We were laughing in the canteen when Aisha came to us. She took a Samosa from Shruti's plate & asked, "What's going on?" Divya said, "Aisha, Karan showed a fantastic magic trick." Aisha said, "Let me see how he does it." It was a golden chance to make Aisha fool. I said, "Okay, then give me your ring." She asked, "Why?" I said, "Because I'll turn it into a Samosa." She just smiled & gave her ring. I put my handkerchief on it, muttered something & then removed the handkerchief. There was a Samosa in my hand. I took a bite of the Samosa & everybody clapped hands. Aisha gave a fake smile & said, "Very smart! Now give my ring back." I said, "What ring? Ring becomes Samosa but Samosa can't become ring. Now I'll suggest.." She said keeping her headphone in the bag, "You don't try to suggest me anything." & headphone felled down near my feet. I looked at Aisha & smiled. She had to kneel in front of me to take her headphone. I commented, "What'll Miss Aisha do now?" Soon she smiled looking elsewhere & called, "Sameer." Sameer reached the canteen like Jerry mouse to cheese. He asked, "Yes Aisha?" Aisha asked, "Will you pick up my headphone please?" I warned, "You won't!" Aisha said, "Please Sameer." Sameer instantly picked up the headphone. Aisha waved headphone in front of me & said, "Bye Karan." I was staring at Sameer. Neglecting my anger, Sameer asked Aisha, "Aisha, you didn't react to my proposal." Aisha said, "You're mad Sameer." & left giving a smile to him. Sameer said to her back, "Yes, I'm mad. Make a difference, you know!"
The bus came & I entered the bus. There were Shilpa & Shruti on a seat. Shilpa waved hand & I went to her. I asked, “So late today?” She commented, "For you, of course!" Shruti said, "Hi Karan." I just said, "Hi." I took a seat & asked Shilpa, "Is there any workshop today?" Shilpa said, "HOD has committed to start workshop soon but it will take time to make a schedule." Shruti added, "Chemistry practical is before lunch, I suppose." I said, "I'm gonna start with it." Soon I remembered something. I immediately said to Shruti, "Hey, come & sit with me.” She asked sitting near me, "What happened?" Shilpa asked, "What happened, Karan?" Bus stopped & Suhani entered the bus. She looked at me & I gave a smirk. Now I wasn’t alone on that seat to takeover it. Shruti asked, "Who's she?" I answered, "Crazy girl!" Suhani sat behind the seat of my seat. Again we had that common window glass. She pulled the glass backward. I pulled the glass forward. She pulled the glass backward again. Shruti was silently watching all that. I controlled myself & asked Suhani, "What's your problem, girl?” She replied, "I'm feeling cold!" I looked at Shilpa. She started laughing. Shruti adjusted her chashma & smiled.
We came to the college bus. The bus was empty. I sat on first seat. Shilpa & Shruti took the second seat. Soon next bus came to the stop. The crowd got worse & the college bus fully filled. Girls entered the bus lastly. I looked at Aisha. She looked at me once & then said to the driver, “Is there any seat for us, uncle?” The driver said, “Let the boys stand up.” Looking at me, he said, “Hey, please make some space for girls.” I asked, “Why?” He asked, “Do you want me to stop the bus here for the day?” Everybody started laughing. Shilpa said, “Karan.” I nodded head & stood up.
I entered the Chemistry lab. Sameer was waiting for me. I said, “Seems that you’re the only person who came early today.” Sameer asked, “What happened?” I said “Leave it.” Sameer concluded, “Girls.” I said, “PTT (Progressive Theory Test) results will be displayed today.” Soon Miss Gupta entered the lab. She had a set of answer sheets in her hands. She started calling every one’s number to show result & discuss about it. She called my number & I went to her. Her eyebrows went up while giving my sheet. I took my sheet. 23 points out of 25! I felt good. I came to Sameer. He had got 15 points. After some time, Miss Gupta called me & asked, "Did you find where two points cut?" I said, "Yes Miss." She said, "Well done. Keep it up." The bell rang for lunch after practical. We came out. I said happily, "This result made my day." Sameer said, "Yeah, your day." Soon Shruti came to us. She was looking stressful. She said, "I've been looking for you Karan. I'm unable control Shilpa. She is crying." I asked, "Why?" Shruti said, "She's failed in Maths." Sameer laughed. I looked at him & he kept quit. I asked to Shruti, "Where's she?" Shruti said, "Classroom." We went to her classroom. Shilpa was crying silently. I said, "It's okay Shilpa, you'll do much better next time." Shilpa asked, "But why me, Karan? Rest everyone got better points. Shruti got 17 points." I said, "Why are you comparing you to others? It is said that we should focus on our own way. I'm sure that you're gonna get out of points next time." She smiled & said, "Out of points! Very bad joke." We all smiled.
( To Be Continued... )
