Look at him, isn't he Ram?" Aasha said.
I looked at the playground. There were many students. I moved my eyes here and there and finally spotted Ram with a girl, which made my heart ache.
What is that girl doing with Ram? From what I saw, it seemed like that senior girl was proposing to him. She is a very beautiful and popular girl of our school.
My heart ache like I am loosing something precious. This is not first time I am seeing__Ram getting purposed but everytime I see that infront of me my heart sank like it loosing something.
"I think she is proposing to him," Aasha said again.
"They look so good together, like a match made at heaven," one of our classmates said.
I looked at the ground and said, "I also think so." I walked away slowly.
I was not lying when I said that because they really did look good together. It's just that I can't stand seeing Ram with others.
I have liked him since childhood. Only Aasha knows about it. I don't have the courage to tell him. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen, and he is so popular in our school. All the girls are lining up to date him. I've lost track of how many girls he has dated. Many girls say he is a playboy, but I don't think so. I guess he just hasn't found the girl he wants yet. Are you wondering how I can say this about someone so confidently? It's because Ram and I are childhood friends and neighbors, so I know him well. There are so many girls who want him and who are fans of him, and I don't have anything to compete with those girls.I am just an average girl.
Those girls are beautiful like the moon, and I am just an ordinary girl.Why would he like me? I am not even angry with Ram for not liking me. How can I get angry or disappoint____ after all, who would notice a girl with no beauty when that person is surrounded by so many beautiful girls?
It's like people will never notice a marigold flower when they are standing in a garden full of roses. I am also just like a marigold. Marigolds are simple and quiet flowers. Some people may like them, but most people still choose roses first.
And Ram..... he is just out of my reach. It feels like we are from different world.
"Are you okay?" Aasha patted my shoulder.
I looked at her concerned eyes and replied, "Yeah, I am okay. This is not the first time I am seeing this. It does not bother me nowdays."
I just told a white lie.
Every time I see someone propose him, it hurts like hell, but I pretend like it does not bother me. I also hate how those girls make me insecure. I always feel like why would he like me? I found myself looking down on myself because of this.
Inside the classroom.
"Did you memorize all the word meanings?" I asked Aasha.
"No, they are very difficult to memorize and I don't understand them at all," she said.
I just looked at her and smiled.
"Can you help me memorize them?" she asked.
"How am I supposed to help you memorize? Do it yourself," I replied.
"You are the topper of our class. Just help your friend."
"Do it yourself."
Suddenly, Ram entered the classroom. This time his hands were empty. Every time he proposed, he always used a full pack of snacks. From that view, people used to think he accepted that girl's proposal. But this time I didn't know what happened.
"What's the point of being a topper with an ugly face?" I said and lowered my gaze, trying to study.
Aasha looked at me with surprise, like she did not believe what I said_____ then,she looked at Ram and said, "I think he rejected her this time."
I once glanced at the door, "I don't think so."
Why would he reject her? She is the most beautiful girl. Why would he reject her? I don't find any reason to convince myself.
"I think he likes you. Look, he is looking at you," Aasha said.
"What the heck are you saying?" I screamed loudly. The whole class turned to me and stared. Ram was also looking at me.
I became even more embarrassed.
"Why are you screaming?" Aasha asked.
" It's impossible that Ram likes me, don't joke like that " I whispered to Aasha.
"Of course it's possible.Tell me how is it impossible .You are so beautiful. I don't know why you don't see your own beauty and look down on yourself.I am tired of saying this but I can guarantee that he likes you__ but know you will never trust me.Don't you have mirror at your home" she said with disappointment on her face.
"Why did you ask that?" I asked.
"Because you always say you are not beautiful like you never seen yourself at mirror __ i am telling you, you are the most beautiful girl in this school _ just you don't feel that way."
This is not the first time Aasha has said this. She always says it. It's just that I never believe her words. When you are insecure about yourself, even when someone genuinely praises you, it feels like an insult.
"Do you—"
"Stop," Ram interrupted us.
I froze. He looked so handsome in school dress.God__ can someone really be this handsome? He was looking at me which made me nervous and happy also. I quickly looked down at my book.
