"Priyam! Run fast - we are getting late!"
oh!
Just now someone got reminded of the class.
All thanks to Devi Maata.
At least you remember that you are a student who needs to attend college.
Otherwise you are always a mermaid who attends the tides. As if the ocean really needs your presence. Said Priyam! in a very teasing, over friendly way.
"Shut up Priyam! Let's be quick"
"Ok miss mermaid turned student". Nidhi gave her a serious look for taunting her all the way.
They ran.
Through the lane.
Past the coconut trees.
Past everything.
"My god Nidhi — I can barely breathe. Let's stop."
"Yes Priyam you are right."
She stopped.
Looked around and noticed that they barely reached the college entrance.
one second.
Two seconds.
"Nidhi! Run!" Before Priyam could finish her words, she was already ahead.
"Hey! Wait for me," Nidhi said under her breath, trying to breathe.
Finally, after running through the stairs —
they reached the classroom.
Priyam was about to enter.
Nidhi right behind her.
"Stop there! you two — stand outside." Said Mr. Iyer
Priyam took her step back.
But Nidhi tried to ask for forgiveness.
"We are extremely sorry sir. We shall not repeat this again," said Nidhi in a very pleasing and innocent tone.
Had it been any other professor —
They would have excused her just for her innocence.
But this was Mr. Iyer.
The nightmare of the college.
Mr. Iyer politely folded his hands,
turned to Nidhi and said —
"Look Srinidhi! you always say you will not repeat this again. But you end up coming late repeatedly. And so does your friend Miss. Priyamvada"
Before Srinidhi could argue —
"Stay outside for the entire period."
Mr. Iyer turned towards the board and continued his lecture.
Nidhi and Priyam exchanged glances.
Priyam raised her eyebrows,
just about to say something —
But Nidhi stopped her midway and apologized.
Priyam suddenly changed her expression.
For some time she looked at Nidhi — confused.
Soon Nidhi started to speak in a trembling voice..
"Had I not gone to the sea, we wouldn't have been late. I am very sorry Priyam. So sorry"
Priyam just hugged her,
and tapped her on the back in a playful way.
"Even if I attend the class, do you think I can understand anything?"
"I am not angry at all."
She pulled herself back and said,
"Anyways, I like getting punished and standing outside rather than attending the classes."
Nidhi simply laughed out of the tears she was trying so hard to hold.
Priyam noticed the tears and couldn't stop laughing at Nidhi being so nervous about everything.
"Why are you even smiling?" Nidhi asked, wiping her tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Priyam stayed silent for a while,
appreciating the punishment.
"Hey Nidhi! have you completed the assignment for chemistry?" Seems like she has asked this question only to divert her.
"What? Completed? I haven't even started yet."
"Need to focus on the upcoming exams," said Nidhi.
A gleam of tension flickering in her eyes.
Priyam felt she had raised the wrong topic —
And quickly tried to divert her.
They started talking about every piece of gossip that was heard in the college.
Priyam making fun of everything.
While Nidhi answered carefully, as if someone was really listening to their conversation.
As time passed ...
The sound of the bell echoed across the entire campus.
And so it did in Nidhi's heart.
Her heartbeat rising
Knowing she had to face Mr. Iyer outside the classroom now.
But before this embarrassment could unfold —
A staff member entered the classroom carrying a piece of information.
And before anything could be said —
Priyam and Nidhi were called back inside by Mr. Iyer, so that they would not miss the announcement.
The staff member passed on the information to Mr. Iyer and left.
Mr. Iyer turned to the students and began the announcement.
"The destination for the college trip has been fixed."
Pause.
"We will be going to Kashmir."
And just like that, the waiting turned into something more...
Something that cannot be expressed in words.
More than the excitement. Much more.
It was only Mr. Iyer's presence, that was still preserving the decorum of the classroom.
Mr. Iyer stayed composed for a while and reminded the students about the exams that were still pending after the trip.
His gaze slowly shifted —
Towards Nidhi and Priyam's desk after that bitter reminder about the exams.
The stare itself said everything.
Be serious.
Both of you.
Nidhi immediately understood.
And dozed off completely into her own thoughts.
On the other side, Priyam was already flying.
She started talking about the trip.
The mountains..
The snow...
The everything....
