Don't Miss The End Please!

By Arham Sushma Sudarshan Bandekar

It was the opening day of class nine of Prabhakar academy. Teenagers took their seats. Then a dashing boy having decent hairstyle, wearing a denim jean with a brown jacket and inside a plain white t-shirt with an artificial locket of peacock’s feather entered the class fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time. Everyone was secretly looking at his graceful attire. He chooses the third bench and after that removed his blue lens sunglasses and replaced it with spectacle. As per the schedule it was biology lecture. After the lecture terminated, few students asked his name and he replied them ’Kavish’. The meaning of his name with reference to Indian literatures is ‘the lord of poems’ or simply ‘a poet.’ His nature was same as per his name. He was ‘born talented’ personality. His main interest was in philosophy, language, literature and creation. His hidden intension was to nurture his culture. No one could beat his power of neurons. His power of neurons was that sharp such that he can create hundreds of untold fascinating stories and poems within fifteen minutes using his own unique imagination. But unfortunately that academy was going be a roller coaster ride for him. Even he wasn’t aware that he would be indulged to use his imagination in his real life! He was going to be trapped in the loop of something other than exams and had to cope up with them equally. For next few months the events which were going to happen would be a memorable short story of his life.

Meanwhile……. There was a beauty aficionado in their class named Krutika. Her nature was jealous, selfish and mean. Her father was a politician. Being in power her parents were very humble, polite and respectful to others. Being embedded in richness, the main motive Krutika’s life was to become richest and have lot of money to show off and trivialise others. On the day of admission, she encountered a boy named Sarthak who was calm, honest and was looking as if he was from rich family. She had all eyes on him. On the first day of class nine, Before the lecture started Krutika purposely went to had a talk with Sarthak. She loved taking Sarthak because she was successful in what she actually wanted. She was going to misuse his simple and humble nature. She started to had ‘Crush’ on him just because he was from rich family, settled business of his family and a bungalow in Mumbai. 

After a peaceful week for Kavish, it was Sanskrit lecture on the first day of the second week. Kavish was very much excited as it was one of his favourite subject. Sanskrit sir was very friendly to all the students. Due to the first lecture, sir only gave the introduction and later there were random talks between him and students. Sir asked Kavish how did he approached Prabhakar academics. He frankly answered him that he was first staying at Thane and then he shifted to Mumbai as his parents purchased a flat there. Then sir resumed asking him that did he sell his flat in Thane. On that he spoke that currently he has both the flats and a land registered in village. Sir exclaimed happily upon his statements. Further sir asked him his goals in his life. As Kavish was well versed in the world of literature and fluent in languages also was bit interested in the field of science, he told his interests respectively. Sir positively suggested him to enhance more upon literature as there is scope in literature ultimately in terms of income. Due to his talent he might be offered internationally. Idle Krutika was secretly hearing those conversations and was jumbled in her mind for minute. Her mind and face were freeze in doubt. That doubt was regarding the appropriate choice.  Krutika was thinking that had she made a mistake on having crush on Sarthak. With that time of a week, friendship of Sarthak and Krutika was turned into a relation. They were like girlfriend and boyfriend now. But due to Kavish, Krutika decided to continuously think upon her decision. In the next Sanskrit lecture, in the absence of Sarthak due to his Hindi subject, one of the classmate teased Krutika by the name of Sarthak. She was very much angry on him and in high pitch, threatened him better not to tease her by Sarthak’s name henceforth as there’s no relation in them at all. In real Krutika was justifying herself as if she is single so that she should not be rejected by her second option- Kavish. As the days passed by, Kavish started to hate the behaviour of overall boys, except Sarthak due to their less interest in studies. Kavish thought better to shift on first bench so that he would be focused. Sarthak used to sit on the third bench as he preferred to be in boys group as well. Except Sarthak, all the boys thought to exclude Kavish from their group due to his studious nature. Krutika used to sit in the last range of benches, most probably on third last bench. But you all will be surprised, as Krutika who is too least sincere in her studies started to have crush on Kavish. The reason is as simple as Sarthak. Instead of Kavish’s talent, the greed for richness, property actually attracted Krutika. By the way, Prabhakar academy was having many branches across Mumbai. Their Sanskrit sir shifted to a new location in Mumbai thus a new Sanskrit faculty was being appointed. She herself was a fluent writer & a poet. This emerged out to be a luck for Kavish. After the lecture they both used to had a talk on the poems, literature, newspaper articles, etc. Their teacher-student bond became stronger in short while.

