know that? He hasn’t even contacted me since he has gone away.”
“Josh…” Aakir starts in a tired voice, “You keep trying so hard to impress Uncle. What you don’t know is that he never expects you to prove yourself to him.”
“And you know that, how? Had a heart to heart with my father?” I say sarcastically. It’s not just me. Father doesn’t express to or talk overtly with anyone in the house, so it’s impossible for Aakir to be second guessing these things and worse – persuading me with these guesses.
“It’s understandable.” He snaps, “But apparently your skull is too thick for that.” He huffs in annoyance, “So, what? You’re not going to talk to Neal till your daddy gives a green signal?” he says in an annoyingly kiddy voice, trying to rile me up. “It’s just bloody ‘talking’, Josh.” He says in his normal voice, “Simple talking. You need your father to return so you can start a simple conversation with Neal?”
Well…he has a point.
My father has mysteriously disappeared since the day I informed him of my partner. Mom says that he has gone on a work trip with his colleagues. But a work trip of more than one week? He has never been gone that long. When I asked mother again, she seemed dubious. Then she disclosed that father is not exactly out on a ‘work’ trip per se but has some important engagement to take care of. She didn’t inform me of the details, saying that she herself doesn’t know much.
I know she is half lying. Being her son for so long, I can pick on certain twitches that characterize my mother. I believe her when she says that she doesn’t know the purpose of my father’s journey. But when she tells me that father has gone to Daugavplis, I know that she is lying. I may call and ask my father but I am already anxious to confront him.Plus if he hasn’t told mother about his sudden vacation, then I doubt he’ll tell me anything at all.
Surprisingly, Terry uncle seems to be aware of my father’s whereabouts though he continues to shrug whenever I question him. He starts giving me knowing looks when I prod him. Those looks persuade me to not carry on my inquisition. I think he has been informed about my partner though I haven’t told him. Mother has promised to not divulge the information till I am ready. But I know for a fact that my mother couldn’t resist telling Rufina aunt about it. Aunt Rufina didn’t make a deal of it, probably not wanting me to feel awkward. She simply smiled and told me she is happy for me and that was that. The subject of my partner doesn’t get raised at home but I don’t think there is anyone at home who doesn’t know of it anymore, except for Faith and Rahul of course, who had bailed on us the last weekend. Had they visited us, I am in no doubt that they would have been informed of the news.
Still, I am quite reprieved that nobody at home prods me to discuss my partner. I can imagine the conversation getting too awkward, too fast. I just wish father returns home soon.
“I’ll see what to do about it.” I concede to Aakir. “Let’s go before the bell rings.”
It’s Friday, so by the time lunch rolls over I decide to take action upon my words. Aakir is right. There is no big deal in striking a simple conversation with Nealat a personal level. At least I have a certain topic in mind, thanks to Duato, else I may just become tongue-tied. I am on edge as we sit at our cafeteria table, constantly looking towards the cafeteria doors. Aakir gives me knowing looks all the while. I simply roll my eyes at him.
I am actually unaware of where Neal remains during the lunch hour. I do see him visiting the cafeteria at times. He simply comes, talks for a few minutes with a bunch of group that I have come to call the ‘elites’, as most of them are known to be snobbishly superior in at least one aspect important to a high school student, and then Neal simply walks out. I haven’t turned into a stalker to follow him afterwards, so I don’t know where he spends the rest of the lunch hour. Since I have started taking notice of Neal’s whereabouts, I am partly surprised that he doesn’t spend the whole lunch hour in the cafeteria. I mean, he is the school’s paper’s author. Wouldn’t he want to be present in the cafeteria so to not miss anything eye catching? But I digress.Today holds more surprise for me. I sit hereat my table, waiting for Neal to walk in so I can follow him when he walks out. But he doesn’t walk in at all. My talk with Aakir has made me a little expectant. It’d be a downer if Neal doesn’t show up. When half of lunch passes away, I get twitchy. I contemplate roaming about the schoolin hopes of sensing Neal’s aura but that’ll take too much of time. Our school is not exactly small.
