Chapter 17 The End July 3, 2008

Few days later, Isha also joined Sinha Sir’s tuition classes. It was terrible for me. He was surely going to ruin the student’s career for his own sake. Finally, I thought to talk to Palak about this.

“Howz tuition going on?”, I asked Palak. Since she used to sit alone, I was on her bench for a while.

“Fine.”, she replied. She was busy in writing something.

“Hey, I’ve got to talk something to you.”

“About what?”

“Yaar….about your tuitions. I am really concerned.”

She dropped her pen and looked towards me.

“See, I don’t want to discuss anything. I know you don’t like Sinha Sir, but thats your problem. He really is a good teacher…”, she said in a strict tone.

“Ohkk…”, I sighed and left.

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4 MONTHS LATER

2nd Terminal Exam results were out. I got 39 in mathematics. This time A3 copies were checked by Sinha Sir and A2 copies by Rao Sir. I didn’t really care about it. My studies were going good and I thought the teachers are just trying to depress me by giving low marks.

This time both Rao and Sinha sir ‘duo’ insulted me. Moreover, they started telling my ‘example’ to all the junior sections of 10th and 11th classes. I was more popular than Osama bin Laden in school. The ‘duo’ didn’t miss any single opportunity to harass me.

May be they were absolutely right at their positions, but still I felt humiliated. Why every bad thing happening to me in my last year of school life!

I started a topic “How Sinha troubled me!” in my school community on orkut and outbursted my rage in it. I wrote everything I knew about him. If he can insult me in front of whole school, I will also do that!

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DID I PROPOSE?

It was library period and I was on the way when I realised I’ve forgotten my library card in the classroom. I returned back to the class and saw Palak sitting alone on her bench and studying.

“Hey, what are you doing here? Don’t wanna go library?”, I asked while taking out my card from my bag.

“No yaar……just fed up. Don’t want to go there.”

“Ohh….okays, happy studying.”, I said and started to leave.

“No no…I am not studying at all. Hey, stay here naa.”, she said. My eyes went brighter.

“Ohk..”, I said and as usual reached her place.

There was no one else in the classroom. Moreover, Palak’s mood seemed to be good. So it was an ideal time to propose her. I took my courage and decided to open my mouth.

“Hey, I was wondering….”

“What?”, she interrupted before I could say something.

“Let me say naa……I was wondering, in these two years, we’ve got very close to each other.”, Oops…I couldn’t believe I said that.

She remained silent, but raised her eyebrow.

“And you know….I think…well…..I have started to like you.”

“Wait wait…..you were going to library naa…”, she said and started laughing. I hate girls when they tease.

I was already very depressed to say something. She continued laughing and I left.

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I couldn’t sleep that night. She knew I was going to propose her otherwise she wouldn’t have asked me to leave. Was she avoiding the situation? Or she just wanted to make some fun of me? Whatever it may be, I’d lost one more wonderful chance and again left with a dead-end.

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AGAIN A SHOCK!

Akshat and I were sitting on a park near Char Imli Lake cursing each-other’s fate. We both were seriously depressed about our studies and had decided to take a break in this park. We were just talking about random topics when gradually, the discussion shifted towards Sinha Sir’s tuition classes.

“Did you write something about Sinha Sir on internet?”, he asked.

I was shocked to hear that. Since orkut was recently introduced that time, and there were very few people on it, I wasn’t expecting my writings reach people’s ear such an early.

“How come you know that?”, I cross questioned. I was worried.

“They were talking about it yesterday on tuition.”

“Who?”

“Arrey….Isha, Palak and all yaar.”

One more shock. I think I am best in absorbing shocks. Therfore, they come so frequently. So Palak also knows about it! I begged Akshat to tell me everything that happened on his tuition yesterday and finally he told me all.

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SINHA SIR’S TUITION
(As told to me by Akshat)

#Palak, Isha, Akshat and one more boy, Vinod were sitting with Sinha Sir.

ISHA: What else he had written sir?

SIR: That I am a politician more than a teacher.

ISHA: Thats so sick of him.

PALAK: Yeh, how mean!

SIR: Isha told me that he proposed you?

PALAK: The idiot was about to when I stopped him.

(Everyone started to laugh.)

ISHA: But sir, this is not done. I’ll make him know the consequences of what he did.

SIR: Oh comeon…..just concentrate on your studies.

PALAK: You are right sir. Isha….I’ll never talk to him again.

ISHA: Certainly.

SIR: No….he’s your friend. What excuse you’ll give him if he asks why aren’t you talking to him?

ISHA: Same reason sir. He has written rubbish about you. He insulted you.

SIR: I guess, spoiling relations will affect your studies too. Don’t make him realise you know all about his character. As your studies and exams get over, make the things clear with him then.

PALAK: So you are saying we’ll not make him know that we don’t like or need him anymore.

SIR: Yes.

