Chapter 5

The first time I had visited her place with Ana. Actually, Ana and Meera  have been together since nursery. I became friends with Meera through Ana. Its always fun to visit her place. Meera has a very cute and cozy room. I had fallen in love with it the moment I saw it. She has some pink cushions on the floor, a synthesizer next to the wardrobe. There are 2 bean bags near the computer, a lamp on the night table just opposite to the cushions. The curtains  are light pink in colour adding to the beauty of the room.

I reached her place at around 11 am. She opened the door for me even before I could press the bell. “You are late, you were supposed to come at 10 I have been staring at the gate since an hour”she complained. I asked her sorry and offered her a Cadbury silk Roasted Almond. It was her favourite and and her anger subsided. I went to the kitchen and greeted Aunty.

Meera had a privilege which me and Ana didn’t have. She could lock the door of her room when with her friends inside. Hence, her place was the venue of our many firsts. In my place my mom would be hovering outside my room as if we are making some bomb inside.

Meera seemed to be very excited about something.” Whats up gal!!! Is there something that I should know” I asked. Next week is Nikhaar’s birthday and I am planning to throw a surprise party for him at the Beijing Bites, she replied.

But, that would be expensive , I said. Don’t worry I have my sources. The only problem is that I am not able to prepare the guest list. Can you please help me with it.

How can I help you ? I don’ prepare the guest list for you. I don’t have the slightest idea of Nikhaar’s friends circle, I told. Why don’t you ask Joeseph to do it for you. He knows almost everyone Nikhaar is friends with.

Yeah!! Actually you are right, Meera jumped with joy. The rest of the day went in discussing  about the birthday party. I helped her decide the menu and left her place by 7.

Chapter 4 (Continued)

My mother also followed me to the room and stood beside me. That time I didn’t have the patience to search for anyone else other than him. But I had to do the search for my mother first. Finally, I got the person’s profile. He was some distant cousin of my mom. She told me to drop a message asking his number and I obliged. She left the room contented.

Now, my mind was racing..........how do I start my search?? I decided to visit Nikhaar’s profile first and check out his friend list. Though I had some seniors in my list too but something in me told that I should go for Nikhaar’s profiles first. Now,he had around 250 people in his list. So, I decided to check his groups first. But, after an extensive search all my efforts proved to be futile. Now, there was only one last group left “Music Rockerz” where I had the least hope to find him. Still, I thought of giving it a try. There were around 30 members and all of a sudden my eyes went on a picture where a guy was playing drums and this guy seemed to be like him. And the next moment I saw his name “Anubhav Sinha”. It has to be him. I hurriedly opened his profile. And yes it was him. He was from Jhansi. He shifted to Delhi and  joined our school last year. And the best part was he was a drummer. I just fell in love with him at that moment.

I craved to hit that “Add Friend” button but that would make me appear desperate. Though I am but I don’t want to make it so obvious for him.

Days passed..........I had again started my vocal music classes and had to get up early for practice. I used to stalk Anubhav in facebook every single day. Ana was very busy with her TT and dance classes so she rarely visited me and whenever she did her conversations started and ended with Anupam. It seemed Anupam was also interested in her.

Meera had been calling me every now and then. She had been consistently  insisting me to visit  her. So finally I have decided to bunk my vocal music class tomorrow and go to her place.

Chapter 4(continued)...........

My mother also followed me to the room and stood beside me. That time I didn’t have the patience to search for anyone else other than him. But I had to do the search for my mother first. Finally, I got the person’s profile. He was some distant cousin of my mom. She told me to drop a message asking his number and I obliged. She left the room contented.

