It was an usual
cold day of winter……but the weather was not at its best. Though it was not
raining cats and dogs but still there was enough momentum in the sudden
afternoon showers. Aditya was sitting in the balcony of his 2 storied house,
watching the rains…the atmosphere seemed so lively and engrossed with purity.
The green leaves, the yet charming sunset, the chirping of birds, the
yellow-orange colour of the sky seemed to have made an impact on his curious
mind.
Aditya, age of 16, lean , charming
,handsome , fair boy had appeared for
the ICSE in the present year and now after giving the exams he was free to do
anything… to play with friends, to make
things out of junks(his favorite hobby),to roam where he wants all such normal phenomena’s
which we have often encountered in our school life. But was he really free to
do so??? “Get ready with all these competitive magazines, GKs. Look I have
spent 150 rupees in buying all these …so start preparing from tomorrow…your
exams ended on this Saturday, how can you afford to waste precious 4 days?
Explain me? Don’t you know after two years you will have to give the ultimate
test ….the IIT ENTRANCE..? Go you fool and study”-aditya’s father screamed at
him. Aditya slightly bowing down his head went into the study room. Perhaps few
droplets of water were seen in his curious eyes, trying to find his fault….
The rain stopped few hours ago and it was
dark by now, aditya was trying hard to focus on the magazines but was not able
to concentrate…..he wants to study English…the great shakesphere, keats ,
wordsworth all seemed to call him to a virtual world of English poems, short
stories, novels…he lost himself thinking he was brutus and was killing Julius
Caesar, a fake proud smile ran down his face…thought what would have happened
if Frankenstein is now really made by some eminent scientists… total devastation and destruction
by the monster seemed so real in his imagination that he almost got a jerk out of his fear… “the dinner is ready –
come quickly”-summoned his mother in an angry tone… “father, what’s the use in
becoming an engineer …many people are already engrossed in this business. So
why not study arts…I too have my dreams of becoming a great writer one day……may
be like chetan bhagat, jhumpa lahiri , ravinder singh???”-aditya questioned in
a fearing tone. His father was eating
his dinner comfortably…but hearing this question stood petrified….looked at Aditya’s
mother…she too was taken away by surprise….complete silence engrossed the room
for a minute…. “are you joking my boy”-his father asked…NO was the answer….” how
can you end up asking such stupid questions…..look at me …I earn 50,000 rupees
being an electrical engineer how much you will earn by writing all sorts of
rubbish?? You dumb fellow!! if you study arts beggars will also not come to beg
in your houses..Get lost…. I have a plan and you will have to follow it…you will study science, will get yourself
enrolled in FIITJEE a prestigious institute and will appear for the life
changing exams the IIT…..if you talk one more rubbish I will not tolerate you
anymore…”-screamed adityas father in anger and astonishment…
Time passed slowly
and after a month aditya was ready for attending his new school, don bosco
model school, the prestigious school in the town. It was just a school for
aditya but a sanctum for adityas father, proud at sons result of 86% in ICSE ,
getting highest in science group ….. The first day was quite interesting ….many
new friends, new teachers, large classrooms with smart classes seemed like
heaven to him. Astonished by everything he walked slowly by the corridor
gasping at almost everything……chemistry, physics all kicked off at pace from
the first day. He was slowly enjoying his subjects..
After a week
aditya started going for FITTJEE to take up the challenge for the IITs.. “ good
bye son, study well, you are now the architect of your own future”- his father
patted him as he went down from the scooter in front of the coaching centre…he
saw the hopes in his father’s eyes which was extraordinarily shining that day.
“Good bye”- he greeted too.
He went inside the
building and was searching for the class when someone greeted him “hi aditya”..He
step back, turned around …saw a young charming girl in front of him. She was
looking him with a gentle yet so called dangerous smile!!! Her fair complexion
really contrasted with the black t shirt and 3quarter jeans, her silky hair was
waving gently in all directions with the wind, her eyes carried some light….some
unexplainable magic which just left aditya into some hypnosis action…. “hi”-she
told again…this time aditya managed to gather his senses and gave a shy look
with a gentle smile ….her name was Aparna
banerjee, a teenager girl ,reading in the same section in adityas school. She too was reading in this coaching
centre. Aditya gently questioned “are
you too preparing for iit?”…yes came the answer from opposite site…both
together entered the class sat in the same desk, though a little hesitation
came from aditya however was melted by the sweet cute smile of her..
The physics teacher came, introduced himself, started with the vector
chapter…null vector , relative velocity , velocity –time graphs all seemed
going above the head like a tangent… aditya trying to focus but could not focus
properly…….a fresh mesmerizing smell of
perfume really distracted him…he was now in a virtual world…with fast beating
heart…something unnatural.
“Enjoyed your
class?”-his father questioned. Adityas answer was positive….went to home and
sat alone. His mother noticing behavioral change questioned him of what
happened….. “Nothing mom just a tired day ….so pressure in studies”-lied
aditya….he never knew this was just the beginning of lies…beginning of HURTING
the HEART….
The next
day he went to school and as usual was warmly greeted by her. Time passed and their
friendship too was becoming stronger day by day….from mobile number exchange to
facebook chat all was going well. Infact when aditya used to open his facebook
account he used to see the inbox first desperately waiting for aparnas messages…
yes sometimes when both were online they used to share their thoughts,
emotions, little study related materials in facebook…. Thanks to Mark Zuckerberg
for inventing such a social site which really changed or rather transformed the
lives of many. Things which were mush difficult to speak in front was easily
shared using facebook.
