First lesson on boys

She laid down on the swing, a half read book on her  side, closed her eyes, one leg dangling carelessly and one resting up. This was her favourite 'job'. The to and fro motions of the swing melted into her being. Life was soothing this way, like it would never stop, like her thoughts.  It gave her a feeling of being on a never ending journey. 

              And then she thought of him. Why was she attracted to him? She had never related to any of the boys in her class, in fact she didn't find them interesting at all and never bothered to find out if they were interested in her. She was the topper and wanted a match no less than herself. But after Neeta joined, everything had changed. Neeta-full of life, unlike herself who was drowned in books and study (of course no one knew she devoured romantic stories the most apart from physics or chemistry or biology and of course anything Shakespear-ean). She liked helping people but few reciprocated the feeling with which she thought for them except Neeta of course who startled her by mirroring some part of herself, showing her the warmth which no one had done before. And it was then she understood for the first time that she was attractive too. Thanks for Neeta's lesson on boys and 'the ways they looked'. Once Neeta had remarked,'Look how Shashikant is staring at you !' She said,'What rubbish ?' But then she had stealthily noticed that tall and fair Shashikant really looked at her. Oh! but he was a last bencher, okay in studies but popular by all means. How well Neeta and he clicked, the way they spoke easily with each other with no hang ups. Slowly she had come out of her cocoon and learnt the different ways to beat her shyness as she desperately wanted to be a part of the man-woman world. 

                      Shashikant was a history after all these years, there had been so many she found who 'looked' at her. Strange unless you are aware of something, it does not exist at all. And once you are aware, it is the only thing that exists ! There had been so many pairs of eyes that she shuddered to look at, the heart beating faster everytime she did. Then he came along. He was unassuming. Calm, a serene look on his face, he also looked shy but she found out he wasn't. Boys can be so deceptive she thought. He wasn't dashing but showed his cave-man protective spirit when  once they all were hanging out together one late evening. A drunkard had asked her address of one Mr. Saxena, of all the people standing there. And she had just begun to reply when she felt the man coming closer to her. In one startling second, Ray had sprung upon him and shoved him off. She was taken unawares. But she had loved every moment of it thereafter when he had almost shouted at her for being so stupid to answer a drunk ! Then there was the New Year party dance which she had danced with him in the moonlight. Two lads (neighbours) had come in un-invited asking for her, saying they wanted to wish her 'Happy New Year'. There he was, once again springing at the door, telling them something which made them exit with the same speed with which they had entered. She didn't like this time, as she thought it was bad man ners to send Neighbours away. He had made fun teasing her about the 'high spirited' neighbours. 

to be contd