BEEP BEEP
BEEP BEEP
BEEP BEEP
BEE-
"Ah, I didn't have any sleep last night," I murmured as I turned off my alarm.
"ARGH! Why did it go into snooze now?!"
What is the purpose they give the snooze option for? The only reason I use it is by mistake. I disabled the alarm clock in the app and re-enabled it, effectively turning off the snooze. I got up on my bed and scratched my hair, fixing the bends. After sitting for a while, I got up and went to the washroom.
What happened last night? What did I do to make her so furious? Does she hate taking photos? But she was clearly overreacting. She could have just denied me and ended there. I didn't force her either. But she overreacted to the idea and went off. Is there something more than that? Something I was not able to catch back then?
CLINK-FLOOOSH
Think, think, think. What am I missing? Something I could not notice about her.
BRUSH-BRUSH-BRUSH
She was late, then she suddenly appeared out of nowhere. We then had our first photography session. I was slightly distracted, but it got better towards the end. She took some photos with her camera too. They were impressive, though.
THOO
BRUSH-BRUSH
After that, I asked her for a selfie. That's when the issue started. Hmph. What happened right before it?
PITHOO
"ARGH," I spat on my T-shirt. I quickly finished brushing and splashed my face with water thrice. The spat came off easily after a gentle rub with water, but that part of my T-shirt was soaked. I needed to change. I decided to change into my school uniform anyway.
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"Mom, breakfast?" She was in the kitchen. Dad had already eaten and left for school.
"..."
She glanced over me for a moment before replying.
"Yes, sit over the dining table."
"Can I sit on the couch instead? I want to watch TV."
"Okay, but don't drop anything on the couch while eating," she then went back to preparing breakfast for me.
Maybe it was not a regular sight for her. I went over to the drawing room and turned on the TV. I took the remote in my hand and sat comfortably on the couch.
"BREAKING NEWS!! India has secured multi-billion dollar military deal with *******, terror resonating within Pakis-"
BEEP.
"Like I was saying. Our motto is one of peace, but if anyone threatens our land, we will not hesitate to-"
BEEP.
"FIRE IN BORDER!! INDIAN ARMY MARCHES TO THE DEMISE OF ALL ENEMI-"
Oh, come on, man! Enough of this. It has hijacked all the channels. Dad never watches anything besides this shit.
BEEP.
"I was 5 years old when I clicked the shutter for the very first time. It was not the sharpest photograph. It was blurry and dark. Had many aberrations, but it was the genesis. It was the beginning of my journey. A journey that shaped me into who I am now. Throughout this journey, the images I took got sharper and brighter, and so did the vision I had in my head. It has been more than two decades since."
This seems interesting.
"Miss, why did you decide to pursue astrophotography as a career when there were many better-paying jobs?"
Astrophotography is a career, huh?
"Well, it is true that being an astrophotographer does not earn you much these days, and it does not even earn you a penny in the beginning years. But it comes down to one's passion. A man's passion can keep him alive for months without any food."
A young woman was being interviewed by the anchor. They were sitting on single-seater red coloured sofas, and a round glass table separated them. The backdrop was a green screen scene of a house's interior. A glass window behind gave a view of the setting sun, and the faint sunlight glistened over them. It was a re-air of tomorrow evening. The sunlight was probably crafted with the help of overhead flood lights, though. But it looked quite realistic.
"So you mean it was your passion that fueled you in this journey."
"It was not just mine but the passion of my family, my friends and my mentors. Everyone devoted their passion to me. It was with their support that I became worthy of being here, answering your questions. It would have been extremely difficult without them. Especially in my starting years. So I could not ever thank them enough for their support."
"AHAN! Fetch the breakfast from the kitchen," my mother said while still in the kitchen.
I got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. She handed me a plate having around five Luchi and a bowl full of Alur-Dom.
"Heh?"
"Don't heh at the food. Be grateful for it and eat it already."
I didn't say anything and went back to the drawing room. I sat on the couch and placed a cushion between my lap and the plate. The cushion acted as an insulation for the hot food on the plate.
