AN IRRECOVERABLE FALL
(A short story)
[ Those who haven't read the first part of the story, here is the link : http://www.onlyapen.blogspot.in/2014/08/an-irrecoverable-fall.html ]
PART 2:
[ Those who haven't read the first part of the story, here is the link : http://www.onlyapen.blogspot.in/2014/08/an-irrecoverable-fall.html ]
Never had there been a day when Shanila
had cared to think on anything pertaining to her friends or college affairs after
reaching home in her college bus. She used to call only one single ‘Fathima’; her one and only friend. And
those calls were made for only clarifying academic doubts - nothing more than
that. But that day, evening and at the night, Shanila was stuck with thoughts on Anoop and his typical character. Shanila rarely interacted with her college mates. She had had no fun at all in the college. It was all about, just ‘getting
a degree certificate and get the hell out’ for her. But the day was a surprise
for her; something new was awakening her spirits.
She wondered why Anoop was happy
to know that Amal had also screwed up in the exam. ‘What kind of a friendship is this’,
she thought. She was not able to find any solution whatsoever to the questions
that were swirling in her head. But the more she thought of the scene to
scrutinize the situation, the more she laughed despite finding an answer.
Like a small kid who would get
enthused and moved about anything new and fun, Shanila was getting more and
more excited with the passing hours. She wanted to sleep somehow and make it to
the next day. But she was not able to do that.
In a nutshell, her thoughts were
culminating onto one single need, ‘More fun’
Somehow in between all these
clouding thoughts, her mind finally gave way for the sub-conscious mind to take the
lead – and she slept.
The next day, she took her usual seat at the first bench in the center column of the neatly aligned classroom benches.
The classes usually started at 10 am unless for a special class. After having seated, her eyes started to search for Anoop even though she had no idea why. Just before the bell rang,
she saw the trio - Anoop, Amal and Suhail - entering the classroom. About the trio, they were
the most notorious team in the class; only that much she knew.
Bunking classes were like ‘piece of cake’ for them with the support of the
Arts-club secretary and the leader of almost all the cultural programs in the
college, Anoop.
On stepping in, Anoop looked at Shanila and passed a tight-lipped flat smile at her. Before she could smile back, he was long gone and had taken his usual seat in the last row bench of the right most column of benches in the class room.
On stepping in, Anoop looked at Shanila and passed a tight-lipped flat smile at her. Before she could smile back, he was long gone and had taken his usual seat in the last row bench of the right most column of benches in the class room.
The first hour passed and just
before the second hour lecture was about to begin, Anoop walked straight
towards the teacher, who just entered, and handed over some slip. Shanila heard
the teacher asking, “What is this?”
Anoop replied with an air of
confidence, “We have permission to go practicing”
The teacher looked at Anoop and
then the slip in a tentative manner. She asked, “And what practicing that might
be, can you explain Anoop?”
“Dance… It is for the cultural programs of
the inter-college fest which is about to begin next month Ma'am” Anoop replied in a cool
tone.
The teacher giggled at this and
said, “Ok.. Right! I would have believed this if this list didn't have Amal’s name in
it. What in the name of heaven has he got to do with a cultural fest?” She
passed a teasing look at Anoop.
“He is our Event Manager” Anoop
answered without even a slight pause, full of confidence.
The teacher was looking at the
list in her hand. It seemed to the students who were watching the scene that the
teacher knew for sure what she said was true but on the other hand was keeping
mum for some other reason.
“Don’t be doubtful” Anoop added
“Look, we have the College Directors signature in it”
The teacher passed a wry smile at Anoop and
said, “Not that I believe any of it and here you can't prove me wrong even with benefit of the doubt. But it’s just that I would be happy to
take classes without you three. Get out ASAP”
Anoop with a smile said in a
joyful manner, “Thank you Miss” And the trio hurriedly left. The whole class
was giggling at this. Someone from behind shouted, “Amal, please get a video
recording of your dance. It’s gonna be viral in Youtube” The whole class burst
out laughing.
Amal looked at him, mumbled
something and went out. Just before the trio crossed the classroom window, Amal,
through the narrow grills of the window checked once whether the teacher was looking
at that direction or not. Then he called the guy who made fun of him and said in a
pressing tone, “Hey… You…. Go tell your daddy to strip dance. It will go viral
than my dancing” The class burst out laughing and the trio was seen no more in
the classroom until the last hour of the day.
It was the school principal who was taking the last –hour lecture and they had no way whatsoever to slip from that.
