A 97's Summer Dream

It was quite an uphill task for two teenage school boys to paddle up for 10 km in the scorching heat of Indian summers, but chatting and paddling went along simultaneously and what would had been a fatiguing toil turned into a gossip heaven every day. For Rishabh the time and space between school and his home were perhaps the only moments when he was able to skip the darkest chapters of his life briefly. He had family issues going on, his dad had an affair outside his marital domain and had not been home for 6 months. His mom was obviously bereaved and lamenting constantly. She had been steadily growing irascible and short tempered making home atmosphere impossible to live in.

Occurrences in his family had obviously reflected back in his academics, he had failed in 5 out of 6 subjects in half yearly exams. When you stagger back in a race then you are subjected to being mocked, ridiculed and hooted all the way. One who is weak is never spared in this ruthless world irrespective of society of whichever age group you come from. All his other class mates did the same except Udit, his only friend in the whole 9th standard.

As for her he noticed her for the first time when a goon of his colony inquired about her name and other whereabouts from him. That is when Udit had one of his cheeky brainwaves, he suggested that Rishabh being a school mate and all can caution her regarding her inquiry by a stranger, and perhaps he can get close to her instead of that gorilla, with a bouquet of well-wishes in his hands.

Before Udit' s remark he had never noticed her before, but now how keenly he watched putting her small fair hands on her lips while giggling, her blue ladybird cycle, her fair color, her brown hair falling on her shoulders ..... how she said to her friend which sounded something like " they should appreciate what's being done by her". How he wished he knew in what context she made this statement.....

He rode on Hero jet, 20 inches chocolate colored bicycle, it was a simple one with handle bars curved at 90 degree angles at ends pointing at your flanks. Now as per Udit, on this bike he won't look cool on the first meet. After giving a thought on this grave issue, reluctantly he gave way to Udit's advice. Udit offered him his bike Bsa photon, black one with straight handle bars, it was an old one but looked stylish and cool, it should do, he thought to himself . At 2:00 p.m their school bell rang, patiently they waited for her to come out, there was a short cut which all school kids took, it traversed across an engineering college campus,, leaving campus came a railway crossing, after which there was a straight route of nearly 200 meters, not many came that way, this was the spot he chose to talk with her.

She was paddling along in front, Udit beckoned him to accomplish the task . He pressed the paddle hard, simultaneously his heart rate increased, mouth went dry, reaching by her side, he said "excuse me" his voice wavered 

"yes" she said

" hi i am Rishabh, I know you are in 9th c, a local fellow was inquiring about you, being your school mate, I thought of telling you to be vigilant ..."

A gust of hot wind blew at the moment swirling like a mini hurricane around them both, she looked at him intently standing in middle of all that dusty wind, and said with a little smile "surely i will take care , thanks for the concern"... and rode off.

After this moment he was numb and dazed for a while, he never knew how Udit clapped his back congratulating on the task well done, never knew what he said on aftermaths of this issue, how he reached home, he felt spring had come at last after a long winter. He felt as if he was the king of the world and she was his........

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

It had been couple of days since his brief encounter with her, one afternoon he had been just back from school, suddenly he heard somebody calling his name from outside. On going outside his eyes came to rest on Rahul, he was sitting on his bicycle while leaning on the stem of Gulmohar tree in in front of his house. He was a boy from another section of 9th standard. On reaching him he growled, 

"you had been talking to her ?"

Rishabh said "whom i had talked to ?"

"don't try to play tricks , i am talking about Riddhima" his tone was a bit louder now

"yes"... so her name is Riddhima he said to himself.

"have you gone dumb or what , don't you know she is mine" he barked

he remained silent staring at him.

"get off her trail , or i will get you smashed and your nose rubbed in dirt"

" i am not quitting ,do what you can " with these words he turned his back to his infuriated adversary and went inside his home .

For the first time since his father left them , he felt insecure and afraid , his body trembled and perspired , with his mom , his 8 yrs old little sister and him alone , he felt weak and lonely . His face burned and turned red ..but he cannot possibly let him have his own way, he must be confronted at any price.

Next morning he was cycling to school when in midway Rahul met him again with a guy wearing thick rimmed spectacles and waved him to stop.

Rahul turned to the guy with specs and said "this is him" , turning back to Rishabh he jeered "ready for the trailer champ ...Or should we call Vakeel for the whole show"?

"why bothering vakeel bhai , he is just a chickling ..."

Rahul guffawed in answer ..and said " just skedaddle this moment chickling , or i will be in mood of having chicken biryani"

Rishabh kept silent , he knew things were now getting over head , he had to do something quickly in retort. Udit was not of much help because he was not much in rowdyism , and nor had any of such friends. After school he went to meet Naved and Divyendu , they both were roughneck guys ,they were his colony friends as well as he played cricket with them.

"who is he" .. one end of gutkha pouch held under teeth ,while holding other end with hands ,gently twisting and tearing it in a slant single handedly, (an unusual skill rishabh secretly admired ) inquired Divyendu a legendary gutkha addict.