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THE BROKEN HEART

I felt like a bomb blasted in my ear. I was ditched. I returned home. After so many years, I cried and cried. People are faithless. Still I trusted them. I had always loved her, but may be my love wasn’t enough to build a relationship. My mind had stopped working.

I decided that I won’t see her face ever again! But that’s not possible. She’s in my school, in my class. Ok….I won’t talk to her ever again. Never! I swear!

And I sticked to my commitment. I had stopped visiting her place, crossing her way. I had stopped talking to her. Initially, she got surprised by my behavior. But later on she accepted it.

I prayed to God that whatever Akshat told me is wrong and one day Palak would come to me and ask me the reason for my ignorance. But, she never came. Afterwards, she also started avoiding me.

I couldn’t say I didn’t care. Everyday we would go school and follow our hostilities. It burnt my heart.

Few months passed by and it was our FAREWELL ~ the last official meeting day. May be we would not see each other after this. I had decided that today I would talk to her. She was looking very beautiful today. Her ‘chotis’ were gone and her new hairstyle was pretty.

But I couldn’t. I got several opportunities, but I was too upset to initiate the talking. Moreover, my ‘fake ego’ was a hurdle. We clicked hundreds of group pics that day, but there was not a single pic containing me and her.

And finally, everything vanished. I hadn’t spoken a word to her since that day. My love lost. I was lost. That year, I couldn’t qualify IIT. Also, I got a serious medical problem and undergone a critical surgery.

I’d thought that she would call me and ask me about my health. But she didn’t.

*

Everything is over now. Still, I think of her everyday. Its hard to forget your first love. Its a very genuine experience. For a while, it seems every happiness and good things are meant only for you. Everyone in this world once gets this feeling in his or her life. But those who are able to behold it are the most fortunate people in the world!

So, here ends the ‘Chronicles of First Love’.

Also see the EPILOGUE.

*******************************************************************

PS — I was very happy before writing this post.

PS — No more PSs this time.

Chapter 16 The Salespersons June 30, 2008

“Is it some opportunity provided to me by God to solve all of my problems?”

Whatever it may be, I took it. I started studying more sincerely. School-time was utilised in completing coaching homework. My new partner, Anurag, was good in mathematics. So, I started to learn a few things from him. (I was too weak in maths).

My new class teacher was Rao Sir, again a maths teacher too. Unlike Sinha Sir, he was quite sincere and somehow really took interest in teaching. But unfortunately again, he was Sinha Sir’s very good friend. Every now and then, Sinha Sir would come and disturb our class for rubbish chats with Rao Sir.

I got more closer to Palak. Now, we really were very good friends. She was my lab-partner too. So, I got some good time to spent with her. Life seemed to be balanced for a while.

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THE SALESPERSONS

Today Rao sir and Sinha sir had combined 12th A2 and A3 sections. I didn’t really know for what reason they did so. I just enjoyed sitting with Apurv after a long time.

Sinha Sir was sitting on bench at teacher’s stage, while Rao Sir was standing beside. When all of us settled quietly, he started:

“Today, we are here to discuss something important about your studies and about your future.”

He appeared serious and so were we.

“Sinha Sir and I have been observing some concerns for a long time and so we thought to have a talk about it with you people.”

He took a long pause then continued again.

“We have noticed most of you have joined some preparatory-classes for your IIT-JEE, AIEEE or other competitive exams along with this school. But still if I look towards the statistics, I find no one has performed upto the mark inspite of that.”

He reached the blackboard and wrote my name. I jumped out of my seat. Then he wrote some other names too. There were few things common among these people: they were 10th toppers, had joined some IIT coaching and had failed at least once in 11th.

He continued:

“So somehow, its clear that these extra preparations are hindering your way in both your school and competitive exams. The main problem here is no co-ordination between the two. So finally, Sinha Sir and I have figured out a solution for this.”

Then Sinha Sir stood up. In the next 15 minutes he told us about his new concept of combining school studies with IIT-JEE. Told us various examples and incidents and obviously everyone (except me) was impressed.

“So, if you join us, you’ll be benefited of what I’ve just told you.”

Now this was so cheap. He was advertising his ‘tuition classes’ in school! What a crap man..! I mean how someone could fall upto this extent, I haven’t just thought about it. Truly Sinha Sir and Rao Sir were appearing like ’salespersons’ to me.

******************************************************************

The advertisement did not have a great effect. Although, Sinha Sir was highly respected personality, still many students believed it was a cheap publicity tactic. Obviously, I was amongst them.

“Absolute Nonsense”, Anurag said. I nodded.

But there were still a very high percentage of people taking keen interest in this idea. Akshat appeared quite excited. I didn’t know about Palak, nor I wanted to discuss such a disputable thing with her.

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FIRST CRUSH WITH A BANG

Two days have passed and I was standing in a shop to purchase some rough notebooks when I saw Giya. She stopped her scooty near the shop and headed towards my side. One more girl was with her.