It was the school principal who was taking the last –hour lecture and they had no way whatsoever to slip from that.
After the classes ended, Shanila
tried to reach for a little chat with Anoop. She wanted to talk to him. But he was surrounded by
students and she decided not to approach him at that time. She was too shy.
Just before she left the class with her bag and lunch box, Anoop called her
from behind, “Hey Shaaaanila…wait…”
Suddenly Shanila felt her heart
beating super fast.
She wanted only this from the previous night, but when it came to that, just like how she used to mess up with her exams, she became all squirmy and sneaky. She turned towards him.
Anoop gave her a daunting look
and said, “Hey you preppie. I felt like your eyes were searching for me here…..
Now tell me………. Why?”
Shanila stood befuddled knowing
not how to respond. She stood there looking at his face blankly.
Anoop suddenly gave away his
demeanor and winked at her. He said smiling, “Hey I was just joking kiddo. Now
am not a person from NYPD or something. Retain yourself from that frozen
posture”
Shanila heaved a sigh of relief.
She laughed and said, “Ho...You really got me you know”
Anoop laughed to this. He said, “Yeah..
I know. But that doesn't change facts” And he winked at her again and left back
towards his troop.
Shanila stood frozen again. She
was thinking, ‘What the hell’
The scene ruined Shanila’s
sleep that night also.
From the next day onward,
Shanila managed not to ogle at Anoop too much. But whenever she shot a glance
at him stealthily, their eyes locked as Anoop, like attached to some
electro-magnetic sensor or something, caught her at the perfect timing. And
adding to her misery, when this happened, he always passed at her the same flat
tight-lipped smile.
One week passed and it was a day
when the two broke the ice. Anoop came to Shanila during the interval time and
sat atop her desk. He asked in a cool and caring tone, “Why are you so afraid
of me?”
Shanila, with her usual
nervousness when Anoop was around, tried to reply boldly, “ Uh… Not at all. Why
do you think so?”
Anoop sneered at her, “C’mon,
you are not trying to be courageous here. Are you… ? Ok… whatever it is… let it
be… But you are making my days turn into hell. For that I need a remedy”
Shanila groaned at this, “What? I
am making your days turn into hell. What are you talking about? I have done no
harm to you”
Anoop replied, “No you haven’t.
Actually, I hate sitting in the class. But for the sake of getting your rare
and stealthy looks I come and sit here. It was fun. And it’s turned pretty disgusting
nowadays as you seemed to have somehow stopped your urge of looking at me.
Don’t mistake me. It’s just entertaining”
Shanila kept mum to this. Her
stomach was churning.
Anoop continued, “Look, let us be
friends from here onwards. None of my friends even believe me when I say to
them that you look at me like that. But it is not that which I am concerned
about. I kind of think you are…... a bit of fun really, that I am missing in
this college. There is a sync between us you know….”
Shanila cut short his words, “You
want me for fun? Is that what you are coming to say?”
Anoop replied in a hesitant tone,
“Hey.. Hey.. Uh… Not exactly… But sort of… Yes…. You are right”
Shanila shot at him a searing
look. She was boiling with anger. Anoop quickly started to talk, trying to
clarify, “Wait.. It isn't like you think. Okay? I am not that good at talking to
girls. All I want to say is that you are not like other classmates for me.
Somewhere I feel we have a sync. It will be fun hanging around with you. That’s
all. Can’t we be friends or something?”
Shanila replied to this in a
sharp tone, “Friends or something? Huh… And you know what. I can see that you are pretty bad at talking
to girls. And you have proved your point here as well. But I don’t seek towards
being an entertainer in anybody’s life. Thank you for the offer. But I am happy
without this” Saying this she got up from her seat and shot out of the classroom.
Anoop sat in the same position
for a few seconds before realizing that Fathima, Shanila’s friend, was looking
at him menacingly. Anoop looked at her and said, “Hiii…” and gave her the same
flat smile as usual and went out. Anoop thought, ‘Now the score is level… Uuf’
For one whole week or so, Shanila
didn't even look at Anoop for once. And then one day, when the school Principal
had finished with his lecturing, he announced in the class, “I have a few names
in this list in my hand. These are officially the people who failed in the
fourth semester electronics lab exam. As you all know, the University has
brought in a new rule, which is, to debar the students who couldn't pass the
supplementary exams inside two efforts” He paused and then continued, “And in
this list, I have got Anoop and Amal. You two, please stand up”
Anoop and Amal stood up from
their seats. The Principal continued, “You two have to be careful this time.
