The Captive of True Love: 6

This is the sixth part of ‘The Captive of True Love’. So, if you are new here. Please first read the previous chapters here.

Curiosity

The thought of Vaidehi’s list, tantalizingly close yet frustratingly out of reach, haunted me like an unscratchable itch. A sense of unease crept over me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I could have known today but now know nothing about it.

I didn’t know what to think about that, but, I knew if I tried a little she might tell me, because if she didn’t want to share with me, she wouldn’t have mentioned something like that in the first place itself.
Priya, my confidante in all things, echoed my sentiments when I shared my predicament with her. We were in that phase where every little detail of our lives was fair game for discussion. She regaled me with tales of her upcoming swimming competition, a gruelling schedule that involved waking up at the ungodly hour of six o’clock in the morning to brave the cold waters. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would subject themselves to such torture, but Priya was made of sterner stuff.

Artwork by : Zipcy

I didn’t like this at all as to reach the swimming pool at six she’ll have to leave the house earlier which meant I won’t get to see her on weekdays.

I failed to change her mind. She had her decisions made clearly. She believed that swimming in cold water improves her swimming skills, I had no clue about it as I didn’t know how to swim let alone the hacks to be good at it. Plus she thought it would be a good reason to stay out of the classroom during school hours without anyone raising any objection.

Being the persistent boy that I was, I kept trying to convince her to change the time but she didn’t listen. Well, to be honest, I knew she won’t. That’s how she was, A girl with a firm belief system, someone who didn’t believe in changing plans at whims. She had discipline. Something that I lack big time.
But before I knew it, she had changed the subject, teasing me with a task. She wanted me to find out the Vaidahi’s secret list.
“Mahesh,” she said with a mischievous grin in her voice, “I need you to find out Vaidahi’s secret list. I can’t stop thinking about it since you told me about it.”

Well, I wouldn’t have taken it seriously if she hadn’t bribed me. Considering Vaidahi’s first-day debacle, I didn’t want to get into any trouble. I don’t know if a bribe is a right word but we had a deal, I’ll end her curiosity and I’ll get to know some of her secret wishes too.

Before ending the phone, She asked me if I had a list of things I wanted to do before going to college. I had no answer. I took an awfully prolonged pause that lasted till she hung up on me.

In the next second, there was a text from her:

“Sorry. Mom had come to my bedroom. I’m waiting for your answer.”

I can’t even recall when I fall asleep while staring at the screen, thinking about what she had asked. I had no answer. Because, honestly, there was nothing I wanted to do. Usually what boys want to do in high school is to score, To score good marks, to score more runs in cricket matches, and to score girls. Later being the top priority. (By scoring girl, I just meant losing relationship-virginity, not the sexual one.)

I knew I’ll score good marks in exams. I was getting better at Tennis. And I had few relationships to fulfil the remaining criteria. So, basically, there was nothing I was wanted to happen. Well, I was falling for Priya but it wasn’t something I was desperate about. I wanted to take it slowly this time.

But I was wrong. When I got to know Vaidahi’s and Priya’s lists, I realized the fundamental difference between girls and boys. While we boys dream about having a bush of flowers in our garden, Girls plan everything. From which type of flower they want to plant, what shape they want to give to that bush to how they’ll manage to nurture it. All these with their respective backup options.

To be continued…