School Wala Ishq

A vacant high school building in Madhya Pradesh. A group of school workers including a few janitors and a gardener sits in the garden outside, soaking in the bare minimal sunlight. It was a cold day. The school was off. A man in his late 40’s stands outside the school gate. The guard looks at him enquiringly. “The school is off today!” The guard informs him. 

”I know. But I wanted to come and see the school.” The man tells him. “Who are you?” The guard asks the man suited in a gray blazer and black trousers. “My name is Madhav Pratap. I used to study at this school.” The guard thinks about it, “ Madhav...Madhav Pratap, Pratap Sir’s son.” Madhav nods. “Please sir, you can go.” The guard lets him inside.

Madhav smiles and moves ahead. Madhav was the son of the most beloved teacher of the school, Raghuvar Pratap. Madhav looks around the school campus, reminiscing, reliving the funny antics, small incidents, all etched in his memories to date.

Madhav takes a deep breath as he approaches an empty classroom. The plate on the sidewall reads, ‘9th C’. Madhav enters the classroom. The date from the day before 13/02/2019 on the corner of the blackboard prompts him to wipe it with the duster and rewrite the date to present-day 14/02/2019.

Madhav turns back and looks at the empty benches. Much to his surprise, the benches were the same all these years later. Madhav goes to the back of the class to the corner most bench next to the window. He sits on the bench. His eyes continue to search for something but he’s unable to find it. 

“What you are looking for, is here.” A female voice startles him. Madhav turns to the side. A beautiful woman gazes at him from the other end of the room. It doesn’t take much time for him to realize who it was.

“Naina!” Madhav probes. “Madhav!” She responds with a calm smile. Madhav gets up and heads to the bench. Naina makes space for him. They share glances for a few moments before Naina looks down and points at something. It’s their initials MP for Madhav Pratap & NK for Naina Kapoor with a small heart carved next to it. Madhav remembers Naina carving the initials with a compass from her geometry box. It was her last day in school. Her family was relocating to the United States. 

“Happy Birthday Maddy!” 

“You remembered?” Madhav was surprised. “How can I forget Valentine's Day, the day of love and the day the love of my life was born!” Naina responded with an angelic smile. “So you didn’t...” Madhav’s heart pounded crazily and he couldn’t finish his question. “No...I didn’t marry...I could never do it.” Naina tells him proudly. 

Madhav looked down, almost apologetically. “I did...but lost my wife a few years ago.” “I am so sorry.” Naina places her hand on his. “No, I am sorry Naina. I had lost all hope of finding you and had never even dreamed of meeting you ever again, but your presence here today reinstated my faith in true love. I had assumed that you had moved on in life, without realizing that it was me who was weak all along. You were always the strongest one.” 

“You were not weak Maddy, you were practical. And I appreciate that you think I am strong. But what kept me strong was the thought of seeing you again. You got married, that’s not being weak. I am happy you found someone and took the right call. Unfortunately, you lost her but yet you are here in this moment, now that’s what makes you strong.”

“Naina, God knows I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in life, but I certainly don’t want to make another one by letting you go this time.” Naina’s heart skipped a beat as Madhav took her hand. “Naina Kapoor, will you marry me?” 

Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as Naina nodded. Madhav hugged Naina tightly. They leave the classroom holding hands.