Krutika started to have close distance with him, talk to him and make him comfortable to talk to her. Kavish was a good observer and listener. He never took too much interest in talking with Krutika. He only used to reply whatever she asked. Krutika used to hate his behaviour but she was helpless in front of ‘money’. Then slowly she changed her strategy. There was a purpose behind her every act. After every Sanskrit exam whether it might be weekly or monthly, she used to compare her marks with Kavish. Of course, Kavish’s marks were more than her but then she used to make sad expressions with click sound by her tongue in front of Kavish…… Showing as if she has lot of interest in her studies, especially in literature. Secondly, when teachers used to leave the small pieces of chalks after the lecture, Kavish utilised them on his black board at home. Krutika didn’t knew the fact. But because Kavish is stealing the chalks in her vision, she also started with the same. She used to compete with him for that. When Kavish was answering a long detail answer of any topic, she used to interrupt him and answer the rest of the part, indirectly taking half of the credit. She even used to copy his assignments. When other group of boys insulted or teased Kavish, Krutika used to take his side. Dived deep in love, Sarthak then also loved Krutika. Realising that Sarthak was coming too much close to her, Krutika being impartial to the point, told Sarthak that she doesn’t have any interest in him and has crush on Kavish. To the extent Sarthak dived deep in love, then he incurred deep heartbreak. This insane love changed Sarthak’s behaviour. He started hating Kavish. He used to taunt and insult Kavish behind Krutika. 

One day, the head of the academy asked the class that who would like to be monitor. Kavish was least interested in taking extra responsibilities. Then pursuing the opportunity, Krutika raised her hand and took the responsibility. She was asked to monitor the class, to make data on the syllabus of each and every student’s school and to assist someone to handle it to the head so that no mischief must happen in her absence. So she assisted Kavish. Mind it, she had never fulfilled her responsibility as a monitor and used to show her glance being monitor. Once biology sir was asking for syllabus, that is the chapters to be covered according to each syllabus. As Kavish was sitting alone on the first bench, Krutika grabbed the opportunity and sat next to Kavish on first bench explaining to sir the syllabus even though there was an empty bench in the adjacent row. After that, Krutika gave Kavish an eye contact with a cringe smile. Regularly she used to laugh loudly in between class to interrupt Kavish’s focus and as and when Kavish saw at the back, Krutika was staring at him only. As said earlier, Kavish was a good observer. He was studious and first bencher doesn’t mean he was immature. It was included in the description of Kavish itself, his power of neuron was too sharp. He felt something fishy and weird in Krutika’s behaviour. He was totally confused that why Krutika is being so close to him. He made an assumption that might be Krutika had a secret crush on him. Then it was the first time where Kavish had use the creative imagination to create a drama in real life instead on pages, and expel Krutika out of his life at any cost.

Kavish was waiting for that day when only he and Krutika would be there in the classroom and till then he was remembering what exactly he need to say to her so that to stop her from being very closed to him. His dialogues included showing inferior, hate and insulting tone. Though he resists such things, but it’s better to be like that sometimes so that Krutika shouldn’t take over his innocence, politeness & talent. 

Entire class nine passed like this. Kavish passed with ninety-nine percent and Krutika with eighty-three percent. In Sanskrit, he scored hundred on hundred marks where as she scored ninety-three marks. Krutika was unaware of these things and it was secure moment for Kavish. Now Kavish got an instance about what he has do deal with. He planned to jab her exactly with what she used to do. But still, he never lost his patience. He was waiting for an appropriate day. 

The most important year of the school life was started which was the most dramatic year for both Kavish & Krutika. Due to the fame of Prabhakar academy, many more students admitted there. Kavish got his bench partner which was almost of his IQ. In the first Sanskrit lecture of class ten, Krutika talked with Kavish after a passage of weeks. She asked him with her same crooked smile, his past year percentage and not Sanskrit marks because she also knew that Kavish’s marks would be of course greater than her. Kavish politely answer her ninety-nine percentage. 

