Schoolmates Read Online Free PDF Page A

But believe me; I was having it in the morning.”
    And what followed was a long spell of scolding from Mrs Vineetha regarding manners, decency, punctuality and every possible thing in the dictionary. Kabir stood there mutely, taking in all this, and I stood there caught in my own guilt. She shouted on Kabir a lot that day. And when the bell rang Kabir dejectedly picked up his bag and left, but not before giving me the vilest look. I was so consumed by the guilt that I scolded Anjali and didn’t speak to her on our way back home. That night I slept poorly, but I knew what had to be done.
    The next day, Chemistry was the fifth period after the break. When Mrs Vineetha came in and settled us down, I got up walked up to her, gulping the air which dried my throat. Anjali was sitting there too, a nervous wreck.
    “Excuse me ma’am. This is Kabir’s file. I had missed it on the rack mistakenly yesterday. Kabir was not lying, it was all my fault.” I was shivering and looked down. The entire class was quiet. Mrs Vineetha realized then that she had scolded Kabir harshly and apparently for nothing. So to compensate it she scolded me more harshly. I almost had tears in my eyes by the time she ended her rebuking monologue. Anjali, on the other hand was clearly consumed with anger and remonstration. I had decided the previous night that she will have no part in this as all she did was be my friend and play a prank on my enemy.
    On my way back I stopped next to Kabir’s seat and without raising my eyes, which were fighting to hold back tears by then said meekly, “I am sorry Kabby . . . aa...Kabir.”
    “So? What do you want? A medal? Be happy you have guts to own up!!” Kabir had not even looked at me. But this ended the cold war between us. I had nodded and left.
    Many days passed before Kabir realized what actually had happened. There were the First terminal examinations around the corner and thanks to them all my concentration was on studies. In tenth everything is big and important. The teachers however make it bigger. They load us with threats and feed us fear regarding the monster of board’s examinations. So much is emphasised and over explained that we feel we are at gun point of CBSE—Central Board of Secondary Education. Everyone is breathing down our necks; extra classes drain every ounce of energy and frolics. Amid all this, a very important event had begun. It was the Inter school basketball tournaments. Our school had been the unbeatable champions for the past five years. Kabir had been the reason for the last victory. No doubt the boy had talent and so, this time, he was the declared star. He had been preparing for these tournaments assiduously, and was all geared up now.
    Before we proceed there is a thing about basketball I’d like to share. The game is fast and sweaty and in part it is the months of training that leads a sportsman to perform in the court. But a significant part is also the cheering of the spectators, especially girls! We din’t have a cheerleading squad, but girls were always welcomed (even encouraged sometime) to view matches and shout and howl and cheer the young energetic budding stars. Kabir was aware of this. Kabir also knew he had a female fan club. And hence he was all set for these glorious two months of tournament.
    His walk was different, he smelled different (after matches boys were allowed deodorants . . . they badly needed them) and all the popular brands were floating in the school corridors. In any school, one can easily identify the senior class corridors by the vibrant and masculine fragrances of boy’s deodorant. Kabir too would smell great after each practice and intentionally passed me in class. We had not crossed each other since the file episode. But that was soon to change. Anjali, she still can’t keep her mouth shut. I thank god each day for that!
    That day, she was standing in the so called queue for purchasing drinks from school canteen. Dev was behind her.