Around 6
months passed like this and time was gently passing when aditya and aparna both
realized that they were no formal friends anymore-rather a relation much pure,
much strong than ordinary friendship. what is it?? Though maths, physics and
chemistry used to play a certain role in his life but still aparna’s external
role was much influencing him….the mid semester of class 11 was over, got
appreciate marks and his late night studying, his coaching all seemed to have
an effect on his result, he passed out with flying colours…his parents were
much happier than him, their determination to see aditya as a future engineer
grew stronger day by day..
Aparna was an average student, not much enthusiastic about her
career…engineering, MBBS, nothing soothed her. All she was interested is
fashion, shopping, chatting with friends overall to enjoy life was her ultimate
motto. She too felt something inside for aditya.. she used to love him. Adityas
introvert nature, his smiling face, his staring at her. His cute messages with love
stickers – she was attracted to all these…but do aditya think the same? This
question used to disturb him a lot.
The
days coaching class at FITTJEE was postponed due to non availability of the
scheduled teacher. “Look we have 3 hours to spare….So would you like to visit
the amusement park nearby?” – Aparna questioned.. “Yeaah, sure”- aditya added.
Both started
walking slowly…talking on various topics, reached the park, purchased 2 tickets
and sat on the grass . “hey aditya, I want to tell something….”-aparna gave a
dangerous smile. Aditya said “yes please continue....Always ready to hear
you”..
Aparna: “look I
want to tell that the first day I met you I felt something for you….your cuteness,
sweetness, intelligence, your style of speaking all attracts me …..Want to evidence
some good moments with you…so, it’s difficult to say but yes….I LOVE YOU,…..do
you love me aditya?”
A line of sweat ran
down through adityas head…his cheeks
became red due to blushing…….his ears were hot even in the cold evening….the
words of her came like swift arrow hitting his heart….took around a minute to recover
himself and slowly told “ I love you too,
honey”
The much waited
words were spoken and now the Romeo Juliet phase was starting…..romantic chats
in facebook was the usual routine, the mobile now takes really less time to
discharge than it used to take few months ago…he used to stay awake late nights
….not for studying but to chat with her ….his performance was falling day by
day and the date of the iit entrance was fast approaching… “What am I doing? I
want to study but can’t focus …only you remains in my mind ….I want an
engineering seat @IIT , can’t decide what to do”-made a complaint to himself in
bliss of his solitude…
Again making up his mind for hard work started preparing when suddenly
his mobile flashed with ‘tum hi ho’ ringtone. “hello, what are you doing my
boy? Go to sleep or you will fall ill….understand?”-ordered aparna….
Aditya: “yes I
was just making some physics notes ….sure I will sleep within 5 mins…you go to
sleep honey..”
Aparna: “ok love
you boy…ta ta……sweet romantic dreams
pagli……”
Slowly and
steadily their love reached the maximum level…often bunked classes to go to ice
cream parlors, restaurants etc. but both managed to roam here and there without
their parents notice…..
Months passed and so
called prestigious date of IIT finally arrived….aditya went to the examination center,
looked baffled with the questions… “I have done same type of sums but why can’t
I recollect?? Really puzzling questions”-he murmured. After 3 hours when he
came out of the hall his father understood the performance of adityas by
looking at his face………it was a failure…next day the answers were published in
the newspaper and saw he managed to do somehow 18 questions which too carried 5
wrong answer …so the dream of iit was FINALLY OVER …no chance of getting
selected.
Aditya was really
very frustrated and so decided to call aparna. The mobile went ringing but no
answer ……neither the messages were replied both in facebook and also in
mobile…..this went on for 4 days when finally a fear arrived in one corner of
his heart….what was the fear??? A fear of separation…. “No no, aparna can’t do
this with me ..i am a good guy” – he patted and comforted himself..
next day
aditya went to the park alone to soothe himself from his daily boring schedule…..what
he saw there just shooked the earth under his feet. Aparna was sitting beside
an unknown boy and was holding his hands and talking very affectionately in a
romantic manner…aditya just stood motionless..Cant able to think what’s next?
What to do???….
He went back to his house. A day latter his IIT results were out, he
failed to secure a seat in the prestigious institute….all his dreams, his
parents dream, all were simply washed away and hopeless. He saw his father
sitting silently without any emotions, his mother too sitting with her bright sparkling
eyes….aditya was simply petrified with emotions……the loss of aparna, the failed
IIT exam, the worrying faces of his parents all made him to suffocate from inside.
He silently went into his room. Aparna was a perfect cheater, she
cheated her…. “if I would have listened to my brain, and have ignored her than perhaps I would have
secured a seat in IIT….my dreams are over….i listened to my heart, loved
her which proved me wrong… I am a
looser…..”-aditya realized slowly, saw his mothers beautiful saree lying on the
floor….gave a look at the fans hook on the ceiling…calculated the distance which
was ideal for his next step…and simply locked the room…
After 2 hours his mother went to call him. “Aditya…open the door. Look I
have bought some food for you..Next year again try again… don’t break your
heart...”-his mother silently said…. But no reply came. After constantly
calling for 15 minutes her mother felt something abnormal and then started
thumping the door. His father too joined and giving a push they managed to
break the door.
They found aditya hanging
from the ceiling…… his face was white in colour….maybe he gasped for last
breathe….a few drops of blood on the floor was spotted falling from his nose…… the
window was open …a gentle breeze swayed
his body a bit….. His heart was not beating anymore…the journey for IIT was
over…now no more HURTING the HEART…..
