This story is about two classmates, from the same school, from the same class, grade 10. Okay, so although they belong to the same class, they don’t talk to each other much. There may be many classmates who don’t talk to each other because they don’t know the other person well but here, the case was different. One of them called Raj belonged to the dominant male gang of the class while the girl called Aadhya belonged to the dominant female gang of the class. Usually, these dominant gangs of the same class go along with each other very well, but here it was the opposite. These two gangs fought with each other everyday, every period, debating on whether the girls were smarter or were the boys. Raj and Aadhya were not the leaders of their gangs but one of those sidekicks who substantiate their take in chorus.

This conflict had indeed brought about a title of ‘most undisciplined class’ but what it also procured was the title of the ‘smartest class’. The fights that arose for smartness often led to a lot of doubt questioning and clarification during the classes, and this made each and everyone of that class smarter by the day. As we say, there is a good part in everything that happens, the procurement of knowledge, although not voluntarily but for the sake of the fights, at least enlightened them to a relatively greater extent than the other classes who’d stick just with the textbooks. The gangs comprised only 5 members each, and these students would come up with new questions everyday, pertaining to the topic about to be taught, and there were competitions too as to who’d bring in more questions. Consequently, this indirect inquisitiveness for knowledge was what made the subject teachers fond of our class, and the PT teachers hating our class because of the chaos we’d create during recess and between two periods.

It was fun for both groups and their fights would be an entertainment for the other fellow students too. Both the groups despised each other to a great extent, but it was all inside the school alone. Some of them were good friends outside while some never talked to each other, both inside and outside the school, and Raj and Aadhya were one among them. Both of them didn’t like each other because of these fights, but who knew that they were destined to meet one day, and experience the best part of their lives?

It was Chemistry period at school, and the students were all heading to the lab. Aadhya had lost her textbook and unfortunately couldn’t borrow any. Dejected, she started crying inside the class. Raj saw her alone in the class, when he had come to take his book, and thought of asking her what the problem was, but sudden images of the fights flashed in his mind and he immediately dropped this idea. However, walking a few steps away, his conscience had brought him back to the class and he asked Aadhya what she was searching for, cause after all there is goodness inside every human. When he got to know about this, he said, “Hey, I kept a book inside the cupboard. Yesterday, when I was leaving the classroom, I saw a book lying on the ground with no name on it, and hence I kept it inside the cupboard. She checked if the book was hers and it was indeed hers. She thanked Raj and both of them had their very first conversation starting from the classroom, till the lab, and both of them at that point in time, didn’t know that it was the starting of something very exciting in their lives.

The first love for most of the people comes in their school life, and what we are going to witness is the first love for Raj and Aadhya. Ever since their first conversation, nor has Aadhya been able to resist the urge to talk to Raj nor has he been able to do so. They would indeed engage in the fights that arise in class, but since that very incident, never took any of those personally, and they remained in good books of each other. Every single day, they would have a good conversation with each other during recess, and after school hours. It was all good, very very good, until it was 3 months to go for their board exams.

Raj was a typical example of how bright a student can be. Raj was the topper of the boys and Aadhya, was one among those girls who just passed the exams. With exams approaching, Raj and Aadhya made a firm decision to sit together, meet daily and study very often, exchanging ideas, helping each other out, alongside having some entertaining and good time together. As discussed, they would meet daily in eithers house, or rarely at one of their classmates' houses.

As days passed, not only did they help each other improve in chemistry and other subjects, but unknowingly a special chemistry was forming amongst them. It was special, indeed very special, a very special feeling which both of them were experiencing for the first time. Eventually, they developed feelings for each other, and one fine day, Raj kneeled down amid a conversation and expressed himself. Aadhya showed no reaction, and was with a neutral face. Within a fraction of a second, a smile came on her face, “You didn’t expect this reaction, did you Raj?” Aadhya asked citing the neutral face of hers, previously. Raj nodded his head with a slight blush, and what happened next was the commencement of a new story in their lives.

Days passed, board exams were nearing. It was just a month away, and Raj and Aadhya excelled in their pre-boards. After school, “Raj!” a voice called out. It was Aadhya. She called him outside, alone. He came there, and there was an abrupt silence. “So, you’ve outperformed the expectations in pre-boards, kudos, Aadh!” Raj said. “Umm….” Aadhya kept stammering. “Raj, I am supposed to be thanking you for helping me and transforming me from an average student to a person who loves studying. But I won’t thank you.” “Why so mean, girl?” He asked. “Cause, no sorry, no thanks between special ones my love.” Saying so, she jumped on him to give him a tight hug, and that compensated for all the silence and patience of waiting post the school hours for Raj. He was elated, over the moon, jumping around here and there. She also called him home that day, for spending time together.

