Bab 3: Chapter Two

The Chit-Chat In The Store Room

"Yes. Suman", he says to me. "It's me". I widen my eyes. "How did you get locked inside?", I ask him. "I mean how did someone lock you inside?", I ask worriedly.

"It was Aneesh", he replies. "He pushed me in this room and locked me", he cried like a baby. "I have a big phobia from darkness", he says and I feel my heart racing. This is not good.

"I will die", he sobs and I hear him falling down. "Shravan. Please calm down. I am hear", I tell him. I search for tick tack in my hair and curse realising I didn't use any today when I need it the most.

"Suman. I am getting scared. This is terrifying", he shouts.

"Shravan. Listen. Calm down. Please calm down. I am here now. Are you listening to me? I am here with you", I say, controlling my tears.

What will I do if he gets a panic attack?

"You stay here. Let me bring someone for help", I say. "No. You aren't leaving me alone. Stay here till someone comes", he instructs. "Please", he begs.

"Ok. I will stay here", I say to him. "Let's talk", I say quickly. "This will keep you distracted and the time will pass too", I say happily. "Good idea", he says excitedly.

I sit on the ground. "So tell me what you wanna do in future?", I ask him. "You are taking science right", I ask. "Dude. The assumptions of a topper taking science", Shravan chuckles.

"Yes. I am taking science. But it is not what you are thinking. I have no interest in becoming a doctor or scientist or whatever", he says further.

"So?", I ask him. "I have an interest in cars and I want to do automobile engineering. That's why I am taking science. I want to take legal studies too so that I have the option of law", he says.

"That's quite unique", I say in awe. "What are you wishing to have?", he asks me. "I am taking Inter. I will take Psychology with Maths and Economics if I get both of them. And then English is obvious", I tell him.

"You will have various career options then. Tell me the reasons behind taking them", he asks me. "I want to take Economics because of Career Scopes only. And that's Plan C. Plan B is taking a Psychology course in Germany. I like to study Human behaviour and I want to understand why people react in different situations in different ways and try to help them", I tell him.

"Plan A is taking Maths to give an exam for the National Defence Academy. I have interest in serving in the Army", I tell him further. "I won't say Plan D but I would say it can become a part of it. I write romantic novels and have gotten various offers from writing apps to give my books to them. Even though I am not a bright student but trying", I say to him.

"Who told you aren't a bright student? ", he asks, surprised. "I don't get good grades. I try hard but I face problems. I fear if I will be able to give the NDA exam or not", I confess feeling my heart sank. "Well. That's really not an expected behaviour from you, Suman", he says, making me frown.

"I always admire you for not taking the insults seriously and just being yourself", he says. "Do you fear these things? Ok. Do one thing. Once we get out. Give me all your answer sheets", he tells me. "Ok", I tell him. "Good", he says to me.

"Suman. You have many dreams and people who have many dreams lose focus as they try to wander in all directions", he says and I feel sad. He's correct. "But, that's not the case for you. You work hard and know how to equally focus on all things", he tells me.

"Really?", I ask him. "Yes. Now don't overthink about it", he tells me. I smile. "Thank you, Shravan", I tell him. "I have not done anything. Just prevented you from thinking too much", he tells me.

"I thought you don't like me and find me annoying", I genuinely tell him. "Why would you think like that?", he asks. "Because of the daily jokes? Suman, as I said, this is not serious. In fact, in reality we joke about Ms. Gupta but no one tells you that it is not you but her", he explains. Oh. "Ok", I shrug.

"What are you doing here?", I see a worker frowning at me. "Oh. Sir, thank God. You came. My friend is locked inside. Can you please unlock this door?", I quickly requested him. He nods and quickly brings the keys. He unlocks the door and Shravan rushes out and hugs me. I am surprised but hug him back. "Thank you so much", he tells me. I smile. "It's alright", I tell him.

We break apart. "We have missed three periods. We should go to the class", I tell him and he nods. He stretches himself and we go towards the stairs. We sigh in relief after reaching the second floor and go towards our class.

The environment was tense inside as I bunked the class. A behaviour not expected from me.

"Don't worry. I am here", Shravan smiles at me and nudges me to come. We went inside to see Maths sir, whose lecture we missed, English ma'am, we missed half an hour of her lecture, our class teacher who is also our Hindi teacher, Social Science ma'am and Physics/Chemistry and Biology ma'am. The whole set of teachers. Wow.

All whispers and talks stop as attention shifts on us. Shravan and I exchange worried glances. The teachers are looking like angry birds. "Finally", Maths sir says in a sarcastic voice.

I feel fear rising in me and Shravan hurriedly holds my hand to calm me down.

"Where were you?", our class teacher angrily asks me.