CHAPTER
ONE
JUNE
2ND MONDAY 20-----
My
name is Nicholas Albert but everyone is calling me nick. That’s my pet name. But
that helped me to earn one nickname I hating more than everything and that is ‘pick’.
You see the connection? Nick… Pick. It sticks me when I was in my first
class. I got angrier when I heard someone saying pick and getting in fight with
them. This is happening more of my school days and came home with some bruises.
But that was in my first few weeks in school and then I got stronger and now if
anyone calling me that name it is in my back.
Okay… I’m living in Goa state in India with my parents and my kid
sister. I’m eighteen now and my sister is six years younger than me. My father
owned an antique shop in town and mom and dad is running it. I love only my
parents and sister in this world. I didn’t like my relatives because they are
selfish and greedy. So, I spent all my holidays in home and with my family. And
of course, our relatives are not in terms with us because my parents had a love
marriage. My father is Portuguese decedent and my mother is French. This
irritated their families.
Our house is situating in a small town near the
mountains and the other side surrounded by sea. I like it here because I like
birds. I had four albums full of the pictures of birds and starting the fifth.
My dad gave me binocular when I was thirteen and I was collecting books that
tell something about birds when I was eleven. And my other hobby is music
because I’m a violinist. I play violin from child hood and also a drummer. My
music teacher discovered this ability in me. I play violin for church quire and
both violin and drum for school programs and some competitions I had won the
first prize many times.
I think I’m good looking and handsome. I have my
dad’s physique and mom’s beauty. I’m fare in color and six feet two inches
tall. I’m the tallest boy in our class and that earned me another nickname
giraffe. But I didn’t heard anyone calling me direct this name but I know they
calling me giraffe because I see the look and giggling they had when anyone say
giraffe. I’m keeping my body fit and
doing some exercises. I have two other nicknames and that is poker and bear. I
have these big blue eyes so I got the name poker and I have more long and black
hairs in my body so, the name bear. I had start shaving when I was fourteen. I
think the male hormone is acting early in me other than any one in my class because
in my eighteen, I looks like more than twenty.
I am standing under the shower in this rainy
morning getting ready for school I have this habit of bathing twice. First when
I wake up in the morning and second before I go to sleep in the night. Each
bedroom of our house is bathroom attached because dad believe in privacy when
he built by our house.
Today is the first day of new term in school after
the summer vacation. I’m in my last year
of senior high and the last year in school. I’m studying in the boy’s school in
our small town. Next year I will go to college in town. My sister, Caroline is
her sixth year and her school is in the town. Dad is in my side and told me if
anyone hit me punch him on the nose. We are in the same group.
"Nick…. its seven thirty… stop day dreaming in the
bathroom and get yourself out...otherwise you’re going to late….” It’s my mom.
This is the signal for breakfast is ready.
Mom and dad are going together to our shop and
Caroline is going by school bus. I have my bicycle and I like riding the bike.
I haven’t any close friends and I like to be alone. Also I didn’t like sharing
my room with anyone; so, I never invite anyone to sleepover. And I haven’t any
girlfriend too. Say the truth I didn’t like their behavior and their attitude
but I’m friends with them. This is my world and I’m the king of here.
"Nick……” mom is calling me again.
I shut the shower and pick a towel to dry me as
closing the door and coming to my room. I searched for clean underwear and my
school uniform. My hands grab one blue brief and pulled it over my legs. I’m
thinking about the chance I have won another nickname if anyone sees me naked
or in my brief. But I never let anyone see me like that because I never go to
swim in public. I had seen people looking my bulge when I was playing football
or wearing tight cloths. Maybe they are thinking I have a permanent hard-on. That
was embarrassing so I gave up playing football and paid my full attention on
watching birds. I spent the free time in bushes near the mountain or the
mountain itself.
Hurriedly I wore my uniform and picked my bag from
the cupboard and start running down the stairs to kitchen cum dining room.
Caroline had finished her breakfast was getting up from the chair. Dad looked
at me with proud and mom with love. Our house maid set a dish full of
cornflakes covered with milk in front of me and I frowned. I don’t like
cornflakes and milk. So, I take some biscuits and one apple.
"Are you ready, son?” dad asked. I nodded. If he
called me son, he is in a good mood and if it is Nick then he is angry.
"You are going to practice after school today..?
Mom asked.
"Yeah…”
I nodded. Our music teacher is giving us the
extra time for practice after school. He selected some students from various
classes and I’m the one of his selection.
Finishing
my apple, I grabbed my school bag and kissed mom and dad. Then pick my bike
from the porch and start to school. This is the new term and there will be new
faces in school. I was in good terms with my teachers and I expect that will be
same on this year too. I got good grades all my exams and teacher thinks I’m a
promising student. Of course there was
some complains about me fighting but that was repeating the whole years I was
there. Teachers knew why I got into fighting and they never make it a big
issue.
