In this part of the story, I am here to take you on a field trip. I guess it was around late June or july. For the last two years, due to some financial constraints regarding new improvements, the annual picnic was put to a hold. And students were getting bored. They did not have much to do in between coming to school and going home. Unlike me, who can enjoy himself doing absolutely nothing. I feel like I should write a storybook with that title. Anyway, one day after the class, our head teacher called us at the auditorium for a briefing.
We all took our bags and dragged ourselves to the auditorium. Our school's auditorium was huge. I am sure it could have a zoo in it. He's it is likely an exaggeration, but still you can understand the feelings a young kid has, upon seeing such a big place which was as big as a playground. We gathered up in large numbers and stood there until our head teacher came and went onto the stage. He told us about our trip. It was our school's annual picnic, but to no surprise, I decided not to go, because I do not like to be in a strange place with strangers all around me. But when I heard that my crush was also going there, I jumped up to buy the tickets. I agree. It was a bit expensive for school students, but who cares, I was going on a tour with my sweetheart. And for me, it was worth it. But my luck was just shit! It had to run off at the pinnacle of the moment.
The teacher told me that all the tickets were sold, and they could not help me. I became very sad, and I rushed to talk to our accounting teacher. He has to go in the story because he is a phenomenal person and truly an amazing guy. I realized later that I liked accounting because of him. Sir, if this part somehow reaches you, let it be known that , thank you. Thanks to that teacher , the authority told me to come early on the day of the picnic and said that they would arrange something for me. I should take some time and thanks to all those teachers who never looked down on me.
I packed up my bag with towels, extra clothes, a pair of glasses, and lots of snacks. For the first time, I went to sleep at 11.00 p.m., which was a new milestone for me. I took a long nap, and I woke up at dawn. I rushed to the washroom and went through my morning routine. I was so excited about the picnic that I got ready, 5 am in the morning. I got my hair styled with gel, washing my face with face wash. I used every kind of deodorant and body spray I had. I wanted to look cool in front of others and especially to look good in front of her. And I was there before even the bus arrived. I was restless, trying to find her, as she came. I was thinking relentlessly. "What would she be wearing today, a saree, salwar kameez or shirt? Anything will suit her. I can not express my feelings for her, in just a few words.
The teacher who was on the arrangement committee came and handed me my ticket. And we stood on the road, taking notes of the day. And then finally, the bus arrived. It was a big bus, fully spacious and with lots of room to give rest to my legs. Not long after, one by one, everyone came and took seats. I was on the left corner of the bus, trying to look for her through the open window. My friends, two distinctive guys who understood the fact that I talk less and avoid too much interaction, became my buddies there. They were not present, they were arranged on a different bus. And for a moment, I was sad. But guess what, this was the bus she was going in. She was wearing a white T-shirt with sky blue jeans and black sandals. Yes, it is simple and comfortable for a day-long tour. Those who are reading this always wear comfortable clothes during long tours, and not like me. I went there wearing tight black jeans, a white full sleeve shirt and a brown loafer. It's totally unlikely, different, and just not comfortable for such a long time. I realized this situation later, so let's not talk about this incident.
I was just sitting alone, on the seat when someone sat beside me. I was not paying any attention to that individual, mostly because I did not want to start up a conversation. But I thought that this individual was talking to me, and so I turned my head to see. And to my surprise, it was her, she came and sat right next to me. It was an unexpected twist of fate that left my heart beat so fast with excitement that I felt like I was getting a heart attack. She waved me and said hi, I was nervous and just managed to say hi as I nodded my head in disbelief. And then the engine started, and the journey officially began.
The bus was full of lively conversation with our accounting teacher singing. I never realized that he was such a talented guy. Our accounting teacher's unexpected singing talent turned the trip into an impromptu karaoke session. Everyone on board joined in, and they sang different bengali songs. I heard them for the first time, but it felt so good.
It was an amazing moment. With teachers, parents, and students coming up together to enjoy this priceless day together. There were amazing landscapes on both sides of the bus. We crossed rivers, paddy fields, and villages. This is one of the many reasons I like bus and train journeys because one gets to see so many beautiful places around the road. The bus provided us with beautiful glimpses of simplicity and charm of rural life. It is where tradition and modernity coexist together. It was so early in the morning that there was almost no traffic. It was a mesmerizing sight to see all this fantastic scenery, and the bright and sunny weather was eliminated by this tour. Everyone around me was enjoying the moment, I was the one actually living it. I closed my eyes, she was in my right seat and I began to dream about us, spending the day together. The slow romantic songs that played in my headphones turned the atmosphere into a wedding gala.
It took us no time to reach the picnic spot. It was big and had a large cottage with a swimming pool at its center. We all changed our clothes and went into the pool. She was probably a bit afraid of the depths of that pool, so she and her friends decided to be on the children's side of the pool, while I took a deep breath and dived into the deep sides of the pool. Yes, since I was not wearing any goggles on ear plugs, the water got the better of me. But I was still enjoying myself, despite the fact that my eyes were burning from the chlorine in the water. Turns out our accounting teacher was also a great swimmer. He and one of our teachers decided to have a bit of a swimming contest, in which other students who knew how to swim participated. I, too, tried to copy them, but I did not know how to swim, so it was a bit embarrassing and risky. But even so, in the picnic, I would try to see and make sure she was OK.
I striked one or two little conversations with her, following how the site was and how the picnic arrangement was. But her friends were so busy bitching behind people's backs, that she was not allowed to move freely. But I was happy to be around her. I even took the opportunity to sit beside her while we were having lunch. It was a beautiful moment as we sat close. Everyone was gossiping, and I was listening and enjoying her every word. I am sure I never listened to someone so attentively like I did for her. Even if it was boring and unusual, I listened to her. I listened and laughed at her odd and lame jokes. I was doing whatever made her happy.
When the event was over, we were on the same bus again, but this time, she sat a couple of seats in front of me. Every word she spoke throughout the journey felt like a poem. And I was an active listener. It is this little moment that blossoms love. From unsure and uncertain teenage love to a more profound and strong sense of purpose.