“Hie”, I said.

“Oh Hi! What a pleasant surprise!”, she exlaimed. It feels good to hear such things from a girl, especially when she’s your first crush.

Giya was in college now. She introduced her college-friend Sonal. A few moments later, I realised Sonal used to be my senior at school. Infact, I knew her very well. She was damn beautiful and I had heard some senior boys talking about her in my school-bus.

Giya went inside to purchase something, while Sonal and I were left to talk. She asked me about school, teachers and told that she really misses it. I told her everything about the school including Sinha Sir’s latest concept.

“What? So he bastard is doing these things now…..pleading students to join his tuitions!”, she howled angrily.

“Sorry, I didn’t get you.”, I asked.

“You know, once I also used to go his tuitions.”

While she was pursuing with her anger on Sinha Sir and convicting him with so many guilties, Giya called her.

“And once he personally told me that his married life is not satisfying.”

She said, waved a ‘good bye’ and left.

******************************************************************

This was a bang for me. Who on the earth talks about his married life with his student? Surely, something was wrong with this man. I had always doubted on him and now I started to feel I was right.

Obviously, it was nothing wrong for one to talk about his married life with a student, but I never wanted to think like that. I had already pictured him of guilty and I didn’t want to change this.

*****************************************************************

TWO WEEKS LATER

Nine students found Sinha Sir’s idea fascinating enough to join him. Unfortunately, two of my friends ~ Palak and Akshat were amongst them.

{rest continued in next Chapter}

PS — Only one chapter left. The story is about to finish.

PS — This was the most boring chapter of the whole story.

PS — Today I officially became the third IITian of my colony. The coincidence is that all the three of us are in IIT Delhi Chemical Engineering branch.

PS — One of them has just passed out this year and other one is studying in his 3rd year.

PS — Movies I would like to watch - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

PS — Special features by Boman Irani and Ritesh Deshmukh on IIFA Awards were marvelous.

PS — Adios.

Chapter 15 A new ’sort of’ Beginning June 27, 2008

I was very happy and in the evening I watched my favourite movie, “Kal Ho Naa Ho”, a thing that I always do when I am too happy or sad. I couldn’t sleep during the night and woke up as early as 4 am for a poor excuse of studying.

While, the scene was quite a different a few miles away.

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PALAK’S HOME
EVENING

(Isha had visited Palak’s home for combined studies.)

“There’s something else on his mind?”, Palak said to Isha. They were talking about me.

“I am aslo damn sure about this!”, Isha said in full confidence. It was Isha’s favourite topic.

“Whateva be yaar…..he just saved my life today…”

“Ohh…see the girl’s in love.”, Isha exclaimed and laughed.

“Shutup. Love…!! And with Himanshu..! Give me a break..”, Palak said with dignity of a Miss Universe.

“Hmmm…I see. And what if he proposes you?”

“Who cares!”

“Are you serious?”, Isha asked.

“Don’t know.”, Palak said and suddenly stopped laughing.

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A MONTH LATER

I was in 12th standard now. The senior-most student of our school. Now, everyone calls me ‘bhaiyya’, including junior girls.
The topper of 10th class was nowhere now. Thank God, I just barely passed my Chemistry and scored 51% in total. I never wanted to be a topper again. It brings so much trouble!

The school authorities had decided to reform all the sections of 12th Class. I didn’t know from where they got such an awkward idea during the last year of my school life.

After rigourous hard-work from teachers, finally the list of students and their sections was out. Akshat and Sandeep got 12th A1, Apurv got 12th A2 and I got 12th A3.

Likewise, Isha got 12th A2 and Palak got 12th A3.

“What the F…”, I shouted, “They can’t separate best friends in their last year.”

Apurv was my benchmate for the last 8 years and my best friend. How could they do this to us!

Class teacher of 12th A2 was Sinha Sir, so therefore, I couldn’t even request him to take me in his class.

*****************************************************************

Quite upset I reached 12th A3. All the faces were new for me. Although, I knew some of them, but they were not friends.

“Hey Himanshu, why don’t you come here?”, I heard someone calling me. It was Anurag. I didn’t really know him, but we had seen each other many times in corridors, toilets etc. I decided to sit with him.

Palak was sitting alone at the other end of the room. I wished I could sit with her. But I couldn’t.

First day felt very strange. It seemed like I’ve changed the school. No friends, no gossips. I hated this place. At times, I used to reach Palak and chat with her, but everything else was so boring.

***************************************************************

I was upset because my best friends were not with me. I was quiet all day drooling my mind over my problems: Love and Study.

There were no friends, so I can concentrate on studies instead of wasting time with them. I had real trouble with my IIT-JEE preparations. I was the most expected IITian a while ago and now I was struggling. I would not qualify if I don’t change.

