Short Story

"Come on Sujan it's the last day today, pictures are important" the voice of a sweet beautiful girl in the group of 30 students calls at that one boy who was receiving a gift from some juniors as his last day at this school. The board exams of 12 have ended and the college has called them for last memorial day.All of the students have something written on their white shirts. Keeping memories of the days in that college they are enjoying their last day, making other juniors wonder if they will also have such Memorial Day.They were running chasing, laughing, teasing and playing on the school premises making it lively college as if the ray of the morning sun on the cold season that brings the warm to everyone hearts and melts all the cold freeze state of being.Many memories of years, some of just some years and some of many years that have been attached to this college. Some have memories of each other and some have for friends being together. All the trips, picnic, trekking, sport, activities that they have done together brought them enough memories to have filled with tears in their eyes to say goodbye. Even though they might meet in the future or may never. Saying goodbye has never been easy in such momentous situations.He doesn't really have a clue how comes he got in this situation. But it seems like the game of don't blink was going on and he was the only one left not playing and the girl in front of him seemed to be winning all the others in class. Not a single other could win her on that.'Ayana' 'Ayana' there was hooting all over for her. The classroom that will be empty for the next few months right now is filled with the students that will be disappearing on the population in search of the future. Two columns of the desk and bench that goes to 8 rows back. in front was the white board. The left column that was on the side of the door was filled with students hooting and cheering.Right side was he and her. He was on the second bench turning back to her face to face and she sat on the third bench facing him. To have a little talk about them his name was Sujan. Sujan has been studying in this college since school level of 5. And her name was Ayana. She is a new student but 4 years altogether.On a sudden shout of start. They were forced to keep eyes locked at each other until one of them blinks and lose. She was feeling unknown happiness that she couldn't share with anyone. They both looked at each other directly in eyes staring at their facial features that they never noticed. The small and blurred black dot on his chin that was supposed to be a mole. Her little scar near ears that was little long but not noticeable.But both of them were thinking the same thing "I don't want to blink and slip the chance to look this close". Nearly 3 min went just like that and the shooting was cooling down. Both were nearly blank looking at each other but gradually their memories started to stir. 'He is such a good person but really a dumb when it comes to studying and being serious. He is handsome so I have seen so many proposals for him from many beautiful girls. But he always rejected them. I wonder why?' her brows suddenly shrunk a little to think.'No.... No... don't. Don't blink, I wish to see you a little more. You were always different. I was so normal to everyone but to speak to you had always been a flow of proper reason. Maybe you are angry at me not wanting to look at me anymore. But I could never tell you it was just a misunderstanding. Each time a girl would come to propose to me I would look at you and think if a proper girl like you exists, why would I choose those girls? I would rather be better myself. So please don't blink yet!!' he smiled little with those beautiful eyes of eyes.'He is again smiling like that! It really is unfair. Every time he is helping me out and smiling like that without a word.' she suddenly stood up, eyes locked on him and sat at the fourth bench. As if nothing but Sujan mind went thinking random'Did I do anything bad. So! She was always angry at me. When her bag suddenly fell down from the bench when she was out. All her stuff fell off since everyone ignored, I thought I might help. As I was returning things to the bag the thing left on my hand was the sanitary pad. She suddenly entered class and looked at me. I hurriedly kept it in bag and said sorry. But it was really bad.' his smile suddenly disappeared slowly.'That time when my stuff fell off the bench, I was about to hurry in but girls stopped me for some talk. I looked inside if someone would help. No-one else but him went and picked it up. When I saw the pad, I was so embarrassed about it and ran to class but he had already picked it up. I froze. It was so embarrassing' she was still looking at his eyes and was totally embarrassed. So, she again decided to go to fifth bench.This made Sujan really feel bad. He knew she was angry but he was amazed that she was angry at the level that she doesn't want to sit there looking at him.'Well, it's not her fault. There were many other incidents like when boys wrote Sus on her name when all girls were out. I was telling them not to and tried rubbing it in hurry but she saw it all. She was looking very angry that time. I always wondered why she never scolded or asked for an explanation but it seems she already hated it so she needed nothing' he was upset looking at her moving more back from him. 'He was always good to everyone. He always helped girls without any reason and payback. He was raised properly, we could say. He smiles best but it was funny when he was flustered when I entered the class and saw him rubbing my name off the board. I also heard him scolding boys. I wonder what happened.' They both continued looking at each other without a blink. And both really wish to never blink. 'The happiest moment with him was the tour when I was thrown with him a little without option but I was happy.' She looked at him looking at her so constantly without movement. 