School Redux

Unspoken Rifts and Silent Glances

Nischal sighed, a little disappointed. "Aww, we are not in the same classroom. I was hoping we'd be together."

Samir nodded sympathetically, glancing at the seating plan. "Yeah, it's a bummer. I'm in another building, class six."

Dawa shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Well, at least I'm in our usual class. Not much change for me." His eyes scanned the roster searching for a name before realizing he, too, was in a separate class.

"Ah, forget it. I don't know anything about this exam. I think I will spend it in a daze."

Nischal laughed out loud "Samir, I know that you will still be the guy ranked second even if you say such nonsense."

Dawa also agreed with him. He has always been tightly chased by Samir. There used to be quite a lot of pressure.

"I'm telling the truth." Samir insisted that he was right this time. He was very disturbed by his sister who was busy learning a dance nowadays for her dance competition, so he didn't revise enough.

"Yeah, I believe you." Nischal patted Samir on his shoulder with a straight face. "I am off."

" Best of luck, guys."

Samir had a speechless expression. "This guy definitely didn't believe me." He looked at Dawa and expected at least his confirmation.

Dawa gently smiled at Samir and said "What do you think?"

Samir was once again patted on his shoulder and was left alone.

Dawa showed his Admit card to the teacher who was waiting for students, who nodded in acknowledgment, granting him entry into the examination room. Once inside, Dawa wasted no time in settling himself at his designated desk.

He started writing his introduction on the blank paper and became fully prepared to take an exam.

The ball rang for the start of the exam. The teacher called out the class number and started giving the question papers to the respective students.

It was an exam for two hours and fifteen minutes.

Dawa scanned the paper and realized that the questions were very basic for him. He breathed a sigh of relief, he had forgotten what used to be the questions during the exams.

Dawa meticulously answered the questions with each stroke of his pen. Truthfully, it elicits an exhilarating feeling when the pen flows smoothly without a stop. The concentration and joy felt from a single exam when he knew every answer to the questions was more addictive than anything else.

Dawa set down his pen with a sense of accomplishment. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it had been one hour and forty-five minutes since the exam started.

"Teacher, I'm finished." Dawa stood up from his seat and handed his fully written papers to the teacher.

The teacher, with a scrutinizing gaze, meticulously flipped through Dawa's answer sheet, scanning each page with a practiced eye. "Have you left any questions unanswered?" he inquired.

Dawa, standing before the teacher, shook his head assuredly. "No, sir,"

"That's good. You can go." The teacher nodded his head and allowed him to leave the examination room. Dawa took his things and hurried out of the classroom. He looked around for his friends but didn't see them.

Either they had already gone home or they were still giving the exam.

The whole week was spent giving the examination and Dawa didn't get a glimpse of Neeraj anywhere.

It was the first day of the week, Sunday. Dawa entered the classroom carrying his bag.

"Dawa, Come here." Nischal loudly called out to him the second he saw him.

"What's the problem?" Dawa gently slapped his shoulder with Nischal and fist-bumped Samir.

"The school is planning to organize a picnic for students above class 8. Are we going?" Samir asked hopefully. He was fully spent after the exam. He wanted to relax with his friends.

"You are going with us this time, right?" Nischal immediately jumped up at the chance to convince him.

"Where to?" Dawa placed his bag on his seat and returned to them.

"Its Dhulikel. I am just thankful that at least the school made a little effort to choose a place unlike last time." Nischal replied, remembering the last picnic that was held on the playground near the school.

It was absolutely ridiculous, and he was scarred for life. Thankfully, the same stunt was not applied this time.

"And the charge is seven hundred." Samir shook his head at the high-priced charge just for a picnic at Dhulikhel.

"Its expensive but we will have lots of fun." Sulakshya chimed in from behind. She was a girl who absolutely loved fun. She would be anywhere when there is fun.

"Yeah. It must be more fun than last time." Salina joined in the conversation.

"Umm that's what I said." Sulakshya looked at the guys expectantly. It would definitely be more fun with more people from their class.

Dawa was lost in thoughts. He had never attended any events organized by the school. It was never a problem with money, it was just that he had never been interested.

"Ok. Let's go to the picnic." Dawa nodded his head and agreed. It would probably be a fun time with his friends.

"Wow, Dawa is coming with us."

Samir frowned, looking at the hand that was patting him heavily. He took a breath to control his twitching hands. "You are happy. I know that. I am happy too, but can you please take your hands away from me?"

"Ahh." Nischal hurriedly took his hands away and distanced himself from Samir, who would have chosen violence if he had reacted any later.

Sulakshya giggled and hugged her friend away from them. She didn't forget to give a sympathetic glance at Samir before going away. It was hard to have a friend like that.

Everyone dispersed after the conversation and sat back at their benches. The bell tang soon following their actions.

The teacher entered the classroom and started the class. It was about reflection and refraction of light.

The teacher was an old one, and he had been teaching in the school for 6 years, but his technique was honestly average. Half of the students were daydreaming or whispering to each other, which was rare to happen in this studious class.

The teacher was enthusiastically explaining the laws of reflection when the class door was suddenly pushed open.

As the class door was pushed open, the teacher paused mid-sentence, momentarily startled by the interruption. The sudden intrusion drew the attention of the students, breaking their reverie and causing whispers to fade into silence.

"Why are you late today, Neeraj?" the teacher furrowed his brows and stared at boy who was always included in the conversation between the teachers.

"It was rush hour. The road was congested."

The teacher acknowledged it but was still disappointed nonetheless. "Alright, don't come late again." the teacher gestured at him to come in.

Neeraj's steps felt heavier than usual as he made his way to his desk, his gaze avoiding Dawa's side entirely.

Dawa pursed his lips but didn't say anything in the end. He watched Neeraj, his gaze lingering for a moment before flickering away.

The day slipped by in a blur of silent glances, without any conversation between them.

"Let's go and play games today." Nischal bubbled, his fingers dancing in the air as if they were already tapping away at a keyboard.

"Sure," Samir replied. His parents were with his sister who had gone to her dance competition.

Both of them looked at Dawa expectedly.

"Okay." Dawa shrugged his shoulders and agreed. The trio neatly packed their bags and headed toward the door.

"Dawa." An unexpected voice called out toward the boy who was trailing behind his friends.

"Are you going to the school picnic?"

Dawa finally smiled but didn't turn around. He resumed walking and, just before crossing the door, waved his hand "Definitely."