Chapter 8: Farewell to school life
Last day of 10th standard…..
The most awaited farewell party has begun,
Auditorium was filled with, crowd of 10th standard students. Boys dressed in formals whereas girls in saree.
Some were busy complimenting each other, some were having fun, some were enjoying their 90’s ka ishq wala love.
Then comes our Mr. Nerd in black formals, black polished shoes, hairs well set getting bored as if, he is left alone in the crowd. Just then a voice reached his eardrums, a giggling voice, much familiar…. I mean very much. 8B was the first time when he heard that voice but ignored it, today was the last day of school life still he did the same……… He knows whose voice it was. She entered from the corridor, wearing a plain chiffon red saree, red blouse paired with golden heels. Golden bangles in one hand, golden jhumkas, a golden nose pin. His eyes fell on her, those eyes which always ignored her, today they are unable to resist her. Since 3 years he is looking at her, in those two plates, school uniform, then or now,she was and still she is beautiful, but he noticed her today. She passes beside him, she didn’t look at him, as she was busy talking with her friends. As she passes close to him, his body feels a adrenaline rush, heart feels a fast contraction and relaxation. Her opened long black silky hairs were like icing on the cake, which touched his face due to blowing air. He was looking her from top to bottom, her hairs which she was trying to tuck behind her ears, her eyes which was perfectly shaped with black kohl kajal and 90’s style winged liner, her golden diamond nose pin which was reflecting a little light, her strawberry lips which were smiling, earrings which were swinging, those bangles whose sounds were as sweet as honey for his ears, that red saree which was perfectly draped on her lean waist and he was amazed by seeing how beautifully she was carrying it. Today his wild cat was looking mesmerising, a unknown smile crept on his face and he thinks,
“Beautiful”
His smiles fades away and he thinks,
“What is happening to me? Why I’m smiling?”
He again stands without smiling and the moment she looks at him, he starts looking here and there (ahem ahem)
She looks at him and notices him from top to bottom, his hairs which are perfectly set, his formal clothes of black and white combination, white crystal clear shirt which is perfectly tucked in pants, that deep black blazer whose button were open, his gestures of pulling sleeves up of one hand with other hand, after pulling them putting his hands in pockets, standing straight with confidence, that metallic grey watch which was reflecting some light, his polished black shoes which were shining in the same way his personality is shining. She has been looking him since 3 years, but for the very first time she felt a adrenaline rush in her body after seeing him. Her heart was pumping fast as if it was grooving on some rock music. Today she can’t deny this fact that his Mr.Nerd was looking breathtaking.An unknown smile crept her face and she thinks,
“Handsome”
Her smiles fades away and she thinks,
“What is happening to me? Why I’m smiling?”
She again stands without smiling and the moment he looks at her, she starts looking here and there (ahem ahem)
Today Mr. Nerd and Wild Cat were silently stealing glances. As if they both unknowing became each others first crush. There were many couples in auditorium, but they……… without even talking to each other, they were looking like perfect couple.
Host comes on the stage and tells,
“I have two bowl with me, out of which one bowl have girls name, others bowl have boys name. I’ll take one name from each bowl and they all have to do couple dance. There will be 3 rounds,in 1st everyone will dance, in 2nd only half of them will be selected for dance, in 3rd round only 3 couples will be selected and they have to do a ramp walk, and they will be selected as Mr and Miss Heritage also they will win a perfect couple award.”
She calls out everyone’s name, our Nerd and wild cat are selected as couple. They both dance together and Vansh says,
“Today I’m not even surprised, that we both are together. As always destiny has brought us together”
Riddhima, “Yes today I don’t even mind dancing with you Mr. Nerd, as it is for the last time”
“Of course!!! Thank god I’m never going to see your face again”
“I guess, we both might be happiest soul right now.”
“Oh so for the very first time I’m agreeing with you. Not seeing your face from tomorrow onwards will be the best thing.”
