The Darkness's Spark

Sparkling sky
pc - etsy

It was a New Year! A fresh winter wind, passed-on from December, embraced me as I entered the school. It was 8.45 am and a cool puff of air blended with sunshine just rekindled my senses. 

As I was stepping inside the school gate, a lot of things cherished me. The revitalising winter weather and regular yet wonderful New Year day. And the best part is seeing my friends after a long break; and some cute girls too. 

But when it comes to girls, I perform the role of spectator (very well) as I do not have much confidence in talking to them. But this year, I decided to talk, taking inspiration from Ram and Dinee. 

Ram is a genius, when it comes to girls. He is just spontaneous with them. Is he spontaneous with us? - that's a question to think about! Conversely, Dinee is not much of a conversationalist but likes to respond in one-liners (punch lines). It's short and fun. Sometimes, annoying as well. 

So, Go Dinee (Inspired from Go France!), I composed myself and proceeded to the classroom. It was a five minutes walk through the playground to my classroom from the entrance gate. While on the walk, I felt an eerie sensation at the back of my spine. I turned to see my biology teacher walking next to me.

Catherine miss!!! 

I heard a dog barking, sniffing my anxiety, from a distance. Crows cawing frantically from atop the tree.

With a stern look and an erected back, she looked like an imposing statuette moving forward. “Happy New Year madam,” I greeted her with a forged smile. Along came a series of greetings from around, “Happy New Year” “Good morning” “Happy morning.”

She didn’t nod, respond out loud or even smiled yet we got our answer. She signalled through her eyelids, which closed with the shutter-speed less than one. Meanwhile, her head tilted down, for a micro-second. I was awed by this not-so-majestic and annoying gesture. But the answer papers, she carried in her arms, terrified me.

Then, I smelled a sweet aroma coming from behind, deviating me from the papers. It was Keerthi, striding forward, cute as bug's ear. She went past me and I heard the sweet cooing of Asian Koel, hiding beneath the leaves, from the majestic Peepal tree near the church.  

Keerthi is a popular girl in our school among teachers as well as students. While, teachers like her studious nature, we – droolers – admire her for being Keerthi. She is cute as Koala and lively as a sunbird. Being a School Pupil Leader (SPL), she often speaks in the assembly, but all I hear was the sweet melody of Magpie Robin. A girl as delightful as her deserves some followers. Adding to that is her walk; splendid and sophisticated as any cat species, augmenting her looks and appeal.

She came in colours on that day; no uniform. Yes! It’s her birthday – January 2. That’s another special thing about the re-opening day. I get to see this sparkling cat swaying her way meticulously through some dull and dusty stray dogs; both passive and dominant ones.

***

“What ma? How were the holidays?” inquired my class teacher with a charming smile.

Reji sir! Highschool sweetheart. Sweet, calm and handsome teacher, who taught us English. Unlike other teachers, his English was clear and understandable while most of the teachers fashion IDIOcratic language.   

We start the year with an hour of prayer in a church; most common things to witness in the Christian Missionaries. We spend around 10 minutes in class before assembling in front of the church for the Mass (Catholic prayer). Reji sir was using that time efficiently by posing questions about holidays. After one or two answers, silence filled the atmosphere.

“Alright, lets wish our birthday girl!” He swapped the topic after sensing uneasiness in the air.

This, for sure, was the topic of interest to us as we know very well about the reward. And it's good to start a year with a sweet. Right?

Cheerfully, we sang the birthday song.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to dear Keerthi

Happy birthday to you!

There was a little variation in tune as the rhythm peeked in the third line. A few of us got excited to call her dear. And we continued…

May God bless you

May God bless you

Blab bla bla blab bla bla

Happy birthday to you!

While lines like – may God bless you – doesn’t really make sense (Why do we ask God for blessing? Isn't it his job to bless everyone? And why only her? Do we need to ask for it?), I continued with pure joy. Because it’s not about the birthday girl, but what she holds!

The song ended but not the noise as the rhythm was replaced with applause. I wondered why we clap at times. Is it a gesture of appreciation? Or greeting someone? Or motivating ourselves? Or getting rewarded? – I never knew.

Yet I joined others to keep up the momentum.

Keethi started to distribute chocolates. A few shook hands, greeted her and took the chocolates and others just pounced onto the chocolate box like a starving cat and wished her without even looking at her eyes.

As she was approaching me, I composed myself to look her at eyes and wish her before touching her box. Go Dinee, I said to myself. 

Sitting at the corner of the third row, I was sweating profusely out of nervousness and she was distributing chocolates in the second row. She finished and turned towards me. My heartbeat raced.

She came and offered me her box. I trembled and never looked her in the eyes. Like a flash, I raised, looked her, wished her and sat down. I told her something, which I couldn’t remember except the word happy. I was blank. She smiled, though.

After she left, my friend mumbled, “Dude, how did you do that?”

“How did I do what?”

“Your WISH!”

“What’s with that?”

“You don’t know anything. Do you?” he smirked. I noted a slight change in his attitude, and it heightened my curiosity. I looked back. The whole bench was giggling and so did the Keerthi, with her occasional gaze.

“What did I say?” I lost myself.

“Happy New Year not Happy Birthday, you fool!” He laughed.

Oh my God! – I snapped, irritated.

We came out of class, maintained the line and walked to the church. While everyone was making fun of me with that incident, I was happy for making her laugh. The feeling of her being happy swept away my awkwardness and like a spark in the darkness, I took a confident stride towards the gate, where the cicadas greeted me with its buzzing hum.