Now, my mind was racing..........how do I start my search?? I decided to visit Nikhaar’s profile first and check out his friend list. Though I had some seniors in my list too but something in me told that I should go for Nikhaar’s profiles first. Now,he had around 250 people in his list. So, I decided to check his groups first. But, after an extensive search all my efforts proved to be futile. Now, there was only one last group left “Music Rockerz” where I had the least hope to find him. Still, I thought of giving it a try. There were around 30 members and all of a sudden my eyes went on a picture where a guy was playing drums and this guy seemed to be like him. And the next moment I saw his name “Anubhav Sinha”. It has to be him. I hurriedly opened his profile. And yes it was him. He was from Jhansi. He shifted to Delhi and  joined our school last year. And the best part was he was a drummer. I just fell in love with him at that moment.

I craved to hit that “Add Friend” button but that would make me appear desperate. Though I am but I don’t want to make it so obvious for him.

Days passed..........I had again started my vocal music classes and had to get up early for practice. I used to stalk Anubhav in facebook every single day. Ana was very busy with her TT and dance classes so she rarely visited me and whenever she did her conversations started and ended with Anupam. It seemed Anupam was also interested in her.

Meera had been calling me every now and then. She had been consistently  insisting me to visit  her. So finally I decided to bunk my vocal music class the next day and go to her place.

Chapter 4(Continued)

We started walking towards the gate , Ana and Meera were discussing the list of things they were going to do in the next one month. Meanwhile, my thoughts were constantly about him and no doubt, my eyes were searching him. I just don’t know what sparked in me in that moment when he caught hold of my question paper . I was a sensible girl amongst my friends. Its not like I never had crushes before but this time it was a bit different. This guy was making me feel restless. I thought of asking Nikhaar as he had many friends in the science section but then again asking him would mean letting my secret out. Both Meera and Ana would come to know.

I was back from my own world. Reality stuck me when Ana was waving her hand in front of my eyes. Her dad was asking me “ How was the exam”. I somehow managed to say okay. Before I could think of an answer Ana came to my rescue was saying “she’s still under the shock of a bad paper”.

“So what are your plans for holidays??? Going somewhere?”Uncle asked.

“Dad doesn’t have leave , so I’ll be staying back at home ” I said. Rest of the journey went in silence. Romantic songs from the radio filled the air. One of my favourite tracks “Tum se hi” from the movie “jab we met” was going on and I was breathing in love along with the pleasant air.

For a moment I moved to Shimla along with him taking roles of Kareena and Shaheed and the next moment i found myself smiling like a fool. For god’s sake I even don’t know his name. How can I even think like that?? Who knows he may even have a girlfriend after all he is a good looking lad.

Suddenly the car came to a halt and again I travelled back to the real world. I saw my house and realised that I have to go. I thanked uncle and got down from the car.

I took off my shoes pressing the calling bell. My mother opened the door  asking “How was the exam? ”.  Even she was tensed about my exam. “It was fine Maa. Nothing to worry” I assured her.

Saying this I entered my room and kept my bag in its place. At lunch, mom  asked me to search for someone in facebook and suddenly an idea stuck me. I can find him in facebook. He definitely must have a facebook  account . I somehow finished whatever was on my plate and rushed to my room. I hurriedly opened my laptop and connected the dongle.

Chapter 4

Today is the last day of my exams and it is the most dreaded subject “History”. I prayed to god touched my parents feet and then left with my father. I reached the exam hall and sat quietly on my seat. He came and sat beside me after sometime. Our place was near the window and he sat on the window side. The bell rang and invigilator started distributing the papers. He wished me luck and even I wished him the same. As soon as I got the paper I ticked the questions which I could answer properly.

It was a windy day outside. So I had placed my pencil pouch on the question paper so that it doesn’t fly off. As the exam progressed I was completely engrossed in writing and didn’t know when I kept my pouch inside the desk. And as it was windy outside my question paper flew towards the window. But to my surprise this  guy swiftly got up and caught hold of it. I thanked him and resumed my writing. It was no big gesture but I don’t know why I felt good. Finally the exam was over and I knew I would pass so I was happy. When I was coming out of the hall he was walking beside me and asked how was my exam, wished me “Happy holidays” and left.  In the last 6 days I had never noticed him properly. But today I took a good look at him........ he was quite good looking and well built. Had a cute hairstyle and wore a very stylish watch. He looked smart. All of a sudden I felt an urge to know his name. I ran back to the exam hall to our seat hoping to get his from the sticker. But, all I could see was a scribbled almost torn off label and his name was no more visible. The only thing I saw was probably the first two letters of his name “An........”.

