Chapter XII - Too true to be false (1/2)

"The possibilities in life are vivid. A century and half ago we built planes to go around the Earth faster. And five decades ago, we built rockets to travel to space. Many mysteries said on Earth, are still mysteries. Believe it or not, we already are or will be in a sci-fi movie scenario soon enough. So, life isn't that boring," Varun said, as everyone around him wore different expressions up their faces.

"I still haven't gotten over the fact that you grew taller in such a short time," Jiant said. "But up in your brain, still a nerd. All you miss is a pair of specs," he said with a grin smile.

"And you are as tall as a giraffe," Aria finally spoke. She had been listening to the conversation all along, interested in it.

"Correction, a bearded giraffe," Varun laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, classic animal nicknames, Varun," Jiant said.

"Not a fan of the classics?" Aria asked.

"He is so high above that he holds the fan and spins it," Varun said.

"Do you hear yourself? Or do you just have nausea always?" Jiant asked.

"You two fight like married couples," Aria laughed.

Jiant glared at Aria.

"Do you want to re-do the quarrelling we had in tenth grade, Varun?" Jiant asked.

"The one where you both looked like you were making out…? Please do," Maaz said.

"Aye Maaz, you too…?" Jiant asked grumpily and scoffed.

"Meh," snorted Maaz.

"Aria, ma'am is looking at you people," Fara finally said. This sneaky girl wad into the conversation but was too smart not to be caught into it.

"Varun… be quiet," the teacher, staring at the conversation from the front of the class, said.

"Sorry ma'am," Varun said getting up.

"Your sir asked me to look after the class until he can come here. And here you are disturbing poor Maaz, who is trying to read," the teacher said trying to lecture Varun. "Well, just sit down and don't disturb others."

"Right," Flint snorted.

Varun was about to say something, but…

"And here, your sir came," the teacher said.

Their science teacher finally entered in, with a book in his hand. He was a tall handsome man, who looked like he was in his twenties. He had a small beard just below his lower lip, in a V-shape and trimmed beard on his chin and a moustache. His smile was as bright as it was always, but, Varun really wanted to pee.

"I really want to pee," Varun whispered to Maaz.

"Go ahead then, the world is your washroom, brother," Flint said.

"Well, the class is lovely as usual. Why is Varun standing? What did he do ma'am?" the sir asked looking at the other teacher.

"Sandeep sir, Varun is becoming more talkative these days. Though now I just asked him to be silent and he stood up," the teacher said.

"Being talkative is a change to Varun, ma'am," Sandeep sir laughed lightly with a soft tone, and some mockery, which couldn't hurt even an ant.

"Yeah sir, in tenth he was very silent and now so talkative," the teacher said.

"But he is a lovely student, ma'am," Sandeep sir said.

"Yeah, that is what makes me give him lenience, sir. Sit down Varun," the teacher said.

Varun sat down without saying another word or turning his head.

"You might have to follow what Flint said," Maaz laughed.

"You can go ma'am. I'll continue the class. And thank you for looking after it while I wasn't here," Sandeep sir said.

"Never mind it sir. We teachers too need a break," the teacher said.

"True," Sandeep sir laughed lightly again.

The teacher walked away, out of the class. Varun could see her one last time through the window. Sandeep sir settled the things in his hands onto the teacher's table as the bells rang.

"Wow, that was the shortest of classes," Sandeep sir said. "Well, try and revise all the said topics. That'll be helpful, though painful to you people. Just go to your homes safely and don't stray away everyone," Sandeep sir said.

"We will sir. You too," a guy said out loud.

"Always happy to get your confirmation, Chethan," Sandeep sir said, smiling to Chethan.

Chethan was a short looking but tall enough handsome and slim guy. He could be termed as a playboy, but he is a good boy too.

Sandeep sir walked out of the class as everyone started getting up from their places.

"Won't you hurry Varun?" Aria pointed out.

"Yeah Varun, you have to attend a date. Just not yours," Fara said with a smirk.

"Don't tell me you forgot," Flint said.

