Episode – 2 (The best 3 hours of my life) THE CRUSH STORY

Well Well Well!!!! Now to all who don’t know who Nandini is, she is student of  Vidyamandir High School, eldest daughter of Naidu family, excellent classical singer and dancer. However, most importantly and scary is that she is been ranked 1^st consecutively since class 7. Surprisingly Ganesh’s cousin happens to be her classmate.

So as I was standing frozen and watching the most prettiest of God’s creature walking right in front of me, I could hear nothing except a long distanced voice of a lady calling my name and suddenly I was shaken awake by Ganesh..”Dude what is wrong with you?? The receptionist is screaming her lungs out… and don’t you dare gaze her like that she is Vidya’s classmate” said Ganesh.

“Mr Eathen, it would be nice if you can fill up the form and go sit in Class B” said the receptionist staring at me, she was fuming I must say. Class B was on the second floor, as I saw Nandini fill her form, Ganesh dragged me up to the second floor, was hoping that I could see her again.

As we entered class B, I and Ganesh were in a state of shock as we noticed 10-12 of our school mates already occupying few rows and benches. As our usual mantra we both were searching for a space in the last row but found none. At the end we had to let go our principle and with heavy heart had to occupy the second bench available. Ganesh at his usual optimistic best said “The second we joined this place we have been promoted to the second bench, I can see a bright future ahead of us”… “Ganesh!! One more time you talk shit, I’ll break your Soda glasses, you got it” I said. By the way Ganesh cant see without his glasses.

We were waiting for yet another class of our first day in Xth to start, but my thoughts were occupied by Nandini. It was 4pm and in came our professor Mr Anand; he will be taking our Geometry and Algebra classes. Mr Anand is a smart fit and young chap; this obviously kept the girls in our class “ooooing”. The moment he walked in bunch of girls from different corners of the class started smiling at each other. Some reacting as if they have won a lottery and just couldn’t believe what just happened to them. Anand Sir as we usually call him introduced himself and asked each one of us to introduce ourselves starting from the back benchers. With time running out, I had lost all hopes of Nandini in my class. However, it was Ganesh giving an introduction as if its not a classroom but a courtroom and he is not studying here but being tried for some crime committed. “Next” said Anand Sir … “My name is Eathen, I am from St Peter’s Boy’s High School” as I was giving my introduction “knock” “knock “ said the door and “Excuse me Sir” came the voice. There she was standing in front of me yet again. “Yes, please come in” said Sir. “Sir, Class A has no more room for students, hence have been asked to sit in Class B” she said. “Yes, please find a place for yourself” said Sir. There was a whole bench free in front of us (the first bench) she sat there as I stood behind trying to put myself together to give the best of my introduction possible, which obviously went down the drain as Sir said “Mr Eathen, you may now sit”. “Please introduce yourself to the class” said Sir to Nandini. She stood faced the class and with a posture of reciting a poem gave her introduction saying “My name is Nandini, I am from Vidyamandir School, have great interest in classical music and dance, I have just completed my ‘arangetram’”.

As we were all settling down for class, Mr Anand said that today being our first day, we will not have any lessons happening. Ganesh gave his brightest of smile and wink which symbolized his bright future he was just referring. “Hi Nandini, how are you?” said Ganesh. Now this was surprising and in a state of shock I looked at this rascal, who was introducing himself to the girl I like. “Actually, I am Vidya’s cousin, she used to talk about you a lot, especially you coming 1^st in class consecutively and have also seen your arangetram photos”. Now for all of you who don’t know what arangetram is “It is the debut on-stage performance of a Bharatanatyam student, after undertaking years of training”. As I was fuming of anger, suddenly he said “meet my friend Eathen” and there was Ganesh earning a Vada Pav for himself. “He is a guitarist and a great singer himself” said Ganesh. “Hi Eathen” said Nandini. “Ok Class we will meet tomorrow at 3” said Anand Sir and Nandini turned back to pack her bag. I missed out on my introduction yet again but thanks to Ganesh he had is treat that I owed him that day.

                                             To be continued in the next class