Your cultural fest and all won’t save you. So, don't bank on that. Even though personally I would like
to see you people get debarred for the lack of morale and principles you hold,
it becomes my duty to warn you two” The Principal looked at the duo with
narrowed eyes. He continued, “You have to pass this time or I will have to
debar you.... with pleasure.. Did you hear me?” He paused and then added, “The supervision will be
damn strict.... And... no tricks this time around or I will make your lives miserable”
Anoop and Amal nodded their
heads like some servile robots. And the Principal walked out of the classroom with an air of authority.
He looked like a man who has had a sumptuous meal. Amal looked at Anoop and
said, “Looks like the greybeard is finally gonna avenge us… Boooh”
The exam was scheduled to be held
in another one week from that day. The duo managed to play around till the last
three days to the exam. This was when the Principal, in his lecture session
warned them again. This got on their nerves.
Shanila was aware of all this.
She couldn't help worrying for Anoop. Though she had tried to develop some sort
of hatred for him, it only intensified her longing to know him more and get
close to him.
Three days to the exam and Anoop
was somewhat looking a bit pale. It was a lunch break and Shanila summoned up
her courage to go and talk to him once.
Anoop was chatting with his
friends in his domain – the last bench. Shanila said, “Excuse me Anoop, can I
talk to you for a moment?”
Anoop looked at her and said,
“Hey Shanila… Yeah sure.. Why not..”
Shanila turned back and went to
her domain. Anoop followed her. Amal was like thunderstruck and said, “That
Bloody bugger wasn't lying after all, Huh”
Shanila after taking her seat
asked Anoop, “Found a way out?”
Anoop chuckled, “What way out. Am
always out… and…”
Shanila cut short his talk and
said, “Enough pretending to be a hero. You know what I am talking about”
Shanila had her eyes locked onto Anoop’s like trying to penetrate into his mind.
Anoop was taken by surprise, and
he started shifting his position awkwardly. He said, “Uh…. Yeah… well… No I
haven’t…”
“So what are you going to do?”
Anoop replied, “To be frank, I
have no idea dear” and he sighed looking at her eyes.
Though Shanila was being a bit
curt and to-the-point with Anoop, she was enjoying Anoop standing next to her
seat. A smile concealed in her lips.
Shanila spoke, “See, I heard from
Fathima that you and Amal are planning for some combine-study session or something and I
have no doubt that it is going to be a bit-writing session nonetheless. Nothing
more than that”
Anoop gulped and looked at
Shanila, “Well.. Maybe you are right. What else do we do? You have Plan B?”
Shanila said plainly, “I will
teach you”
Anoop was perplexed on hearing
this, “Okay.. And what?”
“And you write the exam after
studying it. What else?”
Anoop said, “Look I don’t know if
I can sit for a teaching session with you… or rather with you or anybody else..
and..”
“You used to come to the class
for checking on me for a while. Didn't you? Now you try this”
Anoop was shell-shocked to hear
this. After a few seconds he broke out laughing and so did Shanila.
Shanila said chuckling, “I really don’t know how I said that…”
Shanila said chuckling, “I really don’t know how I said that…”
Anoop laughed and said, “It was
fantastic though. Deal! I am in”
In Anoop’s beautifully shaped
eyes, Shanila saw comfort and the answers for something drowned and lost in her
life.
The next two days, Anoop and Amal
were sitting with Shanila in every available interval or free period. Even
though Amal couldn't understand why all of a sudden Anoop got this serious, as
he had no other go, he too resolved to concentrating and trying to learn
something. The whole class was stunned.
The exam was conducted and it was
an exam which had the capacity to break all the hopes and expectations of the
Principal on the duo. They would pass. They wrote well.
From the next day Shanila started
to interact more with Anoop. They were becoming good friends. Shanila took his
mobile number and they started chatting in ‘Whatsapp’. Within next 6 months she
came to know that Anoop was a really nice person. And the best part, he was
caring for her. But in between the happiness and revival, Shanila felt that the
wind was carrying her towards a direction where she would end up smothered and suffocated. But
she couldn't help it. Silent drops of tears shed at the end of the day; that’s all
she could do to reconcile with her lost past and broken path. The jubilant mood
was new, but so were the silent drops of tears that flooded her eye-sight every
night.
(to be continued...)
****************
Hemanth Sreekumar
+91 8197560094
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