He went there and they sat by the terrace, having chit chats, cracking jokes in between and having fun together. Suddenly, her face started to frown and her smiling face became sad and downcasted. “Why do you look so dull Aadh?” “All your actions remind me of Ashwin, Raj.” “Who’s Ashwin” “he’s that guy who ditched me last year. It’s because of him I lost trust in love, and bonding and that’s why I don’t talk to boys very much. He’s created an image that boys are always unfaithful and so I don’t intend to talk to boys much. Since you came, I've regained my lost feelings back, and you made me believe, not everybody is the same. You’re different Raj and that’s why I love you.” Raj gave a single line as reply, “I don’t care about your past, Aadh,but all I can assure you, is that I won’t break your heart like he did, and you can always count on me!”

After Raj’s assurance, Aadhya felt secure and happy. One month to go for board exams, and the pressure was building up for Aadhya from all sides. Raj however wasn’t pressurised much because he was expected to perform well. So, Raj went to Aadhya's house and taught her the topics everyday, and it was all going good.
Exams had started, and their contact slowly started diluting. Although they spoke at school while assembling before heading to the exam hall, the frequency wasn’t much, and the reason was pretty obvious. But Raj was persistent in his efforts, and would ask Aadhya how she did her exams every time.

Exams were over, and Aadhya and Raj had gone out to celebrate. That was their first direct date, to be clear. They went to a park, sat by the green trees, saw kids playing, and had a good time together, talking to each other, eating snacks, and it was cool. Then they went to Raj’s home, and spent time there also. The parents had no objections or protection concerns on her going to his house and the other way round as well. So it was going super cool, happy and fun filled, until that day, the result day came.

The results were out, and Raj topped the school, whereas Aadhya’s was not known. Raj continuously tried to contact her, and she didn’t pick her phone. He headed to her home, and found the door locked. The neighbours told him that they had vacated this place. The world had come to a standstill for Raj, he didn’t know nor could he understand what was going on in his life. They met each other in the very same house, a couple of days ago, and spoke with each other via the mobile phone in the very same number, the previous day, and that day, he was shocked to find both of them unavailable. Phone was not reachable and the house had been vacated. That was the phase, when life showed its true face to Raj. The happy moment of topping the school was overpowered by the sorrow of not being able to reach his love. Was it the end of a sweet romantic first love?

School reopened and he wanted to go for commerce stream. Entering class 11 commerce room, his eyes were filled with tears, his mind blank, and his heart reminiscing the moments spent together with Aadhya. He recollected the moments where Aadhya and himself planned their career and future together and how they decided to start pursuing their dreams in class 11 commerce room. Both of them aspired to become an MBA, and decided to opt for commerce stream, but least did they know that class 10 was their last class in school together. With teary eyes, he entered the classroom and sat on the very last bench, with his head down on the desk, and cried to sleep. One of his classmates woke him up when the teacher had come to take attendance.

Raj still had hopes that Aadhya would find her Raj in this class and that she would come back to live their life as per plan, but all his hopes were shattered as Raj found Aadhya’s name to be missing from the register. Enquiring with the section head, he got to know, Aadhya had taken TC and moved away from school. In this manner, the only source of communication was cut off, and Raj became a totally opposite person, in terms of his character. From being a sidekick and alteast interacting with fellow classmates, he started to live his life in absolute solitude, and couldn’t focus on studies at all. Whenever he sees this classroom, he is reminded of the plans they made together which was to be started from this very room, and as the classroom was locked post school hours, it was identical to the chapter that closed in their lives, even before it could start.

Everyday was sorrowful for Raj, and his classmates could certainly figure out something was wrong with him, but didn’t know what the reason was. Whenever asked the reason, he would send them off. Clearing 11th and 12th became a very difficult task for Raj, and back then he didn’t know of the whereabouts of Aadhya. As time passed, he could sense the danger behind poor performance in class 12 and thus he started to study for the sake of class 12. He cleared 12th with an average 78% vs 98% in class 10, it was surprising for all the people around him for this total change. But they didn’t know it was all because of that one girl, who left him all alone all of a sudden.