And there was Palak, all alone like me in a new class. I could accompany her. I can get close to her. There was no interruption from Isha and others now. A real good time to make things happen.

So, in the evening I was left with a question to ask:

“Is it some opportunity provided me by God to solve all of my problems?”

***************************************************************

PS — I think I should improve my english.

PS — My internet speed sucks. Yes, I swear!

PS — Have I told you the new girl, ‘Genelia’ of the upcoming movie ‘Jaane tu ya jaane Na’ is too cute?

PS — I am really missing some people who once used to be my very good friends.

PS — Song of the Day: Kal Ho Naa Ho

PS — Tchao.

Part 2 : Silence of Love June 23, 2008

A million thoughts came across my mind. It was like ‘Heart’ Vs. ‘Brain’. Finally, as expected from a boy, ‘heart’ won.

I looked at the invigilator and found that he was just sitting idle on his chair near the door. It’d appeared he has no interest in conducting the exam. I can say this because inspite of his presence almost all of the class was busy in cheating with each other.

I slowly drifted towards Palak’s shelf.

“Hey, done?”, I asked. She looked up and changed her face-expression from ‘real nervous’ to a ‘fake smile’.

She kept silent.

“Ok, lets start again.”, I bellowed with confidence. She didn’t appear interested.

I prepared salt solution and started to heat it.

“I do the practicals and you write the observations.” I said. She nodded so I kept on speaking:

“I guess its some salt of Iron. I’ve read about this in my coaching.”

She kept listening to my craps. My strategy was to do whatever I can. Getting good marks was out of question in this exam, but still we could try for passing it.

I mixed the salt with several acids and other solutions, while she carefully noted the colours, smell, etc. in her observation copy. I liked being there. Its something else working with a hot girl. Everything was going just about fine till I heard the warning bell.

“Ohh god!”, I yelled. I’d just forgotton about my practical. This is the problem with boys. Once they get a girl’s company, rest of the things become irrelavant to them.

But this issue was serious. There were only 5 minutes left and it was sure that by no means, I would be able to write observations in my notebook.

“What happened?”, she asked still busy in writing. Of course, she was not aware of my genuine trouble.

Without giving any response, I ran towards my shelf and grabbed my copy.

“Fuck!”, I screamed as I noticed I hadn’t written even my name and roll number on it. Now in a situation like this, your whole body including your hand starts to tremble.

“Ding”, another bell after a while and in a minute, it was all over.

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I began to feel that I am a ‘Mahatma’ or something who has sacrificed his ‘chemistry practical exam’ for the well being of others. How foolish?

Actually, I didn’t really feel bad about it whatever may be the reason. I really loved her. Yes, she was my first love. When I saw her asking for help, while others ignoring her, my heart sank. I felt uneasy. So, I did what I felt was appropriate. No guilties!

I didn’t see her until I heard her calling my name when I was just about to board on my school-bus. I stopped and saw her coming towards me.

“Hey, come with me.”, she said and grabbed my hand and clinched it so hard that it made me think I should gift her a nail-cutter.

“What are you doing?”, I asked.

She guided us to the small-gap that exists between two buses parked side-by-side. In a minute, I found both of us standing barely a foot away from each other. She looked around probably to check if no one’s seeing us here, while I tried to push myself a little far-away from her. It was the first time I got stucked between two buses with a girl and therefore, I was feeling slightly awkward.

The situation appeared really romantic. She was too close. I can feel her breathe. I saw her face. I saw her cute and beautiful eyes. They looked worried, may be for me.

“Hey…..why here?”, I asked by trying to hide my face expressions.

And this was the time we looked at each other. She came forward and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you.”, she said and smiled.

OOoops!! Ohh God!! Wow!!

“You didn’t write your exam for the sake of mine. How self-less………you really are my very very good friend.”

Now see this, who the hell talks about friendship and all in such a romantic situation. All dreams shattered..!

Jokes apart, this was the time my emotions outbursted. I really wanted to cry. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to tell her it was she for whom I couldn’t sleep during nights, come to school daily and do whatever I can to see her smile.

But no-one believes ‘filmy’ dialouges even if they are true.

“Its alrite.”, I whispered still numb and confused how to react.

“Next time lets hope you don’t get the brown-sugar.”, I exclaimed. She laughed.

“No problem yaar……..as long as you are with me.”, she said and left.

She left and I was left unspoken.

I carefully got out and moved towards my bus. I’ve never had such an astonishing experience and I was sure it’ll take a day or two for me to get normal.

{rest continued in Chapter 15}

PS — Feeling good after writing this.

PS — Question of the Day: Have you ever proposed someone? (for boys)

PS — Question of the Day: How many boys proposed you? (for girls)

PS — Facing the so-called ‘generation gap’ at home.

PS — Its raining here.

PS — Purchased IIT Bombay shirt for 130 bucks. Now I have plans to wander through Bhopal streets wearing it all day. How cheap!!

