THREE

The next day, I rode my cycle to my school feeling thrilled about seeing her. I couldn't divert my mind from Adah. Her handshake still felt. Her face was the only thing that could come up in my mind.When i reached the school, I saw Adah 's car near rhe gate of the school. It was an white Range Rover. She stepped out from the car. My pulse rate increased, my heart beating very fast. I couldn't find out why. She saw me and waved her hand at me. I too waved.

'Hi' she greeted me

"Er... Hey" I said back nervously

Talking in the presence of Mike or Sam was different than talking with her in person.

I stepped out of my cycle and started walking with the cycle next to me.

We walked till we reached the cycle stand of our school..

While parking my cycle in the cycle stand I saw that she was standing outside the cycle stand smiling at me.

Is she waiting for me? Wow!! I thought.

After parking my cycle, we headed towards our classroom.

Mike's words rang in my head:Talk to her.

'So how did your first day go?' I asked, after taking a long breath.

'Good. I liked it. You guys gave me the welcome which I hadn't expected.' She replied and smiled.

My heart leaped out of its place when I saw her smile. I felt an adrenaline rush in my whole body.

No more words were exchanged till we reached our class. I went to my place and she went to hers.

'You guys came together?'Mike asked referring to me and Adah. He had seen us walk together.

'No. Coincidentally, both of us arrived here at the same time.'I said.

'Ok. So you talked to her?'he asked.

'I just asked her about how did the first day go.'I replied.

'Good. That's good.' he said.

The rest of the day went same like the previous day. During the classes, I just sat staring at her.

She had light brown eyes that matched the colour of her hair. She had a narrow face and she was very fair. She was thin and her hair was long and wavy.

'I think you should listen to the classes too other than just staring at her.'Mike whispered to me in the middle of the Physics class.

I cannot. When I see her, every sound becomes mute. I wanted to say.

'Hmm.' this was all I could say.

'This is an important year. You cannot afford to lose any lectures, you will lose the continuity.' Mike said.

'You are saying this to me?'I asked.

'Yeah. I've decided to be serious about studies this year.' he replied.

Mike never paid heed to any of the classes, whereas I used to each and every word said by teacher. But now the scenario was different.

'Aman Khan, what are you gaping at with such great intetest?' my teacher asked.

It was embarrassing. Every head in our class turned towards me. I saw Adah looking at me too.

Gosh, her eyes!!!

'I.... I am s..so... sorry.' I said to the teacher.

'Listening to the class will give you more benefit than staring at the scenery outside the window.' teacher said.

Phew. So she thought I was looking out of the window. I thought I had been caught red-handed.

There was a murmur of giggles throughout the classroom. And then everything was back to normal. But I was not.

'You really seem to be obsessed with her.' Mike said after the classes had finished and it was time to back home.

No one was there in the class except me and Mike.My books were lying on the floor. I don't know who did it. I was keeping my books back into my bag when I saw a school diary on a desk on the other side of the class where girls usually sat. I went to take the diary and to my surprise I found that it was Adah's. I told Mike about it and he told me to open it.

'Why?' I asked.

'Open the Student's Bio data page.' I did what he said. I found her full name written there, Adah Sharma.

Isn't there an actress by this same name? Never mind.

I saw her parents' name.

'Hey, she is Dr. Madhav Sharma's daughter.'Mike said, looking at her father's name and his occupation.

I was surprised.

Dr. Madhav Sharma was a well known cardiologist.

'Then her mother must be Dr. Tara Sharma, the child specialist.' I said.

'Yes, she is.' Mike said showing the diary to me.

Next I saw her date of birth and I was shocked when I saw it. It was May 22,the same birth date as of mine.

What a coincidence!

'Wow.... what a coincidence! You guys are truly made for each other. Your houses are going to be near and same birthdays! I can't believe it!' Mike said.

I rolled my eyes.

Cliché Mike!

'Now run and give this diary to Adah. She must be chatting with Tina.'Mike said.

I thought of protesting against it but it was futile.

I held her diary in my hand and when I came to the ground and saw her standing at a distance talking with Tina.

'Adah' I called out.

She turned back and smiled.

'You had left your diary in the class.'I said, nervously, showing her the diary.

'Oh, I forgot it. Thank you so much.' she said smiling and looking at me through her twinkling eyes. I was frozen at that moment. I couldn't even give her the reply to her thanks.

You are useless, Aman. You are a real coward.