The next day, Maryam and Mihran both came to school. Both had promised themselves to search for each other. In the recess, Maryam left from here, excusing Raza, and Mihran left from there. Maryam walked with long steps, while Mihran took the short cut he knew being an internal for a long time. Maryam was more nervous than excited because she had never searched for a boy with such eagerness and impatience before. She was feeling dumb.
The premises had classrooms line-wise and a joint corridor whose roofs were held by soldier-like pillars. All the windows were open due to the windy and sort of cloudy weather. She couldn't peep through the windows by walking closely or it was to look weird. So, she searched from a distance- by the side of the pillars, one after the other. Few noticed her. But, she had her focus on her quest! She was indulged so much so that she didn't even look straight. As a result, she bumped into a group of boys who were hanging out by the side of a pillar. She was startled.
'Oops! Sorry! '
As she apologized, she found her hand clutched tightly by one of the boys. At first, they were also startled, but then they started eve teasing her.
'(In bahasa) What are you upto? '
'What are you doing? Leave my hand! ', she cried in terror while trying to loosen the boy's grip. The other boys joined their friend in this nasty act.
'Leave me! ', she shouted. So many people saw them, but didn't come for rescue. One of them even removed her rubber band. But fortunately, it didn't take much time for another boy, who was leaning onto the other side of the same pillar to lean over to check what was going on behind his back. It was Abdul, and the boys were his. He came laughing in the first place, saying, 'Now, I can hear somebody scream. '
But, his words slowed down as he saw Maryam. He stopped laughing.
'Hey, Bosh. Look, she bumped into me. ', and they laughed, not Abdul.
Abdul was watching Maryam with silence; deep into her pretty eyes, penetrating through her hair locks;and her lips, calling for help. Then, he returned to what his friends were saying. He turned to loosen their grip, 'Leave her. '
'Nah! She ish sho hot! Look at her! '
'Guys, let go of her. '
'Are you she-rioush? She ish ish-creaming in English. Look-sh like Indian. '
'Indian? ', he asked Maryam in low voice. But, she wasn't in a condition to answer.
She was trying to hit them with all her limbs, but she failed because she was one against a group. But, Abdul was also her side.
'I don't care. Leave her! ', he again said, but with brows contracted.
'Hey, man! Have you freaking losh-t it? Don't you tell me to leave her. Come on, baby... '
He(the bad guy) tried to take her somewhere else, everybody else left her arms. Abdul turned active and louder and angrier.
'I'm telling you to leave her. Can't you get it? '
And, he pushed his friend hard. As a result, Maryam was free. The boy hit the pillar.
'What are you upto, Abdul? Why are you so angry? '
'Don't do it. ', he answered. 'Go now. ', he commanded Maryam.
On the other side, Mihran had already reached 11-D a lot sooner. He was excited and nervous for finding her. He entered the classroom with full confidence, though. He sought her every corner of the hall, but he couldn't find her. In the front row sat two girls, namely, Rafel and Zoya. They were twins. Rafel trifled while he was busy seeking for Maryam.
'Hey, Mihran? How is your presence in our class? Maybe, we can help. '
'Uh, not now. '
'Who are you looking for? ', the other one asked. He clicked his tongue and addressed them.
'Oh, yes! I'm searching for someone. You might help me with this, I guess. '
'Yeah, anything for you, my love. ', Rafel trifled and winked.
'Can you stop this, Rafel? Can't you see he's seriously searching for someone... Yes. Honey uh, I mean Mihran, what's her name? '
He slowly leaned closer to them, tapping his pen on the desk, he answered in such a way as if it's something horror. He intensely said, 'Maryam. '
'Huh? Who's that? ', the twins shouted with a quizzical look.
'Shhh. Do you know her or not? ', he murmured.
'We'll definitely know her if there was any girl named "Mariyaam" in our class. Not even an outsider. ', Zoya informed.
'But, I know she's in this class. I've seen her. '
He was receiving tension and nothing else.
'Oh! We're so sorry! ', Zoya said.
He was disappointed and sad.
'Hold on!', Rafel suddenly cried.
Both went, 'What? '
Rafel started giggling for no reason. Zoya taunted, 'Now, don't tell me you remembered some joke! '
'Nah. Oops! (giggles) Mihran, my love, I just remembered... '
'A joke? ', he said with a disgusted look.
'No! Are you sure her name is "Mariyaam"? '
'Yes, Rafel. Don't waste my time. Goodbye. ', Mihran was done.
