anjali. She looked peevishly at me. It was then that I realised that I had sat on her just ironed trousers.

“Oh! Sorry, I din’t see!” I got up and walked away.

“What is the matter with you today?” Anjali said passively as she tried to steady the state of our room.

I had no answer. I was stunned, dazed, lost in my last night.

The buffet display looked very appealing. Everyone was busy picking up toasts, eggs, coffee cups and croissants. I on the other hand had an almost empty plate. Jaya, Ameesha, Anjali, Jagriti and a bunch of my other friends were busy chatting and the room was filled with a raucous uproar of voices.

“I think Riya is dieting!” Jagriti remarked after noticing just two slices of bread on my plate.

“Really? But you are slim already!” Ameesha made a quick assessment.

“C’mon dear. Pile up a bit of food. It’s a long day ahead.” With that Jagriti picked up a few cutlets and a croissant and placed it on my plate.

We all sat down near a big window, overlooking the vast expanse of dry arid land outside. A few cactus plants dotted the landscape and a few stray camels sat huddled in the desert sand. I chewed on the greens as much as I could but my body was in a state of delirium.

“Let’s get some more tea, shall we. Who all will come?” Ameesha asked after a while.

I volunteered to sit and watch over the expensive cameras and bags.

“Not eating well Riya? Is it because your plate is empty or is it because you are cold?” I was looking outside when my breath caught mid-way, almost chocking me on the cutlet bite.

I turned around and saw Kabir. He was holding a coffee mug in his hand. He wore a brown sweater and black jeans. He had showered and his hair was wet. His face shone in the light from the window and he looked like a god! I saw many girls look dumb struck at him, so handsome and graceful he stood there looking lovingly at me.

He sat down beside me. His arm brushed mine and rubbed on the fabric of my yellow sweater. I could feel it even then, the energy and excitement. I was shaken out of any delirium I had previously slipped into.

“Look, don’t be alarmed, I just came to ease out the matter. I know I must have left you in a shock in the morning, but I had to do it. Only later did I finally manage to sleep!” Kabir looked sideways at me. His hair fluttered a bit when he shook his head. I was beginning to feel a bit dreamy now. I began wondering why it was that I could not sleep then, if all was just as simple as he portrayed.

“I saw you two dance and something began burning inside. I mean I know we are not a couple, and you have said so numerous times but yet . . . I could not see you with him. I just could not stand there and see him . . . touch your arms and . . . well it was infuriating, wild, crazy like rage! I’m sorry but . . . I know it; I won’t be able to see you with him ever! Please don’t be mad at me. Ok?”

I nodded my head. My fork began rattling on my plate as my hands were shivering.

“Why don’t you put on gloves Riya?” with that he again held my hands, this time more strongly, gently rubbing my fingers.

I felt electricity run through me, yet I felt easy and calm. I liked it. I wanted him to never stop but I was conscious that we were in a buffet room, there were eyes all around and some glued to Kabir.

“Kabirrr . . . I . . . people . . . !” I was shocked at how incoherent I had become.

“Sure, your friends are returning any way.” He got up and walked away. I wanted to shout aloud and call him back. I felt detached all of a sudden and did not hear my friends settle down, eat their second helping and gossip about everyone else.

Later as we all were taking a walk in the sanctuary watching birds from our binoculars and listening in amazement to thecommentary of the rickshaw pullers Kabir and his gang tagged along with me, Anjali, Jagriti and others. I knew some of the girls were actually way too happy. Almost everyone wanted to get her picture taken with the dashing and handsome Kabir Sharma.

Anjali was sulking of cource. She did not wish for Kabir or that nitwit Dev, as she had begun calling him, to tag along with us two. I wanted to be around Kabir, I mean, I wanted to see him all the time, yet every time he approached us, I felt butterflies in my stomach. Needless to say, my mind was not focusing on any bird species now.

“Oh look Riya! The famous Siberian crane!!” Jagriti and Anjali yelped out of sheer joy.

That caught my attention and I had just begun noticing the topography and the fauna around when Kabir startled me from the back.

“Here, hold this a while.” With that he removed his jacket and thrust it in my hand and walked away.

I stood still looking surprised at his arrival and departure.

“Look here Riya, where are you looking?” Anjali pulled my arm. “Look there . . . amid those bushes, I think it’s a warbler!” Anjali was fascinated to the core of her heart.

“Yes!! I think my dear Watson, you’ve hit a home run” I was excited as well at the rare sighting.

“A what?” Dev came up to us.

“A warbler, Dev.” I spoke politely. Anjali walked ahead and adroitly clicked a few shots. She still couldn’t face the duo after the Tiffin swapping incident.

“Ok. If you say so . . .” Dev mumbled and went to stand where other students were taking pictures. My eyes followed him and I saw Kabir, standing amid a bunch of girls and boys. A few of our teachers were also there. I must admit, he looked so gorgeous! All the girls were displaying their best plumage, with high heels, even in this dusty terrain and the layers of make-up; they looked nothing less than the birds we had come to see.

I saw Kabir walking towards me. I looked around. Anjali had slipped to a corner of the road and was engrossed in the narration of our ornithologist rickshaw puller.

“Here, hold this as well, Ok!” Kabir placed his camera on top of his jacket which I was clutching.

“Kabby!” I called out in surprise.

“Yups?” He turned back and looked at me. A light breeze caught my hair and a strand fluttered in my eyes.

“I’m not your butler! Hold your own things!” I said and extended my arm towards him.

