There are many unknown faces scattered here and there. Everyone with a sky blue shirt and black skirt exchanging good morning to each other. Far from the girl's gang, there is a boy's gang also, repeating the same gesture.
What's up bro, a boy with tangy hair touched Dev from the back.
Dev- hallo.
Aditya- are you new in school?
Dev- yes.
Aditya - hey guys, meet our friend, new man in the new look. He gathered all his friends. Dev is completely different from all boys. He is very simple. His black eyes are full of great enthusiasm. Little beard on his face adding charm. All friends of Aditya wish good morning and shake hands. Dev also repeats the same ritual.
Aditya - in the mid-semester you are here, how this college allowed you?
Dev hasn't said anything, he has no words to describe his presence.
Aditya - it's ok bro. Welcome to our college. He opened his hand, take two steps back, and bow down. Dev smiled at this gratitude and hugged him.
The class is full of students. Everyone stands up when a lady enters the class.
Sweety miss Aditya whispers in Dev's ear. A lady with short hair and a bit of luck on her face. Saree looks beautiful on her either she is increasing the grace of saree, it's difficult to get the exact answer. The right hand has a bangle that blinks whenever she moved her hand. The left hand has a beautiful decorative Titan watch. She ups her eyes eyed on every student within seconds.
attendance, please. At the end of attendance, her eyes met with Dev.
Sweety - new student?
Dev- yes miss.
Sweety - than say it, man, to add your name on this sheet.
Dev amazed by her frankness, sorry miss.
Sweety - name, please
Dev - Dev Ghosal.
She added his name to the sheet and signaled him to sit down.
Dev completed his 5th month in the school. Now he is a well-known face due to his vocal.
Sweety miss completed her lesson and eyed on Dev. Dev took his position and sing "Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se ajnabe ban Jaye hum done". He ended his song with the thunder of claps. It's like a daily routine for him, he also waited for his time.
Aditya- how is my popular boy.
Dev - fine, brother, how are you?
Aditya- all good.
The seat in the park of their school and enjoyed samosa together.
Dev bhaiya please sing a song, a girl requested him.
Aditya- yes, Dev please, he teases him.
Dev sings one of his favorite songs."zindagi ke safar me Gujar jaate hai jo makam....".
Wow bhaiya, thank you so much. He exchanged smiles.
Dev- can I ask a question, Aditya?
Aditya- ya, sure.
Dev- when beautiful girls called you bhaiya, then how it feels?
Aditya burst into laughter, O God, yaar now you tasted the life.
Dev- please answer it.
Aditya- when you are on driving seat and get the green and red signal at the same time.
Dev- actually.
Aditya- this is what we called life.
And they both burst into laughter.
The clouds are not ready to let the sunshine, in spite of this from the corner of clouds its rays touched the Dev's eyes. Those eyes are still closed but, managed the cuddle of rays.
Aditya- hey Dev me..e..t... he stops in the middle as he saw a girl with him. Dev passed without uttering a word. Aditya was shocked by his strange behavior. As the bell rang everyone left the class, when Aditya see Dev is coming, he grabs him by his collar.
Dev- what are you doing man?
Aditya- Man? really, so I am no longer your friend.
Dev- what are you talking about?
Aditya- you are ignoring me, just because for a girl. He tightens his grip. Dev tries to escape himself, but he failed.
Dev- it's not like that.
Aditya- O, common now you become a gentleman, why you remember your roadside friend.
Dev slapped him, within seconds an argument turns into a fight.
Dev- what do you think of yourself? You have crossed your limit today.
Aditya- and, are you within your limits?
He took a stone and threw it on him. It struck his head and he lost his consciousness.
As Dev opens his eyes he found himself in the hospital and only his mother is with him.
Dev - mom, I want to go to school.
Richa- no, not today, your wounds get infected.
Dev- but, I have my classes, my exams are coming, how I manage?
Richa- I don't know anything, you are not going anywhere, go and take rest.
She signaled him upstairs. He said nothing and left.
Shalli- how are you Dev?
Dev- fine.
Shalli- nothing has changed in 1 month, so don't glare these surroundings.
He smiled, yes, everything is the same. Bytheway where is Aditya?
