Chapter VIII

'Mera juta hai japani' is ringing through the stereo. For a rich, modern guy, Tarun is surprisingly into old classics. Rajesh, unable to bear any more old songs, plugs on his headphones to his i-pod and tunes into his all time favorite 'My heart will go on' by Celine Dion. This song holds a soft spot in his heart, as to this song he shared many close moments with Supriya, his childhood crush. She was his close friend and he found her very cute and beautiful. She was his mother's friend's daughter. They had spent a very close two years, when his family moved to Chandigarh.

They used to play all the time; badminton, hide-seek etc. They used to cycle down to the park after school and play all evening, cycling back together to their homes later. There were time when they even used to pretend husband and wife and play with Supriya's dolls as their imaginary kid. It was during one of these husband-wife playtime, Supriya had played this song on her walkman, sharing headphones. While listening to this song, unbestknown to him, her hand was on top of his hand. Suddenly all of his attention went to that. He didn't turn his head toward their hands, for he feared that if she noticed it too, she might want to move it. The softness, delicateness of her palm was new to him. He had held girls hand before in his school sometime or the other, but this was different compared to all those. He wanted to turn his hand and hold on to her hand. But he didn't want her to notice that he was relishing every moment of this. He didn't want the song to end, didn't want her to move her hand. But there is a silver lining to every cloud, regardless of dark or white. As the song ended, she kept her walkman away and asked him how as the song.

He was ecstatic, kind of speechless. Though his brain failed him, his heart did not fail. His face blushed red. Seeing him this red, Supriya couldn't control her laughter and she fell backwards on the bed they were sitting. This moment caused a spark in his heart and he was infatuated with her beauty, smile and laughter.

From that moment onwards, he always blushed like a rose whenever she smiled at him. Day after Day he found himself more and more infatuated with her. School started becoming boring and he used to wait till the last bell like any other kid, but with a different reason. He would race home like a hungry man who has found food, only he was hungry for her smile. Once while they were in the park, playing hide-seek, as he was running from her he tripped on a stone and hurt his knee. Supriya, like proper friend did point at him laugh, but after a moment of laughter she bent down to see his wound. Seeing him grimacing in pain, she let out small, delicate blows from her mouth to his wound, as if to calm him down and comfort him. When he felt her blowing, time stopped around him. All he could see was her small, cute face blowing onto his wound, everything else was oblivious to him. When she looked up, she found him staring intently at her face. As she tilted her head sideways, he found out that he has been caught. Rushing came the blood to his, turning him to a pink rose. He heaved a sigh of relief when she flashed a smile to this. They got up and walked it off and called it a day.

Lot of times he felt that he should confess to her about his feelings. But fear of her moving away from his life got the better of him. He felt that it was better to keep his feelings to himself and maintain their friendship rather that confessing and pushing her away. Adding to this fact, their mothers were friends. It would be awkward. On their last evening playtime with her, they just walked through the park. He could not fathom the fact that come tomorrow he will not be seeing her everyday. As they were about to call it a day she said the thing which he was going to remember for the rest of his life. She said "Rajesh, you were the best friend I have ever had in my life. Please don't forget me" and she gave him a peck on his cheek. As always he became speechless and blushed like a tomato. But she didn't laugh this time, just a smile.

"Lets take a cigarette break yaar", Neeraj suggests, waking up from his slumber. This brings Rajesh back to present and they stop at the next rest-stop in the highway. Puffing away, Supriya's face flashes through his mind. He smiles it off, for its true that you never forget your first crush.

After they finish of the cigarette, they resume on their journey.


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