'No, no, no, Mihran. Wait. Wait! '
'Listen, Zoya. I don't wanna say this, but your sister is irritating me now. '
His frustation was emptying on Rafel. She pulled him to scratch him lightly to calm him down.
'Breathe, Mihran. Listen to me. I don't know any "Mariyaam", but I am known to a newcomer named "Maryam". Is that name familiar to you? '
'Yeah, I guess (thinks)... (realizes) Yeah, yeah, yeah! You're right. It's "Maryam", not Mariy... Whatever I said! '
He was ashamed of getting her name wrong.
'And, she's always accompanied by Raza. ', Zoya remembered.
Mihran was annoyed by Raza's name.
'Are they together? ', he asked.
'Well, he's always sticking to her... '
'... But, she keeps a distance. I don't know why. He's goddamned cute. ', Zoya complained. Rafel and Mihran looked at Zoya for some seconds of silence, then continued.
'Then, Maryam should be where Raza is? '
'Most possibly, outside. ', Rafel expressed her thoughts.
'Nah! I saw Raza at the wash basin area, without Maryam. '
Mihran was exhausted and irritated.
'So, we conclude that you guys don't know where she is, and I just wasted a good amount of time here. '
'Hmm. ', hummed the twins.
'Uff! Khudaya! Behold! ' He tapped his pen once again on the desk with rage and exclaimed, 'Eat almonds! '
He left the room, murmuring to himself, 'Looks like somebody doesn't want us to meet. I'm going to find Mariyaam, I mean, uh, Maryam by my own. Oh, Khuda! Help me find her. '
He checked at the canteen and library blocks. The idea to check in senior block never crossed his mind. Taking the shortcut, he walked back to his classroom with head down in disappointment, while Maryam was making her hair up. The boys had clutched her so tight that she'd for rings of red marks on her arms.
The bell had rung. Raza asked Maryam about her red appearance and messy hair. She excused him by saying it was her mood so she had opened her hair for a while for that pretty weather. She made her mind to never go there unaccompanied. She thanked God to save her and blessed Abdul. Now, with Mihran, things were very serious. Farman kept asking him why he looked so worried, and if he was hiding anything from him. He couldn't put his mind in his studies and asked Farman to leave him alone for a day.
The second last period was of drill for 4 classes; 11 and 12 (sections D and E). Many students were there in the field, engaging in sports like basketball, cricket and volleyball. Many were inside the Games Room playing table tennis, carrom board and some at the work out machines. Some groups were hanging out at the spectator seats, including Raza and Maryam.
'Let's go play cricket. ', Raza urged Maryam.
'I don't want to play cricket. '
'What do you want to play, then? '
'I just want to sit and watch the basketball match in front. You can go if you want. '
'No, then. I'm staying. ', he said with disappointment.
'Raza, there are seniors too. It's going to be fun for you. You should go. '
'You sure? '
'Yes. Today, I want to watch the basketball match. I found it fun last time. Anyways, best of luck for your match. '
'Fine. By the way, which is your team- blue or red? '
'Let the match begin. I'll decide. '
She smiled. He smiled nicely and left for cricket.
There was a guy hiding behind a far away seat spying through the crevices between the seats at the scene of Raza leaving Maryam. He was Mihran.
'Ufff! You, Mr. Slime! Finally, you departed. Now, I can see Maryam. I need to talk to you Maryam. I don't know what but I want to. Seriously. I'm so nervous, but this is going to be an achievement, dude. ', he murmured while crawling among the rows, keeping an eye at Maryam.
While crawling, he was indulged in Maryam's shine so much so that all of a sudden, he bumped into a couple of girls chilling out.
'Damn! ', he screamed.
'Oh, no! Is that you Mihran? ', the girls were startled.
'Shhh. I was just... (awkwardly chuckles) pranking you! '
The girls started laughing.
'You look good at this angle too. ', one of them complemented in a naughty way. All his attention was given to Maryam, and he had to reach her.
'I agree. ', he casually said.
But then, he checked on Maryam and got annoyed seeing Raza, again, with her. He excused the girls. Now, he got more determined and confident due to his rage at Raza. Now, he, instead of crawling, started pacing steps towards Maryam. He, soon, saw Raza again leaving her. Actually, Raza had come back to offer her a drink. That's it! Mihran accelerated his steps. Finally, Mihran was very close to Maryam. The row he was standing in was two above hers. He was very nervous. He thought of leaping over the rows to reach Maryam's row. As he held the seat and was about to make his leap, Farman pulled him by his collar and Mihran fell between the rows like a landslide. He got stuck between the seats. Maryam heard it and even turned back to see, but found only a boy standing. She returned to her former posture.