After few days Krutika and her group of girls along with few boys were having a meeting outside the academy. Kavish used to mind his own business so didn’t ever interfere in them. But one day he heard Krutika speaking as- ‘’Don’t pass this information to Kavish.” And the same time he heard that statement. It gave him a clue that may be Krutika is losing her interest in him. He was relaxed that day. Next day Kavish asked a boy in Sanskrit lecture regarding Krutika’s secret which she was hiding from him. That boy told him that she is now having crush on an another boy named Manas.  But followed by this, when Kavish asked that boy that was she having crush on him, that boy gave negative gesture. This made Kavish even more restless. He lost his temperament on Krutika. There was a thought which was hitting his brain that why Krutika is so much possessed in having crushes. Meanwhile, on the way home, he met Sarthak. Sarthak apologised for being very rude in past few months. He explained him all the things in detail that how did Krutika fell in his love and immediately she changed her choice and started to had crush of Kavish. For few days it was difficult too for Kavish to relate that what must be the reason behind Krutika’s change in her mind. Then he remembered that in starting of class nine he told something to his Sanskrit sir regarding his economic status. Then he clicked in his brain that may be due to these conversations Krutika fell into greed and was continuously trying to being closer to him. 

Finally, that day rose where Kavish was all set to perform his drama in real. He said to Krutika that he secured a perfect score of hundred in Sanskrit. Krutika was shocked. She was not at all in condition to accept the truth. She said that he might have got the same marks as that of her. This made Kavish’s path clearer. On the same day when Kavish was on the way to home, he just stepped out of academy and saw Krutika with her two-three friends. Kavish along with his bench partner went to close to Krutika and Kavish started telling his bench partner in local language that there are often ups and downs in everyone’s life. What exactly he told in his local language was- not everyone’s life is ‘Sarthak’…… Here meaning of Sarthak is successful. Due to his dramatic play of words, Krutika’s ego was hurt. All girls started laughing at Krutika. Krutika learnt that Kavish has come to know all her secrets. Just to secure her ego, she crossed her limits. She teased Kavish by the name of their Sanskrit mam. Kavish asked Krutika why the heck did she tease him by the name of their Sanskrit mam. He warned her to mind her words. Swiftly Krutika asked that then did he loves her. Here ‘her’ refers to Krutika. Kavish had not planned much or thought of her extent and proceed the way home. Next day, insulted Krutika came towards Kavish and threatned him better not to remove the word ‘Sarthak’ from his moth and tease her by that name. Then further what Kavish spoke to Krutika was the actual message Kavish wanted to convey Krutika indirectly. He straight away said her that she is quite inferior than him in terms of academics and marks, better not to mind him and compare with her then onwards as there is vast difference in between them. Krutika was roasted in front of the entire class. With shame Krutika had seat but the emotions of anger and revenge provoked her. For then her only intension was to make Manas fall in her love anyhow and to make Kavish bow in front of her. The days were passing by, the next day Krutika with revenge in her eyes, made Kavish’s bench partner to believe in her and step by step removed information about Kavish’s secret crush or if he had any girlfriend. Later, Kavish’s bench partner told Kavish regarding how Krutika was withdrawing the information regarding him. Kavish knew that the way he insulted Krutika in front of the whole class, she was not going to sit quietly. Kavish had to be very alert every time and had to plan some drama to overcome Krutika’s evil moves. The following day Kavish brought a ‘peacock’s feather’ in his bag and removed from it in break time. He went to corridor. As usual Krutika was going to be trapped in his trick. Krutika too followed him. She sent few boys to ask him regarding that peacock’s feather. He promptly answered them that peacock’s feather is his ‘love sign’. He wanted to gift that to his girlfriend which has been with him since several years. At last, Krutika got some fabulous news and a new chance to violate Kavish.   

Humorously, Krutika was proved unlucky months by months. Krutika waited for Kavish’s downfall in his marks. But could someone believe Kavish’s downfall? It was the downfall of Krutika’s overconfidence which was going to turn into the worst thing in her life. It was the month of August and there was festival of Rakshabandhan. Her crush Manas gave her rakhi to tie and a gift of Cadbury Silk chocolate. He told her that he is having crush on somebody else, better to leave him then. Krutika’s tears were about to burst off. 

Now the situation was like Krutika wanted to take revenge from Kavish with negative mindset, but Kavish wanted to take revenge with positive mindset to improvise her life and bring her on right path. Kavish was having full-fledged confidence that Krutika would pass out scoring the best marks, but just because of her greed she was lagging behind.