PS — Just reading the novel ‘The Partner’ borrowed by Parth. Thanks dude.

PS — Sorry for the late update. I was out of station.

PS — Mumbai Rocks.

PS — Adios

Chapter 14: Part I June 13, 2008

Life’s schedule got changed after this disaster. Finally, there was a place for sincerity now. I avoided going to school to save myself from daily insults courtesy Sadhvi ma’am and Sinha Sir. The pressure of studies from the IIT coaching side was on the high and I’d started to study quite seriously again.

Everything was dull and boring. Meanwhile, it was Palak’s birthday. But she refused to celebrate it.

There was something about Palak, I’d still to got to understand. Although she used to look quite normal and charming, but there was a deep pain in her eyes. Something was unrevealed and untold. I’d never tried to ask her about this may be because I thought she would never like me getting too personal.

3 months had passed by and the results of 2nd Terminal Exams were declared. Finally, I managed to clear all my subjects with a considerable percentage. This time I’d just passed chemistry. But the tension was still not over.

I was struggling through my IIT-JEE studies. There is a special thing about these IIT preparations. One doesn’t know how much he has to study. One big question always haunts his mind: How much is enough??????

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THE QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Today it was the most feared final practical examination of chemistry. It included one activity, viva and qualitative analysis.

Now, for those who are lucky enough to be ignorant of this term, I tell you: Qualitative analysis is an activity in which one has given a sample of unknown salt. After performing several chemical experiments and reactions he has to predict its name.

Although there are some short-cuts and hacks to this damn difficult and boring procedure but they aren’t applicable to every sample.

One by one we took our packets containing sample and reached our places. We were divided into groups of 4. Unfortunately, Palak was not in my group this time. Fortunately, her group stood just next to ours.

Time started, and we opened our packets. Just like most of us, I had got a white coloured powder. I looked towards Palak and to my surprise, her salt was brown coloured. No one in our class had ever studied or practised about brown coloured salts. So, Palak was in real trouble.

Since, there were only 2 hours, so I decided to concentrate on my task only. I performed several preliminary experiments with my salt: heated it, cooled it and did everything I knew about this fucking thing, but nothing worked.

“Hey Himanshu……please help me?”, Palak whispered cautiously. She had moved from her place to mine and was looking really worried. I felt an inside thrust to help her, but I couldn’t. I had to perform well at least in chemistry.

“Ok…wait…let me finish mine.”, I howled. She silently departed.

Finally, I had figured out my salt. It was Zinc Carbonate. I checked my watch. It was still 30 minutes left. Now, I could comfortably write my observations in examination copy.

I took a deep breath to relax and look around. Palak was still standing idle. Her face was like crying.

“Should I help her?”

“But I know nothing about this damn brown salt?”

“No..no….I’ve still got to write my experiment.”

“Ohh…how selfish of me…she’s in trouble and I am thinking of mine??”

A million thoughts came across my mind. It was like ‘Heart’ Vs. ‘Brain’. Finally, as expected from a boy, heart won.

{rest continued in Part 2 of Chapter 14}

PS — I guess this was the most technical chapter of the whole story. Lolz…

PS — Going to Mumbai for IIT-JEE counseling.

PS — Sorry to mention it again but I hate rains.

PS — Exception: When you are with a girl, its the best season.

PS — Reso-Felicitation Party tomorrow. Hurrayyy…

PS — Song of the Day: All the things she said (Tatu)

PS — Adios.

Chapter 13 The Results June 10, 2008

She laughed and laughed and laughed and finally held my hand. An electric pulse travelled across my body. I lost my attention from the surroundings. It was only she and me. The scene seemed too romantic (at least to me). I felt an inside urge to propose her. But I couldn’t. A few seconds later she realised she’s still holding my hand. She winced and pulled back.

“umm..You like the card?”, I asked.

“Oh yeah…very much.”, she replied still smiling. Meanwhile, I heard Apurv calling me for lunch.

“Just a second……!”, I howled looking towards Apurv.

“So, may I assume I have made everything settled between us?”, I asked in a hurry.

“No”, she exclaimed. Girls love teasing.

“What?”

“I need a chocolate too.”

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THE RESULTS

It was over a week I gifted a chocolate-pack to Palak who seemed to be more friendly after that. Also the rumour of Sandeep’s affair with some girl of biology-section named Anubha had spread each and every corridor of the school. But this was not the news of the day.

Today, all the subject teachers were going to show us our exam copies.

“The main tension is of mathematics.”, Sandeep said in a heavy voice.

“Same here yar….”, I sighed.

English ma’am was absent and in this free period we were left nothing but discussing our poor fate. Before lunch we had got physics and sanskrit copies. I had got passed in physics a well 4 marks above the boundary line. Sanskrit was as good as always, fetched me 91 out of 100.

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After lunch, it was mathematics period.

