Best Buddies - This is Life!!! - Part 3

Part - 2
Part - 1

I woke up early the next morning, inspite of a late hangover. I guess it was obvious, I wouldn't have had a good sleep.





My mood still wasn't showing any signs of improvement.





Then suddenly Di came into my room.



"Nikhil bhaiya...", and I cut her right there.




"Di, what's wrong with you, why are you calling me bhaiya, all of a sudden, I don't sell vegetables or milk or wash clothes. Bhaiya Bhaiya Bhaiya." I was speaking non-sense.







Di, came over to me, first felt my pulse, then my heart beat, my temperature, and then,


"Are you still drunk?"




"What's with this bhaiya syndrome all of a sudden?"




She started laughing like I had cracked the biggest joke ever.


"Oh..that...Ranbir had come the other day naa. He asked me, where was my elder brother. He thought I was your younger sis. Leave all that, what's with your mood Nikzz..?"





I was just waiting to tell it to her. She patiently sat there next to me for the next 30minutes and listened to everything.

"Nikhil, stop taking things so seriously now. You are a teenagaer, enjoy your teen life. Love and all can wait. Friends are way more important than all this. Because of Bhavika, don't ruin your friendship with Ishaan. Enjoy school, cricket, and friends. Cheer up now and get ready, we are going for a long drive. I have just cleared my final driving exam."

Short, sweet and so TRUE.





She went out of the room, and I just sat there. How am I supposed to react. I was so happy about her clearing the test, but this Bhavika thing was still afresh in my minds.

We went out for a long drive, and we saw the true Dubai, its deserts.




Later in the afternoon, we went for lunch. Ishaan, Ranbir and Sania also joined in and we partied hard, so what if it was afternoon.




In the evening I felt so relaxed, like nothing had happened, last night.


Thanks to my Best Sister. Every guy should have a sister like her.

School was getting fun every passing day. New friends, new happenings, boring chapters, class background comments.





And then I got busy with my cricket practice sessions, Ranbir with football and Ishaan with dance & drama. Our schedules mis-matched.




Then even the first semester exams were coming up. Things were getting a toll of us.

Wake up, go to school, then practice sessions, tutions and sleep, the day just got over with all this. We missed out on loads of stuff. Life was getting boring, monotonous and stressful.

At times I wondered, why have things changed so much over time. Can't the world understand, that we are still too young to step into the actual world.

We met rarely, but today was one of those lucky days. We went out for coffee, as we had a bit of spare time today.

"So, all set for exams guys?" asked Ranbir, as if he was done with the portion.

"You actually think so. I haven't even opened the book for tommorow's tution test."I replied.

"How could you even think of asking this question, Ranbir?", came in Ishaan's question.

"Chuck it, sorry my fault. So, how'z bhabhiji doing?" popped in another question from Ranbir.

"She's all fine."replied Ishaan, trying to avoid the start of that topic.

And then discussions about all random stuff started, but somehow the chapter of school, books and other school activites, would never give up.

'I just hate that chapter.';

'That Sir is usless'.;

'How can we finish that textbook in one day.';

'School is getting boring.';

'That nerd sits with the book the entire day.';
'Teachers and mom-dad, are like full day, open your books and study.'

These were the most common statements in our conversations these days.

Studies and sports were just what we had in our minds, whether we were sleeping or we were awake. Life was so dead. No time for family, friends or any other outings.

"As if there is no life beyond books.", said Ishaan angrily all of a sudden.

"Relax Ishaan. We just can't help it.", I trying to calm him down.

"We are actually born at the wrong time.", now Ranbir is indeed good at spoiling things.

Luckily the coffee got over, and we left. If the topic continued then surely Ishaan would have reached a boiling point and ended up doing something no one could ever expect, how he would react.

That night I couldn't sleep. Obviously Ishaan's wasn't wrong.

Have we just become puppets of the day. Can't we just change things in our favour?



And, what's the use if everyone is equally educated, another fight for survival begins.