Academy held a scholarship competition all over its branches and results were revealed in the month of October. Fortunately, Kavish was only the winner. He was rewarded amount of fifty thousand and a tablet. He could see everyone claping except Krutika in the auditorium. Then Krutika was actually scared that Kavish had won the scholarship then there were high chances he would show off attitude in front of her. For safer side, she along with her baddie’s bought a complaint against Kavish to the branch admin describing how Kavish showed her how inferior she was in front of the whole class. But before she claimed, she softly said, it wasn’t the right time as he was just passing by. But her soft words tickled Kavish’s ears and he found something suspicious. He stood hiding behind the admin’s office. After they left, he entered admin’s office and asked what they were claiming about him. Admin cross questioned him that why did he talked in attitude to them, being good friends in early times. It was chaotic situation for him what to answer. He could have also claimed that Krutika was distracted from her studies and was interested in finding her ‘mean love’. But he preferred better not to speak without any proof and accepted his behaviour. Now a charming, polite, silent young boy turned into an angry young man. Now the only way was to complaint to her parents directly with proof. But the next question, how was it possible to collect authentic proof. Audio-Video proof was only the way he could walk into. 

Was patience expected from Kavish? Because to his next surprize, Krutika was again befriend with Sarthak! She apoligized to Sarthak that she hurt him and then she proposed and promised him that she would never leave his company. Blindfolded Sarthak accepted her proposal. At first, Kavish was unaware of these facts, but readers…… you all might have come to know the behaviour of Krutika. Every time, if she wanted to hide something from Kavish, she used to loudly command her girls better not to talk on this topic in front of everyone. But her words made Kavish fall into doubt.

Krutika’s regular talks with Sarthak, the way they used to come to the academy together and went home were the things which made Kavish’s doubts clear. He kept his smart phone all ready to capture some ‘sweet moments’ of them. He interviewed some of the girls of Krutika’s team regarding Krutika & Sarthak’s relationship also her past crushes. As Kavish had come to know everything, the girls hopelessly told him all truth and requested him better not to ask or tell Krutika that they have told him all the story. Kavish held the smart phone horizontally parallel to his waist and stored the proof in safe files. Later he asked Sarthak about the same. With that he too suggested Sarthak to think thousand times before building a strong relation with her and he made him remember the way Krutika rejected him for Kavish. Sarthak’s strong trust on Krutika was captured and kept safe with password for all the proof videos. 

Days passed by then Krutika was having her support-Sarthak with her therefore her eyes were filled with attitude all the time. She too challenged Kavish that she would score more than him and made him come to her feet. It was boards exam, which was the most important base for every student’s life career. Even though it sounds as if Kavish wasted his most of the days in exposing Krutika, he too set a spare time so that he could study hard. For real, Kavish never wished to show her parents, how she is distracted. But it was the most effective and powerful ‘last option’ that he could opt so that at least her attitude and overconfidence might melt down. The atmosphere was cool in last few months prior to the exam. Exam too spent well for both. Kavish wrote the exam like flow of river as exam was actually not that hard as everyone thought off. On the other side our beauty fashion wrote whatever came to her mind and she assumed it as correct for herself. 

Finally, it was the last chapter of this long stretched story. The stressful, little excited day of results came. The clock struck one post meridian and website showed the ‘best of all’ result for Kavish. It was the day of celebration, joy of success for Kavish after scoring perfect hundred percentage including grace marks. Another good news for Sarthak with ninety-three percent. Here Krutika……. Readers, any guesses? Better not to think that much as she had not scored that much which readers might be expecting. It was a total Seventy-two percent score! The weather and climate at Krutika’s house was not the same compared to everyone. 

The scene was such that, Krutika sitting crouched crying in a corner, her mother looking at her with angry impression and father next to her with his neck bowed down with shame. That score was not at all expected and suitable for Krutika. Her mother came into living room, sat on the chair thinking upon her results and then her phone rang. It was someone unknown. Yet, she received the call and Kavish greeted ‘hello’ and asked if Krutika is there near-by. As Krutika’s mother replied no, he said better to keep her away for some times as he wanted to show the reason for her failure that too strictly in her absence only! He shared her a location and both met there. At last Kavish introduced himself and explained Krutika’s reason for failure with all the Audio-Visual proofs. As already Krutika disappointed her mother, her mother accepted the harsh reality. She cried on how Krutika not only disappointed them but also broke their trust, wasted their money and ultimately their hard works. Her mother turned around to go and punish her for such an inferior behaviour. But Kavish stopped her and made her calmed down and advised her to never punish her but to talk to her what’s actually jumbling in her mind. The reason was like- if she was being punished, her stressed mind might have taken her to the wrong decisions! But Krutika’s mother couldn’t keep his words.