“51…just 51. Oooh..”, I yelled. As was expected, Sinha Sir showed his anger in my poor exam copy. Still I praised my luck for I passed this subject, otherwise I was expecting even worse.

But some people were not that much lucky. Sandeep failed in maths.

The danger was still not over. The next period was chemistry. Sadhvi ma’am face appeared as if she’s going to committ a mass-violence in the class. She stood up from her chair and looked around. A silence spread throughout.

Now it started:

“Roll No. 1 FAAIIILLLL..“

“2….. Fail“

“3….. Fail“

Wow, it was a hat-trick. Sadhvi ma’am seemed like  some Australian bowler making all of us clean-bold.

“9…31 marks“

“10…Absent“

“11…. Fail“

“12″, she paused. It was my roll number.

“What a performance from our school topper….!” she mimicried herself and laughed. I was damn sure I failed in it. I reached to collect my copy.

“FAIL“, she shouted and threw copy on me. I tried to catch it, but it hit my face and fell down. It was a real insult. I grabbed it and went towards my bench.

For the first time ever in my life, I failed in some subject. Studies was everything for me. I had no extra-talent except this. I was like crying. Everyone was like crying. She failed 23 students in a class of 41.

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POST RESULT MEMOIRS

Akshat’s result was quite good and Apurv had comfortably passed all the subjects. While Palak failed only chemistry. I didn’t know about Isha because she was absent.

“We are preparing for IIT. Am I right? Do IITs give admission to failures!!!”, Sandeep spoke as if he’s drunk. He was looking completely disappointed from his life.

I had no answer to his question. I was busy in pondering over myself. What the fuck I was doing these days?? Lingering around girls and making greeting cards for them..! Who the hell will study atomic structure, ionic equilibrium and thermodynamics..!

“Now my life has no meaning.”, I heard Sandeep screeching again.

I decided to put this so called ‘FIRST-LOVE thing’ aside for ever. Certainly, such result was an eye-opener for me.

But this was not enough. I was still required to face more humiliation from teachers, junior-students (who called me their idol. Another Fuck!) and from parents.

{rest continued in Chapter 14}

PS — Question of the Day: How many of you have ever failed in Chemistry?

PS — Met with college friends yesterday after 4 months.

PS — Waiting eagerly for the Reso Felicitation Party.

PS — Monsoons coming. I hate rains in rainy season.

PS — Song of the Day - Pyaar Ke Liye (Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic)

PS — Parth’s story has reached to the extent of voice chat. You can read the story from here.

PS — Missing two persons the most - Parth Jain and Preeti.

PS — Adios.

Chapter 12 : The Greeting June 7, 2008

“You go to hell. Don’t talk to me ever again.”, someone said to me. I looked towards my left and realised she was none other than Palak…..

“He’s a looser…come on Palak, lets move away from here.”, Isha said to Palak trying not to look at me.

One of the common characteristics of Isha and Palak was that they both were over-possessive. Infact I think every girl on this earth suffers from this problem. They believe the things they like are ISO certified and no one is allowed to make an opinion against it.

I looked around to find out a single person favouring me. Thank God, Apurv and Sandeep were still out there.

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The news of my so called ‘fight’ with Sinha Sir reached every department and classroom of the school. I also came to know that I was the first one to behave to him in that way since years. He should have deserved it a long ago.

“Himaaansshhhuuuuuu…”, Sadhvi madam screamed while rushing into the classroom as soon as the lunch period started. She was our new class-teacher and more unfortunately our chemistry teacher too. Behind him, Sinha Sir entered slowly in his usual style.

I stood up. After receiving a fatigue couselling from Apurv and Sandeep, I knew what I was supposed to do.

“Do you realize what you’ve done Himanshu?”, Sadhvi madam asked. She sounded more dangerous than she looked.

“Leave it ma’am. He won’t do that again.”, Sinha sir said. He pretended as if he really meant it. I hate when he fakes sympathy.

“No sir, it seems he has become over-confident. How dare he misbehave to a teacher.”, Sadhvi maam said. She was making the matter more serious than it really was.

“Sorry Sir.”, I said. As was told to me by Apurv, saying sorry is a sure-shot solution to every argument.

And it worked this time too. After few minutes of scolding and some more fake expressions from Sinha Sir, the thing got settled. But Sadhvi ma’am still looked unsatisfied. She wanted more of this.

“Let me see, how well you perform in the terminal exams..!”. This was Sadhvi Maam last statement before she left the class.

And it suddenly reminded all of us that we people were having our 1st Terminal Exams from next week.

*****************************************************************************************

THE NEXT DAY

It was Friday, the last working day before preparation leave. Although strength was very short today, but still I had come for a special purpose - to ‘make-up’ again with Palak. But alas!! She was absent.

“Hey Isha, wass up?”, I asked Isha who was sitting alone and trying to study something from her chemistry book.