"Oh right, that is the one thing which would keep going through his mind all day, Flint," Maaz scoffed.

"Well, funny thing…" Varun said lifting his right index finger and looking up at the roof and fake-laughing lightly.

"He forgot," Fara said.

"Yes, Fara, I did forget. Now, someone remind," Varun said.

"Kara and Jay didn't come to class today… Because today is half day and you need to meet up now with them," Aria said.

"Oh… oh-oh-oh," Varun said through realisation.

"Run Varun run," Jiant said.

"That's a nice motto but seat's taken, bearded giraffe," Varun said.

As everyone hurried through the door, Varun ran out pushing everyone aside. He had a date to attend after all.

***

"You're late," Kara glared at Varun. She was sitting at a table with Jay sitting besides her, as Varun took a seat on their opposite side.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry Kara and Jay," Varun sighed placing his bag on the side seat.

"Well, another day and the fourth seat is empty I see," Jay said pointing at the bag's chair.

"You might have to consider calling your bag as your lover now," Kara suggested.

"You don't come one day to college. And you seriously expect me to get a girl?" Varun asked.

"Precisely," both Kara and Jay said without missing a beat.

"Wow… the unity in the air is killing me," Varun said.

"Here I can smell loneliness from you," Kara said.

"And desperateness," Jay added.

"Lonely, maybe. But YOU are more desperate than I am for this," Varun sighed.

"Debatable. And we just want you to get a girl, while you don't care about it," Kara said.

"Ok, haven't you guys had enough of being together for the day?" Varun asked.

"Just getting started," Kara said, winking to Varun.

"Well, I need to go," Varun said.

"Somewhere else you need to be?" Kara asked.

"Or maybe with someone else," Jay suggested.

"Yeah, he can keep a secret alright," Kara scoffed.

"Home is where I need to be. My parents know that I have half-a-day today," Varun said.

"Stay for some more while," Jay said.

"Alright… what's up?" Varun asked.

"More talk about the world," Kara said.

"I found out more… about the sudden snow which happened and disappeared," Jay said.

"The first time or second time?" Varun asked.

"Both… both are related. It never happened in so many years man, and is impossible too," Jay said.

"Well, a sight-able thing isn't a hoax for sure. But, there are other people for this don't you think?" Varun asked.

"The ones supposed to, could be the ones behind," Jay said.

"Always with his crazy talks," Kara laughed lightly.

"I'm finally onto something and will find more about this. This world is too suspicious to be true… I'll find the truth," Jay said.

"To me it's too true to be false though," Kara said gripping tighter on Jay's hand.

"And you still don't need some help, Jay?" Varun asked.

"What will you, kick bad guys' ass? It's not so simple Varun. I'll handle, don't worry," Jay said.

"Always up for it if you want me," Varun said.

"He has me," Kara said.

"You are not on this too. Besides, both of you have class tomorrow," Jay said looking at Kara.

"Just humour him please," Kara sighed, still looking forward at Varun.

"Well, if this done, then I'm off," Varun said getting up.

They both didn't speak but just waved at him, Varun waved back and walked away.

***

Varun was sitting in his home, on a red and white couch. He was into his mobile now, seeing if he had any messages. He had one, in a group called 'Aliens not Virgins'.

'Hola amigos', Adam had texted.

'Wow, someone is alive in texts. What bought you here today?' Aria had texted.

'Well, I wanted to ask Varun about his date', Adam had texted, with a laughing emoticon.

'It wasn't his, so shut up', Aria had texted.

'Ooh… can't keep secrets can you Aria?' Fara had texted.

'He told him himself ok', Aria had texted, with a glare emoticon.

'Well, where's our boy though?' Adam had texted.

'Busy as usual', Aria had texted, with the shrug emoticon.

'And here, see, correct time he came', Aria texted just then.

'Wow, I stay offline and the group misses me', Varun sent.

'Yeah Varun we miss you', Aria texted.

'Ghanta*, we miss you. Go to hell, I wouldn't care', Fara texted, with 'the finger' emoticon.