'What the hell! (grunts) Ouch! Get me out of here! Farman, you crack head! '
Farman helped Mihran to sit up. Mihran took him to the rows above so as not to be seen by Maryam easily.
'What are you trying to do, man? I got stuffed. I told you to leave me alone. '
'Whatever. You're in. ', he commanded with no care, and began walking away.
'What? Sorry? I don't know, Farman! '
'It's the team I'm talking about, mughead. We're lacking one player to start the match. Where were you? We've been searching for you. '
'Wait! No, no! No basketball vibes! I'm busy. ', said he while leaning to check on Maryam.
'The damn team's waiting for you. No Mihran. '
Farman held Mihran's hand, and forcibly pulled him towards the field. He wasn't at all in the mood to play but when all the spectators of the match, especially girls, started hooting and screaming in excitement for him, he also exclaimed with joy, 'Whoo-hoo! '
His mood stroke to playing the match. People from the Games Hall rushed out and crowded on the seats. Soon, there was a loud walla of Mihran's name. There was Maryam as well who was also among the spectators. She was amazed and dropped her jaw on the floor. Mihran was on the field. Although he was enjoying the cheers, yet Maryam again succeeded in catching his attention. They looked at each other through the net boundary.
Mihran was really playful. He was in blue team. He had to wear blue T-shirt. All the girls went loony when he started unbuttoning his shirt. Must had been girls fainting due to the temperature rising in the field! He slowly removed his shirt with smirks. He knew what he was doing.
The girls were screaming for Mihran, but the boys weren't. They were cheering for their idol, Mihran's biggest enemy, the strongest, Abdul. He was in the red team. He walked past by Mihran with a companion, teasing, 'On earth, we wear clothes! '
Mihran was about to lose control and punch him, but Farman stopped him. He wore his T-shirt and turned to see Maryam. She was looking at him with bliss. He smiled affectionately and walked inside the court.
The match began. Almost all the girls were Mihran's side, but at the end of the match, everybody was disappointed! That day, he played the worst he had ever played. Nobody knew why and what happened to him. I'll tell you what - Because of him checking on Maryam then and now during the match, he couldn't put his whole attention on the match. As a result, team blue lost the match.
After the match, all the spectators watched their ways back to their classes. Maryam waited for Raza whilst watching Mihran. They were continuously, again, looking at each other through the net.
'What happened to you today, buddy? ', Farman asked out of concerns.
'God knows best. ',he answered softly. ' Something is in the air. '
Few moments later, he rushed out of the fields. Through the rows he tried to reach Maryam. But, before he could, he found Raza taking Maryam away. She, from that distance, did him a little "Good afternoon" sweetly. He wanted to be open about her and also to tell Farman about her, but if he did so, he would have to turn many torn pages of history which hadn't been merciful towards Maryam.
The school was over. To the way to the main gate (exit) comes the bicycle stand, then bike stand, then bus stand, and then you go a rather long path to reach the exit. Before the stands, there was another gate which was relatively smaller.
Raza and Maryam entered together through the smaller gate with others. Mihran was leaning near the bike stand with folded arms and crossed legs. He was frowning as if he was waiting for someone. Maryam glanced at Mihran from a distance. She called Raza aside and asked while keeping on checking on Mihran, 'Raza, I just remembered something. Buddy, listen, I guess I forgot it in the class. I need to bring it back. You go and wait for me at the exit. '
'What have you forgot? '
'It's urgent. I've to go. '
And, she tapped on his shoulder for assurance and rushed out.
While, she was talking to Raza, Mihran was watching them. He noticed Maryam glancing at him again and again the whole time. So, when Raza left and joined the crowd, penetrating the hush, Mihran followed Maryam after telling Farman to leave.
Maryam had lied to Raza. She was waiting in the corridor near the smaller gate. She was nervous.
'Ufff! What am I doing?'
She was feeling dumb. As she went on to see if Mihran's coming, she almost bumped into him.
'Ah! ', she cried.
'Oh, sorry! '
When they wholly saw each other, they turned happy. It looked like they had planned this meeting. Their excitement was shown off by their outlooks - blissful and beautiful! Maryam was tremoring, though, they were chuckling in joy.
'Come on. ', said Mihran to move.
'Asak. ', she had to greet.
'W/A. Um, actually I've been trying to reach you for days, so when I saw you coming I decided to meet you? '
'Yeah, yeah. I get it. Right.' They stopped walking. 'I... '
'It's so good to see you...again.', he expressed his happiness at once.