Raj started applying for a lot of colleges and by luck, he got through one of the good colleges. First day of college, he headed towards his classroom and still is reminded of their plans together. He enters the classroom, and his changed nature didn’t allow him to socialise. However it was some of those extroverts, who found him and befriended him. And on the first day, he got some company. Second day of college, he entered the room and was lying down on the desk, when he heard a voice from outside. “Excuse me sir.” Listening to that voice, he suddenly got up because that voice resembled Aadhya’s voice. He was eagerly looking outside as to who it was, and……

The girl entered the classroom, dressed up in black and white and headed straight towards the bench, adjacent to where Raj was seated. “Aadh…..is-is that yo-you?” Raj said in a stammering voice, and guess what the answer would have been.

“Was it indeed Aadhya?”

Yes, my boy. It was Aadhya herself. “Raj, I want to talk to you, can you come outside during the break?” She asked, and he nodded his head, his face startled, happy and overwhelmed at the same time, and that was it, Raj found hear Aadhya back. Now, do you want to know what happened further?

“Yes daddy, yesss”

Since Aadhya had asked Raj to come out, he went there, and similar to how their story started, there existed absolute silence between them for a couple of minutes.
Raj’s eyes became filled with tears of joy, but was it for the good, was the question.
They said nothing, but gave a tight hug to each other, crying their hearts out, when Raj finally asked, “where were you all this time, Aadh? Do you know what you did to me all this while?” Nodding her head, with teary eyes dripping out droplets, she said, “On the result day, it went totally unexpected. I got only 58% and my mom said, it was all because of that Raj, and took away my phone. She also forcefully made me vacate the house and we moved into my grandmas home. I had no means to contact you, Raj, I am so sorry.” Saying so she burst into tears.

Raj laid huge faith in her, wiped off her tears, and held her shoulders, “look I trust you with all my heart and I don’t think there was any chance for you to get only 58%. Something must have happened before the exams that spoiled your mood back then. Is there anything that happened, Aadhya?” She nodded her head and spilt the truth, “Raj, actually Ashwin called me before the start of exams and abused me verbally. Everyday, he’d call just to scream at me for no reason. All he wanted was to distract me from this. When I don’t pick, he keeps calling repeatedly and it becomes a lot of distraction. When I block him, he calls me from some other number, everytime the evening before the exam day. It spoiled my concentration and mood fully, and I couldn’t do well on the exams. When I argued with my mom, that it was not because of you, she would not agree because I only spoke with you over calls frequently. So she presumed Ashwin to be you, and I couldn’t contact you thereafter. I was then sent to a boarding school, and even there I couldn’t do well because I was lost in your thoughts and the guilt of leaving you without saying anything haunts me.

I got 70% in 12th, and I enquired with some of our old classmates on where you were joining. So I decided to join the same college, and the same course, because I knew we made our plan to pursue mba together, and you would not move away from that. Believing that you'd pick the right course, I picked yours only to stay with you. Now my mom doesn’t have that false impression of you in her mind, because I told her the truth after my average performance in 12th too, and that you were the booster and the one who helps in my studies. She believed me because I told her about the 10th pre boards too and that you were the reason for it as well. So our path is now clear, Raj. Shall we set out on our career path together once again, as promised from the bottom of our hearts? This time, starting at some other point?” The eagerness on her face post this question, and the curiosity and the love her eyes displayed were enough for Raj to nod his head and begin their life in a new manner.

“Wow dad, this is some crazy love. But since you’re telling me this story, what do you want me to understand?” “Oh son, you came to me saying you don’t believe in love right, it is for you to understand that true love indeed exists in the world.”
“Did you believe in love when you were young, dad?” “Son, this story is a real life story, and I know these two people. Do you want to see them?” My son nodded his head in absolute delight.

I rang my wife, asked her to come home from shopping asap, and when she returned, we stood before my soon together, hands tied to each other. “This is Raj and Aadhya, I was telling you about, son.” I said pointing to a mirror that reflected us. My son stood speechless, “and you know what, there’s some more to that story, a cute little addition, to this love story and that’s nobody else but you.” I said, smiling while our son came and hugged us.

“So after college and finishing MBA together, both of us started a business together, and that is standing strong till date, not only because of the strong educational foundation we had, but also because of our love and affection towards each other and the craze and passion to do so, that made it even stronger.

Son, I want you to understand something very important, be it your dreams, your passion or your love, when our efforts are complete and dedicated, the end result will always be fruitful. And we proved to the world that not every bond with a lost communication is bound to end."