“I am sorry. I am really very sorry.”

“You should be.” She said. It was a school-reunion where I got a chance to meet her. I took her aside for a walk to discuss something I’d always wanted to. Finally she was into talk, speaking honestly she really feels and means. It was an occasion I’d waited for over one and half years.

“I am.” I replied. And we stopped. I looked at her and saw her eyes. They were exactly the same as they used to be, deep black, full of innocence and a pain. A pain unsaid and untold, hidden deep inside. Someday I would ask her and hopefully will get the answer.

“So can we start it over again?” I asked still looking into her eyes. “Can we forget every dreadful thing happened in the past and remember only the good ones?”

“Can we be friends again?”

She thought for a while, smiled and said :

“Yeah.”

***

PS — I don’t know how it happened, but I am in love…again.

PS — So does it mean, ‘Chronicles of First Love’ hasn’t ended?

PS — It depends on her.

PS — Hmm…so its 7 in the morning thanks to the night-out for street play practice.

PS — But I guess, when you are in love, you don’t feel sleepy!

PS — If you find this chapter confusing, wait for sometime. I’ll pour in every missing and interesting details in the next one soon.

PS — And for those who don’t know whats really going on here, you’ve got to read the complete story from Chapter 1.

PS — So….time for breakfast. CSL class after an hour.

PS — Adieu.

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.

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

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