“Good morning Sir” we greeted our most lazy teacher in a school kids tone.

This person was above forty and taught us Accounts in Luca Pacoli’s fashion. He read each line from the
book, which he carried daily but we did not, in his unique tone and ‘explained’ them. His explanation
barely included words that were not in the line itself. However, this man was one of the coolest
teachers, as he never cared what students were doing in his class. I could see Samrat playing with his
iPod, Anita chatting with other girls, though in low voice. Rohit and Ankur were playing football in
ground as if Mr. Lazy was in his leave. However, he never cared and we loved him for this.

“Hey! What you doing?” I asked Amrita since I felt her fingers doing something in my back.

“Writing” replied she.

“What?”

“Can’t you feel?”

“Feel what?” my tone was high. Mr. Lazy gave me a cold look. I almost froze there but nothing
happened. I was supposed to be a brilliant student and I got a scholarship for that. I had to pretend
disciplined to preserve my scholarship.

Mr. Lazy was back in the book. However, to my astonishment he slammed the book closed.

“What does short working mean?” he asked Sarita with a rather harsh tone. Mr. Cool was furious today
as if his wife eloped with a driver. And he was unjust as he should have asked Amrita not Sarita.

“S Sir, I don’t know,” stammered Sarita. I expected no answer and so did he.

“You better get out of the class,” demanded Mr. Lazy. He was sending a student off his class perhaps
first time in his career. Boys were alert, iPod in bag and Anita was listening with an extra attention. “Tell
me Pallav the meaning of short working,” now the arrow was towards me. I knew we were in Royalty
but did not know the very meaning.

“Sorry Sir, I have no idea,” was my answer in a defeated tone. I always believed that I wont be punished
by teachers since I thought myself to be intelligent enough to answer every question I was asked. It
turned out wrong and I too was kicked off from the class.

Ground was empty. Rohit and Ankur were gone. So, I headed towards canteen.

“You can always find someone there,” I said to myself. There were some boys from other section,
perhaps section C or B. I do not have friends from other sections so, I did not recognize them.

“Surya Dai! One coffee,” I asked and sat on the chair that was under Coca-Cola umbrella. I always prefer
sitting outside under shade whenever I am here. It was just a coffee I ordered but Surya Dai takes time
that would be enough to prepare full meal for a 400-student mess.
“Being alone is such a boring,” I thought. Sarita was out of the class, Rohit and Ankur were also out.
However, they were not here either.

I wondered, “Where might have they gone?” “Oh! To Ramu Dai,” I made a guess. Ramu Dai’s canteen
was out of the school’s compound but anyone could go out from the back gate. I never used that gate
because I was disciplined, at least pretended to be, for the scholarship sake.

“If I didn’t have to preserve my scholarship, I would have been a real headache for our Discipline In-
charge,” I thought and smiled at this idea. Our school provided just two scholarships a year, one to the
best boy and another to the best girl. If anything wrong was found, my scholarship would go to the
alternative best student. Therefore, I was always careful.

“Pallav! You too,” a girl voice and I knew she was Sarita.

“Almost on same time but you disappeared like a professional thief,” I said, “Come sit. Let’s have some
coffee.”

“No. I had with Rohit” she said, “at Ramu Dai’s.” My guess came right.

“Just add one more cup,” I offered.

“Mmm, okay,” she said with a cute smile.

“One more coffee Surya Dai,” I shouted. “I don’t know when he will bring,” I said looking at Sarita’s eye.
These eyes were beautiful, grey iris.

“He is such a slow,” she managed to speak with a hair clip between her teeth, which she had just taken
off her silky black hair in order to manage them, “That is why I prefer Ramu Dai.” Now the voice was
clear.

“Let’s hope we will get before 4.30,” I said and she giggled with a satisfaction. We remained quiet for 2
or 3 minutes. I was watching the dancing banana leaves which were at the edge of compound. Wind was
almost zero but these herbs were dancing in rock and roll fashion.

“It is quite hot today and we ordered coffee,” Sarita was waving hanky near her face when she said this.
“I love coffee, its smoky taste,” I defended my order. Again, there was silence for some minutes. By
then, Surya Dai came with our coffee cups.

“Sarita! May I ask you a question?” I asked after taking a sip, “a personal question, totally personal.”

She gave me a surprised look and said, “You can ask me any kind of question Pallav. I will answer even
high degree personal question. ” This time she winked her eye and gave same cute smile.

“This is not that intense. I just wanted to know your relation with Rohit.” I clarified and took another sip
of coffee. These two were in love relation as per our school’s rumor mill. I denied this, for Sarita would
never love a doltish person like Rohit, at least this was what I believed. Anyone would have crush with a
sweet girl and this idiot would not be an exception.
“Are you talking about love or something like that?” she gave me an interrogative look. A bit of silence
for some seconds. “If so,” she continued, “be sure that I won’t love anyone except you.” She had a
serious tone. A cold chill ran down my spine. This was a horrible answer I had never imagined of. In fact,
it was what I always wanted to listen. I had a crush on her since she joined us in eight.

“Oh Pallav! Just someone look at his face!” she laughed, “Were you serious about that?” I felt ashamed
of what I did. My expressions were awkward. She was just making fun of me and I became serious.

“What a fool I am?” I thought and pretended to be normal.

“No Sarita. I wanted to know about you and Rohit not me.” I said.

“Forget about him. Be sure I don’t love him,” she said and after a few moments of silence, “I really love
you.” She again gave that Satan’s laugh.

“Are you just making fun of me?” I stood up abruptly. This time my face was red of anger.

“Sorry dear, I am really sorry” she had lovely tone, “I won’t do it again. Please sit.” Her request was that
convincing and lovely, I could not leave.

“Okay fine” I used mild pitch and sat. Why would I leave her alone or in other words, why would I lose a
chance to be close with her?

“Amrita loves you,” she said with her last sip of coffee, “do you have any idea about that?” I did not care
about Amrita. I knew she likes me but I was not interested. I loved Sarita.

“Ah, forget her. I do not love her. She is such a stupid,” I said, “remember what she was doing in the
class.”

“In fact, she was writing I love you Pallav on your back,” she defended her friend, “but you didn’t feel
that.”

“Crazy!” I laughed, “Such a stupid.” After a few seconds break, “You know, she should have been here
not us,” my voice was mixed with anger, “that asshole sent us out. What an insult?”

Sarita gave me a surprised look as I never used dirty words, at least inside school compound.

Final bell rang. “Oh, this was our last class. Time to go home,” she again gave her cute smile. I was
looking her face, that smile which was just for me, as nobody was here. This time, I wanted to kiss her
pinkish red lips. “Come on, let’s go,” she dragged me off my imagination.

“Okay,” I controlled myself, “let’s go up first to collect our bags.”

We went up and carried out tones of load. Now she was with her friends so I just could manage to say
her goodbye.
“I will send you a message tonight,” she said. Her eyes were saying something but I could not track what
that was actually.

“I will be waiting,” I said with happiness mixed words. She smiled again and waved her hands. We
departed.