Short Story: Geet | Part 2
Naina: No Rajat I am a very bad person. You just don’t know enough about me.
She hid her face in her palms again.
Rajat got up from where he was sitting and sat next to Naina. He put an arm on her shoulder and said: What’s this all about Naina? Please share with me. Naina sat up straight, she thought about where to begin telling Rajat what was bothering her.
Naina thought best to start from the very beginning:
When I used to live in Delhi as a kid, I had a friend, Geet. We used to live in the same colony. And as kids we used to go to each other’s home quite regularly.
Our schools were different, her father was not that well off so she had to go to a smaller school near our colony but my parents were relatively well off so they sent me to DPS, which was a much bigger school. But there were no feelings of disparity between us. In Fact I remember asking my parents to put me in her school so that we could be together in school as well. I am sure she had made the same request to her parents as well. But the social structures made us walk on seperate paths.
Anyways, whenever we would meet in the evening, she would ask me about my school day. Even though I didn’t have any particular interest in narrating stories about my school, she always insisted that I narrate them to her, even the small minute details. It was as if she didn’t want to miss anything out of what happened in my life. And similarly I would then insist her to tell the stories of her school. I sometimes felt that her school’s stories were more interesting.
It was a matter of deep regret for me that Geet and I couldn’t be in the same school. Whenever I would go to my school I would wonder what if Geet was here, what aspect of the school she would like. Which seat would she choose to sit in the class. Whom would she be interested in being friends with. That’s what I used to wonder.
When we were in 10th standard we made a pact that we both would work hard in our studies and get good marks in 12th standard and we would take admission in the same college. We thought whatever time we spent separately it would all be made up in college.
And as cynical as I was about the plan, we actually did it. We both got good marks and took admission in the Hansraj college of Delhi University. This time money couldn’t create distinctions between us.
But what we imagined would be 3 years of heaven, actually was not so. We both had started to grow up and started to see other worlds around us as well.
But more on that later.
So initially everything went alright. We were in 2nd year when I met you for the first time. Do you remember?
Rajat: How can I forget that Naina?
Naina: Really?.. It seems so long ago.
Rajat: Yes it does. Long ago as it might be I can never forget the time I met you for the first time. It absolutely fills me with joy to remember that. That was one day when all of my life was filled with happiness.
Naina: Do you remember Geet?
Rajat:(After pondering for sometime) I remember a pale, skinny girl who was always there in close proximity to you. I remember her to be slightly awkward. Was that Geet?
Naina:(With a sigh) Yes She was.
(To Be Continued)
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Click here to read the next part -> Geet | Part : 3