CHAPTER 2- pehli nazar mein kaisa jaadu kardiya....

" Class 2 was when I joined this public SCHOOL;

  A place where many a friends did I POOL;

  Walking into the class, I saw her face SMILING;

  Ouch! out went my heart to her eagerly FLYING...."

                                                               ----deejay

                 As I walked across the main gate of  M.V.P. Public School, little did I realize that this was going to be my home away from home for the next 9 years of my life. A 3-storey building, with multi-coloured flags fluttering on the terrace, and a play ground much bigger than the terrace on my house, for the first time since I heard that I was joining a new school, I felt confident that it was not going to be such a bad idea studying there.

                As I was staring and studying the surroundings, I felt a soft palm on my shoulders. "Hi! can you show me the way to the principal's office?", a sweet girlish voice inquired pleasingly. I was like "..........", but unconsciously my hand went in the direction of the principal's cabin. Was she saying thank you? God knows, all  I could hear was a beautiful song that was in the air.... pehli nazar mein kaisa jaadu kardiya..... Guys there was no thundering, no lightening not even flowers falling over us..... but I did meet my first crush. A ringing bell brought me back to reality as I started running to my class room.

              As I walked into 2 std-A, the song was back again and I realized that towards the corner of the class, sitting alone on an empty bench and smiling at me was that same girl I saw that morning. Yes! she was in my class and she was to soon become my best friend in life. Her name was SRUTHI SAXENA.....

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            It didn't take much time for us to become best of pals. We did talk a whole lot of time, she about her barbie dolls and me about ARNOLD SQUAGINACHER (oops!!! even till date I don't know how to spell his name) and the then latest flick TITANIC.(Is that sounding a little unbelievable, what else did you expect? Ok may be I was talking about my toy cars and trucks instead). What we talked is not important.We talked and felt that these moments would last for eternity. But one thing bothered me a lot. Slightly taller than me, standing next to her, I would reach  Sruthi's shoulders. Now that only meant that for the following few days my mom had consistent pestering from my side to switch from BOOST to COMPLAN. Who cares about Sachin when its an issue with your girl friend.

         Coming back to story, one monday morning........

          After ransacking the whole shop, I finally got what I had been searching for. It was a beautifully designed wrist band with the alphabet 'D' studded on it embedded with diamond like objects around it. That day was  friendship day.... a day I was going to remember for different reasons for the rest of my life.

         After pouring out my hard earned money over the counter and having bargained with the shopkeeper for ten long minutes, I finally got hold of the band and headed to school, having made up my mind never to visit that shop again. It had robbed me completely of my monthly allowance--Rs 25/-.

        Upon reaching the school, I went straight to my class room. Sruthi was already sitting on our bench and scribbling something seriously  on her notebook. That must be some assignment. Why would girls get so serious about these petty homework, I don't understand. Anyways swinging my hands I went towards her trying to show case the band and  when I came within the hearing distance, I started of in a filmy tone...." Agar woh muje sacha dosth nahi ban sakthi toh, blah blah......"

       Having seen Kuch Kuch Hota Hai  'n' number of times by then, I had known that dialogue by heart. She was clearly oblivious to what was happening around her until she realized that I had tied something around her wrist. Her instinct reaction was---"In our religion, we tie these to our brothers on RAKSHA BANDHAN day." What the hell??? Is she suggesting that I look like her cute little brother, who according to me, knows nothing more than eating and farting...[ by the way I had met her brother previously on a sunday at her house. In the 3 hours that I had interacted with him, he kept asking his mother to either give him some more choco-biscuits to eat or help him in cleaning his ass after going for a shitty shit...] When I heard these words the first thing that came to my mind was a 25 Rupee note flying in the air.[Yes! 25 Rupee note..... what's your problem damn it?... that's how I pictured it in my mind. Moreover I didn't have time to think about such a stupid thing at such a crucial time.] How can a kid belonging to the millennium generation be ignorant about friendship band and kuch kuch hota hai, this I didn't understand. Damn all her barbie dolls. As I was lost in these thoughts, I heard her saying; "But I thought we were friends", she frowned. On hearing these words, a smile cut across my face and I simply said," Yes! we are friends, not just for now but forever."

                 When I explained to her about the friendship band and as to how I had sacrificed my monthly allowance just to make her happy, she blushed and I noticed a twinkle in her eyes. With that she lent forward, came closer to me and imprinted something on my cheek. Guys! no prizes for guessing.. that was how I had experienced the first kiss of my love life....

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