Free Schoolmates by Latika Sharma Page B

outside world. I looked at his hands, holding mine and then looked up at his face.
    There was a serene smile on it and it was conveying a new meaning to me. I must have blinked a few times. My mouth went dry and I felt a blush coming up to my cheek.
    Perhaps he saw it too. He let go of my hands and just wished me luck and walked away. After a few moments of gaining my sense again, I looked around if anyone had seen us. Everyone looked busy rehearsing their speeches, or so I thought.
    As I had finished my speech and sat down on the bench with other participants, there was a thunderous applause. Meenakshi had smiled and said I did great! I was too nervy to respond. Then the next girl was called and I thought she was marvellous! Then the next one was called and I thought she was even better! And so it went till the end, and I was totally convinced that my discourse was the simplest and least impressive! All these other boys and girls were like presidential candidates! So perfect and flawless!
    Prior to the result declaration, there was a fifteen minute break where we were offered refreshments to sooth our nerves. And then as the auditorium filled with excited candidates again, our Principal took the microphone. Her placid and commanding voice resonated in the hall.
    “Good afternoon all students and esteemed faculty members.” she began.
    “After, an extremely spell binding and excellent session today, I must confess, we judges were foxed with the decisions. All the sixteen participants were flawless and we appreciate their hard work.” There was a loud applause and all we sixteen could think was, ‘ Please.. .just declare the winner, spill out ,who came first!’ “It was a very difficult decision indeed, so before I declare it, let me ask my students in the audience . . . who do they think deserves the trophy this year?” she asked.
    There were chorus of different names from all the supporters. A few hands shot up as well.
    “Ok . . . you there! Tell me who you think ought to win?” she asked one student.
    “Riya Sehgal! Who else?” a male voice resonated in the chamber.
    I looked up to see Kabir standing there and speaking confidently in the microphone. I smiled at him and then caught Meenakshi’s eye which said see-what-I mean.
    It was then that I noticed how everyone from my school, even the teachers were looking at me and then Kabir with a renewed sense of understanding. It was then that I began feeling uncomfortable. For the first time I did not wish to win. How could this be? Right in front of the entire school?
    As my name was announced for the first price that day and I walked up to receive my trophy from the Zone Education Officer, I heard Kabir and Dev shouting my name and raising the school flag high. It all appeared very patriotic and thrilling, yet all I saw was how the coming days would be filled with fresh gossip about me and Kabir. I then saw Anjali’s face, which was beaming as I raised the cup along with Meenakshi. She too joined us on stage as she had bagged the prise in Extempore and recitation.
    And then I saw Kabir . . . the happiness I saw on his face that day shook me entirely! There was pride, joy, jubilation . . . and then . . . there was fondness, care and admiration. A very deadly combination for a tenth grader!

CHAPTER-16
    W hat is the best thing you recall about your school? I can list many things starting with games and friends to fame and popularity. But these are distributed; who gets them is a matter of chance. So . . . what else is there which is a fun filled memory for each one?
    The school picnic! Of course, the joi-de-vievre of our mundane uniformed life.
    The school picnic was declared to be conducted in December vacations. There was great fanfare related to its onset and extensive plans for shopping and baggage were being drawn by everyone. I recalled last year’s picnic where everyone was dressed for the ball it seemed! Anjali was irritated with the numerous fragrances one