But nothing reached Nidhi.
Not a single word.
Priyam noticed. She leaned forward.
"Hey! are you okay?"
Nidhi snapped back to the present.
Changed her expression.
"Trip?" she said slowly.
"Are you sure we can attend that?"
"Why not?"
"See... our grades are very low."
We haven't prepared anything for the exams.
The trip takes two weeks.
Do you think we are capable of completing the syllabus after that?
And Mr. Iyer gave us a sharp look. If you didn't notice.
Priyam was about to argue, but Nidhi wasn't done.
"parents" She said like a full stop.
Looking worried. "What about our parents?"
Are they going to accept this?"
"Ushh... so many questions Nidhi..."
Priyam went quiet for a second.
Because somewhere deep down she knew — convincing their parents was going to be the toughest phase of all.
Both of them didn't speak for a while.
Soon the classes started to get completed one by one.
Though they were sitting right beside each other —
Not a single word was spoken about the trip.
After college...
Both of them walked back towards their homes.
Priyam asked casually, "What do you want to do about the trip?"
Nidhi said politely "Let's forget about that."
Priyam went quiet.
But only for a moment.
"Please Nidhi"
She stopped walking.
"I have never seen snow in my life...
Never...
I am really excited about this trip.
I really want to explore places, unlike you sitting in Kanyakumari forever."
Nidhi gave her a serious look.
Priyam held Nidhi's hand.
And gave her just one look.
That innocent look —
That said everything without saying anything.
That she really wanted to go.
That this really meant everything to her.
Nidhi couldn't stay firm.
But let out a soft smile.
"Our parents are definitely not going to accept Kashmir."
"Then we lie." Priyam said it simply, like it was the most obvious solution.
"We tell them we are going on a trip to Kerala. That will convince them."
Nidhi couldn't argue anymore and so Priyam continued,
"Tell your parents that my parents have accepted... And I will tell my parents that yours have."
Nidhi felt convinced.
But worried at the same time.
They let go of each other's hands to part ways towards home.
And just as the distance started to grow between them,
Priyam slowly murmured
"Please."
Finally... Nidhi reached her house.
She looked tired.
But more than tired, she looked worried.
Her mother noticed it immediately.
She approached her and asked "What happened?"
Nidhi didn't say anything.
A couple of seconds passed.
Her father joined them quietly.
She looked at both of them.
And then decided to speak.
"Appa, our college has planned a trip."
Before she could say anything further, her mother stopped her.
"You are not going anywhere."
Not very strict.
But firm.
The kind of firm that shows more concern than restriction.
That one sentence took away the one hope that was still left in Nidhi.
Her father noticed everything silently.
The way her expression changed.
The way her eyes fell.
The way she became small in that one moment.
He approached slowly... And sat beside her.
Simply asked — "so where is the trip to?"
Nidhi held her breath for a moment.
"Kas.."
A pause.
"...Kerala"
The guilt was so loud in her voice, that even silence could hear it.
But she held it together.
Not for herself.
For Priyam.
"For how many days?"
"Two weeks", she said softly.
Her mother's eyebrows raised.
"Two weeks for Kerala?"
Nidhi didn't say anything.
She stayed silent.
And that silence answered everything.
The room held its breath.
Her mother understood.
Her father understood.
But her father didn't want to make it awkward.
He stepped in.
Calmly.
Gently.
And said
"Nidhi... you never have to lie,
Our concerns are not the walls we build around you.
They are simply the way we love you.
And loving you has always meant giving you the best."
Nidhi looked at her father.
And that was it.
She couldn't hold it anymore.
She hugged her father.
Tightly.
"Appa" her voice broke just a little.
"They are taking us to Kashmir."
A pause.
"I didn't want to lie.
I simply don't know what I have done.
My intention was never to lie.
I am sorry amma.
But please, I really wanted to go."
The room went quiet.
Her mother looked at her father.
Then back at Nidhi.
"Kashmir?"
Her voice was firm.
"No way."
"But amma..."
"No more discussions Nidhi."
Her mother turned away.
"Have your dinner and start preparing for your exams."
And just like that the conversation was over.
Nidhi still holding the warmth of her father's hug, but already feeling the cold of her mother's words.
Her father looked at her quietly, said nothing.
But his eyes said — Give it time
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