Guilty..

Part 1: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/homework/

Part 2: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/punishment/

Part 3: https://anibhoot.com/2015/12/24/merry-christmas/

Part 4: https://anibhoot.com/2016/02/11/fair-unfair/

Part 5: https://anibhoot.com/2017/02/16/happy-ending/

 

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Christie was crying, she was crying so bitterly, Bittu could only see her helplessly. Misty was no more, her lifeless body was lying there.

Bittu was looking at her, with guilt and remorse, how could he ever tell her he was responsible for Misty’s death.

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“Bittu, don’t even come near me. Gosh! You’re drunk. Why do you even drink? You’re not supposed to, you’re still underage.” Christie made a face and looked the other way as Bittu was trying desperately to kiss her. It was about 7 PM in the evening. The football field was empty and the east goalpost could only see two teenagers, sitting together.

“One kiss, just one. I promise I will never drink again. It’s all because of Neeraj. He forced me” Bittu pleaded.

“Nooo! Go away. I am leaving.” Christie got up. Bittu was pulling her left hand.

“Just one, you know I can’t sleep without it.” Bittu tried to pull her towards him.

“Not today, I hate the smell of alcohol.” She made a face again and rushed away.

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As Bittu stopped his bike he knew it’s too late. He could see the fluid flowing away from the smashed head and face of Misty, he can’t see the red color of it as it’s almost dark. He ran her over with his bike. I could see her laying still on the road. He was intoxicated, drunk but he knew what he did.

“Who’s there” Bittu heard someone’s voice. He left the clutch and pushed his accelerator hard.

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Christie was still sobbing as the others were burying the body of Misty. Bittu was standing there motionlessly as Christie was leaning onto him, holding her head against his shoulder.

“Do you remember the day you brought Misty to me? Christie asked Bittu in her teary voice.

Bittu remembered.

He held Christie tight in his arms as tight as possible. How could he ever confess it to her!

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“Wow!! How cute.” Christie sound so happy and excited. “You know this is the best gift you’ve ever gave to me.” Christie spoke in childishly happy voice.

“I thought you might like it. I found this kitten in my backyard.” Bittu was happy seeing Christie so jubilant. “What you gonna call it?” Bittu asked.

“Misty” Christie was already have it on her lap.

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Happy Ending

Part 1: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/homework/

Part 2: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/punishment/

Part 3: https://anibhoot.com/2015/12/24/merry-christmas/

Part 4: https://anibhoot.com/2016/02/11/fair-unfair/

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“Bittu what are you doing here?”

Bittu looked back as he was sitting alone near the pond. It was getting dark, the dusk had fallen. The glowworms were flying around and the continuous sound of crickets, making the evening a little different than others.

“Why are sitting here with all these mosquitoes?” Firoz asked again as he walked down the steps on the pond side, Bittu was sitting on the step last but one.

“Meditation sir, need to concentrate my thoughts, 12^th exams are there in another 2 months.” Bittu was looking at the black water of the pond in front of him.

“Meditation?! Hmm, yeah you should do it sometime. I see your meditation working. For whom you’re meditating is already in the railway station.” Firoz said those words as he was sitting next to Bittu.

“Yesterday Christie came and asked me to preponed the class test. Strange right? After all her whole family is going on vacation to Darjeeling.” Firoz continued.

“Amm, ohh, really! So did you?” Firoz smiled silently as Bittu was stammering.

“Looks like D’Souza family already board their train, Christie must have seen them off an hour ago. I just came from there, she’s sitting on the bench.” Firoz’s tone was pretty normal.

“Amm Sir, I just remembered now, I have a very important work to complete, I will see you tomorrow, bye sir.” Bittu jumped off his feet.

“Here, take the keys of my bike, and no rash driving, station is almost 10 km away.” Firoz threw his bike key at Bittu.

“No… err.. I mean I am not going to station, I have to go home, kind of urgent. I will park your bike at your place by tomorrow early morning. Thank you sir, thank you…” Bittu was running as he threw those words at Firoz.

