I finished the song. The whole class applauded. I was a bit less angry. Still, I wasn't looking at Zara. Maybe she'd realized that I was pretty annoyed. The whole class was staring at Zara and Shanta — they're the two prettiest girls — but both of them were looking back at me. I pretended not to care. The moment class ended, I left. I didn't want to stay for the rest of the classes. Zara and Hridi were surprised that I left without saying hello to them. Now they must have gotten a clue that I was really angry. I had drawing equipment in my bag, so I went straight to the college pond.
I sat down and tried to sketch. A girl appeared beside me abruptly.
Me: Why are you here?
Shanta: I heard in class that you were mad. Are you mad at me?
Me: Why would I be mad at you?
Shanta: No—just wondering. Who are you mad at?
Me: No one.
Shanta: If someone is lying, I can just tell you.
Me: How do you know?
Shanta: I don't know… I just can tell you're so mad and that you don't want to tell me why now.
Me: Who told you I'd tell you why I'm angry?
Shanta: Tell me as a friend.
Me: I don't want to tell.
Shanta: Fine, okay, don't. You are really good at drawing. Will you draw me?
Me: Even that as a friend?
Shanta: Yes, please.
Me: Okay, but just this one.
I started to draw her. It wasn't long, and the drawing turned out rather well.
Shanta: It's so pretty. How do you draw so prettily?
Me: I don't know… it just happens like that.
Shanta: Hmm, so you can sing prettily and you can draw very well.
Hridi: Oh, you two — Zara and I have been looking for you two for ages now.
Me: Why were you looking for me? Two guys are just standing around talking.
Hridi: Oh, don't get upset. I just teased you a little to see your response, and you overreacted.
Me: If you won't talk to me, then don't.
Zara: Sorry.
Me: Sorry, forget about it. You people all made new friends; I made one too. Look, this is my friend, her name is Shanta.
Shanta: Hi.
Me: And Shanta, this is my sister Hridi and her friend Zara.
Hridi: Hi.
Me: Oh, then, your two new friends are there — I suppose they will come to you.
Hridi: Leave them alone, brother. Don't get angry. Play another one for us.
Me: Mind your music. I don't want to hear anything. Shanta, come on, let's go from here. Let those two enjoy themselves.
Shanta: Hm, okay, let's go.
I left with Shanta, away from the two of them. I did not want to follow her, but seeing the way Zara smiled and chatted with that young fellow, I wanted to show her how much the pain was. Shanta seemed very happy. Oh, my anger has reduced a bit now — maybe she knows how much I have suffered, because I can see from her eyes. Her eyes had actually reddened considerably, as if she could burst out crying.
Me: Shanta, you can go now.
Shanta: Hmm, I know something is going on between you and your sister's friend, huh?
Me: No, nothing of that kind.
Shanta: You think I'm stupid? You brought me so that she would get angry, and I saw her eyes — she looked like she was about to cry because you brought me.
Me: That is not the case at all.
Shanta: Hmm, I know how it is.
Me: Do what you want. But I am leaving now.
Shanta: And what if she is not able to catch a rickshaw by herself?
Me: She will catch one.
Shanta: Why do you do such things. I am your friend, aren't I? If you don't mind, then you can come with me too.
Me: All right, I understand — you want to take me home. All right, let us go.
The two of us rode home on a rickshaw. I got down at home; she at her home.
Mom: Why are you home today alone?
Me: I was depressed, so I left college early.
Mom: Where are Zara and Hridi?
Me: They're still at college.
Mom: Ohhh. Ok, rest well.
Me: Hmm. Send something to eat up to my room.
Mom: Ok, take a bath.
I stood frozen. My anger hasn't weakened. The more I think of this morning, the angrier I get. How did she treat him like that. laughing and chatting as if nothing? Anyway, whatever, okay. I ate something and slept. one nap and already afternoon. I woke up and went on the balcony. The cold air felt amazing. Just when I was about to exit the room, Zara came in.
Me: What's wrong with you coming in shivering like that?
Zara: Hold on and listen first. What were you doing talking to that girl for so long, sitting there? And why did you drop her off in front of us and then go away?
Me: Everyone deserves to talk. You talked — did I ever ask you why you were talking to that boy?
Zara: We are different. Even when I was talking to that boy, I never forgot you. You forgot me and left from there.
Me: Look, I—
She cut me short and hugged me tight.
Zara: Don't talk. Forgive me. I didn't intentionally hurt you. I did nothing wrong. Your sister approached the two boys first to talk to them. My magic was not affecting her. She approached them to talk on her own. And the boys noticed the chance and began making fun of us. I did nothing wrong.
Me: Why are you crying?
Zara: Forgive me. If you don't forgive me, I'll cry and leave.
Me: Stop crying that way. I don't feel comfortable when you cry.
Zara: Say you forgive me.
Me: Yes.
Zara: You're not going to talk to that girl anymore, right?
Me: She's just a friend.
Zara: No, I don't like that girl at all. She glares at you crazy.
Me: Haha. You're jealous?
Zara: Yes.
Me: Then tomorrow we won't go to college, right?
Zara: What will you say at home?
Me: You take care of it. Just a little sleight of hand will do.
Zara: Fine. Let us go out for a while, just we two.
Me: But Hridi—
Zara: She is ill. She will not go anywhere for three or four days.
Me: OK, let us go.
We went down. Zara came down too.
Aunt: Hridi cannot go with me. I need to go to the library for a bit — will you get up and come with me, Zara?
Mom: No, I have a lot of work. Go with her for a bit, Hridi.
Me: But—
Mom: No buts. Go.
Me: Okay, Mom.
Zara: I'll put Hridi's burqa on her and come.
Me: Mm-hmm, go.
I went out with Zara to pass time together. We went for a long walk. There is some special way of fun walking hand in hand. Anyway, we came home in the evening.
Three days had gone by before I even noticed.
Hridi: Hridu, today all three of us are going out, you know?
Me: Where?
Hridi: We will go strolling around the lake today.
Me: Okay, get ready and let's go.
Hridi: Ugh, you just sit there and have your big pitha.
In the afternoon, I had gone out with Zara and Hridi. We were walking along the lakeside. Today, I had decided I'd tell Hridi about Zara. I cannot hide it from her anymore. The moment I decided to tell her—
Zara: Hridu, I want some ice cream. Will you get some?
Hridi: I want it too. Get two, please.
Me: Okay, okay. You two remain here, I'll go get them.
Hridi: Come back soon, brother.
Me: Mm-hmm.
I bought three ice creams and went back to them, but couldn't locate them anywhere. Where did the two of them vanish? They must have been nearby somewhere. I searched along the lakeshore everywhere but still couldn't spot them. Tired, I sat on a bench. Shanta sat beside me.
Shanta: Can't see your sister and the mermaid?
Me: How do you know that? And where are they?
Shanta: It doesn't matter how I knew. The point is where they are now.
Shanta smiled.