Bus#126W - Chapter 8

Dhruv, I repeated softly.

“So why are you walking me home?” I found it funny, using that word.. Walking. He was going to “limp” me home.

“What are you laughing for?” He had noticed me snickering about my little joke.

“Nothing. Answer my question.” I was walking a little slower than usual. I didn’t want him to get conscious by trying to keep up with me.

“It’s late!” He threw up his hands exasperated.

“It’s only eight thirty!” I still didn’t buy his story. Who did that nowadays? Walking a girl home? Nobody I knew, that’s for sure.

He smiled a little, “Why do you find it so strange?”

I stopped walking and turned towards him,“Because I hardly know you. Why would you want to walk me home? Go through all that trouble, especially with your leg! I’m sure walking isn’t something you enjoy.”

 “You got that right,” He said indicating towards his leg. “But I’m built that way okay? Just humor me.”

I shrugged. He was walking a respectable distance away, far enough not to be intimate and close enough so that everyone knew we were together. And he obviously knew his way around this area. All in all, I decided it wasn’t a bad idea having him along.  

“So are you a student at St. Peters?” I asked suddenly.

“You certainly change tracks quickly,” He pointed towards a road, “That way. I’m in my second year.”

“Hmmm. You know, that college, my friend and I, we day dream about it all the time. How did you get in?” I asked wistfully.

“Let’s just say I had good scores.” He said modestly, “And is this the same friend you were talking about?”

“Yeah,” I bit my lip, feeling slightly awkward. “Listen, he’s my best friend. I’m allowed to bitch about him a little. I didn’t mean what I said back then.”

He touched my arm gently, “Doesn’t matter. Who am I going to tell anyway right?”

“Yeah, but still,” I rubbed my neck a little. It was a habit I had, whenever I felt a little uncomfortable, I started to fidget. “Arpit’s a great guy, I shouldn’t have said all that. I’m just wondering what her take on all this is. I don’t know if she’s being genuine with him or not.”

“Well I think,” he paused to look at me, “I mean, in my opinion,”

“What! Say it already!” I asked impatiently.

“I really think it’s between them.” He had cringed his face a little, most probably expecting me to over react.

I knew he was right, “I know, but I can’t help it.” I said helplessly.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Dhruv said suddenly.

“Huh?” I looked at him puzzled.

“You just looked so sad back there, I thought I had touched some raw nerve.” He was looking at me intensely.

I stared back at him, I was sad. What did it mean? And then, an awful thought struck me. Almost made me sick.

Suddenly, I wasn’t sure whether I had feelings for Arpit. 

Bus#126W - Chapter 7

I sat at the bus stop, thinking about how the rest of the day had passed.

Arpit hadn’t been able to stop talking about Sneha. I had tried to suppress my yawns and had nodded in appropriate places. He asked me to join them for ice cream. I had politely declined. I didn’t want to be the third wheel. Besides, I was already overdosing on information about Sneha. Any more and I would have died.

I got on the bus and put my head phones on. My legs hurt. The evening practice session had been particularly intensive.

I noticed St. Peters come up and turned towards the entrance expectantly. I turned back when I felt some strange thumping on the side of the bus. I took off my headphones as the driver stuck his head out and screamed at someone.

I heard a familiar voice yell back, “Wait! Stop the bus.” A smile touched my face. I balanced my face on my palm and waited for him to get in.

“Wow, that’s a great smile.” He came sat behind me, his usual place.

“Thank you. You just made my day.” I said, remembering how the day had spanned out.

“Bad day?” He asked, his eyebrows coming together, showing concern. “Something wrong with your leg?” he asked as he saw me clutch my knee every now and then.

“You could say that. My best friend got a girlfriend.” I said dejectedly.

He threw his head back and laughed  loudly, “Is that why you are clutching your leg?”

I scowled at him. I didn’t understand what I had said that was so funny. “No, of course not. I’m just a bit sore with all the running.”

“So why are you upset about your friend getting a girlfriend?”

“She’s not his type.” I said bluntly. He was a stranger, I could be mean and no one would ever know.

“I see,” he readjusted his cane’s position, “Why do you think she’s not his type?”

“She’s way out of his league.” As I said it, I realized it was true. On my part, it may have been a very horrid thing to say, but it was as simple as that.

“And you’re his friend?” He was mocking me now.

“I don’t have to justify myself to you.” I was already wondering why Arpit hadn’t thought about it yet. I put my headphones on to signal the end of the conversation.

After a while, I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. Shocked, I pulled off my headphones and turned around.

He put up his hands defensively. “Hey, relax. Just thought you might want to know that the bus is taking a diversion.”

“What??” I looked around desperately. He was right. I walked over to the conductor who advised me to get off at the next stop. I walked back in a huff.

“So, what are you going to do?” He asked.

“Get off at the next stop and walk back. The conductor says it’s a fifteen minute walk from there.” I picked up my bag and made my way towards the door.

I heard some shuffling behind me.

“Here, take my phone. Call home and tell them what happened. And tell them I’m walking you home.”

I raised my eyebrows, “I’m doing no such thing.”

I got off as the bus slowed down. To my surprise so did he.

“What are you doing?” I was suddenly scared. I didn’t know where I was and this random person was stalking me.

“Look, you don’t know this area. I do. I don’t think you should be walking around alone. If you don’t let me walk with you, I’ll just follow you. Call your parents please.” He held out his phone.

I took the phone and called my mom. I didn’t tell her that a guy who I barely knew was walking me home.