 

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Christie could see Bittu is out of breath, he was breathing heavily. Christie was waiting for almost 1 an ½ hours now.

“What you want?” Christie asked in a bitter tone.

“You!!” Bittu answered.

Christie made up her mind, “Let’s stop being kids Bittu. Another two months and we are done with school. Then college. We don’t know where we will end up. Today you like me. Tomorrow when we will be miles apart who knows whom we might like, fall in love with. Let’s say we stay in touch, but how long? Long distance never works. And we don’t even know if we ever end up together at the same place.

Less we will meet, more we will drift apart, and one day we may found someone better. Then what?”

Tears were rolling from Christie’s eyes and her pink and puffy cheeks were letting them flow over.

 

“Will you be mine?” Bittu extended his right hand, a red rose, a withered one….

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(After 20 years)

Bittu woke up at 9 PM, he was so tried, after coming back from office. He turned to his right, he’s all alone in this king size bed. He pushed himself off the bed, he sure is hungry.

The house is looking so messy, things are scattered around here and there, the smell from the bin is making the place unbreathable. Bittu took out the cold food from the refrigerator which was made yesterday and put it in the microwave oven. The maid is absent as usual.

All of a sudden the realization hit him, he is all alone in this big house. Bittu glanced at the almost empty bottle of whisky on the table. The house is looking like perfect bachelor’s pod.

He took out the food and kept it on the table, the dim light of the dining room was making the place gloomy and sad. He looked at the calendar, it’s 14^th February.

Twenty years back in the railway station he proposed to Christie with a withered rose he found on his way to meet her. She made Firoz sir preponed the test so she could stay back though she would love to go for that vacation with her family. As Bittu’s plan to follow her till Darjeeling was miserably failed.

With the first bite Bittu felt the stale smell of the food, he got up threw it in the dustbin, called the pizza store for a door delivery. All of a sudden he felt the emptiness in his heart, a strange loneliness.

“I miss you Christie.” He muttered.

He picked up his phone and dialed Neeraj’s number.

“Hey Bittu. What’s up?” Neeraj answered.

“Come over. Let’s watch Arsenal vs Bayern Munich, I have ordered pizza so you gotta get the beers.” Bittu answered.

“But….?” Neeraj confused tone was heard from the other side.

“Christie and our daughter Shristi has gone to her mother’s place for 3 days. I am all alone at home. Come over, grab Vishal on the way if you can.” As he finished the call Bittu threw his mobile on the couch.

‘This Valentine, it’s the old mates’ reunion on a football match.’ Bittu smiled again.

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Firoz was sitting on the steps near the pond still, Bittu was gone for nearly 20 minutes now. He sighed.

“Not all the stories deserve a tragic ending. A few need happy endings too…..”

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Fair, Unfair….

 

Part 1: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/homework/

Part 2: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/punishment/

Part 3: http://anibhoot.com/2015/12/24/merry-christmas/

 

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Amit came out limping from the teacher’s room, glared at Bittu, unsuccessfully tried to burn him down into ashes with that fiery stare, then limped away slowly. The next one to follow is math’s teacher Tarun sir, similar kind of fire in his eyes too, Bittu was getting impatient now. At last sports teacher Nitin sir called him in.

Severe allegation is brought against him, committing unnecessary fouls in today’s football match. As there was a match between two sections of 11^th standard, he went on kicking Amit not once but twice, once kicked him in the lower calf and then kicking his knee. Math’s teacher who was the linesman spotted Bittu and blew his whistle, to convince the ‘referee come sports teacher’ Bittu tried to persuade him saying Amit being maths teacher’s favourite student, he was being partial to Bittu.

Nitin Sir: “I have spoken to Tarun sir and he is sure you committed those fouls intentionally. Top of it you accused of him being biased. You are suspended from the football team for this whole month. Now get lost.”

‘If there was a prize for being partial, maths teacher would have won the 1^st prize at ease, everyone knows how Amit tops all the math class tests.’ Bittu murmured under his breath.