Sighing, I take matter into my own hands. I excuse myself from my friends and walk towards the table of the ‘elites’. My eyes roam about their table. The valedictorians, the nerds, the ‘always ready to volunteer’ kids, the rich who donate money to school in buckets…in gist, everyone is there who hates the popular crowd, especially the jocks. Neal doesn’t always hang out with all of them, save for Tanya and one or two more guys but I have seen him discoursing with this crowd occasionally. I clear my throat as I reach the table. The silence falls instantly, making every person look at me with prejudice. In fact I can feel eye daggers at my back too and know that my friends at my table must be looking in my direction as well. I swallow my nervousness and focus on Tanya whois sitting in the middle.
“Hey,” I say, looking at her. Her eyes widens, surprised that I am talking to her, “May I have a word with you?” I ask politely as everybody else keeps staring at me.
“What the hell for?” one of the guys sitting next to Tanya growls at me.
I am shocked at his antagonistic tone. I don’t recall doing anything that may be displeasing for this particular fellow. I realize that he is the same guy who was with Neal while they had fought against Duato.
“Alek, it’s okay.” Tanya says in her usual soft tone, somehow managing to make it sound like a reprimand, “I’ll be fine, he is okay.” She continues as she gets up from her seat.
Alek doesn’t look satisfied as he continues to glower at me. I keep a pacified expression. Tanya joins me. I motion for us to move sideways, out of earshot. I can still feel the eyes of most of the students in our direction.
We pause a good number of steps away from everyone. Once we face each other, she smiles kindly at me. Well.Not every one of those elites dislikes the jocks.
“Thanks.” I tell her, “Sorry for bothering you.”
“It’s alright.” She says softly, “What is it?”
“Ah…I was just wondering if you could tell me where Neal is?”
Something flashes in her eyes, “Why?” she asks.
“Uh…” I falter, not in the least bit prepared for her sudden question. “I…I needed to have a word with him.” I say lamely.
Tanya nods slowly, “Sorry for prying but we all have been slightly on edge regarding your circle of friends.” She admits.
Of course, why wouldn’t she be? One of my ‘friends’ literally punched her boyfriend over a silly paper.
I nod, “I understand. You don’t have to worry. I am probably the last person you should be worrying about.” I give off a slight laugh.
She smiles back, “Yeah, Neal says the same.” She says and then abruptly halts, smiling awkwardly, “We all are just concerned as I am sure you could understand by Alek’s behavior,” Actually, I don’t understand that but I let her continue, “Neal’s already been jumped twice so we are just being cautious.”
“What?” I am sure my face expresses the shock I am feeling, “He got jumped twice?”
Tanya eyes me incredulously as if she can’t believe that I don’t know of this, “On Monday itself, in the parking lot.” she informs me, “After The Plutocracy got out that day.”
“Who was it?” I ask with barely suppressed anger. But seriously? Is it such a big deal to start physical fights over?
Tanya shrugs, “Neal didn’t tell me the exact names,” she looks displeased that Neal is hiding from her,“but we know that it was…Duato and his friends.” She looks on with disdain, her anger barely suppressed at Duato’s name, “It was very low of them to corner Neal alo
ne at the end of the school.”
“No shit.” I say, glaring towards my table. And what does she mean by ‘his friends’? Who ‘friends’? Most of the peopleon my table are already looking at us.Duato is suspiciously not at the table. He has been bailing on lunch quite a lot these days. Probably because most of us do not speak in agreement with him. And I again wonder, who ‘friends’?
I look back at Tanya, “Look Tanya, I understand your concern, and I’ll definitely try my best to curb such incidents if possible.” I tell her sincerely.
“My name is Ananya.” She says.
…Talk about awkward.
“Eh…Yeah, Ananya.” I say. I feel my face turning red. A moment of very, very awkward silence greets us. I shake my head sheepishly, “I am really sorry; I had always assumed that your name is Tanya.”
She smirks, “It’s okay. At least it sounds similar.” she sighs, “Neal must be in the library as of now. I doubt he’ll be free, he has been preparing for the afternoon student council meeting since morning.”
“Oh.”
“You can check though.” She says smiling, “I’ll see you later.”
“Thanks.” I smile at her and bid her goodbye.
I do not spare a glance at my lunch table as I exit the cafeteria. I strangely try to get rid of the explosive blush on my face. I can’t believe I kept assuming her