"So that was our interview session with Miss Mohina. Thanks a lot for coming to the studio today. We really appreciate your presence. You answered the questions beautifully. I am sure our viewers will be wanting you to give them some final words."
It ended already?
"Thanks a lot for having me today. I would like to thank you and your whole team for arranging this event for me. Thanks a lot. To anyone listening to this, I just have one request for all of you. You do not need to be a doctor, you do not need to be an engineer, you do not even need to be like me. You don't 'need' to be something. You 'wish' to be something. So, carry on your 'wishes' with passion. Storms will come, only you have to be stronger."
"Thanks a lot for your kind words, Miss Mohina. We wish you all the very best for your career ahead. With this, we end this session here. Dear viewers, thanks a lot for tuning in. We will meet next week, same day, same time. Till then, have a tea break!"
Mohina was her name, huh? So there are pros in this field in my very own city. I mean, it was not unexpected, but it was not expected either.
I then switched over to a cartoon channel because the news was unwatchable for me. It's too cringe nowadays. I'd rather watch cartoons, which are far less cringe than news.
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"Mom, I am leaving," I said while putting the empty plate down in the sink.
"You've got everything packed up? Books, notebooks, pens, your homework?"
"Yeah, yeah. I can do that myself already."
I went upstairs to my room to get my bag. The camera and other equipment are in my almirah. I am taking the keys, school with me. I closed the door on my way back and then went straight to the porch to put on my shoes.
"Take care," my mother said, wiping her hands with her apron.
"Yeah."
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I parked my bicycle in the school's parking lot. I bent down and carefully locked it. I was early, judging from the fact that there was space for me to park.
"BRRR, man, it's cold outside today."
I wish it were summer already. Winters suck. I began walking towards the school building. I was really early. I could not see anyone from my class. I saw a few girls who had made a circular group. They were talking and laughing among themselves. None of them have opted for wearing leggings. Girls must be immune to cold then. Chhaya also wears a skirt, but hers is a much shorter one. She is the Ice-Queen, even in her personality.
Wait, I forgot. I need to know why she behaved awkwardly last night. Where was I? Yeah, I was thinking about what happened right before I asked her for a selfie. We were photographing together. She had just taken a picture. I was appreciating how professional it looked. She, being her, didn't budge an inch. And then I asked her if we could take a selfie. No, it does not look odd to me so far. A natural follow-up would have been that she denies me from taking a selfie, and we go back to what we were doing. But she was almost getting scared at the idea. Like she had seen a ghost or something.
"ARGH, this is so complicated. Girls are so complicated."
WHACK
"OW! O-O-OW! WHO THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"Boys are so irritating."
"Why you, DEVIL!! Why'd you kick me in the back? Ah, it feels like my spine has shattered."
"Oh, but did you even have one, coward?"
"SHUT UP!! KOFF-KOFF"
Even uttering a word was painful.
"You seemed to be lost in your mind. All I did was help you come out of it. You should be grateful to me. But you clearly don't understand anything, do you, Mr. India? Ah, how unfair. It's totally unfair. I wish to be redeemed."
"Shut up! Just keep quiet for a moment. Let me die in peace."
"You are not dying, not before you pay me back."
"Just you wait. I will return the kick with twice the intensity."
"Not the kick, it was for free. I am not evil to charge people for helping them. But you lost your memories, or what? I think you need one smack on your head, too."
"You know what, I give you a knife and you draw it through my chest, yeah, that will do."
"Not a bad idea," she said while putting a finger on her chin.
"Ooi! Isshi! Good morning! Oh, Asshi is here too. Good morning!" said a girl after running towards us. She is Mishti, our upperclassman. And that's her nickname for us. I somehow controlled my posture. I didn't want to look like a girl had just kicked me. It would be shameful for a man.
"Good morning, Mishiti-di. You are very early today," Ishika greeted her.
"Ah, haha, I woke up early today. My dad took Bolta for a walk today instead, so I was bored at home. I thought to myself, why not go to the school early for once? Tee-hee," she held her right hand on her head in a cute pose. I could not comprehend the fact that she is two years older than us. She is the embodiment of cuteness.
"Awww, that's very cute, Di!" Ishika replied, holding her hands together and with a glint in her eye.