“Yeh, what now?”, she said in attitude. I think girls believe its their birth right to show attitude, on the contrary, if boys do the same, they are called anti-social.

“No, nothing. So you gals, still angry with me?”

“Hmmm….well sort of.”

“But I apologised to Sinha sir naa….what’s the matter now.”

“Yeh, thats true. Ok….guilties forgotton from my side.”

“And what about Palak?”

“I don’t know. You know naa…Sinha Sir is her favourite teacher. Insulting him means insulting her.”

What a weird creatures these girls are, I must say. I decided to leave the things for God, at least till the exams get over. Right now, the most important thing of concern was to study Mathematics as there was a good possibilty that Sinha Sir won’t be giving me good marks this time.

********************************************************************************************

I TERM EXAMINATION

I couldn’t study very much because of my IIT coachings plus my crap activities that included sitting on the internet, chatting with girls on yahoo etc.

Our school authorities had put an awkward sort of sitting arrangement for the exam. One 11th standard student with a 7th standard one on a bench. I had got a slim-little boy having specs as my partner. He was looking studious but surely was not. I can say this because he made me solve at least half of his maths paper during exam.

My English and Sanskrit papers went well. For physics and chemistry I calculated the passing marks. It came out to be 22. So, I tried my best to attempt at least 30 marks of question paper in these exams. In mathematics I attempted 70 out of 100 marks and was damn confident that I’ll pass it surely.

After considering this condition in studies, who will believe I was the topper of the school.!!!

***********************************************************************************************

Due to exams I didn’t get time to counsel with Palak. But as the exams got over, my mind started to ache for it. I decided to ask Isha for help. Its always good to make girl’s best friend in you favour.

“Why don’t you give her a ’sorry greeting card’?”, she adviced. Still I was unable to understand why I was supposed to say sorry to Palak. I fought with Sinha Sir and had to apologise to Palak. What a weirdo..!

“Hmm..thats quite a nice idea.”, I replied calculating the average cost of a good greeting card in my mind. Of course, money was also a priority.

“A good one from Archies would be nice, isn’t it?”, I asked Isha.

“No, be creative yaar……”

“Like what?”

“Let it be hand made by you. She’ll love it.”

“Ohhh..”, I replied. Now this was too much for me. Anything that involved drawing sketches was out of reach for me. Even my biology diagrams of class 10th were drawn by my younger brother for me.

But when it comes to a girl, boys can do everything. So I accepted the challenge. Although, I was not sure, how I’ll be able to do it.

***********************************************************************************************************

THE GREETING

“Be creative”, I reminded in my mind.

I worked on the greeting-project for about one hour before I totally got extinguished. Finally, the greeting card was complete. I know I had reached the ‘corners of creativity’ and wasn’t sure if Palak will like it or not. But this was all I could do.

******************************************************************************************************

“Hi Palak.”, I exclaimed. It was the lunch period. And she was busy in arranging her notebooks in school-bag. She looked at me, and again got back to her work.

“Cold response.”, I said to myself. I reached the empty bench behind her. She looked up with a question mark + irritation on her face. Wow, I don’t know how girls manage to show multiple emotions at the same time. But who cares..! She was looking damn beautiful.

I stretched my hand with an envelope (containing greeting card inside).

“This is for you.”, I said softly and also corrected my posture which looked like I am proposing her.

She flinched her nose but took it. She revolved around and opened it. The front page of greeting was blank white. She turned the page and found a note written in my hand-writing:

To,

Palak

“Its a white rose. As much pure as our friendship.”

Your friend,

Himanshu.

She turned towards me.

“Where’s the white rose?”, she asked.

“On the front page.”, I replied smartly.

“But there’s nothing in it, just a blank page.”, she said in a confusion and turned the greeting upside-down to make sure if she’s right.

“Ohh…the rose is white and the page is also white, may be that’s why you are not able to see it.”, I replied.

She laughed and laughed and laughed and finally held my hand.

{rest continued in Chapter 13}

PS — 4 more chapters left. I am too excited to finish it.

PS — Megan Fox rated sexiest women of the world.

PS — Its quite interesting not to have a girlfriend. (Poor excuse of not having one)

PS — Question of the Day: A R Rehmaan or Bryan Adams??

PS — Movie I would like to see: Sarkar Raj

PS — Adios

Chapter 11 June 1, 2008

3 MONTHS LATER

A few worth mentioning things happened in these 3 months:

1. Board Exams got over. I promoted to 11th standard.

2. Results were out and I unexpectedly became school topper. I don’t know how it happened. I performed averagely. May be others under-performed in their studies. But still, this ‘undeserving’ success increased my reputation and confidence to a great extent in school.

3. Received a call from Naina stating that she’s shifting to her dad’s in Raipur and asked me to meet her for the last time. I really have met her if Karun hadn’t challenged my self-prestige.

4. Took Mathematics for 11th and decided to go for IIT-JEE. So, it was clear by now, that my coming two years will be really harsh and boring.

