As a child I was always fascinated by the merry go round. The lunch time in school was special. The girls used to run and claim their seats on this colourful rotating machine. The boys, to demonstrate their strength would push the steel rods to bring the object to life. The girls would giggle and shout looking up at the spinning sky as the rotation gained momentum.
There was a particular girl I used to observe on the merry go round. A junior school crush you will guess I am sure, who would fade away once I leave school. But this one was special. The one I would keep looking at while eating from my tiffin box under the coconut tree. I was not interested in being like other boys who would chance to be by her side all the time, and empty the seat on the merry go round once she dropped in at lunch time. I was used to looking at her from below the coconut tree. Subtly but surely analyzing her tender looks and curls on her short hair. Counting the number of smiles she passed off in the air and the number of girls she made jealous. Eyeing her was fun and life transforming. It made me a better cricketer in the school team after all.
I had already started connecting every event in my life with her, as time passed by in school. But I was still looking at her from the rear bench. She perhaps didn't notice any of my habits. Or she was plainly ignoring all of it. But how would I know. I was not interested in the merry go round. I never liked the idea of going round and round in the same place. Maybe when she is interested in some other game, one which does not require you to be stationed at one place, then we will talk. Till then I kept watching her grow with me in school.
There was a particular girl I used to observe on the merry go round. A junior school crush you will guess I am sure, who would fade away once I leave school. But this one was special. The one I would keep looking at while eating from my tiffin box under the coconut tree. I was not interested in being like other boys who would chance to be by her side all the time, and empty the seat on the merry go round once she dropped in at lunch time. I was used to looking at her from below the coconut tree. Subtly but surely analyzing her tender looks and curls on her short hair. Counting the number of smiles she passed off in the air and the number of girls she made jealous. Eyeing her was fun and life transforming. It made me a better cricketer in the school team after all.
I had already started connecting every event in my life with her, as time passed by in school. But I was still looking at her from the rear bench. She perhaps didn't notice any of my habits. Or she was plainly ignoring all of it. But how would I know. I was not interested in the merry go round. I never liked the idea of going round and round in the same place. Maybe when she is interested in some other game, one which does not require you to be stationed at one place, then we will talk. Till then I kept watching her grow with me in school.
really nice! the ending is well put. the last 2 lines captures the essence very nicely :)
ReplyDeleteNice short one sided love story of a analytical and observant school boy in love waiting for his time to come...:)
ReplyDeleterest of the story to be found in ur book? ;p
ReplyDeleterest of the story to be found in your book? ;p
ReplyDeleteAdmiration from afar is never a crime Mr.Young Cricketer :p
ReplyDeleteSome things in life are meant to be the way they are. That's the beauty of life. The last two lines truly captures that essence. :)