by Namita Singh
principal punishing Duato is not going to infuriate him more?
Neal shrugs, “He’ll be suspended for a few days. And since it’s our final year, when he returns back he won’t do anything to risk his chances to get into a good university.”
We have entered the corridor which is vacant at the moment. The classes have obviously started. I slow down a little.
“How do you know he’ll be suspended?” I accuse.
Neal slows down too though his face displays giddiness. I notice that he is being suspiciously happy, as if he had been waiting for this moment since a long time. It is actually surprising, how jolly he seems at the prospect of Duato getting suspended. He abruptly turns towards me and grins, “I am good at guessing. And even though Duato alone hitting me might put a doubt in Ivanov Sir’s mind, but the outsiders joining Duato for such an act won’t be tolerated well by Sir.”
I frown.
“Trust me.” Neal says, noticing my dubious face, “I have had several encounters with Ivanov Sir to know how his brain works. He won’t take this lightly.”
“If you say so.” I mumble.
“Plus, I won’t be writing against Duato anymore. So, he wouldn’t have any reason to bother me again.” Neal says.
I scoff a laugh, “Now that’s a downer, isn’t it?”
Neal frowns, though he is smiling, “What do you mean?”
“Well,” I say, “It’s not everyday people get to see you expressing distaste against someone. You, more than anybody else, should know how fervent gossip diggers are the students here.”
Neal shrugs, “Who cares about them?” he laughs, “I got what I wanted. Duato can go to hell for all I care now.”
“Got what you wanted, huh?”
Neal shrugs, “He is almost a social pariah now. Plus he’ll be suspended, probably scolded at home too. That’s enough for his punishment.”
Neal actually looks very serious while saying that. I roll my eyes discreetly. Punishment? Where are we? In the Middle Ages?
“You didn’t tell what Duato did to aggravate you so much?” I ask instead, making my question sound casual. Neal wasn’t inclined towards telling me about it last week, but maybe if I be nonchalant about it now, he may spill it out as something of no importance. He definitely seems in a very good mood right at this moment.
“If I wanted to do that, I would have written it in my paper.” He sounds nonchalant alright but his refusal is as clear as day. I feel my ears getting warm at the rejection. Neal suddenly halts, making me stop in my tracks too. I turn to face him as he does the same, making me look down at him since he is shorter. He suspires, seemingly contemplating something. Then he begins anew, “Since you’re not a ‘gossip digger’, as you so beautifully put it,” he rolls his eyes jestingly, “I’ll let you know that Duato was a bastard to someone close to me. Yes,” he cuts me off when I open my mouth to say something, “He was that much of a bastard to make me antagonize him so fiercely.”
“What did he do?” I say, before Neal can change his mind. My heart quickens, half in anticipation and half in relief. I should have known that Neal will not target a student just because he is capable of doing so. Duato did something which made him deserve what he got. At least that is what Neal is saying. But my mind is reveling in the fact that Neal is finally opening up to me. The last Saturday when I had called him beyond midnight, we had ended up talking gibberish for long minutes. Nothing relevant but just humorous bantering. But even after talking for so long, we hadn’t said anything remotely personal. So, I am definitely thrilled at the moment as Neal prepares to tell why he is so angry at Duato.
Neal smirks, “You’re awfully curious for not being a ‘gossip digger’.”
Oh well, don’t I know all about my curiosity.
“I just want to know what it is that can offend you so much.” I answer him honestly.
Neal remains silent for a moment, pursing his lips and looking down the corridor thoughtfully. He is obviously wondering if he should tell me or not. He looks at me and sighs heavily, probably coming to a decision.
“He did something very wrong to someone very close to me.” he says.
“You have already said that.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t be iterative.”
“Hey, I am trying.”
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable, Neal. I understand that. We are not best of friends.”
Neal grimaces, waving his hand in my face, “The situation is simple enough- you asking and me answering. No chick-flick moments, please.”
“Alright.” I roll my eyes, “Go on.”
Neal chortles, shaking his head.Thenhe sighs again, “Duato…he h-”
“-hurt someone close to you.” I end it for him, making him grin sheepishly, “I am assuming he bothered Tanya?”
Neal frowns, “Tanya?”
“Yeah, your girlfriend.” The word ‘girlfriend’ sounds foreign coming from me as if I have to put an effort at saying it. Ethan has seriously messed up mind with his words since the weekend.
