PUNIT’S POV
Okay, got what I need, and now I’m headed home!
We’re planning to cook some khichdi tonight. And she’s a great cook, have I told you? Give her any ingredient, she’ll make something great out of it, and one look is all that she takes to get ideas.
So, where were we? Ah, yes! That day, she headed to the principal’s office to complain. Well, it didn’t work. Ask me why I’m not surprised. That guy was a chicken and didn’t have the spine to lift a finger against the chairman’s son. Well, I can't blame him. He has to save his ass. He and he alone must, because, no one else will save it for him.
So, one afternoon, as I was taking a cautious stroll in the school grounds, (cautious because, you know... this bully Sibal would be lurking in the corner waiting to bash me up) I chanced upon a ruckus. There was a hell lot of noise and all the kids had gathered around to see what was happening. And now, I was curious too.
“What’s going on?” I asked and stood on my toes, craning my neck to peer beyond the sea of heads.
Being tall and lanky had its plus points, I could reach anywhere. Well, not everywhere. And I could take the backbench or be the last in a row. It was a blessing considering that Sibal was a shorty and had to stay in the front of wherever he went, be it a bench or a row.
He was chunky, like a piece of meat, had man boobs, and was shorter by a couple of inches. But that didn’t make his punches any softer. God, I hate him. Guess I said that already?
So, when I peered over, guess what I saw? I’ll give you a hint, whatever I saw out there made me utterly happy.
Sibal was getting mauled!
By Anki!
Can you believe that?
I have to admit, I was happy. I could break a marathon hurdle record. I was THAT happy! He deserved it! Sucker used to taunt me a LOT for no reason at all! I’d always dreamt of watching him getting butt-caned in full view of the school or at least get into the most humiliating moment of his life, but alas, it never happened, until now. My joy knew no bounds!
I wondered why he was getting bashed up though!
“Kick his ass!!!” someone cheered beside me. I won't lie, that startled me so bad that I almost jumped out of my shorts.
But wow! Looks like I wasn’t the only one who loathed this guy? There were many others. Why else would they cheer on this? Some were even hooting for God’s sake.
It was deafening. It felt like I was in the Roman Colosseum watching a fight to the death between gladiators. NOT. More like a bullfight, rather. And this little matador was getting gored to death by Anki. She was literally kicking him around like a plastic cup. I had no idea what got her so possessed.
At one point in time, he was exhausted, so much that he trembled when he tried clambering to his knees. But one kick to his side made him bite the dust yet again.
There was a hell lot of oohs which stopped when out of nowhere the teachers charged with their canes. All of us scattered like bullets. Thanks to Sibal, I was great at sprinting, so it didn’t take me long to cover up the whole ground in one stride.
When I’d found a safe hiding spot behind a tree, I saw Anki being dragged away to the Principal’s office. I was scared. I really hoped that they didn’t hurt her. I was damn sure that she’d done nothing wrong.
So, I inched closer and hung around.
Mr. Shah, our chicken poop principal was about to hit her with a cane. But man, talk about defiance and guts, she just crossed her arms and refused to give in. And that’s when he grabbed her by the skirt and tried to whack her ass.
“Don’t touch me!” She snarled like an angry cat and knocked his cane away. “I’ve done nothing wrong! If you dare, go and pick on that mutt, Sibal. If you have issues with me, talk to my parents about it!”
I just blinked. Like seriously, what creature was she?
Even the teachers were taken aback. Some of them looked embarrassed.
"How dare you!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!” Mr. Shah was trembling in fury. The guy was so huge and flabby that he looked like a giant hippo.
I wanted to hang around and know more, but unfortunately, I had to get back to class.
A while later, I saw her dad for the first time. She was with him too. They were having a chat as they walked past our class. I really wanted to know what happened.
I remember fidgeting in my seat to get a better look at him. After all, he was Anki’s father and I wanted to know everything about her.
Ratan Agarwal. That’s his name. He had salt and pepper hair, glasses, and sharp, piercing eyes. On the first impression, he looked like a very hot-tempered, no-nonsense guy. Maybe that was where Anki got her fury from?
That was the first time I felt a strong pull towards her. I don’t know what it was. Admiration? Curiosity? Or attraction? I felt like a helpless fanboy. I wanted to get close to her. Grab her attention. Be her friend. Be everything!!!
I ended up thinking about her several times in the day.
My eyes were quick to spot her almost anywhere, even from amidst a crowd.
My ears were eternally up to listen to what she had to say, or what others had to say about her.
I found myself defending her when anyone spoke shit about her. Not that anyone did, she was so rightful in all her ways.
I followed her. Secretly. Um... is that stalking by the way? I refuse to believe that. I wasn’t stalking her. Um... was I?
***