At night, it was the grand celebration at Prabhakar academy for all the ninety percent and above toppers. There were hardly few of them. With the cutting of cake, Kavish went to meet his Sanskrit mam. Sanskrit mam heartily congratulated him. But before he spoke anything to her, there entered Krutika with her swollen red eyes and face, untidy hairs and a roller gun of her father in her hands. Everyone’s face turned pale after seeing such condition of Krutika and most significantly the gun in her hands. Everyone was question why did she brought gun with her. Few of them fled away being afraid. Only remained there- Sarthak, Kavish, Krutika, Sanskrit teacher and other Academy faculty and admins. Kavish was enough smart to understand the gesture that Krutika had come collecting all her anger on him. Still, Kavish calmly tried to handle the aggravated situation. He asked her that what actually she wants from him. Further…. Krutika said in her deep voice, “I wished Sarthak to be my life partner. Then you entered my life and I thought you brought colours into my life as I observed you wealthier than Sathak. (Kavish & Sarthak looked each other shockingly). I got your gesture that you never had feelings for me. When I got close to Manas, again I was rejected. My growing failure was intolerable for me. In that you insulted me very badly. It was all fine till there, but my real anger bursted when you opened up everything in front of my parents! You secretly collected up to date evidences to prove me inferior. And no more now! You told my reality to my parents, does anyone knows anything about you? What happened to your peacock feather? I want you to accept all your faults in front of everyone and then I shall be free to take my decision.” Saying so she pressurised Kavish to reveal his secrets. But what was being kept secret by Kavish? The entire drama? 

Kavish asked her that really did she want to listen to his secrets? Then Kavish replied her as: “You each and every time got trapped in my plot. If I rejected, you then why I could have some another in my life. I am completely against these shifty games. If you really don’t understand the meaning of ‘true love’ then why do you fall upon these things? The true love should always be trustful, respectful, caring. It should entertain you in your good and bad times. I also should have ability to be with my love and never leave that just because I am bored of it or lack interest in it. I opt for such love at the moment I realise that I can love something based on the principles I spoked. My peacock feather which resembles my ‘pen’ is itself my love. A poet/writer & the pen comes together to give birth to a new world- ‘The world of literature’. No one has power to separate a poet/writer from his love. No one can even break the relation between them because they actually can’t live without each other and will meet each other by any chance. There is not even a single chance of betrayal in this relation such a pure love it is. Hence forth, decision is all yours whether you want be spend entire life in the loop of this sceptical love or come out of it and enjoy the freedom with that love which will never leave you alone in any situation.” Everyone clapped for his immortal statements. His words made a radical change in her mind. She started to cry as she finally realised her mistake. Then those memories of her act were flashing back which made her offended even more. She put gun point on her head and apologised everyone especially Kavish for her inferior act and now she wants to do atonement for it. As soon as she was going to pull the trigger of gun, Kavish with all his strength took that gun from her hands and threw it aside. He again explained her giving the example of her parents, to think multiple times regarding them, their state of mind after her such an insane act. At that time, her parents came there after being called by one of the admin. They too apologised in front of everyone because they failed to control their daughter’s psychology. Krutika joined her hands in front of Kavish and said that she was very shameful for insulting such a brilliant poet as she showed disrespect to one poet’s/ writer’s power. She assured him that she will never enter his life again and wished him all the best. She was too ashamed in front of Sarthak and not even dared to give him an eye-contact. She and her parents exited the scene. Everyone was proud of Kavish. Sarthak kept his hand on his back showing sign of appreciation. Sanskrit mam appreciated Kavish saying as- that day he was passed in the exam of proving his true feelings for the world of literature. Every one took a selfie for their victory. And this short and sweet story filled with lots of adventures came to an end. Once again it was proved that the poet/writer along with its love- pen has power to change the entire world. Thus ‘Pen is mightier than Sword’!

By Arham Sushma Sudarshan Bandekar