"Hehe, you are making me blush, Ishika. Please don't."
"You look cuter when you blush like that. Haha."
"Hahaha."
Dude, someone stop these girls. No one cares about me.
"Oh, Ishika, I wanted you to come over to the clubroom today. Can you come over for a moment now?"
"Right now?"
"Yeah, yeah. I won't take much time. You can still make it to the morning assembly."
"Okay then," Ishika said before turning towards me and whispering, "Remember the camera I traded with you? You need to pay me back in twenty instalments starting now."
"Huh?!"
"Ahan, I will be going with Mishti-di, would you take my bag to the class with you?" she said in a loud tone.
"HA!? Why would I do-"
She kept staring at me with her eyes closed and a grim smile on her face. So this is the first instalment of my payment, huh? I should have known that this was coming.
"Sure."
I took her bag and hung it on my right shoulder. Mishti waved at me with a smile and left for the clubroom along with Ishika. Man, it's so heavy. She must have brought bricks just for today. She does plan on shattering my spine.
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I somehow managed to carry both of our bags into the classroom. The layout has not changed much. There were three columns, each with 7 rows. Each bench could be occupied by two students. Three or four are possible too if you have a bigger friend circle. If the teacher allows for it. I placed her bag in the middle column, first row, where she usually sits. I then carried on to the last row in the left column.
"Yo! Ahan! Been long. Here, saved some space for ya."
"Anirban is not coming today?"
"He will come at the right time. You know him, right?"
"Well, yeah."
I decided to sit in the last second row instead, beside Kaustav, who was sitting near the window. Kaustav, Anriban and I have been sitting together for two grades now. We were not tight friends. But just a group formed for convenience. After all, humans are animals that live in a group.
"So, why did you come to school?"
"To study? Obviously."
"Gimme a break," he said before bursting out in laughter.
"What's so funny about it?"
"You sure know how to make a joke. You will make a good boyfriend."
"Keep laughing, it suits your mental state."
"Come on, dude, don't act girl."
"You don't act kid."
"Okay, now seriously, why did you come to school? Besides study," he asked after controlling his laughter, still chuckling though.
"I had some business with Tarak sir. He asked me to come to the school and meet him later."
"Bro, I suddenly feel bad for ya."
"Why?"
"If he wants to meet you, it is not for a good reason. Did you do anything wrong?"
"I didn't do anything. I don't know what it is, honestly," I said.
"Well, think about it later. Anirban is here. Hey! Boka, over here," he said, signalling Anirban with his hands.
"Whoah, Ahan has finally come to see us," Anirban said, raising both of his hands.
"Yeah, feel privileged to see me."
"He is on a mission, dude. Don't distract him. You sit beside him on the right. Ahan will be in the middle today, we have to share him," Koustav intervened.
Share me? For what?
"Oh, a mission? This sounds interesting, spill the tea," Anirban asked.
"So listen, give me your ear."
Anirban climbed over me to reach Koustav and listened to his murmurs. ARGH! Everyone is up to breaking my spine today.
"Climb down, idiot. I am suffocating."
"Hold your breath for a moment, Ahan. Let me listen. Ah, yes, yeah."
Enough of this.
"YOU! Sit in your place! And YOU, got something to say, then say in front of me!" I said after pushing Anirban back to his seat.
"Okay, okay, I understood the assignment," Anirban nodded, and Koustav gave him a thumbs up.
"What did you guys just plot?"
"Don't tell him, Anirban."
"Sealed," Anirban said, trying to act like zipping his lips.
"Okay fine. Do whatever you want, jerks."
They both stared at me for a moment and then burst out in laughter.
"Now you sound like the Ahan we know," Anirban said, still laughing.
TRING TRING TRING TRING
"Hey, let's go to the ground. Morning assembly has started."
"Sure."
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After the morning assembly, we came back to the class. Joymala-mam, our class teacher, took the first period today. She was teaching about Napoleon's annexation of West Germany. I didn't notice, but Ishika has made it back from the clubroom. She was sitting beside another girl. Girls rarely sit triples, let alone quadruples.
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"THANK YOU, MAM!!" Everyone thanked her in unison after she left the class.
