Free Schoolmates by Latika Sharma

lending him my records and helping him revise the new topics. He would carry my bag to the bus, to which I objected madly.
    “Kabby, you know what people say when you do this . . .” I remarked one day, trying to pull my bag out of his strong grip.
    “No. What do they say?” he knew very well.
    “They say you are my boyfriend . . .” I pulled my bag again.
    “So? What do you tell them?” Kabir replied, smiling mischievously.
    “What?? Nothing . . . I say nothing Kabby!” I looked surprised. I was blushing all over.
    “Well, let me give you a better option. Say yes to some girls . . . and see the fun.” Kabby replied.
    “Ah! I face a lot of critique already. You want to make it tougher for me?” I replied finally letting go of my bag, least its straps should snap.
    “No, my flightless bird. Just want you to have a bit of fun. Now, let me walk my GIRLFRIEND to her bus,” he said swinging my bag on his shoulders. I followed him mutely.
    A few days later I told him it was Joy who had seen Tejas.
    “I suppose all those years of bullying did Tejas no good.” Kabir spoke. We were sitting on the benches during lunch. Dev was with us as well. This had been a regular feature now, much to Anjali’s distress. She hated sharing me with other friends. In tenth grade, loyalty and friendship are paramount.
    Dev never got along well with Anjali as well. She had a sharp tongue and Dev had a terrible temper. Yet I and Kabby managed our friends well. And so our circle grew into many circles and soon the word was confirmed that we were indeed a couple.
    “Stop them Kabby!” I would retort.
    “My parents would house arrest me if they heard of this nonsense.” I would plead. But Kabir would rejoice and relish the look of distress on my face. He claimed I looked so sweet with those tension lines on my forehead.
    “You really look sweet with that look on your face,” he said.
    “Oh please . . . you look good with any look on your face.” I had replied.
    “Really? I din’t know you had begun noticing? So . . . is that my Girlfriend kind of attention or . . .” Kabir had begun teasing me and I had picked up my Maths register to hit him playfully.
    Oblivious to others, we had begun spending considerable time with each other now. Anjali was not pleased yet Dev was relaxed as Kabir was happy. There were so many projects to be made and so many assignments to be done that I suppose I missed out on how fast the storm about me and Kabir was rising in the seniors building. Perhaps I was selectively filtering information or was turning a blind eye to it.
    Yet, in school no one rests until they have a bit of fun at the cost of someone else, especially people like Ayesha. Tejas was due to join us from the next day and Ayesha and her coterie were already preparing a launch pad for making my days tougher.
    “Riya, what has gone wrong with your brains?” Meenakshi cornered me after assembly next morning.
    “What happened Meenakshi?” I asked worried.
    “You and Kabir are the talk of the town! People outside school gossip about you two now! Do you realise how this reflects on us all?” Meenakshi spoke.
    “Who all?” I asked.
    “Well . . . the prefectural board! I mean, you want to have a boyfriend, sure go ahead have one! But Kabir? He is a regular defaulter and was saved from a suspension recently! EVERYONE knows who saved his skin!” Meenakshi revolved her beautiful hazel eyes.
    “I . . . don’t know how to respond Meenakshi. Perhaps you ought to set my record straight. He is just a friend in need and I . . .” I did not get a chance to finish my statement, as Kabir walked past us both flashing a very mischievous smile.
    Meenakshi looked at me with a renewed expression and I just felt caught! I was compelled to feel that perhaps there was more to Kabir’s friendship than I had fathomed.
    I still did not realise the extent of what it meant to be called a couple! I had never imagined in my wildest of dreams that I would be