A debate started of in my mind.

'Its a competitive world.'

'I am too small to face this selfish world'

'That's what you are being taught.'

The debate was like a mental torture. Imagine fighting yourself.

But, obviously thing's wouldn't change.



Days & nights passed in this fashion.

I was getting busy with the the Cricket matches. We had the Dubai Under 18 Cup lined up right after the semester exams. I had also sorted out differences with Ansh, and things were at ease between the two of us. And soon, I was promoted as the vice-captain of the side. Things were moving fast.

Ranbir was doing really well in football. They had won all the friendly matches they played, since his selection as the captain. The team spirit was really good, and Ranbir's attitude and approach towards the game had made the affect. Things were sailing easy.






Ishaan's practice was also in full swing. The group had recently won the first prize in Dance as well as Drama in the High School Fiesta. It is the most reputed event in the city.The expectations from the group was on the rise. Ishaan had also won the Best Performer Award at the event, and one of the girls in the group had bagged the Best Actress Award. Things were going smooth.

One weekend I felt like, enough now. I closed the dozens of books around me and that was just a few days before the unawaited exams.

Next second, I am ringing up Ranbir.

"Dude, get ready in 10minutes. We are going out for dinner. I don't care if you are tired or whatever. Bye."

And then Ishaan. And the same line, as if I had just mugged it for the exams.
"Dude, get ready in 10minutes. We are going out for dinner. I don't care if you are tired or whatever. Bye."

I am sure they must have thought, has he gone crazy.



But then what are your best friends for. They were there, when I wanted them.

We had a heavy dinner, and then went on a stroll. The weather was just awesome. A nice breeze, and then we had promised that the person who talks about school or books will have a nice kick on his back, from the rest two.



That evening we actually forgot about everything. School and books were miles away.



We had reached heights of stupidity.


Ranbir went and asked a passerby,



"Uncle, what's the time?"

"Its 1'o'clock."

"But in my watch its still 12:55 only."



Then we were playing football with small kids.


All of a sudden it started raining. So we started splashing water on each other.


We had become kids again.



We just didn't care about anything. We just wanted to have a care-free blast of a time, and we did just that. It was really fun to act childish again.



People around us though that we were drunk, but we gave a damn.






Around 5 in the morning we reached home, tired but after the best night out ever, all wet.

The exams started. More then the exams we were tensed about the major sports and cultural events lined up.


And after every exam, the standard dialogues,


'What a rubbish paper was set. The teacher who set it was useless.'



'I wish I just pass.'






And then some typical nerdo discussions.



'This time for sure I will not come first.'



'I did not get that one mark question'

And seeing all this I, Ranbir and Ishaan were like happy that atleast we shall manage to clear all.

After the last exam, we were supposed to meet at my place. Ranbir, Ishaan, Bhavika, Sania and few other friends were supposed to come. It was the much needed break.





Ranbir had come in early.



"Nikhil, I need your help."



"Tell naa.."



"I have a crush on Sania."



"Dude, are you gone nuts."



"I am serious."



"Let's see. But don't expect a lot from me."



"Arey..then who will help me. I will help you when you need any help. Promise."

And all of a sudden the Bhavika episode, right from the smile to the Spellbird's incident came in my mind as a flashback.



Ranbir saw my face, and asked



"Do you like someone?"



I couldn't hide it anymore from him. I just didn't feel like keeping it within me. It was high time I told him. After all he is my best friend, and had the right to know everything. I told him everything.



Ranbir didn't react. He was as shocked as I was at other night, at the party.



I was waiting for him to say something. I was out of words.



"There's nothing wrong in dreaming, just don't put the condition of its fulfillment."



That was the favourite line of my best friend in India.

Did Ranbir say that?

But wait, that was a girls voice.

Ranbir was staring at someone behind me.

I turned around.

"Iiiiiiiissssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttaaaaaaaaaa...."

I shouted as if a ghost was standing in front of me.

...to be continued...