As he was crossing the corridor, he saw maths teacher and Amit standing.

Seeing him Tarun sir hissed, “Next of my maths test if you get less than 20 out of 40, well your answer sheet will travel to many directions from Principal’s room to your parents. I will make sure I set the toughest paper this time.”

Bittu ignored them and kept walking.

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He was trying to concentrate, tomorrow’s physics homework is still undone, but he is only turning the pages. He checked the time, 5:35 PM. Bittu got up from chair impatiently, took his bicycle out and paddled towards Firoz sir’s house. Somebody told him she recently joined the private tuition there.

The students are scattered around here and there, waiting for the previous batch to come out. Christie surprised to see Bittu reaching there in hurry, he didn’t even laid the stand on his cycle and it fell down on the grass.

Bittu: “I need to talk to you.” And he dragged her by her hand towards the stairs to the terrace, no one else was there but them.

Bittu: “You don’t need to borrow his maths note, my cousin is doing her M.Sc maths, if you want I will take you to her and you can get all the guidance you want. She’s good at maths.

 

Christie was surprised at first but then she had an impish smile on her face.

“Ok, I don’t like it when you talk to him.” Almost cornered now, Bittu blurted out.

She curled her lips and looked the other way, without uttering a word. Bittu discovered with horror that Firoz sir just walked into his terrace.

 

“What the hell you people are doing here?” Barked Firoz.

“I was early for the class so was waiting here.” Christie spoke in terrorized voice and then ran down the stairs.

“And you?” Bittu can see those blood red eyes. “I.. I… I am…”, he started to stammer.

“GET OUT!”,Firoz roared and Bittu didn’t stop till he reaches where he left his bicycle, “I could have challenged Usain Bolt today.” He muttered

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“Auntie, is Bittu home?” Bittu could hear Christie’s voice from his room.

“Go straight up sweetie, he is in his room.” Mrs Sinha answered.

Bittu was laying on his bed staring at the celling, as he heard his room door opening and closing, he got up from bed.

Christie: “I won’t borrow anyone’s maths notebook, if I need help I will go to your cousin. But you don’t have to kick around people in football matches for that. By the way, Amit borrowed my notes and he was returning it back.” She had a naughty smile on her lips while she was talking.

Bittu looked at Christie, with pair of blue jeans and a pink top and a blue hairband, she was looking like a cute angel who lost her ways to this world. He couldn’t help but notice her glowing lips as well.

Bittu: “Nice dress, nice hairband and nn..n…nice lipstick.”

Christie: “That’s orange lip-gloss Dumbo. My sister got it.”

Bittu: Could we.. amm… go to ‘Cafe 360’ this 14^th feb… For a coffee.

Christie: “Mom, dad, sis and I are going to Darjeeling tomorrow, I won’t be here. Sudden vacation plan.” Her face turned dull and sad.

 

Bittu couldn’t say anything. He stood there thoughtlessly. Christie suddenly stepped forward, pushed her toes up and leaned on Bittu for a few seconds and stepped back, her puffy cheeks turned pink almost. Completely lost, Bittu couldn’t decide, if she looks better when she’s smiling or blushing.

Bittu could hear his mom from downstairs as she might saw Christie running out, “Hey girl, I am making chocolate shakes for you people.”, “Another day aunty, I gotta pack my things for the trip.”, Bittu could hear Christie’s answer to his mom.

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Bittu called Neeraj in another 5 minutes.

Neeraj: Darjeeling trip? You and me? And You need me to arrange 10k for that? And lie to your parents that we are going out of station for a school football match? Hold on, what is there in me?

Bittu: 10% interest on your 10k. Done?

 

Lying on his bed again Bittu was thinking, Life isn’t fair at all, he is already in the bad books maths and sports teacher, thrown out of football team, picked up a fight with Amit, Firoz sir saw them on his terrace, and he has to return Neeraj’s 10 grands with interest, life is so unfair.

“Come down Bittu, at least you have the chocolate shake.” He heard his mom’s voice.