“What’s his name?” My mum had asked.

I turned towards him, “Name?” I asked.

“My name?” He seemed genuinely surprised.

I nodded, “Quickly please.”

“Dhruv.”

Bus#126W - Chapter 6

Arpit wasn’t at his desk when I got to class. I settled down and waited for him. He was standing outside, talking to somebody.  Sneha.

“Naina.” He sighed as he came and sat next to me.

“Hmmm..” I was still mad at him.

“She’s perfect.” He was still sighing heavily.

“Umm hmm..” I turned towards my books.

Suddenly, without warning, he took my hand in his. “Naina, what’s wrong?”

I looked away from him, conscious of some people looking at us. “Nothing, don’t do that!” I pulled away my hand.

“Aren’t you happy?” he asked in a small voice.

I turned towards him. He looked visibly confused. I squeezed his shoulder. “Of course I am.”

“Are you lying to me?” he asked me in disbelief. “I can’t believe you Naina. You realize, you haven’t asked me a single question about her?”

I didn’t say anything. I knew what he was saying was true but I didn’t want to know about her. It had always been about us. Me and him. And suddenly, there was somebody else who was trying to intrude on ten years of friendship.

Arpit had had other girlfriends before. Well sort of anyway. But this girl was different. She was changing him somehow. Or was I changing? I couldn’t tell.

“Naina, aren’t you going to talk to me at all?” he was smiling now.

I smiled back. What kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t survive one pushy girlfriend?

“Why don’t you introduce us?” I suggested.

He looked visibly relieved. “You know what, Sneha has been asking me to, but I wasn’t so sure.”

“What! Why?” I gave him a puzzled look.

“You’ve been weird ever since I told you about her.” He was looking at me funny.

“I was always weird.” I said huffily.

“That you are. So at lunch?” He asked.

I nodded. The teacher walked in, silencing our chatter.

So now I was supposed to rub shoulders with the high and mighty of the school. I had never spoken to any one of them before. They were of a different breed altogether. I had no idea what had clicked between Arpit and Sneha. They had absolutely nothing in common.

I also couldn’t figure out why Sneha wanted to meet me. I couldn’t help but not trust her.

Lunch break. Arpit was out of his seat before the bell had stopped ringing. I followed slowly. I didn’t really feel up to meeting her but there was no avoiding her.

There she was, right outside my classroom with Arpit by her side, giggling over something. She smiled broadly as she saw me.

“Naina, hi!” She came towards me enthusiastically.

“Hello.” Involuntarily, I took a step back. She stopped suddenly, a strange expression coming on her face. She looked back at Arpit and plastered a smile on her face again.

“So, Arpit tells me you’re in the sports team. That’s great. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Forty five minutes later, I was singing a whole different tune.

I wish I could say I didn’t like her. Then I would have pointed out to Arpit why he should stay away from her. But she was, like he had said, amazing. Despite my cold greeting, she had managed to keep the conversation going. She wasn’t hoity-toity or pompous as I had expected her to be and she seemed genuinely fond of him. And believe it or not, she had actually read all his articles, which even I hadn’t bothered to do.

A genuine smile appeared on my face as she waved goodbye and made her way back to her class. I hated myself for it. I was falling for her charms too. No wonder she was so popular.

“Admit it, she’s great.” Arpit was hovering over my shoulder.

I sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, she is.”

Bus#126W - Chapter 5

I left for school early the next day. I was supposed to have training sessions in the morning and in the evenings. I rubbed my eyes sleepily as I got on the bus.  I casually glanced around the bus. My lame friend wasn’t there. I chided myself for being so silly.

But I re-checked just to be sure. Nada.

The training session practically killed me. I was woefully out of shape. The good thing was, so was most of the crowd there. You could literally see our sports teacher curse his luck that he was stuck with us.

“You would have thought he’d be happy.  At least he has a team this year.” The girl next to me said. She had doubled over after our last run and was breathing hard.

I laughed. She was right. Last year, we just had a couple of events for the girls’ events.

“Pooja.” She introduced herself.

“Naina.” I smiled at her.

“See you in the evening then?” She said stuffing her bag with her sneakers.

“Yeah, sure..” I stopped as I saw Arpit walk towards me. He was looking extremely pleased with himself.

“What’s different about you today?” I observed him critically.

“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” He smiled calmly.

I stared at him. My Arpit would have gotten all hyper and listed out ten different things had gone wrong with him today.

“Who ARE you?” I said in an over exaggerated way and burst into peals of laughter.

 He smiled slightly, “Really Naina, sometimes, you act so immature.” He turned around, “I got to go. Talk to you later?”

“Wait! What’s wrong with you? Why are you being so weird?” I glared at him. 

“Grow up Naina.” He gave me some unsolicited advice and walked off, leaving me in a stunned daze.

 I watched him walk up to Sneha. She was introducing him to her friends. By now, the whole school was staring at them.

 Sneha and her friends were the most popular people in school. A little nobody like Arpit did not fit in with their “cool” crowd. OR did he?

And suddenly, I knew what was different about him.

Being with Sneha had given him the acceptance that he so craved. He was calmer now. Not the nervous little fellow I had known. I almost gasped as he conversed with them. Arpit used to have panic attacks talking to my sister!

His posture, his mannerisms, everything radiated confidence. I smiled. Maybe Sneha was good for him. I shook my head and went back to changing my shoes when another thought struck me.

I no longer had a monopoly over him.