Neal’s eyebrows make way to his hairline, “My girlfriend?” he asks, “Dude, I don’t even know any Tanya, I don’t know how you can say that she is my girlfriend.” He laughs.
“Huh?” I say stupidly, “Are you joking? I am talking of Tanya-” I pause abruptly, realizing my mistake, “Uh…I mean, Ananya. Shit, I am sorry.”
“Oh.” Realization dawns on his face, but he makes no issue of I addressing his girlfriend by the wrong name. Curse my memory. Why can’t sharp brains and photographic memories be attributes of the therians too? I would have preferred that over our strength. I am seriously in need of those traits. Neal frowns, smirking slightly, making his face look like an ugly grimace, “Who told you that she is my girlfriend?”
“Uh…no one.” I realize that I have actually never heard of them going out….but both of them are mostly together.
“You just assumed that we are together?” he is laughing now.
I feel my ears getting warm again, “Well, I hardly see you two apart.”
Neal chuckles some more, “Well, sorry to burst your bubble…” Neal immediately sobers up, looking seriously at me, “but Ananya was actually dating Duato.”
“…What?”
“Yup.”
Well…as shocking the piece of news about Ananya and Duato dating is; not just for me, but for all the students of this school; I find myself concentrating on something entirely different. Ananya is not Neal’s girlfriend. Ananya is not Neal’s girlfriend. Ananya is not-
I clear my throat and begin, “So…um, you and Ananya are not…?”
He sighs, “I wish.” He mutters then laughs awkwardly.
“You like her?” I blurt out.
He shrugs, nonchalant, but I can see the tip of his ears turning pink, “What’s not to like?”
“Well…”
“At least she is better than Natalie.” He taunts, smirking.
“Hey,” I snap, “I am not after her anymore.” I tell him as we resume our walk at a slow pace. I can’t even remember the last significant talk I had with Natalie.
“Yeah, I noticed…” Neal mutters again, “I also noticed you checking Ananya out a few times.”
I give him an ‘are you kidding me?’ look, to which he pointedly shrugs. I roll my eyes, “As you said, she has nothing to be disliked.” I smile back, tightlipped. “Besides, I can check out whoever I want.” I add for my benefit.
“Yeah, right.” He says sarcastically.
“So…Ananya was dating Duato?” I ask.
Neal sighs again, “Yeah. Listen…well, I am assuming you already know, but I’ll still say it anyway.You’re not supposed to tell this to anyone.”
I shake my head in exasperation, “I don’t run a public newspaper.”
“Don’t be a smartass. Don’t tell Aakir or Faith…or whoever is close to you. It’s Ananya’s business. I don’t even have the right to tell you as much as I have already said.”
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I breathe out heavily, “Yes, I won’t. I wasn’t going to, anyways.” I mumble.
“Yeah….so I can’t tell you the details. I’ll just let you know he wasn’t very nice to her and he did some things…not very nice things. Ana was upset for days.”
“I thought Duato was after Angie.” I say after a moment as I think of the issue.
“Yeah, he even cheated on Ana.” He blurts. He grimaces, “Listen, let’s not talk about this. As I said, it’s Ana’s business and I have already revealed quite a lot.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.”
“Is your class on this floor?”
“No, first.”
“Mine’s on second. Come on, let’s go.”
We increase our speed and climb the staircase hastily. Neal’s steps are bouncy.The bruise, the size of Russia on his cheek, hardly seems to affect him. He instead looks freshly energized as if he hasn’t been in a fight just a few minutes before. His excitement and happiness filled aura feels more potent with his exultant state. His aura reverberates with his steps, overpowering even my powerful aura. When we reach the first floor, Neal halts, probably to bid me goodbye.
“Don’t tell about Ananya to anyone.” He warns me again.
I roll my eyes, “Goodbye, Neal.” I say and start to walk away.
“Josh?”
I halt again and turn back.
Neal smiles genuinely, “Thanks for helping me in the morning against Duato.”
I smile back, “You’re welcome.”
I watch, almost in slow motion, as Neal lifts his left hand and punches my right upper arm playfully, “Goodbye!” he turns and starts climbing the next set of stairs, taking two at a time.
The sudden jolt of an unknown sensation starts