“Not now, not hungry, won’t have my dinner as well.” Bittu replied. He is hungry alright, and craving for that choco shake, but at least for tonight he doesn’t want to let go the ‘taste of orange’ in his mouth. He was smiling stupidly, all by himself.

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Merry Christmas

Part 1: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/homework/

Part 2: https://anibhoot.wordpress.com/2015/12/15/punishment/

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As bittu entered into the staff room, Firoz was standing there holding bittu’s note, enraged and fumed. He waved the page in front of bittu’s face which has the lipstick mark on it.

Firoz : “So Bittu, tell me why do you come to school? For this huh? Mr Casanova. Are your parents Mr and Mrs Sinha are aware of all these or I have to personally tell them?”

Bittu (In a dumbfound voice): “I… I don’t know anything about this. Please don’t tell mom and dad anything, please”

Firoz: “Stop being a skirt chaser or you’ll regret it, badly.” Firoz chucked the note on Bittu’s face and snarled “Now GET OUT!”

 

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Bittu was standing in front of the cash counter as he was making payment to the old lady

The Lady in the counter: “Ahh, you have bought such a nice dress for your sister. But you’re sure it will fit her? I mean you could brought her along.”

Bittu: “Amm, this is not for my sister, actually for one of my, err… friend.”

The Lady in the counter (Making a face): “Hmm! So even school kids like you are having girlfriends and boyfriends, huh, don’t where this generation is heading to? Now here, the dress is packed. “

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Mr Sinha (While taking a sip from his tea cup) : So bittu, you got the new cricket bat?

Bittu: “Ye…. Yes dad”

Mrs Sinha: Where’s it? Show me.

Bittu: “I… I kept it in the school store room, tomorrow is the match so I thought….”

Mrs Sinha: “Come on Bittu, such an expensive new bat and you kept it there? What if someone flicks it?”

Bittu (Smiling): “Don’t worry mom, it will be safe

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Bittu: “Neeraj, can I borrow your bat for tomorrow? For the boxing day match between teachers and students”

Neeraj(Bittu’s friend): “Why? Didn’t you get a big cash from your dad for buying one?”

Bittu:”Amm, I spent it somewhere else.”

Neeraj: “I know where you spent it. On her, don’t you? Fine you can have the bat. But you borrowed 500 bucks from me?

Bittu: I’ll give it back next month.

Neeraj: “Yeah but this time you have to give me 1000.

Bittu: “Why?”

Neeraj(With a mischievous smile): “I too have my own expenses.”

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Christie: “It’s for me? Why?”

Bittu: “Christmas gift.”

Christie: “Hmm, ok bye, mom’s calling me.”

Bittu: “Christie….?”

Christie: “What?”

Bittu(Sighed): ”Nothing.”

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Bittu: “Sir, did you call my home? Asking for me?

Firoz(At Firoz’s house): “Ya, Neeraj told me you wanted to his borrow his bat for tomorrow’s match.”

Bittu: “ Aaaa….mmmm, Yess!!”

Firoz: “I played with this in my college days, now there’s no much use of it to me anyway. It’s yours.” He was holding his old elegant cricket bat.

Bittu: “But sir…….”

Firoz: “Bittu, this mid-term I want you to get A+ in Chemistry. Now take this and GET OUT.”

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Christie: “First ball, clean bowled. Do you even know how to hold a bat?”

Bittu: “Raman sir was bowling, it was a low full toss, I was thinking whether to hit for a four or a six, then there was something distracted me. As I felt and breathe a strange sweet fragrance and I saw someone there on long off, dress in red. I stood there and closed my eyes, the ball took off my middle stump.”

Christie: “Idiot, I thought I would wear it in Christmas, not a day before, but you…..”

Bittu: More than half of my team are yet to bat. Could we go get some ice creams and sit under that tree?

Christie (Smile and tears): “Merry Christmas ‘My Santa Claus’.”

Bittu: “Merry Christmas Christie”

 

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