"Hey, Ahan," Koustav said, tapping lightly on my shoulder.
"What?"
"It's Tarak's period now."
"Hmph."
"Are you scared?" Anirban asked.
"Not enough to phase out."
"Good."
"GOOD AFTERNOON SIR!!!"
"Thank you. Sit down. Trigonometry, exercise 12, question 10."
Tarak sir came in and just like always, didn't waste a moment.
"Psst, Anirban, you think he's gonna cause a scene in class?" Koustav whispered.
"I don't know, he feels calm to me. Maybe he is in a good mood."
"Hey, you two, don't talk in his class. I will be in trouble if we get caught," I whispered to them.
"Last second row, near the window. Get up. Out of the class! OUT! QUICK!!"
"..."
Koustav didn't utter a word and simply walked outside. He knew arguing with him was pointless.
"Man, my legs hurt a lot," he said before heading out. The entire class erupted with laughter.
"SILENCE!! SILENCE!!"
The class went back to their books immediately. Man, this dumb Koustav. Making my life harder.
Throughout the entire period, I had my heart beating fast. Every moment, I felt like it was this is it, Tarak sir is going to call me out now. I could not concentrate in class. In fact, I didn't even take any notes.
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TRING TRING TRING
At last, the period ended. Nothing has happened so far.
"Questions 5 to 12 are your homework. That's enough for today. Have your lunch," Tarak sir said before grabbing his book in his armpit and going out of the class.
"What did you bring for lunch, Ahan?" Anirban questioned.
"I-I had breakfast."
"Again?"
"..."
I remained silent to his question. Mom has a job and could not prepare a separate lunch for me. So I usually keep myself alive on the breakfast I eat before coming to school.
"You know what, Ahan? Koustav had an idea that this would happen."
"So he voluntarily went outside?"
"Yeah. Wait a little more. He'll be back anytime now."
"AYYO! AHAN, BOKA!" Koustav said as he entered the classroom. He held a large parcel wrapped in newspaper in his hands. It was the size of a football. As he came closer to us, the parcel emitted a warm, aromatic scent.
"Whoah! Man, that's too much for three. You don't know how to restrain, do you?" Anirban stood up.
"Bro, my bro Ahan has come to school finally. It asks for a feast."
"What have you brought?"
"Come on, Ahan. Don't act ignorant. You love Singhara, right? You could tell them even from their scent," he said while opening the packet. It had some 10 Singahara.
"I also love my healthy body."
"Show us a little thanks, bro. Do you know how difficult it is to get even one of these in the canteen? I had to line up half an hour before recess to purchase these many."
"Well, thanks for them," I said in a minimised tone before picking one of the Singhara. It was still warm. I took a bite from the top part. Wow, it's so munchy. Haven't had a Singhara this good in ages. Man, the filling is so nice. It was spicy but at the same time refreshing. The canteen aunty has magic in her hands.
"Look at his smile, bro, as he eats it."
"You look like a princess, Ahan."
They each took a piece and started laughing. I joined them and had the first laugh in a while. They are idiots. Koustav is dumb, Anirban is no better. They all tease me a lot, I also tease them a lot. They always create havoc in class and oftentimes drag me in as well. They are loud, arrogant and nonchalant. They have really bad grades. Koustav failed two subjects last year. Failed supplementary too, and somehow managed in super-supplementary. Anirban barely passed in Maths. They act too cool for some idiots. But it's okay. They are the people who care about me the most. I trust them. They are the people I could call, friends.
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"Hey, I need to pee. Anirban, come with me," Koustav stood up and held his crotch.
"What are you, some 5 years old?" I asked him.
"Hey, bro, you don't need to come. I just need one person to come with me. Anirban, take the Singhara in your hand and come," he said before holding Anirban's left hand and dragging him in.
"Hey, hey! Don't drag me like an animal."
"..."
And they both disappeared from my vision. I ate the final piece of Singhara and crumbled the packaging into a ball. I got up and started walking towards the dustbin placed outside the classroom.
"Okay, I am done for today," I said, throwing the packaging in the dustbin.
"Hey now, Mr. India. Having fun all by yourself?"
