Take Care, You Idiot

"My cherished memory would be one of my early childhood days. When I was in Kindergarten. Actually, the memories of my parents are a luxury to me. Every moment with them is cherished. I don't remember well and it's distant. Other memories are from here. You met Tarun right, he is a lot more than a friend to me. He was the one who talked to me as I always kept quiet and had a terrible temper." He said.

"I remember the first day we met. In the cafeteria, I accidentally bumped into him and his tray fell down. I bought him his a new one but he kept belittling me later, calling me clumsy and all. So, when I said I wasn't clumsy he challenged me to defeat him in a basketball game. That was the game where I was caught by the eye of Director. Later he always followed me everywhere. He went to the library which was his biggest pet-peeve. Later on we talked albeit not politely, we slowly became best friends." He said. If I continue to look into his eye, maybe my crush will go stronger.

"Can I ask you something? I know it's your turn." I said.

"Yes, okay." He said.

"What about your family. You never talked about it." I asked.

He grimaced. And I suddenly regretted that I asked him about this.

"It's okay! You don't have to say anything." I said.

"No, it's okay. I want to tell you." He said softly. The place was bustling with activity but somehow everything was quiet and still in the moment around us and I could hear him hesitating.

"I lost my parents in a car accident." He said. If I wasn't paying attention to him so much I would have missed his sentence.

I wasn't sure how to react. People said 'I'm sorry' in these situations. I have seen and read in movies and novels. But when faced the same I couldn't speak at all.

"I know what's going in your mind. You don't have to say anything." He said glancing at me.

"I..I am sorry to make you say it." I said.

When we don't talk about something it just stays in our head. Like it's personal. As if we could just push it aside in the back of our mind and construct a lie, a lie that protects us against reality, a lie that helps us live better but at the end, it's just a lie. But saying it out loud makes it a part of the universe, it makes it true. It is difficult to acknowledge the truth. It is difficult to admit. He just did this, that too infront of me. I feel very happy. It seems trust wasn't just from my side. He trusts me too.

"Where have you spaced out to?" He said.

"No, nothing. How old were you when it happened."

"I was 6 at that time. After that, I was sent to boarding school." He said.

We both were quiet again. Starting into oblivion, at the infinity.

I wanted to break the silence so I said.

"I never knew you sang so well." I said.

"Yeah, there are many things you don't know about me." He winked and my breath was caught in my throat.

"Will you sing a song for me someday." I said.

"Yeah, I will. Some other day." He said.

My phone rang.

It was Papa. I don't think it's a bad time, that sensitive topic was over few minutes ago but I was still hesitating.

"Hello." I said.

"Are you not in your dorms? The books are delivered." Papa said.

"Yeah, I'm not. Let me just get it. Thanks, Papa. Bye." I said.

"Okay, take care." He said and hung up.

"I have to be at the dorms, my books have arrived." I said.

"Okay, do you mind if I come with you. If I won't Tarun will find me here again and drag me to a crappy party." He said.

"Okay." I said.

He got up first and pulled me up. I was walking fast, almost running. But unfortunately, fell down. Pretty bad. I survived but my glasses didn't have that luck. They shattered on the ground. He came running towards me. I have scraped my elbows and my ankles hurt more than anything. My vision wasn't that bad and at least I could see him clearly.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Very concerned.

Held my hand and helped me to stand up. I tried to stand but my ankles gave away again. But this time he held me. An arm around my waist other still holding my wrist. I tightly gripped his shoulder as if my life is depended on it.

We kept staring at each other, if it wouldn't be of my aching ankle then I wouldn't have realised that we were in such a compromising position. I tried to break free myself from his hold but he held me tighter.

"You will fall again." He muttered.

We were so close that we were breathing the same air between us.

I left his shoulder and he let go off my hand but kept his hand behind me to keep me steady.

"I think I sprained my ankle. And broke my glasses." I glanced at my pitiful glasses lying on the ground.

"And scarped your elbows." He said glancing at my elbows.

I looked over. The blood was showing up. And when this happens I don't know why I start crying. I think I'm going to. But I try not to. I'm so frustrated. Maybe this will be the most embarrassing moment of my life.

"Let's go to the infirmary." He said

"I'll go back to my room, it's nearer than infirmary. I don't think I'll make it that far." I said pleadingly. The last thing is I want is going back, where many students would be roaming around.

"I have first aid there. Don't worry." I said to convince him.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

I gritted my teeth.

"Yeah, I can." I said.

I tried to walk, limping around but obviously, he wasn't buying it. He went over to pick my glasses up. One of the lenses was totally out, and other had a large apparent crack.

"Leave this to me, I'll take care of it." He said.

"No no, it's okay. You don't have to worry about it." I said.

"I live in the city, it would be easier for me to get it fixed than you." He argued.

"Okay." It would be one less trouble for me.

I limped all the way to the entrance of the dorm. He tried to help me but I adamantly denied any of them. In the end, he held my hand as we walked. The warden was surprisingly sitting in her place. He made me sit on the steps and went inside to talk to her.

"She went in to bring the first aid box." He answered.

"Oh my, are you okay?" She came out a minutes later.

"Yeah, I just sprained my ankle." I told her. She is a nice lady.

"Here take this." She handed me a pain-relieving spray which was soon snatched by Mr President.

I was annoyed at his behaviour but didn't say anything. He bent down to remove my shoe. And I winced at the slight moment. All the limping made it worse.

"Hissss" it pained and I failed to conceal it.

He looked up at me. And started stroking gently, which relieved the pain a bit.

Next was my elbows. They were going to use the antiseptic lotion.

"No don't use that, I'm allergic to the antiseptic lotions and creams. It will heal naturally." I said.

He wordlessly brought cotton wool wet with water and wiped gently. The spray was true to the words written on its bottle, showed effects quickly. The pain was greatly decreased. I held his hand to stand up. Rotating my ankle I felt better. My warden was still standing.

"Is there any parcel for Manya Verma?" I asked.

"Yeah, there is. Let me get it." She said.

"Thank you." I told him.

"Take care, you idiot." He said.

She brought a box back. Before giving me the box she said.

"Go get some rest. Are you able to walk? Are your friends here? I would have helped you to go to your room but I have to be somewhere already." She said.

"No, ma'am I don't think my friends are here. Don't worry I'll manage alone." I said.

I said while taking the box from her.

She chided

"No, don't stress your ankle any more. Especially after applying the spray. He is your friend, right?" She asked and turned to him.

"You can take her to her room. I'll give you five minutes. Show me your face at the entrance. I know you. I hope you don't do anything else." She said firmly.

"Yes, ma'am I understand." He said and she went outside.

He bent down and scooped me up, in horizontal style.

"What- what are you doing? Put me down, this instant." I said.

"Stop struggling, I'll drop you." He said.

"Do it, just let me down. What if someone sees us?" I said glancing around.

"Didn't you hear your warden, now tell me where is your room. Otherwise, I'll be late. This would be the fastest method to reach to the entrance." He said.

Oh! So this is the reason. I thought.... Anyway, he is right. But I don't know why I'm disappointed.