Chapter - 10 (Suspicion - Thy name Is Anushka)
Akanksha could sense her hand trembling as the voice at the end, pored into her ear.
"Hello, Jishnu here. "
Something was screeching in her head to cut the line off, without any more delay. She had had enough of drama for one day. But her heart told her not to listen to her head. It would be so wrong to disconnect now, especially when someone had already answered her call. But what could she tell Jishnuda? Even if she told him the truth, would he believe her? Akanksha realized then that how the hansomest boy of CPS felt about her, mattered to her. She had to act quickly before she got caught on a wrong footing.
"Hello, Akanksha? " Akanksha heard Jishnu's hypnotic voice again. God, help me, PLEASE.
"Are you Jishnuda speaking?" She srammered out, hesitatingly.
"Yes, Akanksha. Is there something wrong?"He sounded genuinely concerned. Probably, he was thinking of a similar experience earlier in the day.
" No, no. There's nothing wrong. Other than the fact that I made a blunder, " she heard herself trying to correct herself hurriedly.
"Akanksha, what's wrong? What blunder are you talking about?" Could she sense a tinge of despondency in his voice? Probably, he was studying or there was a test the next day and he didn't expect a ninth grader to be a pain in the back at that time. After all, he was the All-Section-Topper.
"Jishnuda, I'm so sorry. I's trying to call Anu, I mean, Anurima - my best friend. I called your number instead."
Jishnu remembered how he had given a miss call to Akanksha and asked her to save the number when he was coming out of "The Banerjees" earlier. He was so impressed with the family, especially, Mrs. Sonia and her elder daughter, Akanksha, that he must have gone out of his way trying to be helpful.
"You know, Akanksha. I live just a few blocks away from here, near Philip's. You can always call me if there is anything. May I have your number? I'll give you a call so that you can save my number, if you want," and finding the lovely girl nodding her head, though she seemed a bit jittery, Jishnu pulled out his mobile. He still remembered how Akanksha standing near the door of her house, looked at her mother, wh was about to enter the kitchen.
Jishnu liked Akanksha seeking her mother's consent like the way she did it. Later, her phone rang for a few seconds before Jishnu switched his phone off. Akanksha was seen working on her mobile as Jishnu took his final leave.
He was brought back to the present when he heard her voice pleading into the phone again:
"I'm so sorry, Jishnuda. I must have disturbed you. Please, forgive me, " She sounded so upset that Jishnu felt sorry for her.
"It's okay, Akanksha. In fact, your mistake makes us birds of the same feathers. You remember what happened earlier? Besides, If you don't mind my being absolutely honest with you, I was feeling sleepy myself. Your call somehow, has driven sleep away from my eyes."
Was he making fun of her, trying to convey the message indirectly? But then, his voice sounded so convincing! For once, Akanksha felt all at sea. She was thinking of bringing the conversation to an end when Jishnu told her something abruptly :
" You know, Akanksha. I's preparing for the Debate. I'm representing our school at the Inter-School Debate Competition next Saturday along with 3 others. The fourth member of the team, this Mayank Agarwal, oh, you know him, right - he's from your class? He is down with malaria and can't take part. So, Mrs. Roy asked me to find someone to replace him. Are you interested? "
Akanksha was totally taken aback by Jishnu's question. Before she could think of something cohesively, she heard herself asking Jishnu :
"Me? I don't even know what the topic is, Jishnuda. Besides, I've lots of assignments and all. Why don't you ask Anurima instead?"
Akanksha switched over to the camera on the mobile and looked at her reflection. She pushed her reading glasses up on the bridge of her nose. She was a smart good girl, she felt.
"Fine. I don't wanna force you if you aren't interested. But in case you change your mind, let me tell you that the topic is a burning issue. Something that might interstate you. " Was he urging her to take part?
"I don't really think….. " she began before something told her to find out what the topic was. She couldn't help asking him the question that came to her at that instant. "Ok, tell me the topic first. I'm sure I'll be a big let down, telling you I don't know a thing about the topic afterwards." Could she detect sometbjng bordering on a laughter in her voice?
"The topic for the primary round is - Rowling should be a part of the English Curricula in schools." Jishnu let it out real quick before catching her off guard with what he had to tell her next.
"Of course, if you're not a Harry Potter freak, there is no point asking you any further… " Jishnu bit his lower lip by the upper teeth. How was she going to react now?
"Rowling? Should be a part of School Currucula? 7 books and 8 movies. "Chamber of Secrets",my eternal favourite. While "Goblet of Fire" is too clitched as too many people die in the end." Akanksha was talking more to herself than to Jishnu now. "Oh, My God! I… I… That'll be fun, Jishnuda. Are you sure that others won't mind?" She chirped on excitedly.
They spent the next ten minutes discussing what they had to do the next day. Both of them sounded very pleased while wishing one other "Good Night". In fact, as Jishnu was about to hang up, Akanksha just couldn't help express her feelings :
" Thanks, Jishnuda for being so good. And yes, Sweet Dreams. "
At around 11.35, when Anushka finally tiptoed into their room for once, she expected her sister to be either asleep or working at the study table. What surprised her was to see her sister whispering dreamily into her phone.
"Thanks, Jishnuda for being so good. And yes, Sweet Dreams."
Anushka stood transfixed at the door, her hand on the door knob, her face contorted! She had been down there watching TV as she thought that she had gone a bit too far, talking to her sister about Jishnu. In fact, she was feeling remorseful and thought of making it up with Akku the following morning. That her sister could have the guts to talk to "The Prince Charming of CPS" was the last thing on her mind. And there she was with the most dreamy look on her face, sitting all popped up in bed, her pillow in her her lap, talking to none other than Jishnu himself! Anushka knew she couldn't be wrong about it. She had heard it with her own ears. Her sister's words hit her like a brick.
T"THANKS, JISHNUDA.?" Does she think of anyone else these days? She uttered his name in a way, as if she was talking to her boyfriend! And what was the next thing she said?
THANKS… FOR BEING SO GOOD! Why? What had he done? Why was he being so good to her? By not answering her (Anushka's) call, of course. And what about the way she ended the call? SWEET DREAMS! Was Ms.SweetMouth
trying to prompt Mr. Hypocrat into dreaming about her? About them rather?
THE BITCH! Anushka found herself in a seething rage at the time.
She had barely put the night lamp off, stretching out her hand and pulling the cylindrical pillow closer to herself, when she could figure out the silhouette of her sister in the fading light of the room, behind her.