"..."
"Ignoring me?! How rude. Oh, Hohoho," she said, covering her mouth with her right hand.
"I am busy digesting my food. Talk to me tomorrow morning," I waved at her and tried walking away.
"Aww, I am having a sudden craving for some spicy chips. I wish I could walk to the canteen and get one, but too bad, I need to save my legs for the dance practice. Oh boy, what should I do?"
"Why are you whining in front of me. Ask one of your girlfriends."
"They are all busy spending time with their boyfriends."
"Then you must be a loner."
"Hey now, don't call me a loner. You are being rude. Respect a girl's virginity. Besides, you are a loner first."
"Okay, I need to go. I do wish someone, a prince on his pegasus, comes with a bag of chips for you."
"Even you are fine too."
"Excuse me?!"
"Second instalment! Get me a bag of chips. Extra spicy. Get a bottle of cola as well," she said, waving a 500-rupee note at me.
"What?!"
"You make me sick. Just do what I asked for already," she said, squinting her eyes and waving the note furiously.
"This is unfair, it's totally unfair!"
She smiled at that but didn't say anything more. My god, what was I thinking back then? I have now become the pet slave of a rich brat.
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"Here, your chips and the cola," I said, handing her the items she demanded.
It took me 10 minutes to walk to the canteen. It was situated on the other side of the school building. I had to traverse across the entire school, twice, to get these.
"Change?"
"Here, four hundred twenty."
TEAR CRUNCH MUNCH
"Oooh! Too spicy!"
"..."
I don't get it. What's the point in eating spicy chips when you cannot handle the spice?
"Oh. I will be heading to the club now. Mishti-Di asked to come again after recess. Third instalment, fetch my bag to the clubroom."
"What?! Your bag is too heavy for me. What did you even bring in it?"
"Hey now, you are a man, act like one. Toughen up and carry it to the clubroom. I will be there waiting."
She waved at me and went off sipping her cola. Why could she not carry it herself? She is going to the same place. ARGH!
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"Hey, get your bag," I said, standing in front of the clubroom's gate.
"Place it on the table near the door, and come over here."
I placed her bag of bricks on the table and went towards her. The clubroom is of the same dimensions as all our classrooms. It just has no desks and chairs. The dance clubroom has a wooden floor, unlike the tiled floors in our classroom. Ishika was standing near the window in the far back corner, still sipping her cola.
"What now?"
SLURP SLURP
"Ah, cola and chips are the best. Fourth instalment, throw this bottle and this wrapper in the bin. There are no bins here on the second floor. Climb downstairs to the ground floor. There is one near the pantry section."
"At least be a little considerate and provide me some time between each instalment."
She handed me the waste and went off to the washroom to clean her hands, leaving me alone in the clubroom.
"And oh, drop them in the right bins," she said before heading out of the clubroom.
I should head out too.
"Oh, Asshi. What are you doing in the clubroom? Did you come to check on Ishhi?"
As I was heading out, a familiar voice blocked the door.
"Good afternoon, Mishti-Di. I was just carrying her bag to the clubroom."
"Oh, you two study in the same class. Right, right. I must have forgotten hehe."
"Yeah, we are classmates."
"You have classes next right? Sorry for taking your time."
"No, it's okay," I said, bowing down to her.
"Bye-bye!" she said, waving at me with a smile.
I just waved back at her and went downstairs. I threw the wrapper and the empty can in their respective bins. Waste management has been very strict lately.
"Ah, what a tumultuous day it has been."
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KNOCK KNOCK
"Who is it?" A voice could be heard from the other side of the door.
"Tarak sir, Ahan."
Classes were over for today. Koustav and Anirban headed home already. I just had one more errand before going back. Koustav gave me a big thumbs up after I told him I'm going to meet Tarak sir.
"Come in."
I opened the door to his cabin and greeted him with a light bow. He was reading a book in his hands. It read "Calculus ahead". Must be a mathematics book. I can't picture him reading novels.
"Why would you give me this?" I questioned him placing a brown envelope on his desk.
"..."
He kept his book aside and stiffened his posture.
"Why would you give me an empty envelope?"