Meanwhile, Ana and Meera came searching for me and I couldn’t hide my disappointment  in front of them. So they were asking me what happened .......and I lied that my exam was not upto the mark. I didn’t want to lie but if i tell them they would tease me like hell.

Chapter 3

Only 10 minutes were left  for the exam to get over and I was checking all my problems. Suddenly the guy beside me called me by my name and asked for the eraser.I was surprised that how did he know my name and then it occurred to me that he must have seen it from the label attached on my desk. The exam got over and I came out of the hall and saw that Ana and Meera were waiting for me. We started discussing the paper and then I remembered that I had to collect my bag. So I turned towards the corridor where all the racks were placed to keep the bags. Ana and Meera also accompanied me. I had kept my bag on the rack at the end of the corridor and that already narrow corridor was crowded with all senior boys and I was not able to make my way to the last rack. Then suddenly I felt someone tap on my shoulder. I turned to look.and it was the guy sitting beside me in the exams. He enquired what happened, I told that I need my bag which is in the last rack. He asked me the colour of the bag and I told him it was a blue colour bag with a tweety keyring . He got it for me within a minute. I thanked him and he left. Ana and Meera were standing there all the time and saw what all happened. They were giving me a notorious smile  and asked “Who was the guy”. I told he sits besides me in the exam. They started showering me with all types of silly questions. I told them that I knew nothing about him except that he was from 11^th science section.

My father was waiting for me outside the school. Ana was supposed to come with me and Meera left with her boyfriend Nikhaar. He is nice and simple guy. He is from our school only 11^th standard commerce section.

I could see my father anxiously waiting for me. As I came near to him..... before asking me he tried to calculate from the expression on my face if my paper was very good or just good. Giving a bad paper in maths was never an option for his daughter. Finally he asked both of us how was the exam and both said “good”.

Though I always thought how Ana managed to pass even after talking utter nonsense just one day before the exam. I mean it’s good for her but 9th standard maths is not that easy. After we reached home second round of paper discussion started with my father. 

Chapter 2

I feel like Einstein when after doing a two page problem finally at the end of the page I get to write lhs=rhs and hence proved. Trigonometric equations are the biggest culprit in this respect. They just don’t seem to get over.

Ana on the other hand was busy doing some kind of love calculation. She always used to have crush over a new guy every month. And this time her target was the senior guy sitting next to her in the examination hall Anupam. He was the vice head boy of our school. I had noticed him once or twice and he seemed to be cute. I had once forgotten my badge but he didn’t tell me anything. Ana was very happy over the fact that both their names started with ‘A’ and their love percentage was 90%.I  thought that if she would have cared to score that much in her exam tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my mom entered the room with a plate full of snacks. She asked how was our revision going on. Ana replied “very good aunty......Diti has cleared all my doubts so far” and smiled at me. My mom left the room contented. We thought of taking a break of 30 minutes. Though it was a break only for me.......Ana was on a break since the time she came.

She was telling me about all her plans after the exams. She planned to join the same TT club as Anupam and woo him. She was a pretty girl and so I knew she could do it if only the guy didn’t change.   

After half an hour we returned back to studying and I warned her not to go off track and concentrate on maths problems. We studied together till lunch time and then she left. It sounds bad but I felt good when she left as I could study now on my own. Group studies don’t seem to work out for me. I am more  comfortable on my own. And in case I need any help dad is always there. Hes brilliant in maths and till today can solve trigonometric equations in seconds.

 I tell him to start giving tuitions after office but he doesn’t seem to be interested. Anyways, only a few hours are left and I have 3 more chapters to revise.