"What?" I said.
He put his hand on the bench and leaned his head down slightly.
"Why did you scream earlier so loudly?" Ram smirked and asked.
"Why do you want to know?" Aasha pulled me closer and said.
He smacked book at her head and went back to his seat. He usually sits on the last bench while Aasha and I sit on the second last bench.
I think you might have guessed why a topper sits on the second-last bench. Yes, this kind of thing happens when a topper girl gets a crush on a backbencher.
But what can I do? I can't help myself.
"So, what were you thinking?" Aasha asked me.
"Nothing. Let's memorize the words. I will help you," I said.
"Oh, so you are helping me now? Uhhmmm I understand," she teased me.
I helped Aasha memorize English words. After our class finished, Aasha and I were packing our bags. I took a book and walked toward Ram.
He was sleeping.
I took a small sigh. "Ram," I called him softly, but he didn't answer.
Everyone had already left. There were only three people left in the classroom——— me, Ram, Aasha, and the quiet empty room around us.
I slowly reached my hand toward him. I was about to stroke his hair when suddenly someone pushed the front door open.
Startled, I quickly pulled my hand back and looked toward the door. Ram also woke up and sat up straight.
There was a girl standing at the front door.
She was the same girl who had proposed to Ram at halftime.
I froze in shock when I saw her. I looked at Aasha, and she also seemed surprised.
The girl slowly walked toward us.
Aasha and I looked at each other for a moment, and then both of us looked at Ram. He looked unusually nervous.
"Ram, I want to talk with you," the girl said.
I grabbed Aasha's hand tightly and held it. Aasha looked at me, then gently tried to pull me away.
"You can stay," Ram said.
"What do you want to say?" Ram asked the girl.
"Let's go to the café behind the school. I have something important to discuss with you. I can't say here." the girl spoke and look at me.
My heart ached. If I reacted honestly, I wanted to pull her hair and slap her. But I stayed quiet.Why she need from him now? If it's true that he reject her __ why is she here? Does this mean he did not reject her.
Ram looked uncertain and hesitant.
That girl suddenly caught Ram's hand and said softly, "Please, Ram. Let's go."
Why is she touching him? Can't she just talk from a distance?
Ram looked at me for a moment, then looked back at the girl.
"Okay," Ram said.
But, I noticed he was looking at me before leaving. That girl held Ram's hand and walked out of the classroom with him.
I don't know why, but Ram looked uncomfortable.
"Did you see that? Ram kind of looked uncomfortable....or am I overthinking?" I said to Aasha.
"I noticed that too," Aasha said.
"But forget that for now. Let's talk about you. Are you okay? Earlier you grabbed my hand so hard that it's still hurting."
"Sorry about that," I said quietly. "Anyway… let's go home."
She gently held my hand.
"You don't need to carry everything alone. You don't need to hide anything from me. I am your best friend. You don't have to pretend to be okay with me. Just tell me—what are you feeling right now?" Aasha said while gently rubbing my hand.
When she said that, I felt a pain that I had been trying to hide from her. I suddenly threw myself into her arms and hugged her tightly.
"Thanks for understanding me," I said softly.
"There's no need to be sentimental here, and there's no need to thank me," she said with a small smile. "I'm your best friend. Who else will understand you if I don't? Now come on, let's go home."
I smiled at her. Then we both went home.
When I reached home, I opened my phone and unlocked it. I opened Instagram and searched for
"Isha_zt24."
When I opened that account, I found a picture of Ram and that girl.
Ohhh....I forgot to tell you, earlier, I asked Aasha
"What's that girl's name?"
"Isha I think," Aasha said.
From her, I found out the girl's name and her Instagram ID.
Isha had posted a picture of herself and Ram at a café. The caption immediately caught my eyes.
"We are good until someone comes between us… but I am not giving up."
What does that even mean?
I know Ram. Yes, he is a playboy, but he never dates two girls at the same time. But still....I don't understand what she meant by that caption.
Feeling confused, I put my phone away and changed out of my school uniform.
Then I went to eat something.
But even while eating, that caption kept repeating in my mind.
.