Chapter 1

In life we meet people, alot of them just pass by like a flash of light, unoticed, but then there are some about whom we later think.. " Only if I had known it will make such a difference to my existence, only if I had known u will be the death of me... "

I met him for the first time at a tender age of 10 when our class was on the verge of trouble, the class shuffling, parting with best friend, bad mood! And alot of chaos. Unaware that today I might have my first encounter with the person who would leave a mark on my whole existence, someone who would give me the best and worst of memories, the one I would give up my existence for, the one and only who would have the strength and mettle to cause a change in me, my thoughts, my style, my everything.

We got divided in a group of six people, two girls and four boys three on a desk. I got seated with a frd from my previous class Krish, but we still had to decide for our last partner, I being the adamant and stubborn one,would opt only for a known person rather an unknown adventure. In tht minute seconds of Krish convincing me of my choice not being a good one rather he choosing his old friend a very new guy to me. while we were busy arguing I heard his name for the very first.

"Dhruv" The sound of his name sent tingles to my belly, a mysterious rythm in my heart for unknown reasons I finally agreed on getting along with him . I asked Krish for the final time, " Is he a good guy? ". Krish gave me a sheepish smile for once he had won an argument with me,

my mind asked me to stay alert but the organ with no bones of his own had already accepted the change, I had lost for the first time only at the mere mention of his name..

With that entered this person, " Smooth n shiny hair, Innocent but small eyes, a very fine body with a very weird style, school uniform with brown socks and white sports shoes... But what caught my most attention was something else,"The fair white skin with a tiny tinkle of pink "

The world felt blurred, the background stopped ,for tht split second I only saw him. I had never been conscious of my self but in that moment I wanted to be better. I asked myself " why Jannat, you have never thought this way, what's wrong? ".

The first ever comment I passed for this boy in my world of imagination " So beautiful ".. Immediately the girl ego in me said, " Damn! he is more fair than I am! ".

I was struck out of my imagination with a soft voice ,it came from a boy now seated to my right, the only one I had been staring at for quite a time now. " I am Dhruv " And I replied " Mhhhmmmhm". I finally turned attentive to my class...

" J! Focus what was tht did u just blush? Why? ".

Chapter 2

"Dhruv! , are you ever going to give me a picture perfect smile? ", I was almost irritated , no matter how much I try he always gives those closed lips smile, how badly I want to see him smile.. A real smile that would reach his ears and would twinkle in his eyes..

" Jenna, I don't look good with those bright ones like you" , I was on the verge of exploding with fury.. " You look perfect.. Just once okay! "... He looked at me with those pretty little eyes of his which I won't get tired looking at. Looking at my pouted face he finally laughed, " Jenna, you look like a panda with that pout you know" ... I finally took the chance and clicked a beautiful picture with his colgate smile...

" Dhruv you should surely post this picture on Instagram, it's little different ".

" What about the caption ?, let me search for some ".. " No don't, why do U always have to put those big captions.. This time make it small and funny.. What say? "..

" Why don't you suggest me something ' Miss. Writer'. I thought for a second.... " Smile, Uspe tax nahi lagta"... How's this I asked, " Hmmm., you know I have got myself a good girlfriend.. " , " Oh really?.. 'Mr. Cheesy'.

" Don't break my nose again.... Hhahaa"

"Dhruv!!!!.... "

I woke up .

" A memory passing as a dream again..... It's 3:45 for Gods sake...wait....it was him again.

The nose breaking haa? "...

I was caught up in the moment again.. I knew I won't fall back to sleep.

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It had been a while now, we had all settled down, the classroom chaos changed into serious lecture on upcoming changes in our study patterns. Today our 4 th grade life finally started, preparations for highschoool. Our class teacher Jacob sir introduced us to our history chapters and the time finally arrived for which I had been so excited about.

" J!, You will start writing with PEN today... Finally No PENCIL... I am a big girl from today.. "

My imagination world was struck with Krish nudgeing me to at least open my book as our teacher had been staring at my face since I was busy with my LaLa land.

"Why are you looking for trouble on Your first day... Jenny we are placed on first bench, you are making faces in front of Jacob sir.... ".

" I was just into thoughts dude.. Did I look weird? " I replied

"Get over your drama will you jenny? " , he whispered annoyed

"Oh please.. I.... Okay "..

I looked at my right , Dhruv was also looking at me with a stern face...

" What..? Why that look new guy!? "..

I asked with my usual unfriendly tone.

That little guy just pointed to my empty desk.. Both my partners were ready with books and PENs for class except me...

I just gave him a stare and hurriedly got my stuff ready...

" My first PEN....!!!! " My mind echoed..

As Jacob sir started lecturing we started taking notes.

" Carefully... Very neat J!.... Don't ruin your first page... Slowly.. ".... I was busy lecturing myself and suddenly something blew up my whole mind...

My face became a replica of a gloomy day and my mind burst with anger...

" Who the hell dared to ruin my first ever page written with PEN.... Who....?!!!!! "

It was Dhruv, he had mistakenly dodged my hand causing my hand holding the pen to cause a big mark on my first page...

" It was a mistake I just.... ", those cute little eyes tried to explain

Until I could realize , my hand had already hit his back very harshly and the poor thing who wasn't on his guard, blew straight forward and hit his head on the wooden desk...

When he lifted his head his cheeks were dark pink, his eyes full of tears and his nose BLEEDING red.

I felt guilty of what I had caused, but the deed was done.. His bright white shirt had stains of blood.

Immediately Jacob sir came to our desk.

" What is this, Jannat you did this? Why? ",he demanded.

" He pushed my hand and ruin my first page", I replied scared by his tone.

" Are you supposed to draw blood from him then, you should have reported it to me.. It was a mistake Miss. Mansoori"

Krish was equally shocked.. He whispered to me while sir was attending to Dhruv's bleeding nose..

