First glance and Second Look

Jaya looked down at her feet, concentrating on the high gloss of the polished black Mary Jane shoes. The socks were pristine white too, with neatly folded tops; they might be bedraggled and dirty after play but just before assembly they conformed to school norms. A quick brush of exploring hands confirmed that two silk bows on her thick long plaits were even and firm. She tugged down the back of her shirt; it had a distressing tendency to crinkle and ride up her back. Being the shortest in class and hence first in every assembly line, she was the most likely to be scrutinized for conformity to school norms.



But, it had its advantages too; she had an uninterrupted view of their floor monitor: Arjun. Arjun Das. He had joined the school recently and already caused ripples with his dark good looks, the chiseled nose and long-lashed brooding eyes sent many a heart fluttering. He was also a good scholar and an outstanding athlete.



She knew her feelings were hopeless, he could have his pick of girls; but it did no harm to worship from afar, did it? She stole another glance at him, admiring the dexterous waves of his arm as he directed class after class up the school stairs.



"Hey there!" Jaya! Pick up those feet, it's our turn."



The hissed warning came from her good friend Eric. Dependable Eric, He seemed to have her back at all times. She made a quick scurry to ensure the smooth flow was uninterrupted but did not escape a penetrating stare from Arjun.



That is not quite the way I hoped he'd notice me.



Assembly was short; it was to be followed by the sports prize giving.



The principal was clearing her throat for the boy's prizes first - the sonorous calls became monotonous. It seemed Arjun Das had won every single event entered. He came striding down the long aisle from the prefect seats to the front for each one.



Why doesn't he just wait at the side and save himself and the rest a lot of trouble?



She had noticed that the students had to scrunch over to let him pass on each run, he could just as easily have kept the trophies with some friend or fellow student in the front row.



One of those upturned adoring faces would be happy to oblige, I am sure. The sarcastic thought surprised Jaya, who normally would not have let any criticism of her idol go unchallenged.



Eric pulled a couple of the younger kids closer to each other so the center aisle was unimpeded for the repeated grand entries. He too had noticed the impatient looks that their sluggish movements had previously invited.



Finally it was the prize for the sack race and the name announced for first place was: "Eric Schramm."



Jaya beamed and led the applause as a beetroot-red Eric scrambled from his seat.



There was a snigger from behind them and a sotto voce comment reached her ears.



"He would win that one, looks like a sack in his uniform too!"



That voice. I know it. It can't be.



Her indignant glare impaled Arjun fair and square, he was the center of the coterie that surrounded him always. His self-congratulatory smirk and the titter from his group made the source of the comment all too clear.



"Eyes front, keep your eyes to the front." The typical monitor rebuke did little to soothe Jaya. Her voice spilled out without conscious thought.



"It that a natural greed or a learned conceit? It's about playing the game, not winning or losing, remember?"



She got a punishment for speaking in assembly, another for cheeking a monitor, both multiplied by the spite of a thwarted ego. But she did not care. The scales had fallen from her eyes.



Working on those punishments, she looked at the fair head next to her, bent over his books, tongue slightly protruding from the corner of his mouth. Eric was keeping her company as she stayed back after school to complete all the 'lines' she had 'earned'.



Dear Eric, he always had her back; she had to have his too.



I hope we will always look out for one another this way.



Word count:711