“Same here. People cry on last day of their school life, but our happiness is quiet valid”
They both finish their dance and gets selected for 2nd round. Afterwards they also get selected for 3rd round. Now it’s time for ramp walk, they both start walking, while walking Vansh sees that buckle of Riddhima’s heels has opened, he stops in middle of the ramp and says,
“Riddhima stop”
“Why? What happen? Are you mad in middle of the ramp you stopped”
“Your heels buckle has opened”
She was about to bend to close it just then Vansh says,
“Wait, I’ll do it, in saree it will be difficult to bend”
He kneels down in front of her to close the buckle, Riddhima was just looking at him. When Vansh was done he took the mic and said,
“As we stopped in middle of the walk, I know we are already disqualified but if we would have not stopped, she would have fell down. Sorry” She was just looking at him.
They both left the walk incomplete and stand with audience. It was result time and judges started from 3rd runner up.
“So Mr and Miss Heritage for this year is Riddhima and Vansh”
They were shocked and surprised listening their names as winners. They went on stage and asked
“But we were disqualified, right?”
Judge, “yes but you both were quiet selfless, and didn’t bother about winning or loosing. Vansh specially you”
They both take their prize, crowns, slash and were leaving the stage, but judges call them back and told, “won’t you love to complete your walk?”
They both smiled and told,
“Sure”
Their mind don’t know the reason why they were happy to complete that ramp, but may be their heart knows that.
The party was almost over, and they were getting ready for batch photo. Everybody were in their position, Mr and Miss Heritage were asked to stand together, they were standing together, but Riddhima’s saree gets stuck in Vansh shirt sleeves button and they were busy in removing it, till then photographer clicks the photo.
“Because of you, my photo might have been not came good.”
“And how?”
“Because of your saree”
“O hello!! Even my photo might have been not came good that too because of your stupid button”
“Shut Up”
“You shut up”
Nitya, “shhhhh….. at least on last day, don’t argue, please”
“Tell your best friend”
“Vanshhh”
“Why you are telling me, tell her no”
Phewwwwww Vansh come, enough now.
Nitya drags Vansh with her while Riddhima was again busy with her friends.
Everyone were leaving, hugging each other, cherishing their memories…… they were finally leaving.
For one last time Riddhima and Vansh bumps into each other and says,
“So?”
“So?”
Vansh moves his hand forward for a handshake and Riddhima also do the same. They both shake their hands, while Vansh says,
“One last time and never again…….”
“Yes…. One last time and never again….. “
Both bid goodbye to everyone and leave for their homes.
They thought that they will be happy but something was there which was not making them happy something….
Vansh was walking quietly and he walked a few steps and stops,
Nitya ask him,”what happened? Why did you stop? Is still any arguement left with Riddhima?”
“Shut Up. See there is a vintage paper,something is written on it,and handwriting is also quiet attractive.”
He picks it up and starts reading it
‘If your prayers are accepted, universe becomes the biggest messenger,
Everything feels dreamy,
Day feels like night, night feels like day,
Blessings becomes obsession, obsession becomes blessings,
Sometimes you choose death, for sake of someone’s life,
When does all this happen?’
“Phewwwwww…… This riddle is so difficult to answer”
“Yes Vansh, seriously. Throw it, let’s go”
“No I’ll keep it with me, may be one day I’ll able to answer it”
“Seriously you are a Nerd”
“Shut Up”
He was walking, Nitya was talking, but he was unhappy. His heart says to look back once, but his mind denies and he keeps walking.
Riddhima was also walking on road, alone. She also stops and her heart says to look back once, but her mind denies and she keeps walking.
Both of them left,
But they were unhappy,
Some words were unspoken,
Some feelings were untouched,
Some talks were unfinished,
Some madness were yet to unleash,
Will it ever get complete or it’s truly,
One last time and never again…….?
What do you think?
~By author
Authors Note:What do you think? What is the answer of that riddle?