An Opportunity

This story has been made exclusively available on the d.ustb.in as a part of the “Down the Road” collection of stories published by Grey Oak, India.

“Hey, can I sit here?”

She was sitting all alone lost in her own world. Her eyes looked at me searching for answers on who I was.

Her face retained the same glow as before though it seemed a lot more mature. Her hair had grown longer but retained the same soft texture. She seemed to have put on some weight, and her figure hugging jeans amply displayed her curves. She was desirable, and I longed to look deep into her soft brown eyes, just like I did seven years ago when I saw her for the first time.

As soon as she placed me, her eyes lit up with happiness and excitement. But almost immediately the broad smile turned into a frown.

SEVEN YEARS AGO…

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, our boarding school had picture perfect surroundings, much like in a scenic postcard people send each other for holidays. With tall pine trees forming a canopy, green hills till the eyes could see, and a few thatched roof houses around, the little hill town was an epitome of peace and calm.

I was known for carrying all my books and stationery to every class. Though this made my bag really heavy, I felt happy when I would be the only one in the class to get any textbook the teacher asked for. I was known for other things too, like reminding teachers about tests they had planned to give us, and also for reminding them about home work submissions.

By the time I entered the class, everyone seemed to have occupied their places. Though just three weeks had passed since the start of the academic year, it seemed as though small groups had already been formed. Some had carried on from the last year, despite the the batch having been shuffled.

I took my seat in the first row of the class. I wanted to give a good impression in front of my teachers, or so I thought. But it gave me anything but a good impression in front of my classmates. I had heard people mocking me with nicknames like nerd, mugpot, dork among others.

With my crooked teeth and thick rimmed glasses, people got more cannon fodder to mock me. But it really didn’t bother as back then, studies were the most important thing in my life and I was doing that well.

Just then everyone’s eyes turned towards the door as a girl walked in. With her silky tresses, lovely smile and the most beautiful eyes one had ever seen, she seemed to embody everything one associated with beauty. I just kept looking at her with my mouth and eyes wide open.

She had poise and carried herself with such finesse that the girls behind me seemed to turn a shade of green.

She looked around nervously, and walked up to the empty seat next to me.

“May I sit next to you?”

I was dumbstruck. Here was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. A girl who seemed to have the power to make me smile; a girl who made me fall for her in just one instant. And of all the places in the class she decided to come and sit next to me. I nodded my head and turned away.

I felt goosebumps all over and smiled to myself. I looked up at her and she smiled warmly while running her fingers though her tresses. I couldn’t help but wonder on what I had done right in life that a girl so beautiful would come to the same class as mine and want to sit beside me.

“Who is our class teacher? Has she taught you before?” she asked sweetly in her melodious voice. I didn’t respond, and instead gaped at her like an idiot.

“Why are you so lost?” She waved her hand around my face awakening me up from my dream.

“Oh Nothing! Nothing!”

“Is anyone coming over to sit next to you?” She repeated her question again. I shook my head, and as our teacher walked in, the class rose to wish her.
Ideally, I would have spoken hours and hours on end with her or at least tried to. But this was anything but an ideal moment. Let alone speak to her, I couldn’t even utter a word. At the end of the first session, I was wondering what to say when the leader of the brat pack walked up to us.

“Hi. I’m Anish. Welcome to our good old school. Would you like to come and sit along with us over there?” He sat along with the mischievous lot of the class who did everything else other than studying.

With a well built physique and a wardrobe which was unmatched to anyone else, Anish was very popular with the girls. His style of talking, the flamboyant attitude with which he carried himself and the care he showered on all his friends made him irresistible.

“Thanks, I’m Nisha. I was actually planning to sit here if he was ok with it.” And she looked at me again.

“Here?! Why do you want to sit with a mugpot like Suresh?? I am sure you would get to meet some interesting people over there.” My smile and happiness at seeing her turned to anger but I didn’t want to get into a fight in the first month itself. All I could do was look away sheepishly and pretend that I hadn’t heard Anish’s malicious comment.

“Why? He seems alright. What’s wrong with him?”

“Don’t worry about that. Not really important. Let’s go.” She stood up and walked away reluctantly giving me a wave, while I just sat there nodding my head. Idiot!

“See you tomorrow,” She smiled at the end of the day, and walked away with Anish while I just nodded again. Anish looked like he wanted to break my teeth and stepped on my foot as he walked by.

‘Watch it mugpot,’ he snarled.

‘Sorry,’ I muttered before crawling out of the class.

Back in my dorm I was left wondering on what could’ve been. From talking about each other’s background to discussing about friends to sharing views about life in a new city. She and Anish spoke everything what I had dreamt of.
Seeing her smile and laugh with a sparke in her eyes, I couldn’t do anything other than admonish myself at losing such a golden opportunity. I seemed to have a massive crush on her from the time I saw her enter the class. Though the way she carried herself, I would be surprised if she hadn’t broken many hearts earlier too. But all that was gone now. She was with Anish and I was all alone.

Even though Nisha had joined school later than others, she became a darling of everyone from the teachers to the students. Whether it was studies or extra – curricular activities, she excelled in everything she did. It seemed as though she had equal time for friends, family and studies. Her jovial, fun loving and cheerful personality attracted everyone around.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but notice the growing closeness between Anish and her. Whether it was the hostel, canteen or classes, they seemed totally lost in each other. Holding each other’s hands, her head on his shoulders, he gently stroking her hair, they seemed completely in love. And that was the big talk all around the school. It seemed like they didn’t care a damn about what anyone said. All they did care was about each other.

Every time I saw them together I was reminded of the first day when she joined our class. What a fool I had been. If only I had spoken to her that day who knows, I could have been in place of Anish. But then life really doesn’t work in ifs and buts.

Seeing them like this together frustrated me so much so that many times I thought of quitting school altogether. Since that wasn’t in the realm of possibility, I always tried to ignore them as much as possible.

On a few occasions Nisha came up to me to talk but I just turned my gaze away and walked in the opposite direction. It may have shown my arrogance and attitude. But her demeanour really intimidated me. I thought that if I spoke, my feelings for her would be out in the open. Though deep inside I still wished I could speak to her.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years, but I could never seize the opportunity to speak to her. Everyone talks about getting opportunities in life. But despite getting numerous ones, all I could do was keep thinking about her and wonder about the ifs and buts in my life.

TODAY…

“Suresh, it’s you? How did you land up here and that too in the same class? You hated me so much at school, didn’t you?” It was just a minute since I sat there and she had already thrown a bundle of demanding questions.

“You still talk a lot. I still remember how you used to chatter and giggle all the time. Your habit of asking multiple questions doesn’t seem to have changed at all.”

“Whoa! You remember so much about me, ha?” She looked at me completely stunned.

“I do remember a lot of other things too. But you were too busy with Anish to notice anything else, weren’t you?”

“Hahaha! It seems like someone was jealous.” She had a naughty smile on her face which took me back to the good old days.

“Not at all. Why would I be?” I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at her, looking deep into her eyes. “All said and done I’m more than happy to see you here.”

“Same here,” she smiled. I pointed to the faculty entering the class for another lecture.

At the end of the class I turned to her with interest. “Lunch?”

“Yeah sure,” she said, standing up and walking out of class with me.

Seven years back she was with Anish at the school canteen. And today she’s with me. What a difference seven years can make.

“Where are those wonderful glasses of yours?” she asked innocently while walking into the canteen, before breaking into a laugh. Laughter that ran through the canteen and made me feel on top of the world.
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Author: Aseem Rastogi (on Facebook)
Blog: Transition of Thoughts