Saka waited till they were out of earshot. Then he turned to Maw Lava.
"Maw! What was that about?"
"Sorry, Saka, that I couldn't explain about it before. You see, as per the norms set by the educational council of Marina, it can be mainland or its islands, in the final grade, a student may take up a course outside of school. They will be provided attendance, however, they cannot skip the exam for any subject."
Saka looked stunned. "I didn't know about it."
"Most people in Mann don't go for it, as it involves additional work, and we don't have the facilities for it, but Laika insisted that you take it up, you have a nice brother." He smiled.
Saka understood. Laika was, in his own way, making up for the prank and protecting him. He sighed visibly. He was saved.
"Have you heard of Vayu?" Of course. It was his dream college. They specialised in the Northern theology he so badly wanted to graduate in.
"They have an interesting program, I am sure you'll love it. Sorry I had applied on your behalf without informing you. Just didn't want to give you any false hope."
Once they were seated in the office, Saka read the email from the Principal's desktop, a million times, not believing his luck.
Maw Lava waited for him to digest the information, and then said, "Saka, you cannot take his opportunity lightly. It will pave way for you to realise your dream. You will have to go to the mainland for the next three months, for every single weekend, because that is when your course instructor will be free.
Weekdays you will have a three hour session between three and six in the evening. You can use the lab desktop. I will instruct the watchman to lock up after you. I'm just warning you, things will not be easy - you will really have to push yourself and prove your worth."
Saka felt excitement and anticipation well up. To be actually tutored by a person from Vayu, that was.. just wow! How could he describe this feeling?
"One more thing, if you do well, you have a chance at fees waiver for your graduation studies, so you won't have to worry about the course fees."
He had one week to prepare himself. The mail had the tutor contact details for confirmation, course structure and exam schedule.
The Principal took out a print out and handed it over to him. Along with that, he gave him a letter - on duty approval.
"You can submit this to your biology teacher."
Saka wanted to rush to where Vira was. He wanted to show him the letter, and the OD, to laugh away his tension. But if Vira was not in the staffroom, he was in some class. So he didn't go in search of him.
He called up his tutor at the coordinates provided to confirm his interest in the course. He immediately received the course details and reference books on email.
He signed and acceptance agreement, and left home.
It was on the way home, reality of the situation struck him. If he were completely occupied, then he wouldn't get any time with Vira. Maybe he should have just stuck with being tortured by the biology teacher instead.
If he couldn't be around Vira, he was sure Vira wouldn't completely forget him. He'd probably go dating the physicist from mainland.
Why was a high schooler's life so complicated?
His father was not home. His father has been disappearing a lot recently.
" Where are you when I need you?" He muttered to himself.
Laika checked on Saka before heading back for the focus group tutoring. Saka told him about accepting the offer, but he did not voice out what was agitating him. He didn't want to tell Laika about his crush on Vira just yet.
It was a little above nine in the night, a dark night with no moon. Saka was sitting in his usual place, feeling the breeze on his face. He heard someone clear his throat.
He turned to find Vira sitting next to him, staring at the sky.
"Sen!" Saka all but shouted. He was extremely delighted to see Vira.
"One would think you hadn't seen me for years." He smiled.
Saka suddenly felt tears pour down his cheeks and he flung himself onto Vira.
Vira completely bewildered by this sudden reaction, didn't know quite how to handle Saka.
"What happened?" He asked, concerned.
"Sen, I screwed up!"
"Tell me what happened. Stop crying. There is nothing that can't be fixed." He said softly, patting Saka's head.
Saka drew himself away from Vira. Tears still streaming down his face, he said, "I accepted the course at Vayu."
Vira was completely confused. "Er.. you did not like the course? Were you forced into accepting it?"
Saka shook his head, "No, I loved it and jumped at it," and dangerously looking like he was going to cry harder he said, "and it struck me only on the way back, I won't be able to spend any time with you!"
"Huh?" Vira felt somehow they were on different planets. "I really lost you."
"Sen, If I go every weekend to the mainland, and every weekdays you have focus group training till nine, then when do we meet? How will you fall for me?"
For a second, Vira was stunned by how Saka thought, then he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Are you finding my troubles funny?" Saka asked indignantly. Atleast he had stopped crying.
Vira still laughing said, "I came to ask you if I can accompany you on your trip to mainland."
Saka stared at him stupidly.
Vira continued. "You can stay at my place. You can't use dorm facility, obviously you aren't part of the college. Where do you plan to stay?"
Saka hadn't thought that far ahead. He said so.
Vira smiled, "You haven't thought about what you'd do this weekend, but you've already worried about what can happen over three months?"
Saka looked a bit down.
Vira continued, "Let's do one thing. I'll come with you every weekend. I get to see my gramdma as well. And there are some colleges I need to connect for the class education camp trip. You can stay over at my place, if it's alright with you."
Saka became a bright eyed squirrel after that.
"Are you serious Sen? You won't really mind?"
Vira casually put a hand around Saka's shoulder, as a sign of comfort.
"If I did, why would I come all the way here and volunteer?"
Saka chewed his lips. That was true, Vira came without Saka calling.
They both stared at the ocean, quietly. Vira broke the silence after a few minutes.
He said, "Saka, I am happy."
Saka looked at him, unable to figure out the reason for the statement.
Vira looked at him and smiled, "That you think so much about me. I am sorry I can't give you my answer yet. Please bear with me. But trust me, I will consider it carefully. Till then, promise me, you'll focus on your studies."
Saka looked into Vira's eyes. Vira was sincere. That was enough for him. He wiped his tears. "Sen, I will do my best, academically, and in pursuing you. Till then, just don't fall for anyone else."
Mentally he said, "Don't fall for Akat."
Vira smiled, a beautiful smile. To anyone else, it would have been obvious, how much in love he already was. But Saka was just a kid. He was also a bit obtuse.