Banjax

Keya Madhavan

Saina was to play enchantress, May as Maurice, were Abhi as Lumiere and Aira as Mrs. Potts.

After announcing the roles and giving out the script we started on with our first scene.

We didn't realize how the day went past with our scenes and breaks that it was already time for our home. I knew that the 6 of us in the drama together wasn't a coincidence. But I didn't mind, because they were fun. We all went really well together.

My route to reach home was by walking. During normal school days, the school bus would have been there, to which it would take around 20 minutes to reach my home. So it would take me longer while walking and the sky was beginning to dark. My walk to home was going on peacefully when I heard him screaming

"Hey! My girlfriend!" I halted and facepalm myself.

He reached beside me and we both begin walking.

"So my girlfriend keya, shall we go on date someday?" He asked.

"Is this your way to home too?" I asked avoiding his question.

"And we breathe in air" he answered.

"I didn't ask you that"

"Neither did I" he replied smugly.

"Will you stop getting on my nerves?" He was really getting on it.

"Will you go on date with me?"

"No" I replied the obvious.

"So is my answer" he answered with determination.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in me?" I asked the most bothering question.

"Because I like you" He replied as simply as possible.

"So why now? After all this time. Didn't you like me before or did I suddenly became attractive?"

"It took me time to collect and recognize my feelings for you and realizing how beautiful you are actually inside out." His replies made me think, Did he practiced these lines just to say in front of me? It sounds so perfect without a room for argument.

"So what about the other gi-" he pulled me to his other side on the road. I forgot for a moment that I was still on the road with speeding vehicles. He saved me from getting hit.

"You should be careful on road! What if you got hit and something happened to you?!" He lashed out at me. His whole calm demeanor changed in seconds. He was terrified..?

I saw fear in his brown orb eyes for a split second before it got replaced with concern and anger.

"How can you be so irresponsible on road? Are you a child who needs to learn how to walk on the road without getting hurt?" He was already scolding me like a child.

"I am sorry. I know I was careless and wrong but please don't scold me." I told him with my upset tone.

He just glanced at me and murmured an " I'm sorry."

I was sensitive and scared of shouting and scolding. That is one of the reasons why I was always obedient. I have learned that when you listen to someone diligently without any words then you can escape scolding, the way I escape it everywhere.

We were in front of my home when he waved me bye. "Safely reach your home, bye." I waved to him.

"Why? worried about me?" he asked with his same smug.

"See you tomorrow" I told out and rushed inside the house not waiting for his response, but not before watching him walk away with an amused smirk.

What will happen if I say yes to him? will it be a bad decision or a very bad decision? shall I try him giving one chance, only a single one? will I regret it give in? I mean he does say that he really likes me and he seems to be quite persistent. The only thoughts in my mind while lying on the bed with no sign of sleep in my eyes, were tired even though. I knew I would regret this tomorrow. He really was bad for my health.

It was morning but my eyes don't agree to stay open. Every morning it gives a solid reason to regret my decision for being in the lead role in the drama. Everyone has the day off in drama today, only the leads are called for practice. It has been two weeks now of our practice, and today we have the ballroom dance scene.

And also today I'm going to start dating Adik. After lots of thoughts. Yes, I know maybe I'm rushing but ! want to give us a chance. Either way, I'm going to regret it because we might never meet again after the farewell, so I want to regret it at

least after trying. And what might be

the worst outcome? only a single

breakup right? nothing more.

I want to surrender to those feelings and fall for his enchantment, just for once.

Honestly, I have started to like him. The way he talks, the way he smiles, the way he cares, the way he fights, the way he listens, the way he focuses, the way he flirts and many more whom I can't recall. "Ma! I'm leaving!" I yelled towards the kitchen to let my mother know my departure.

"Have a good and safe day!" She yelled back.

Unlocked the door and there he was, waiting for me.

"Good morning" I wished him with a smile of excitement thinking about his reaction after listening to my confession.

"Morning" he greeted me back with his normal boyish tone which was turning deep and husky day by day.

"Did something good happened?" He asked me as we were walking through the deserted, fog covered downhill road which went right through the heart of the forest adjoining the highway.

"Huh?"

"I mean your pretty face is adorned with your precious smile the whole morning. So what's the cause?" He used his brilliant speech skills which he Masters in.

"Ah, nothing just had my favorite breakfast and heart full of sleep." Didn't find a better excuse to hide my enthusiasm.

How I wonder this walking together and accompanying me to home became a normal routine from me running away and avoiding him. Conversing about each other and random things in incredible world. But one thing that didn't change was him pushing me to start dating him.

The fact that he was a national rank holder swimmer and the goalkeeper of the state football team with an A+ in abacus surprised me because despite being in the same school for 12 years I didn't know anything about him.

It was true that rumors and bad mouthing spreads faster than your talk of achievements and goodness.

But what I came to know that he doesn't mind any of those. Neither does he try to clarify them or deny them. Like he doesn't care what people think about him.

The road was tranquil with only our footsteps clicking on it. The breath was at the limit of its freshness.

Should I tell him now? Or in the evening? How should I tell him? Or should I write it to him on paper?

My body was feeling like jumping around and roll on the ground. It was a weird feeling which I developed a week before whenever I try to talk ourselves romantic.

I decided to hold hands. Yes, step by step rushing causes accidents. But that to need lots of courage. I tried brushing my fingers on the dorsal side of his hand while walking and glanced at him for reaction. But there was none.

So I gather my courage and pushed my fingers through his palm and clasped our palms. Peeked up just to watch him grinning with a warm smile all the while looking ahead.

His hand was warmer than mine with a promising hold of not leaving soon. It felt contained.

Neither of us uttered a sole phrase.

All the while just holding hands and memorizing each other's touch we walked on.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