She waited for a moment, then said, 'Likewise. '
They smiled cutely.
'I've also been trying to meet you since, uh, the time I saw you in school. '
'Really? But, where do you be? I mean, I searched for you today in the whole school in the recess, but you were nowhere. '
'What? I was also searching for you. ', she asked in amazement.
'What? '
'Yes. In your block. '
'That's crazy because I was in yours in recess... '
'And, I was in yours. '
They laughed at the funniness of the situation. '
'What's this called? A coincidence? '
She giggled. 'Yeah, I guess... But, I'm usually in the class. Today, in the last two periods only I wasn't there. '
'I know. You were in the fields. Among the audience. I saw you. '
'Yes. You were great there. ', she smiled, but she knew it was quite the opposite.
'No! No way! (laughs) No, I wasn't! '
'No (chuckles) Actually, you tried. You tried too hard, boy. '
'I did so bad! ', he exclaimed.
'I don't think so. '
'That was the worst of me. I swear, I've never played that bad. '
'No, but, personal opinion - I found you... Interesting... I guess? Like, even after so much of cheering, I saw you doing only as much as you could (chuckles) . Isn't that ironic? '
'(slight chuckles) "Ironic"? ', he asked with amazement.
'Yes. Easy coming, easy going, you know. '
Waiting up for some moments, he said while smiling with affection, 'You don't know what you're talking about. '
'Excuse me. I'm in all my senses. ', she proudly clarified. He was fascinated by her attitude.
'Interesting... ', he said slowly.
'I just... ', as she was about to inform him something, he interrupted very intensely, 'Can we sit and talk? '
Maryam's eyes were filled with sorries as she said, 'Oh! I would love to talk to you, but uh... my friend's waiting for me outside. So... '
Mihran was again annoyed at Raza.
'Ufff! That friend of yours! (mumbles) What was the name? Raza! Right? '
'Yes. How do you know him? '
'I know him. I've seen his passion. He's not leaving you... like ever! '
He chuckled, but then made a disgusted look at the gate.
'Isn't he your brother? ', he asked curiously.
'No! '
"No"? But, then... He's always with you. Why? '
'He is quite protective... But crazy... But nice. He is a friend. '
He was nodding as if he's understanding a very serious matter.
'Does he know me? '
'Yep. He knows you like everybody else does. But, I don't want him to learn about us. ', she requested.
'Totally. Nor do I want anyone to know about us. Because, then... We might have to look back over the times we met, which I don't want to remember. ', he said without eye-contact in an understanding manner.
Both were silent for some seconds, thinking about their first meet.
'So, we shall meet tomorrow? ', she said with hope.
'Definitely. Please. ', he requested.
'Tell me place and time to avoid what happened today. '
They laughed.
'Someplace where your Brother doesn't know. ', he said with a disgusted look.
She laughed and said, "Brother"? He is a friend. '
'Oh! If " brother " is offensive for you, then he's just not a friend anymore. ', he said with an innocent face look.
She laughed and exclaimed, 'You're smart. '
'Okay! Set the place and time because I'm meeting you tomorrow no matter what. And you're the lady... So? '
'I set the time. (thinks) Uh... '
He was looking at her with affection, smiling.
'The recess period? Because that's a time when we both should be free... Surely? '
'Of course! Of course! Yeah! '
'No, I implemented this "of course" thing today, and it didn't work out. ', she said with a sarcastic look.
'(slight chuckles) Yeah, I relate. Today, I learned how "of course" isn't always applicable. '
While stepping back, she informed while smiling innocently, 'Recess. '
'Will be there. Shall I join you to the exit? '
'Um... But my brother is waiting outside. '
"Brother"? '
They nodded while smiling.
'Hey! But, where? Where will we meet? '
She halted and came the closest to him. She said with hope in her eyes, 'Where Raza won't know. '
And, Mihran reflexly dropped the pen from his hand. His heart beat sped up. She said 'Goodbye' and walked away. Mihran was still standing there like a statue, smelling the scent she left around him, reacquiring his breaths and heart beats. His pen was still rolling near his shoe. His body was loose and soul tremoring. The wind was blowing past his fingers. His silky hair was blown by the wind's influx. Some children were indistinctly chattering on the background. The sweeper was gathering the leaves shed by the trees. The butterfly was sucking the nectar out of the heavenly flowers, fluttering its wings. Suddenly, the reminder bell rang for lunch summoning the hostlers in the campus hostel. And, Mihran felt awaken. After picking up his pen, he rushed home.