'I wonder if it was special for him also. But so many beautiful and elegant girls are after him. Even if he turns them down, there is no need to think it got reason.' She saw his hair was a little longer than usual, which made her wonder if he didn't cut it because of exams.'It's not that I got feelings for her but she always has had different effects on me. She is a studious and calm girl who is serious about future and her time ,so. I always wanted to find a girl who is like her. No way I was going to accept those girls whose guts are better than their brains. The time on tour when friends forced me to dare sit with her on the rooftop alone until they come to fetch us. I don't know why but I know I dragged her into this. That truth and dare game really did good to me anyway. I came to know her.' he smiled again and looked at her constantly.She wishes to blush and run away but her wish to see him was greater than her sentiments of embarrassment.'I was in a hotel room with girls during a tour and a group of boys knocked on the door as we opened, they calmly said "Ayana, don't get me wrong but we have dared Sujan to sit on the rooftop alone when you. So please join us. It's just for a few minutes." It was Sujan standing in front of them with an awkward smile and Milan was joining hands requesting me. Girls pushed me and said "take her already, she is just looking at us doing nothing" . The girl meant good so I just went to the rooftop and sat on a bench there. He was on my left. All of them locked the door from their side and went away. We couldn't hear them anymore' she smiled a bit. It was gentle and warm.'You might be angry or hate me but at that time you were sitting on my right and staring at the sky. It was awkward but I thought I should at least say sorry. You responded positive''Does he remember that' she thought and use index finger and tapped the bench two times. He tapped at the same time and both shouted at each other "jacket" she screams and "hankey" he told. Both laughed. The students there were totally lost not knowing what was happening. The whispering suddenly started. They started to wonder when they were so close to having such code... or whatever it was. They both were laughing but they dare not close their eyes. They told themselves 'No not yet'.'To my bad I had mistaken the alcohol they were having with the wired water recipe we boys came up with so I was feeling uncomfortable to sit near her that day. But It was more awkward to not talk about anything so I asked "what do you plan for the future? Your studies are good. So, what is it?" If someone were to ask me that I sure need some time to think but she answered so fast "I just want to live as a teacher. Nothing special but I am excited" I was totally not expecting. But it sounded great.''I think he was a little bit off when I told I wanted to be a teacher. But he smiled. As I asked him, he said, "I... Well, I want to be a better person... that's it. I guess" he laughed. But hearing that it was quite understandable. It was quite cold and the sky was clear. And I somehow mustered the courage and asked "I think I got none of the pictures of you and me" . It was really embarrassing to ask such things but I always thought of at least.' She managed her little hair that fell off ear and came to face.'When she asked me for a photo, I was little froze but was a little happy. I could never ask her for it. Myself near her was always an awkward fool who easily got intimidated by her gaze. Well, I never thought of any girls as more than friends but see she seems to tremble that border of mine.I managed my hair and checked my face. Managed the shirt I was wearing and she sat as it was. "Wow you got that confidence to look good without little management." I tried to tease her. And she replied "I know how I look I just need yours" she smiled. That totally had shaken me. Remembering back, it was really funny.' He himself was a little embarrassed to remember that what she wanted was my photo.'We clicked two photos. She had white muffler with a cute top and long hair.''He had a checked shirt with black jacket and brown muffler. He was handsome as always. Only after we share photos to each other's phone and some casual conversation finally seems to be possible.''And suddenly...' they remembered. 'It was little cold maybe he noticed so he handed his jacket. I couldn't turn my eyes off him for such cute considerations but he might also feel cold' she frowned her eyebrows little and smiled relaxing her face.'Since I never drink that little amount of alcohol was too much for me so I was feeling burnt. Looking at her rubbing her palm I gave my jacket to her. She stared at me and I didn't know what to say. Then she smiled. It was as if 'thank you' smile. Then we created a new way of speaking. "Ok, since they are taking time to return, let's play something." After she nodded ok, I had to think for a while of what game?"Let's play random. We tap the index finger and say just a few words that you remember as memories that we both are supposed to know." It was quite awkward but the game was good only if we had something to share."As a reference I tapped first and told "festival dance" it was the couple dance where she unintentionally made me fall and as she was catching my shirt it tore quite good.' he smiled thinking if she still remembers or not. 'Game was good but after tapping some memories he suddenly felt uncomfortable and ran away to a corner where there was a small space separated with a tap. He puked!! I was surprised. He sat there for quite a while and slowly cleaned himself. I stood behind him stroking his back since it was the only thing I could do. I had a hankey in my pocket so I gave it to him. He constantly apologised and told me it was his first time drinking so it was silent for a while.' she couldn't come back from the memories of the tour.'A jacket and a hankey as a best memory of you. Sounds quite strange but strange enough it was really precious. We really are strange people.' He wanted to laugh but scared to blink he kept it within him.'Hearing footsteps approaching I returned his jacket. And we again went separate ways as if it was just a flick of a dream that ended without the goodbye. From today on there will be no him, not these friends, not this classroom, no more stealing glances of him. Everything will eventually be forgotten, Digged deeper by the new layers of new memories and moments.' unexpectedly her eyes started to get filled by tears.'Is she crying? Does her eye hurt.? I don't want to blink and don't want her to blink, it looks like I am quite naive. But she is sure that one girl I would appreciate for my life.' He was trying to look at her more when she still held her eyes open.'I still don't want to blink but those tears.' she suddenly blinked with tears flowing out of eyes and everyone shouted. The hooting turned to him. Large voices cheering 'Sujan' 'Sujan' again filled the class. She smiled with tears in her eyes. She was happy enough. Ruyan shouted "broken record they were staring at each other for nearly 25 minutes" everyone hooted and laughed. Everyone gathered for the final photo and parted ways. She stood at the school gate and stared at his back getting farther away in a crowd of friends and disappeared in a while. She gently bowed her head to the direction he went and whispered......... "I won't regret not telling you................"After reaching the turning corner, he bowed his head thinking of her and whispered......... "yes i won't regret this separation..........." "Thank you for everything"