" Go and apologize. "

" It's not my mistake he did it first" , I said in an angry tone..

" He is bleeding.. Jenny you never hurt people.. He is our desk partner"..he tried to put sense into me.

My guilty conscience finally gave in.. I never thought it would cause such a ruckus..

He had just returned from washing his face and nose .

" Sorry!... " I whispered to Dhruv..

" Yon can hit me too if U want, I won't complain ".

What happened next shocked and surprise me at the same.

" Its okay, .... I won't hit you.. ", the boy now with dried tears eyes and washed nose but still a red face said.

My class teacher gave me a stern angry look , " This should not be repeated Miss. Mansoori ".

I just nodded my head not meeting his eyes.

With that we started with lecture again.

" He forgave me... But I did hurt him.. Unintentionally.!. But isn't he angry on me.. Why did he not hit me.? "My mind was in a complete confusion trying to reason with what had happened.

After class I finally put my ego side and spoke to him.

" Are you really okay Dhruv!? , your Mom will scold for the stains"

" Hmmm.... But it's okay..." , He said now with a little smile..

"Is he serious.. I would have never left anyone if something like this would have happened to me.. Is he even sane!.... But J is he forgiving you, isn't he?..... Nobody had ever been so nice to me... ".

" Friends? ", I asked

" Okay.. Friends, just don't hit me again! " .. He sheepishly said

" I don't hit my friends idiot", Where were I going to get such a tolerant friend in my life later... Were I? , we laughed... finally.

Only if I had known...what I was going to face later..

Only if I had known memories hurt so much....

Only if I had known....... He will be the best and worst of me.

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Chapter 3

With passing days , my bonding with Dhruv strengthened , life was as fun as a 10 year toddler can have. It was my time of life, which I would ponder upon later in adulthood ... Laughter was surrounded with the naughtiness, games , fun, pranks and of course fights... Exams were approaching faster than expected and we studied harder.

Back home life was gaining fast track too, after my father's accident four years ago, our family had financially collapsed, but children ought to be educated, mother had to take control . She came up with a new business, the art she had learned back in her maternal house.. Which started from a shop had transformed into a business.

Mother would not have time to look after me , but surprisingly for a 10 year old,I understood her struggle and never complained.. Even if that meant starving in lunch breaks without a Tiffin. Given my stubbornness I would never eat in my friends Tiffin. I used to wander in lunch breaks and only came back for lectures. I was a headstrong person, never giving in to sympathy , all I needed was friendship and utter joy and I was given the same.

The group of six people was now given a particular name by the class teacher ours was called "CHERRY". I had tried to put alot of argument with Jacob sir for another name, but given my last bloody beginnings with Dhruv, I had to accept.

When the position for Captain and vice captain came in I stood in competition, but I was made a Vice captain and shockingly Dhruv was made Captain.

" This is one hell of a discrimination Jacob sir is doing.... I ought to fight...'J'!! Calm down You already have Monitor position , it's Dhruv none the less..let it pass" , echoed my mind.

Finally I let a sigh, but still there was Krish who was fuming in jealous as he wasn't even a consideration for the post in first place..

"Jenny, treat me well that your a VC now, deal? ", asked Krish..

" Idiot.. We will reign over the class chill " , I tried to lighten his mood.

As captains we had been assigned tasks as

1: checking home work

2: keeping discipline

3: checking nails... (😒)

4: checking Tiffins... (😩)

A day that came once in a blue moon, I did have a Tiffin for myself, so I gladly joined my group for lunch. My happy face was converted to a gloomy one In a second after opening my Tiffin. I had been provided by sprouts...

" God!!! Why me? , do you hate me so much.... " , cried my mind

As I faked to eat my lunch I secretly packed it up half finished and left. To my surprise Dhruv left the Hall minutes later me.

Surprisingly he didn't check my Tiffin... And given lazy attitude I never paid attention to others in group for Tiffin eating was a trivial matter I thought.

Only to have a sheer bad luck did my class teacher decided to have a check himself...

A girl named swara got up and in her bold stunning voice said, " Sir Jannat did not eat her Tiffin. "

I was caught red handed.

" Can this day be any bad?.... God do you want me to trade my kidneys for luck?... Seriously'.", while I were busy complaining to God in my mind something more surprising caught my eye..

That girl hadnt stopped her act yet..

" Sir Dhruv didn't eat as well... "..

Dhruv was shocked and gave her a glare.

This stunt had attracted quite a crowd, and our class was a mess ,as I and Dhruv being captains had voilated rules and had been showing negligence in our work.

To give others a lesson we had to be severely punished thus....

We were made to sit on the floor in front of whole class, open our tiffins and eat it kneeling down... While others were just asked to eat on the desk.

I and Dhruv were a laughing stock... But somehow I was happy that I was not alone. I was with him.

We looked at Swara and surprisingly the same word left our mouth together....

"TRAITOR"..

Next day I took her homework book and in the act of checking listed a number of mistakes thus making her redo it for three times.

" You usually are linient with checking, any special reason for the strictness jannat", Dhruv asked

" Nobody will bully you!,I will definitely avenge..!", I blurted.

Shocked at my own words...

" Really J!.... Dhruv again!... Duh I don't like when he says my complete name... Sounds like a GALI from him.... "... I was busy again in my LaLa lands...

" Oh really...!... You avenged yourself didn't you....? " He asked..

"Of course , don't think too high of yourself will you? ".. I tried to cover the mess I was about to create..

" Interesting " , he smiled.

Sometimes I don't understand where I left that sense of attitude.. Given my later life.. I guess I was more mature and understanding as a toddler.

Rather Stronger I guess....

Forever is a word just for memories, not for people....

Only if I had known..

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