Instead of picking his jacket, he held my hand, pulled me a little closer and said softly, “Then, Madam Curie is my what, exactly?”

I saw the meaning in his eyes and heard it resonate in my ears. A blush came up my cheeks and I drooped down my sight shyly. I wish, I could tell him, what his hand holding was doing to me.

Riya was lying on her bed, alone. Her husband was to arrive the next day from work. She looked at the bedside table. There was a picture of her, from yesteryears. She stood there in it, a shy girl, holding a bag, a jacket, and a camera cover. A stand of hair fluttered across her face.

A smile lit up her tired face. Kabir was still around.

CHAPTER-20

T
he picnic was over and the fanfare had subsided after another week. The school reopened in January and it was soon February. The school was abuzz with upcoming final examinations.

“I will fail again!” Kabir said as we sat on ‘our spot’, waiting for Dev to return with coffee. Our canteen served tea and coffee in winters and I was a coffee drinker.

“You’ll do fine! You worry too much,” I said.

“Listen to yourself! My grades are low and my assignments weren’t all that great.” Kabir was trying in vain to read the history notes and answers our teacher had dictated the previous week. Social Sciences was not his subject, he simply dozed off each time there was a lecture.

I had not mentioned our little special time during the picnic and neither had he. But I had noticed how well we had developed our friendship after that. There was never an awkward moment. I heard the gossips but never made much of them either. Anjalistill fretted and Dev kept his distance, yet things were simple between me and Kabir. I suppose it was just a passing thing.

That’s where I was wrong!

Tejas had never quite gotten over the fact that I had danced intentionally with him. I did try to explain it to him, in my very diplomatic manner, of cource. But boys will be boys. He was upset, as everyone knew what had happened, even the teachers were aware. I suppose it was a standing joke in the locker room as well.

“I’m so sorry Tejas, please; it was just for a bit of fun! Let go of it and they will stop speaking about it.” I had tried to explain, but he held a grudge, not against me, but against Kabir.

My days were consumed in studies. Class tenth boards are a huge deal in the life of a student. I had planned to take Sciences after that, my aim was to become a doctor. My dad had made arrangements with different institutes for medical entrance tutorials. My days were full.

February mid saw the demon of all exams, the pre-boards. I remember that day; prior to the Science exam. I had spent many hours tutoring Kabir for these exams. I knew he would do well in all of them. He had put in enormous effort as well. I recall that day when he had called me up.

“Riya, there is a call for you.” Dad had looked at me and held the cradle.

“Hello?” I wondered who it was that made my dad look so annoyed.

“Hi!!” Kabir’s perky voice echoed across the room. My dad stood firm and kept looking at me.

“Hi. What’s up?” I tried to sound dull yet friendly.

“Hmm, the old man around? I suppose he is staring down at you.” Kabir was obviously enjoying this.

“Yes. So, why did you call?”

“Ah! So official!! I called because I wanted to . . . you know . . . with you!” Kabir made a cooing sound and I had to let my hair drop on the side of my face to hide the tiny smile that was beginning to erupt.

“Shut-up Kabby.” I whispered.

“Ha! Caught you! Anyways, before your old man crashed the land line, I called because I am not able to find answers to lesson on lenses in physics. These questions are killing! Can you help?” Kabir spoke.

“Sure, hold the line, I’ll get my notes . . .” With that I had left the phone and fetched my register and spent another fifteen minutes on line. I knew my dad was calculating every second! Fifteen minutes was like an era.

“Who was that?” dad asked, placing his paper work aside.

“Kabir, dad, my classmate.” I replied, knowing what all might be going on in his mind.

“Isn’t he the one who keeps getting suspended all the time?” he asked.

“Yes. He wanted to know few physics answers. I offered to help him in it.” I spoke meekly.

“Hmm. Helping is all good Riya, but your study time is valuable too. Don’t let people take that away.” That was all he said and left the room.

The next day Kabir had loads of fun teasing me about my strict dad. I ignored him. Much to my relief the science paper began and we all got engrossed in the question paper. Later Kabir told me how he had used two supplementary sheets! He was so pleased with himself that he forgot the teasing part.

“Well, I hope you did not leave huge areas blank just to fill up sheets!” Tejas spoke from behind.

Kabir turned around and faced Tejas with an angry look.

“Mind your own bloody business Tejas!” Kabir retorted back.

“Oh, otherwise what? What will you or your girlfriend here, will do now? Put up another show for all of us to see?” Tejas was provoking Kabir. I gently held Kabir’s arm.

“Leave Tejas. Go.” I spoke firmly.

Tejas winked an eye and looked menacingly at Kabir and walked off.

“I’ll kick his shin! How dare he?” Kabir was fuming.

“Leave it Kabby. He is intentionally trying to get you into trouble. We’ve worked so hard for these exams. And you are doing great; see . . . you used two sheets extra! Don’t ruin it now Kabir.” I tried to make him comfortable. Anjali was sitting with her back to us.

“Yeah! Listen to her Kabir. She is correct.” Anjali supported me. I was glad that despite everything I still had Anjali’s support. Many of our common friends were also comfortable with seeing me and Kabir sitting and working together. An year had done much.

However, I knew in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong. I had a feeling that all this was too good to last. Tejas was not the kinds to take defeat easily. He was a fighter, in its true sense. That was one of the reasons the coaches could never drop him. He never quit anything! He was the one who raced for baskets when all others had given up, and this had won us matches many a times.