Bus#126W - Chapter 32 - The End

I wish I could say that I put everything aside and won that ruddy race but I didn’t. I was an insignificant fourth. I was disappointed of course.

“Why is everything going wrong!!!” I whined to Arpit and Sneha.

“See, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. Just participate in anything and everything and your profile will be set. You’re bound to win something eventually!” Arpit said, not helping too much. On seeing my dejected face, he added “I’ll buy you ice cream for your fabulous victory!”

I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but I just wasn’t up to it.

“I think I’ll just head home.” I said. I put on my mp3 player on, finding the saddest song I had on it.

I walked out of the school gates and there he was. Dhruv. I glanced at him and wondered whether I should run towards him or away from him.

Finally, I didn’t have to decide, he came up to me.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

Where have you been! I wanted to ask but I acted cool, “Around.”

He nodded a little, “I don’t know what I was thinking! Be good.” He said and turned around, as though he was getting ready to leave.

I didn’t try to stop him. He had walked out once, he was free to do what he wanted.

I got on to the bus trying not to beat myself too much about it.

“You’re in my seat.” I didn’t react, I knew who it was.

“The whole bus is empty.” I said. What was he trying to do anyway?

“She gave it back.” He said slowly, still standing next to me as the bus started to move.

“What do you want me to do about it?” I said viciously.

“I want you to be a friend.” Now that, made me turn.

 I don’t know how I had missed it, he looked like he had just been hit by a bus.

“Well you look like shit!”  I commented without thinking.

To my surprise, he started laughing. “You say the oddest things ever!”

“Look, just sit down okay?” I grabbed his hand to support him. “So what happened, she turned you down?”

He took the letter out and held it at a distance, “She said it happened a long time back and that she’d moved on.” He sighed deeply, “She did say she can finally forgive me.”

“So what are you going to do now?” I asked, feeling awful looking at his haggard appearance. I was sure I was responsible was some of it, I had cursed him a million times over in the past 5 days.  

“Move on.” He smiled bravely at me.

I touched his hand a little, “You’ll be alright.”

He looked at me seriously, “And you?”

“What about me?” I think I had a faint idea where this conversation was heading, but I played dumb.

He touched my face lightly, just around my jawline, “I’m not stupid you know.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said surprised by the tenderness in his voice.

He moved his hand away from my face, “Okay, but just so you know, I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

“I lost by the way.” I said suddenly. Anything to change the topic!

“The race?” he asked his eyebrows raised.

I nodded sadly.

He shrugged, “Shit happens.”

“Shit happens.” I repeated slowly my face splitting into a wide smile. Somehow, now my defeat didn’t seem so devastating anymore.

As I got off the bus, I turned around to wave at him.

“Walk you home?” he asked suddenly, shouting to make himself heard over the sound of the bus and the traffic.

I nodded, unable to control the smile which appeared on my face. He smiled back and got off.



Even though I lived in a world of black and white, Dhruv and I were in a grey area and for once, I didn't mind. It seemed like everything had changed, yet everything had remained just the same. Slowly we made our way back home, just like the very first time.