Shalli raised her eyebrows, don't you know where he is?
Dev- no.
Shalli- he is restricted from school.
Dev- for that incident!
She nodded.
Dev- O God, I will never forgive myself. I thought he hasn't met me till date due to embarrassment.
Shalli- ok, don't panic. Leave it, you will find him one day.
Shalli has replaced Aditya very cleanly. They are enjoying their company.
As Dev entered the hall, he found Shalli enjoying the company of sunrays. The rays are gently touching her face.
She closed her eyes and straightened her face towards the sun. Ringtone of Dev distracts her.
Shalli - when you came?
Dev- when you are busy.
Shalli- busy?
Dev- sorry, actually I don't want to disturb you.
Shalli- if you don't know, how to lie, then please never try it.
He embraced and bow down his head and try to calculate the marbles.
Shalli- it's ok. Let's have lunch together.
Both take their seat on the dining table. Tabel is full of delicious food and a flower pot in the middle for decorative purposes. It's difficult for him to concentrate on food, it's for the second time he dropped his spoon. He himself is awkward by his strange behavior. He is unable to understand. He eyed on Shalli through his corner and stoked.
Dev is playing the tune of "Marize isqe hu mai karde dawa" on guitar. A huge battle is on in his mind.
His mother walked into the room just as he was about to apply her new lipstick. She was startled. He was startled. "What are you doing with my lipstick? It's new...... I haven't used it so far. Couldn't you have waited?"
He smiled and handed it back to her.
"I forget to tell you... I am playing Draupadi in our college production......
rehearsals start this evening.
Richa- that's great.
He exhale forcefully when she left, he crosses checked the surroundings and closed the door. He stands in front of the mirror, his hand on his heart. He slowly grabs the mirror and kissed his mirror image. Those fine lip's lines are amazing and he slowly touched those lines gently.
Shall she kiss me? Can I tell her about my feelings?
He was trapped.
The next morning when he enters the class, he found Shalli on the first bench. He tries to ignore her and move ahead.
Shalli_ have you completed your project in maths.
Dev- no.
Shalli- I did, come with me, I will show you. She holds her hand.
A volcano erupts in her soul, suddenly he withdraws himself.
Shalli- what happened?
Dev - nothing.
He followed her slowly. Both enter a room full of models. Some are from science including Solar system, electricity generator, DNA structure. Some are of our rich art and culture. In the corner there is a huge collection of funny faces, "the maths project". All are made beautifully, first, there is a plane themocol covered with velvet paper, on that there is a cuboid a cube than a cylinder than a circle with decorative eyes and lips and upp...e .r...
as she turned back to show him the birthday cap that is a cone, but she hadn't found him.
Shalli- Dev, where are you?
She checked everywhere.. but, he was missing. And finally, she found him in the park, he was seating under the shade of the tree.
Why you left, without even informing me?
Dev- sorry, actually I am not feeling well.
Shalli- if I am not wrong, you are ignoring me, right?
Dev- no, it's not like that.
He left without even listening to her.
Shalli was left alone with the tree's shade that is not going to answer her questions.
From two weeks Dev is not attending his class. No one has an answer for his absence. She is still looking towards the door. Her eyes get tired.
She is missing him badly. She started feeling the same as Dev used to. She wanted to talk to him, but unfortunately, she has not his address nor his contact number.
Shalli opened the door and found a lady, she is Richa.
Richa- I am the mother of Dev.
Shalli- hello aunty, please come inside.
Richa- I want to invite you to my son's birthday. I hope you will come.
Shalli - ya sure, I will. She blushed.
She is very excited and at the same time confused also about what to gift him.
Shalli- shall I arrive early?
Richa- no, no you are on time.
Shalli - than, why there is no one?
Richa- because only you are invited. You know what Shalli, he has only one best friend and that is you. And he doesn't want to lose you.
Shalli- not even I.
Richa- go, he is waiting for you.
She opened the door, but Dev is not there.
Please come out, don't play this hide and seek game with me. I want to talk to you.
Suddenly she eyed on the wall, which had a big picture of Dev, and a lit candle on the left side. On the right side with bold letters written a quote.
"You Will Never Find me, So Feel me".
And her tears take the corner.
