Having a deadly combination of soft rain, the fragrance of soil and the beginning of an academic year. A new year, a new 11th std batch in Summit Junior College, Mumbai.
The campus was like chaos, a complete fish market as it was just the beginning of an academic year.
Young talented students, some over smart ones and some with low esteem. Few were meeting after board exams and few were in search of new friends.
Railings, staircase, canteen were overwhelmed. Majority of them were standing in a group, socialize ones. But few were standing alone.
Among them, there was one. Arin, an average looking guy, outspoken, confident and flirty. Not a jerk but with good humour. He was standing with Dev, Rayaan and Neel.
As it was just a beginning so Rayaan insisted that we should move towards class just for having fake innocence and sincerity. Everyone agreed.
All of them were from 11th Commerce.
When they entered class, some girls and boys were their already. Dev spotted an empty desk at the corner and all settled there.
A bench before that their two girls were sitting with a book and a pen in hand. One was Anaisha and other was Kyra. They were gossiping about what they did during vacations.
Arin saw Anaisha and got flattened. Anaisha was brownish girl, introvert and short-tempered. Kyra was opposite of her. Not in a skin tone but in nature. She was a spoiled child who is always ready to bunk class.
1st week went in an introduction, rules and regulations of the college, and making friends.
Actual studies start from 2nd week. Lecture wise classes, assignment and projects. New subjects were introduced like bookkeeping and accountancy, Organisation of Commerce and Management, Sectarial Practice.
As it was a commerce stream, then accounts were must. Learning how to make accounts is seriously a task. Starting basic from doing a journal entry from tallying a balance sheet, a long way, a scary way😅.
Arin wanted to make friendship with Anaisha. Accounts lecture was going on. With a trick, he called Anaisha and requested her to lend a scale and she did.
Days passed. Week passed. Arin used to borrow and Anaisha used to lend. The story continued not only during lectures but also during examinations. They never had a word except "Please lend me your scale"
Arin was happy but Anaisha was frustrated. One day she decided not to lend him but Kyra somehow changed her mindset with vows of friendship and a blackmailing trick.
Kyra had seen glow in Arin eyes whenever he had word with Anaisha. Not only this but she observed that when Anaisha is absent, Arin wouldn't attend his class. He will roam in the campus and many such things. Kyra was sure of Arin is behind Anaisha, at the same time she was afraid of telling this to Anaisha. Because Anaisha won't understand this.
The time flew away. A year was about to end. i.e. March month. A birthday month of Arin. Arin decided to commit his feelings in front of Anaisha. So he invited Dev, Rayaan, Neel, Kyra and Anisha for his birthday treat in the canteen. Kyra agreed on behalf of Anisha.
Anaisha was mad on Kyra for this step. But somehow Kyra managed to lighten her mood and they both started thinking about what we should give him a gift. Many options were thought like T-shirt, cake, A phone case, etc. Anisha said to Kyra I have decided that a gift for him. So see you tomorrow. Kyra was clueless.
On the other hand, Arin was practising how to express his feelings. Cheesy Bollywood lines or with directly. Confused. At last, he decided to express his feelings in Sharukh Khan's way.
On the next day, Kyra didn't come to college because of her family issues. So Anaisha decided not to go to a birthday party. On that day Arin didn't attend the classes, he was roaming outside and chilling with his friends. But in reality, he was waiting for Anaisha to get free from lectures.
Soon the lecture ended and others were cancelled. Anaisha decided not to waste any time here and quickly going back to home. She didn't want to face Arin.
Arin was waiting outside the class. Anaisha and Arin came in front of each other.
Anaisha: "Happy Birthday Arin. May all your wishes come true. God bless you."
Arin: "Thank you. Come and join us in the canteen"
Anaisha: "I'm sorry. I won't able to. Because I have some other work. But here is your gift."
Arin became said after hearing this but his face was enlightened after seeing a gift. The first gift from Anaisha.
Arin quickly took the gift from her and opened it with excitement.
When he opened a box he saw a bunch of rulers and with a note
'From today onwards carry your ruler, don't irritate me from now'
Arin asked Anaisha to hold his gift and he opened his bag and took out his ruler and said: "I always carried my ruler" with a wink. and started moving away.
Anaisha was standing their and blushing.
Without any cheesy lines, he expressed his feelings.
-Its me
Veena Kukreja
