The Principal asked after a few minutes of thought.
“I’m positive ma’am,” I replied.
“Ok. I appreciate all this. I will look into the matter now. You may go. And Riya, do not disclose our dialogue to others . . . not even
Mrs. Ratna. I will do so myself.” She smiled at me and I felt the most important student in the school. I had to admit, more than charisma; our Principal had a quality of man management. She knew her students well.
As Riya kept the year book aside, she recalled the hullabaloo when Kabir was present in class the next day. A very proud Dev was narrating a new tale of how the AUTHORITIES had found his mate clear! He was so happy! Riya remembered the look on his face. It was Anjali who noticed Riya’s aloofness and after a long question and answer session elucidated the details.
“You!!! YOU did that?? For him?” Anjali was livid.
“Yes Anjali. And don’t be so upset. It was the right thing to do. He is not the culprit every time something happens,” I had replied.
“My god!!”Anjali had responded in sheer surprise, hands covering her mouth.
“What now?” I had asked, shading the human circulatory system diagram in my Biology register.
“He doesn’t even know . . . you have forgiven him!! And Riya . . . I . . . I think . . . Oh lord! . . . I think you have begun liking him!!” Anjali looked horrified at her own statement.
“Oh shut up silly!” I had laughed it off. . . .
“I think you like him!!”
That note had not left my mind; it reverberated for a while there.
CHAPTER-14
“A ll one needs to really enjoy this world is a few good friends to totter along with . . .”
I had read this quote in a very old quotations book in our library, but I realised its essence that day when Dev approached me, two days after Kabir’s return and asked me if it was me who had cleared his friend’s name.
“Who told you that?” I was surprised how these guys managed all kinds of information. The entire grade three staffs was their friend, anyone could have told him a bit.
“That is not important. Did you do it Riya?” Dev asked.
“I’ll tell only if you tell Dev,” I played my bargain.
Dev considered it for a minute, and then nodded in affirmation. Kabir wanted to know so Dev had to get an answer from me.
“Anjali told me, rather scolded me with the information . . . obviously idolising you and pointing out how immensely lucky Kabby was.” Dev spoke.
“Hmm, I see. Well, since she had blabbed it out, Yes. It was me. And I did it because I knew Kabby was not culprit this time around.” I spoke replacing my books in my bag. It was the last period and the school bell would have rung any minute.
“Thanks . . . for everything,” Dev replied.
“Hmm. Accepted.” I replied without looking at him.
As I had sat that day on ‘our spot’ I was engrossed in reading Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin, my all-time favourite writer. I was wondering how a proud Mr. Darcy was still negating his emotions for Elizabeth Bennett, when I heard a soft foot sound. A shadow fell on my body.
“Thanks . . . Riya,” I looked up to see Kabby standing there. He had spoken to me after one and a half month, not that I missed him, or did I? Why did I remember the exact dates then?
“For what?” I asked.
“For . . . clearing my name.”
“Well . . . what do you want now, a medal? Be happy you have guts to come and patch up with me.” I replied.
“AAaaa . . . Ok, I suppose,” Kabir looked fumbled. I tried hard but could not help laughing. To this he smiled too and that was all that was needed.
We were friends again.
It goes without saying that the word soon spread that we were ‘together’ again . . . whatever that meant. Many people, Ayesha included, was convinced I had done something to get him free of detention. They were not wrong this time, but I never corrected them.
Kabir and I began our old routine of sitting on the spot for completing our day’s tasks. I had begun
“I’m positive ma’am,” I replied.
“Ok. I appreciate all this. I will look into the matter now. You may go. And Riya, do not disclose our dialogue to others . . . not even
Mrs. Ratna. I will do so myself.” She smiled at me and I felt the most important student in the school. I had to admit, more than charisma; our Principal had a quality of man management. She knew her students well.
As Riya kept the year book aside, she recalled the hullabaloo when Kabir was present in class the next day. A very proud Dev was narrating a new tale of how the AUTHORITIES had found his mate clear! He was so happy! Riya remembered the look on his face. It was Anjali who noticed Riya’s aloofness and after a long question and answer session elucidated the details.
“You!!! YOU did that?? For him?” Anjali was livid.
“Yes Anjali. And don’t be so upset. It was the right thing to do. He is not the culprit every time something happens,” I had replied.
“My god!!”Anjali had responded in sheer surprise, hands covering her mouth.
“What now?” I had asked, shading the human circulatory system diagram in my Biology register.
“He doesn’t even know . . . you have forgiven him!! And Riya . . . I . . . I think . . . Oh lord! . . . I think you have begun liking him!!” Anjali looked horrified at her own statement.
“Oh shut up silly!” I had laughed it off. . . .
“I think you like him!!”
That note had not left my mind; it reverberated for a while there.
CHAPTER-14
“A ll one needs to really enjoy this world is a few good friends to totter along with . . .”
I had read this quote in a very old quotations book in our library, but I realised its essence that day when Dev approached me, two days after Kabir’s return and asked me if it was me who had cleared his friend’s name.
“Who told you that?” I was surprised how these guys managed all kinds of information. The entire grade three staffs was their friend, anyone could have told him a bit.
“That is not important. Did you do it Riya?” Dev asked.
“I’ll tell only if you tell Dev,” I played my bargain.
Dev considered it for a minute, and then nodded in affirmation. Kabir wanted to know so Dev had to get an answer from me.
“Anjali told me, rather scolded me with the information . . . obviously idolising you and pointing out how immensely lucky Kabby was.” Dev spoke.
“Hmm, I see. Well, since she had blabbed it out, Yes. It was me. And I did it because I knew Kabby was not culprit this time around.” I spoke replacing my books in my bag. It was the last period and the school bell would have rung any minute.
“Thanks . . . for everything,” Dev replied.
“Hmm. Accepted.” I replied without looking at him.
As I had sat that day on ‘our spot’ I was engrossed in reading Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin, my all-time favourite writer. I was wondering how a proud Mr. Darcy was still negating his emotions for Elizabeth Bennett, when I heard a soft foot sound. A shadow fell on my body.
“Thanks . . . Riya,” I looked up to see Kabby standing there. He had spoken to me after one and a half month, not that I missed him, or did I? Why did I remember the exact dates then?
“For what?” I asked.
“For . . . clearing my name.”
“Well . . . what do you want now, a medal? Be happy you have guts to come and patch up with me.” I replied.
“AAaaa . . . Ok, I suppose,” Kabir looked fumbled. I tried hard but could not help laughing. To this he smiled too and that was all that was needed.
We were friends again.
It goes without saying that the word soon spread that we were ‘together’ again . . . whatever that meant. Many people, Ayesha included, was convinced I had done something to get him free of detention. They were not wrong this time, but I never corrected them.
Kabir and I began our old routine of sitting on the spot for completing our day’s tasks. I had begun
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