While Divyendu emptied contents of gutkha pouch in his mouth, relating all past events he requested them for their help .. Naved otherwise decent in behavior and looks was his sincere friend since childhood , they both gave their word to do everything in every possible way.

After a couple of days Rahul was again there standing at his door " why you sent Divyendu and Naved , it was such an embarrassment , in front of whole school  they threatened me ...."

Rishabh smiled and said " what do you want ?"

" it is an open contest , let her chose the better one"

"done.."

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

He felt much lighter now , and further planned with Udit , to how to propose her at a right moment in the right way .

Rahul was not the only hurdle in the way he had surmounted , even a bigger one loomed up in distance ..final exams were nearing. More she gave him sweet looks or smiled at him...more he tried hard in studies to win a losing battle which he was fighting at two fronts.

In school he was not a very popular figure , many a boys came trying to dishearten him ,telling him he was not good enough for her. He was being made to realize that he was no match to Rahul in looks or even wits. Many a times he felt that even if he wins her, he was going for a long shot , how will he then be able to face her with a tag of failed student on his name. What had been started in the name of a try , had turned into a contest , and now finally into a desperate act. He knew he had burnt all bridges and axed all boats after landing on shore of her heart to turn back, because he had nothing to lose except HER .....

It was the 3^rd chance this week when his bicycle chain slipped off , he got late for school ,late comers were made to stand outside until assembly dispersed ,afterwards proper explanation was seeked from late students there by letting them in. When turning in class Udit excitedly pulled him aside by arm and hissed in his ear .. "Rahul proposed her"

" and ....?"

" rumors are she turned him down , and Rahul in rage tore his valentine card and threw it in air over her head"

"now its your chance to turn over the tables tiger ". Udit whispered excitedly.

He was short of money , Udit generously offered him money as a borrowed amount , they purchased a card with a decent friendship quote and an expensive pen as a gift , after a couple of days was Saturday, which was fixed for the fateful event. Normally she went to school by cycle , but on saturday she got on bus .. ..

"you have to be fast buddy .. you cannot give her card anywhere except at her stop , so you just ride on hard and fast and be there before the bus ..be cool ...be friendly" Udit was dropping off last of his tips.

As he said these words came the whirring sound of bus engine , and rubber tyres rolling over loose concrete gravel...

Without a single word he started paddling furiously , beads of perspiration appeared on his face , his heart thumping as if it would burst ,twice his chain slipped off ... in the heat of moment he fixed the chain back in no time..and finally he was there before bus ...losing no moment he got off his cycle ,opening his school bag strapped back at his cycle's carrier , took out the card , and waited with bated breath...at last the bus appeared far off.....

Bus came on the stop , she got outside and started walking towards her home when he called her ..

"hi...''

"hi" she called back

"wanted to give you these as a token of friendship , i want you to be my friend"

"sorry i can't accept the gift , but i will take the card" she smiled back

"thank you "said Rishabh with a watery smile

she again smiled and said " meet you later"

He called Udit and word by word told him about the happenings ...

"you made it bhai"

"i never said , i love you to her , she never said it to me ..then how in the heavens i made it ?"

"words are not important buddy , some times some words are better left unsaid but still we call it love".

He felt as if he got that few breaths of air which a drowning man craves for in his last dying moments. He started making more efforts in studies , his tutor was also very hopeful of his performance in exams. He did every thing , all possible blind rituals to attain his only wish ...hard work...... prayed to all gods for blessings.. to get promoted ..to remain close to her with an air of dignity.

Like all seasons ...final exams came ...he did exceptionally well ...well enough for a boy who had failed in 5 out of 6 subjects in half yearly exams .... well enough for a boy with traumatic childhood but not well enough to get promoted to next class. He knew all the odds were against him ...in his heart he knew what he was wishing for wasvery unlikely to happen, but then there is a word called 'Hope' ...hope can make you see streak of lightening in the darkest of darks, even the ones which are highly improbable though , it is something like you expect from a batsman coming down the order to hit a century in 40 balls.

Results came out after a long wait , Rishabh was not promoted to next class as was expected ..his mom came with report card in her hands , but to his amazement she was silent , which was more painful to him rather than her words or even a slap. He was sitting with his head hung down ,,dejected ..tears rolling down ,,, suddenly he heard a buzzing sound as like of a motor's ,mingled in that buzzing sound was his mom  screaming something , he couldn't make out what her words were ..., suddenly he felt a sharp stinging pain on his forearm ...and he opened his eyes ..

Across a blurred vision made by tears and in half sleep , he saw his mom with a running vacuum cleaner standing in front of him screaming " your half yearly exams are just 2 weeks by now and you are sleeping like a log ...that's how you will take care of me and your little sister...That is when you are fully aware of your father's deeds" . To his mom's surprise ..he wept ...he knew he was reborn ....