5. Visited Palak’s home. Her mom makes excellent coffee and pakode.

6. Seema took biology and went to other section. So no more hugs expected from her side now.

*****************************************************************

“A straight line is a curve.”, Sinha sir’s philosphy continued. I raised my hand for a possible query.

“But sir you how can a straight thing be a curve??”, I asked trying to sound intelligent and serious. Although, I was not.

“Hey..why you always have to disturb the class with your nonsense questions??”, Sinha sir shouted angrily at me.

I kept quite.

So he spoke again, “Don’t you dare to think that you are the school topper, so I would allow your nastiness here. I am certainly not like other teachers.”

“What makes you think like that sir??”, I spoke in rage. I noticed Apurv pulling my shirt to make me sit down and remain silent.

I sat down. But Sinha Sir’s rage continued for the next 10 min. after which he went outside the class. It was his daily habit, to step out of the class for no reason. None of us ever found out where he goes. A few possible locations we’d guessed were the toilet, the canteen or Kriti Madam’s class.

I had always doubted Sinha sir’s interest in teaching. He fancied talking big things instead of making us learn mathematics. But against expected, he was damn popular amongst students, especially girls.

**********************************************************************

“Chill out yaar….Why do you take things seriously.”, Palak said. She still used to sit on the bench parallel to me.

“Lets go for the practicals. Here’s your practical file.”, I said by returning the file which I had taken from her yesterday. I used to borrow her files, notebooks etc very often. May be just for an excuse to stay in touch with her.

“Thanks”, I said again. She smiled and took the file with pleasure.

In these 3 months, I had figured out that my first and only love was Palak, not Naina. God was making the things work for me.Despite of that, I too tried several things from my side.

In library, I always used to take seat in front of her. In laboratory, I used to try to make me join her. Other things included, lingering around and talking to her for the whole day, impressing her best friend Isha by solving her few physics problems. I used to try whatever I can just to remain a bit closer to her.

But may be she didn’t ever notice or pay a heed to what I was upto. And I too never revealed anyone the same.

***********************************************************************

SINHA SIR Vs. ME

Everything used to go just about perfect for me except when Sinha Sir was out there.

“Now who will tell me the homogenous equation of a pair of straight lines??”, Sinha Sir asked. A few hands raised up. Then he pointed his finger to me.

I stood up.

“Sir, I think its ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = zero.”, I replied. I wasn’t sure about the answer.

“Are you sure??”

“No sir.”

“Then why did you answer?”

“Because this was all I knew.”

“And what do you think, have you got it right?”

“I don’t know sir.”

“I need you to write this formula a 100 times in your notebook. I’ll see it tomorrow.”, he shouted angrily. Now this was absolutely rubbish. I am not a child of 1st standard who will write the same thing a 100 times.

“Sorry sir, I can’t.”

“What? What did you say.”

“Sir, I won’t write it. I don’t have that much time. I have my IIT coachings and a lot of other things to do.”

By this time, Sinha sir’s anger reached the sky. If not sky then at least the top floor of our school building.

“How dare you over-rule me like that?”

“No, I didn’t sir. I am just asking you for what reason are you punishing me??”

“Now you will tell me how should I teach and punish my students.”

I realised, things are out of my control now. And when one is in deep shit, he should keep his mouth shut.

“Get out of the class.” he shrieked. I thanked god for it. I didn’t want to stay in his class any more.

“No….! Wait….I am leaving this class. I don’t want to teach filthy, unmannered students like you.” he spoke again.

“Sure sir, its your wish.” I said. Oopps… I don’t know how it came to me. But I was sure that this sentence is gonna cause me a lot of troubles.

**********************************************************************

Sinha sir left and the whole class started to look me like I am some extra-terrestrial animal appeared suddenly among them. I realised, I had betrayed their most favourite teacher. Suddenly, my ‘heroish’ image twisted into a ‘villainish’ one.

“You go to hell. Don’t talk to me ever again.”, someone said to me. I looked towards my left and realised she was none other than Palak…..

{rest continued in Chapter 12}

PS — Long time for this post. I think I have become too lazy.

PS — Now I am supporting Rajasthan Royals. Sorry Mumbai vaalon.

PS — IIT MS Chemistry or BITS Pilani CS?? This the question of the Day.

PS — Arushi Murder Case is getting a great footage from media. While news of 40000 people in Myanmar and 30000 people in China dying recently of calamities have been completely ignored. Shame on such media.

PS — Song of the Day : Jeene Ke Ishaare frm Fir Milenge (S-E-L)

PS — Adios.

Morning Walk…………………..or may be ‘Activa’..! May 28, 2008

This is about another beautiful incident in the form of a short story.

Read it from here.

Some Murphy’s May 23, 2008

Here comes the new post about the great great Murphy’s Laws.

They are not only funny but factual too.

Do read them from here.