PART 2 - AN IRRECOVERABLE FALL

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:

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.

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.

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…”

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...)

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Hemanth Sreekumar

+91 8197560094