'Well, Fara misses me the most I see', Varun sent.

'Is Jay coming tomorrow, Varun?' Adam texted.

'Probably not', Varun sent.

'Yeah, he doesn't come much these days', Aria texted.

'Yeah, me missing you… In your dreams', Fara texted.

'He is busy with stuff', Varun sent, with a shrug emoticon.

'You do know stuff means drugs sometimes', Adam texted, with a laughing and detective emoticon.

'Keep dreaming', Fara continued.

'What stuff?' Aria texted.

'He is alright… just busy', Varun sent.

'Well, if he's alright it's fine', Fara texted.

'Finally you texted a fine thing', Varun sent, with a laughing emoticon.

'Not for you to decide', Fara texted, with a mocking face emoticon.

Just then Varun got a text from Sandeep sir.

'Varun meet me tomorrow when you can. Just meet me. Need to talk to you something directly but can't say this directly', the text said.

'Ok', Varun typed, but just then the message was unsent.

'Hi Varun', Sandeep sir texted.

'Hi sir…', Varun sent, backspacing his previous text.

'Well, go and sleep. You have a big day tomorrow. Sunday, but class day', Sandeep sir texted, with a happy emoticon.

'Yeah sir', Varun sent.

'Good boy', Sandeep sir texted.

'Bye sir', Varun sent.

No reply but texts were getting gathered into the group 'Aliens not Virgins' as other people had come online. Varun didn't find it very important and just kept his phone aside and sighed.

Whatever was happening was weird but something sure was up. Tomorrow's classes would explain things Varun thought and just sighed to himself again. However important this was, Varun sure didn't want to attend classes on a Sunday. But now was motivated to do it anyways.

***

Right after classes Varun was took away by Sandeep sir, into the staff room. Luckily the staff room was empty… which also was weird, but it was Sunday, not many teachers came. Sandeep sir was near the door, looking outside and inside, and Varun was weirded out.

"You could have waited longer," Sandeep sir said and sighed.

"For what exactly…?" Varun asked.

"For my message, I was going to contact you," Sandeep sir said.

"Not catching up much sir," Varun pointed out.

"So, none of your memories are with you?" Sandeep sir asked.

"Still not helpful… but creepy. I don't remember losing any memories. Wait, if I lost any memories too, then I wouldn't know. I lost my memories?" Varun asked himself.

"The snow… and someone behind it," Sandeep sir pointed out.

"Are you on Jay's team or something?" Varun asked.

"Jayke… his name is Jayke," Sandeep sir sighed.

"His name is Jayden though… and Jay shortly," Varun said.

"Ok, do one thing. We have time, just bring in everyone," Sandeep sir said.

"Who all…?" Varun asked.

"Uh… everyone… Aria, Jay, Adam, Maaz, Jiant, Flint, Fara and whoever Kara is. My god, who named these people…?" Sandeep sir gave out a loud sigh.

"She is your student sir… and probably their parents or something named them," Varun said.

"Probably you did, don't ask 'what?' just go and bring them," Sandeep sir said giving way for Varun to go.

Varun just walked out quickly and took one last look at Sandeep sir. He just shrugged to himself and walked away as he saw Chethan walking towards him.

"What are you doing here, Varun? They left us," Chethan said.

"Yeah, 'us'. What are you doing here?" Varun asked.

"Probably whatever you were doing near staff room. So, we both are cool," Chethan said, giving a thumbs up.

"What, Sandeep sir called you too?" Varun asked.

"Uh… he didn't even come today," Chethan pointed out.

"Ok, evil twin then," Varun sighed to himself.

"What's happening?" Chethan asked.

"I don't know. But I do know what will happen," Varun said.

"Ok, what will happen?" Chethan asked.

"What'll happen is I'll ask you a favour if you are free," Varun said.

"And I'll tell you what'll happen after that. Because I'M free," Chethan said.

***

Chapter footnotes:-

Ghanta: A Hindi word, which means bell, in English. But is also used as a slang and the right alternative to it in English would be, "balls".