Love So Far

I am sitting near the hospital bed looking at the person, who is laying there lifelessly. The person, whom I love the most. The person, who is my life. The first day I saw him was on my school bus. I can still remember that day. It was a rainy day; it had been a month since school commenced. He was new to the school. He got into the bus in which I was sitting. He was frightened; his face was like a small kid who had lost his way in a huge crowd. His eyes searched for places but all were preoccupied. Then, he found a place near me, where I was sitting alone, reading Nichole Chase's 'Suddenly Royal'. Usually, I used to sit with my friends at back, but that day one of my school mates sat there and refused to get up and so I didn't want to argue in very commencing of the day. Therefore, I sat in an empty seat near the window. As he came and sat near me, I didn't mind him, as I was admiring the rain. I could feel the water sprinkles on my face; my hair was rushing into my eyes. A friend of mine, sitting behind called to return the assignment, which he borrowed the day before.  "Thanks, Neil," I said and turned to admire the nature. I saw him at the corner of my eyes; he was looking tensed. Therefore, I decided to introduce myself to him. "Hi, I'm Looshin" extended my hand. "I'm Krish, Krish Chopra" he replied with a smile.          After some time, we arrived at school and I was adjusting my hair. He was looking at me when I saw him; I raised an eyebrow with a light smile. He shook his head and turned away. When we reached the school, all the students on our bus got down. When I got down, my friends were waiting for me. While we were in our way to basketball practice, I heard someone calling Neil's name from far away. When we turned back, it was our school clerk, with Krish.  "This is Krish, a transfer student and he is in your class. Take him with you" "No, we are not going to class now, we are going for basketball practice. Why don't you ask someone else to take him to the class?" He said with an attitude, and I didn't like this attitude of him. He never did like this before to anyone else he used to help everyone.  I didn't understand why he behaved so rude to Krish. Whatever it maybe I can't be like him.  "I will take him to the class. Come, Krish. Guys, I'll join you later." Neil was staring at me, "let's talk about it in the basketball hall." I said and went with Krish.  "I apologize on behalf of him" I apologized. "It's o.k. let it be." He smiled. "No, he never behaved like this to anyone." "I'll never mind." He smiled and we walked in silence. "Here, welcome to 12th A of Heritage high school." We were standing doorstep of our class. "Thanks for your warm welcome." He gave a cute smile. "Ok bye; it's time for basketball practice. See you in the afternoon." I checked my watch. "Sure." He nodded. My basketball coach was busy in some other work; I went and apologized for coming late. For my surprise he was in happy mind so, he didn't yell at me and excused me.  When I went to the basketball court, everyone was playing a match accept Neil. He was sitting alone on a rock bench.  "Hey, why are you sitting alone?" I sat near him. "Nothing." He looked down. "Come on, Neil. Don't lie to me." "You don't know Loo?" he looked at me. "Oh, you are still thinking about what happened in the corridor." "Then?"     "Neil, I never saw you being rude to anyone before. What happened to you?"  "I don't like him, Loo." "Why? What happened?" "I don't know; I feel irritated whenever I see him." "That's unfair Neil. You should not be like this, change your attitude."  "Ok, I'll try my best. However, please promise me that you will not leave me. You'll always be my best friend forever." "Hey, Neil why are talking like this?" "No Loo, I never saw you talking like that as you did in the corridor that too for him. I'm feeling frightened about whether I would lose my only best friend."  A drop of tear rolled down in his cheeks, and it was the first time I saw Neil being so emotional, so far.  "Hey, Dumbo don't cry like a girl; you are a boy, be brave and bold." I wrapped my hands around his shoulder "And as it matters of leaving you alone is impossible. You are my only best friend forever; no one can come between us. Okay."  My friends are Monica, Nikithaa, Suhana, Vicky and Neil. However, we are six members in our group but among them, Neil is my best friend. We were together for our very first day in our kindergarten. He was there for me in every hard time. He is the one who knows me better than anyone knows about me, even more than I do about myself. He neither let me nor allows anyone to make me fall.    "Now come let's practice otherwise, the coach will start yelling at us." I pulled his hand. It was about 12.p.m, we were tired playing in sun, so our coach had let us take rest and have our lunch and told to come by evening, and there would be a friendly match between our junior team and us. I was too tired to walk; my legs were aching like hell. Therefore, I sat on a rock bench; removed my shoes and started to rotate my leg to relax. Neil was sitting with me; even he was tired like me. After some time, we went to our class. It was a Botany session; the subject which I hate the most, but for our good luck there was only two minutes more for the bell to ring. Nevertheless, to our surprise Mr Radar was on leave, when Neil and I heard about it we sighed with great relief. Then the bell rang for lunchtime. We all unpacked our lunch and kept on the table.   "Loo, what have you bought today?" Tanya asked while she was unpacking her lunch box. "Don't know. What about you, Neil?" "Today I'm going to take any of your lunch" "Why, Neil what happen?" Vicky asked as he dipped a piece of idly (Indian subcontinental savoury rice cake) into his bowl of sambar (A lentil-based vegetable stew cooked with dal and tamarind). "My mom had packed Spinach with chapati (Indian subcontinental staple), and she knows it very well that I won't eat it. Still, she packed it." He crossed his hand across his chest. "And now I'm not going to eat my lunch so that she'll not repeat the same thing next time." "Hey, don't talk like an i***t. Let's exchange." Vicky said as he lifted his box of idlies and a bowl of sambhar. "No thanks, Vicky. And it's your favourite too; and Loo, what have you brought today?" "Hmm... Aloo mutter (Indian subcontinent dish which is made from potatoes and peas in a spiced creamy tomato-based sauce.) with chapathi." "Then you should exchange it with this spinach." He replaced my Aloo mutter with his spinach. As usual, we ate our lunch fast and started to play truth and dare. Afternoon's first period was English, my most favourite class and my favourite teacher, Mrs Smith and Neil's hatred teacher; normally he never likes any teachers. He always keeps on commenting back of all the teachers, even though it is a class hour or an assembly. "Here comes, THE DRAMA QUEEN." He whispered as she entered the classroom. I looked at him and frowned. "Okay. I am sorry for commenting on your FAVOURITE TEACHER." He rolled his eyes as he air-quoted. "That's better." Then we were listening to her, she was teaching grammar; grammar is an interesting topic for me in English and but Neil used to sleep in her class especially while she used to take grammar. Every time he used to get punishments for sleeping in the class hour. However, this time I didn't allow him to sleep.  "Looshin please let me sleep. I'm feeling so sleepy, these grammar things are damn boring, and it sucks. And you are there to explain it to me." "No; Neil this time I'm not going to let you sleep. Whatever happens, you have to listen to the class." However, our bad luck we got caught in Mrs Smith's eyes. "Neil and Looshin, what are you doing instead of listening to the class." She came to us. "Ma'am, I was confused, so I was clarifying it with Looshin." Neil lied. "Oh! So, let me know what your doubt is?" she crossed her hands across her chest. However, thank god, the bell saved us from being punished. "You both should work out all the sentences, given in your workbook. That's your punishment." She said and went. As soon as she went out, we once again sighed with great relief; and burst out. More 2 periods were remaining for school to get over and among them; one of the periods was sports period. Besides, the next session was Zoology. Mr Lawrence - our Zoology teacher wanted to take a lesson on Animal breeding topic in Animal Husbandry. Moreover, it was quite interesting. He took the class for half an hour and the remaining fifteen minutes; he gave us a surprise test which he had informed a week before.  He was roaming around the class as an invigilator roams around the exam hall. Krish stood up and said that he is a new boy and he hasn't learnt the previous topics in Animal Husbandry in his old school. Meanwhile, Neil and I had finished the test and were rechecking the answers.  "Looshin, have you finished your test?" he asked  "Yes, sir" I stood up. "Okay, then I hope that you can help Krish, in tutoring previous topics in Animal Husbandry." "Okay, sir." I agreed as I had no other go. I turned towards Neil and looked at him. I was wondering how he would feel if I help Krish whether he would feel bad or shall I ask someone else to help Krish. "Don't worry, go ahead." He smiled as if he read my mind. Then the next period was sports and we had a friendly match between our juniors and us. We played the match for at least half an hour and the score was; we had put five baskets and they were leading us in three baskets, still, we tried our best but we lost the match. The last bell of the school rang and we all went for the bus. While we went to carry our bags, I was wondering whether I should ask Neil, that Krish could join our g**g or not.  "What are you thinking Loo?"  "Hmm... nothing Neil" I lied "Are you sure?"  "Yeah" I nodded We sat on the bus and I was sitting near the window looking at the slum that we were passing.  "What happened to you, Loo? You are silent; from school and you haven't uttered a single word on the bus. Are you thinking about the match?" Neil asked as he and I got down from the bus. "No Neil, I'm thinking of some other thing." "What's that?" he raised his eyebrows. "Please promise me that you'll not get mad at me on what I'm going to say." I stopped at a few distances from my home. Neil and I were living in the same apartment but on a different floor. I was on the third floor and he was on the eighth floor in a duplex apartment. "Okay, I promise that I'll not get mad at you." He smiled. "Okay... I was thinking that can we join Krish in our gang." I swallowed huge saliva. "I saw him sitting alone in class and even in sports period. I could see loneliness in his face, and I have a guilty feeling for him." His face turned hard as I asked him whether Krish could join our g**g. "Let's talk about it later, now you go home and take rest." From this, I understood that Neil doesn't want to talk about it anymore, so I left it there. "Okay, bye. Moreover, I'm going to the hospital with grandma this evening and I'll return around 10. Want to come." I changed the topic.  "Nope, Loo. My father's office colleagues are coming; you know right there's a dinner party tonight at our place." "Yeah, okay bye." I waved as I went near the door. As I knocked on the door, grandma opened the door; with a warm hug and beautiful smile, which she always does. "Grandma" I hugged her back. "How was your day today dear?" "As usual Grandma" I removed my shoes and socks and threw it here and there. "Looshin, how many times should I say to keep your shoes properly in the shoe rack?" She collected the shoes, kept it in the shoe rack, and sat near me. "Sorry, Grandma I'm feeling so tired." Stretched my arms and legs and made a big yarn. "Grandma; today I met a boy named Krish. He is new to our school and neither anyone talks to him nor play with him. He seemed too lonely. I felt too bad for him, Grandma." I lay on her lap. I used to share everything with Grandma because she was the only person to whom I would share my little secrets other than Neil. She kept her hand on my head, "So, what you want to do for him?" "Nothing Grandma, I just want to be his friend."  "Then be his friend." "That is the exact problem Grandma, Neil doesn't like him." I got up from her lap.  "Why?" "That's what I don't know Grandma." "Then make him befriend with others." "Yeah Grandma, that's a great idea, but how could it be possible when no one wants to talk with him."          "Everybody feels lonely when they go to a new school, and also they take some time to get adjusted to the new surroundings." "Hmm," I nodded. "Okay, now have your snacks." She gave a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee, which is my usual and favourite snack in the evening. "Okay Grandma, but you have to come to the hospital with me." "Why dear, what happened?" she raised her eyebrows. "Grandma, do you remember that today we had an appointment for your health checkup." "Yeah, but finish your snacks first." She pointed out the plate of cookies. I finished my snacks and went to the hospital with Grandma, Grandpa too joined us, and we came home late. I was so tired, so I went to bed as soon as we came home. "Good morning, Grandma. Good morning Grandpa." I wished them and took my coffee, which was waiting for me on the tray and sat crossed leg in the white leathered sofa. I was in my school uniform and had my backpack beside me. "Good morning, dear." They wished back together. Grandpa was reading THE TIMES newspaper, and Grandma was taking her tea with some biscuits. "Grandma, today I'll come home a little late, as I'm going with Neil to buy some books for his CA exam." "Okay, but be careful while crossing the road," Grandma said as she took a sip. "But how'll you go dear?" Grandpa asked while he was folding the newspaper. "By bus." I was concentrating on the newspaper. Suddenly, the doorbell rang; and I knew it was none other than Neil. I finished my coffee as soon as I can, and took my bag and went towards the door. "Okay bye, its Neil I have to go. Love you Grandma, Love you, Grandpa." I shouted. "Love you, dear." They shouted in unison. As I opened the door, he was leaning on the wall. "Ready?" "Yeah, let's go."