This happened in the middle of May, just after I had passed my 10th board exams. I scored 91 percent, which is considered very good in my school and was highly praised in my family. I was happy with my marks. My main motivation for scoring well was to attend the district toppers' council and feel respected and proud of my achievement.
One day, my father received a call from my principal saying that I had been invited to the student council program. It was actually my goal, so I was extremely happy. I couldn't control my excitement and started jumping around clumsily. On the day of the counseling ceremony, I got ready to attend it with my father. I felt like it was the most important day of my board exam journey.
My father and I went to the main city where the council was being held. The ceremony was on the third floor of a building. The stairs were not very broad or steep, but we reached the third floor without getting tired. When I entered the hall, someone was giving a speech. After listening for a while, I felt bored and needed to use the washroom. My father was sitting in another row, and I had no one to talk to. I was alone.
After waiting for about 20–30 minutes, I asked a female staff member about the washroom, and she told me it was on the second floor. I went there and started using my phone, texting my sister about how boring the event was . While I was coming out of the washroom, I heard footsteps on the stairs but didn't pay much attention. I received a text from my sister saying there was no reason for me to go there. I replied that I would at least have a soulful lunch afterward (which was basically a lie to comfort myself).
Then I heard a familiar voice coming from the stairs. It was completely unexpected. When I peeked out of the washroom, I saw that it was that handsome boy (the one I mentioned in the last chapter) whose name I had never asked. I thought, "Is this a coincidence?" He was going downstairs, and I went upstairs but didn't enter the hall. I waited on the stairs. Suddenly, he came upstairs again but stopped in front of the washroom because he got a phone call. He started talking on the phone.
I was peeking at him from upstairs. I thought he would take some time on the call, so I tried to take a snap of him to send to my sister and show her that at least there was one good thing about coming there. But he went downstairs again while still on the call, and I got annoyed that he wouldn't stay still long enough for me to capture a proper snap.
I felt awkward standing in the middle of the stairs for too long, and I also didn't want to return to the hall. So I stood inside the restroom, wondering why he had left. After a few minutes, I heard someone coming upstairs and silently prayed that it would be him. This time, he came upstairs with his father to go to the ceremony hall. While he was passing by, I could hear him talking to his father.
They went upstairs, and I came out of the washroom feeling happy to see him again. I didn't know why I was hiding from him. I stood upstairs where I could see him clearly, but he couldn't see me. I tried to take another snap of him, but this time he noticed that someone was taking his picture. However, he couldn't see my face, and I quickly hide inside the washroom again.
After waiting for 6–7 minutes, I decided to come out, hoping he hadn't seen me. But when I stepped out, he was standing right in front of me. I was shocked and became speechless. He asked, "Are you taking my snap again?" I didn't say anything because it was true. Unexpectedly, he smiled, and I felt relieved that he wasn't angry.
Suddenly, he grabbed my phone (Snapchat was still open), searched for his account, sent himself a friend request, accepted it from his phone, and returned my phone to me. I saw that his username was "dorakun," and I thought he must be an anime-obsessed boy. He said, "If you take my snap again, make sure to send it to me too." I felt very embarrassed.
He asked why I wasn't in the ceremony hall, and I told him I was bored. Just then, my father called and asked where I was since I had been gone for a long time. I told him I was in the washroom. The boy asked, "You lied?" I replied, "Not always." Then we went to the ceremony hall together.
Each topper was honored individually. When my turn came, I had stage fright and was shivering. But once I stepped onto the stage, I felt nothing—no fear, joy, or confusion. After receiving my medal, certificate, and trophy, I stepped down and went to my father. I noticed he was sitting next to that boy's father. I greeted him respectfully, and he gave me his blessings.
While I was asking my father if we could go home, it was the boy's turn to go on stage. He walked confidently without looking back. The organizer announced everyone's marks, and I learned that he had scored 94 percent in 12th standard, which is a great achievement. Unfortunately, I couldn't hear his name clearly.
When he came down from the stage, he looked at me and started walking toward us. I felt anxious, thinking he might complain to my father about me taking his snaps. But he only came to greet my father, which was a relief.
My father said we should go home, but his father invited us for refreshments, and my father couldn't refuse. So we all went to a restaurant together. I was bored while waiting for the food because I had no one to talk to. I kept looking at him as he scrolled through his phone, while our fathers were busy talking. I kept checking Snapchat, waiting for my sister to reply.
When the food arrived, I felt happy. There was samosa chaat and paneer pakora. He served me first, and I stared at his face, wondering if my hunger was visible. Then I thought it was just basic manners. After serving me, he served my father and then his own father.
While eating, I was thinking about dessert. Suddenly, his father asked which dessert I would like. I clearly said, "Gujhiya." The boy smiled at me, and I wondered if there was something funny about it. Later, when I went to wash my hands, he followed me. I asked him directly, "Was there something funny when I said Gujhiya?" He replied, "I didn't laugh. I just smiled because I love it too." I felt relieved because, as someone who is not very confident in communication, I often get embarrassed easily.
When we returned to the table, his father asked about my marks. I told him, and he said I could have scored even better with extra classes or tuition. He mentioned that his son attended coaching and academies, which helped him score well. Hearing that made me feel bad for the boy because it seemed like his father didn't fully acknowledge his personal effort.
I asked him about his 10th grade marks. He replied while laughing, "98 percent." I was shocked because I had never even imagined scoring that high. I asked jokingly, "Are you even human?" He replied coldly, "No, I'm a monster."
Our fathers were still busy talking. I asked him about his stream, and he said, "Commerce." I smiled, and he understood immediately. He asked, "You're choosing that too?" I said yes.
Then I whispered, "Why did you add yourself on my Snapchat?" He laughed and said, "So you can send my snaps to me too." I wasn't expecting that answer and felt embarrassed again. After that, I remained silent until we returned home.
When I got home, I told both of my sisters the whole incident. Then they asked me his name, and once again, I became silent.