It
is a fifteen minutes ride for school and saw other students on their way to
school. There are some patches of water on the road and some places it is
making a pool from last night’s rain. I was careful to avoid this and heard the
horn of our school bus and slipped aside to the road, so the bus wouldn’t
shower me with mud water. I was rolling my bicycle on the side of road and
avoiding the big pool on the road with red mud water. I was concentrating on
this, so I didn’t hear the car came. It came from behind me and splashed the
dirty water and covered my school uniform. My grey color pant and white shirt
is red and my face get redder than my cloths…I heard someone laughing.
"Hey….”
I yelled at the driver.
It
is a dark blue car and its glass was shaded black. I can't see anyone in the
car. I shook my self to get ride the mud from me and the clothes and dried my
face and patted the red patches on my clothes. The car was slowing and I saw
the front window on the traveler’s side is lowering. A boy’s face is looking me
and he had a smile. I ran to the car as pulling my bike with me. The window is
rolling up and the car picked speed.
"Fuck
you…you bastard….” I yelled at the boy. I picked a stone and throw at the car.
I wasn’t aiming but the stone had its on thoughts and shattered the backlight.
"Good...” I thought as rolling my bike and thinking about the poor shape I am
in. I saw the boy’s face but can't remember now. I’m only remembering the eyes
bigger than mine. Those eyes are keeping to coming in my mind. I know this is
someone new because I didn’t see those eyes earlier in this town. I can
recognize those eyes in any crowd and if I see you again it is your last. I say
to the eyes.
I
keep my face blank and pretend not seeing the staring eyes and hiding smiles on
my fellow students. I park my bike and walk straight to the pipe. I search each
faces as washing my face and cleaning my clothes. No, that eye is not on any
faces I’m seeing.
"Nick…
is they change the color code of school uniform…?” it is from Martin.
Martin
is the most popular boy in our school and we are in same class. We have a
mutual friendship that is we are minding ourselves. He is full seven inches
shorter than me. He is best in study and sports. He has huge crowd of fans from
the juniors and they are willing to do anything for him. He knows this and
taking full use of this. If there is any good looking boy is coming new to our
school, he is best in making friends with them and then they are joining his
crowd of fans. Oh...boy…!
"Yeah….
only for students but not for the clowns…” I say.
Martin’s
face is darkening and I saw his fist tightening. But I know he isn’t doing more
than that because he knows he wouldn’t win a fight with me. I have experience
and he is not doing anything openly that put a black spot on his image. Of
course, he never involve in a fight because he is a coward.
I
smiled sweetly to him and walk to our class. I sit on my seat and watch the
class room. It is same as I left before the summer vacation. I’m sitting in the
back raw because of my height. I can see the parking area through the window
where I’m sitting. I saw a dark blue car and I stare it. Yes! It is the same
car which splashed the mud water on me. I was standing to check on it then the
bell rang to announce the class is about to begin. I sit back. My class mates
are rushing through the door. I search each face. Not a new face. All are from
last year.
Some
are my mutual friends and we wish each other.
"Good
morning, everybody…” it was a new voice and we are silent.
I
looked to the platform to check from whom the voice is come. That was not our
class teacher but someone we didn’t see before.
"Where
is Mr. William?” one of us asked. Mr. William was our class teacher.
"He
left the school because of his personal problems.” She answered. Yeah, I know
he is going to join his family in Australia.
"I’m
Clara….. I’m your new class teacher and teach the same subject as him.” this is
a relief to us. Because Mr. William taught us English and it was boring to hear.
Now,
it was our turn to introduce us and we are doing that. When I said my name she
was looking stern one second then smiled. I think this is because of my
appearance. Perhaps she is thinking what an older boy who is belonging to
college is doing here. She needs to read my school file.
She
is asking us to open our texts after taking attendance and starts to read from
the first chapter. I let my eyes to wander out side and they focused on the
dark blue car. It has the back light broken. I frowned and think hard whose car
is that.
"Nicholas….
May we know what the beautiful sight there is you are watching…?” she is
standing in front my desk. She is reaching only my chest and I have to look
down to see her face. She is looking at the car as I am.
"Yes…Madam”
my answer was firm. "That is the same car which sprayed the mud water on me. I
was thinking about that whose car is that?” I didn’t know how I said this
because I was never like this.
"Meet
me after class… I’ll tell you who’s..?” she turned. Every eye was looking us
and now lowered to look her.
Well…
I thought. A very good start with the new teacher and this is the first day of
new term. What is happening to me? First the mud water shower and now this….! I
look blankly on the text book and think what will I do if I know whose car is
that. I’m sure it is one of our teacher’s and probably I can do nothing in the
day light. I will think later about it.
I
saw she is watching me. I keep my face straight as I listening her and actually
trying to get ride of that big eyes keep coming in my thoughts. I startled as
the bell announce the period was ending. I jump from my seat and followed her
to the door.
"Where
are you going…? Nicholas…? She asked.
"You
told me to meet you after class…madam.” I remembered her.
"Not
now… meet me in staff room after lunch.” She said and goes.
I
know my classmates are sharpening their ears to this little chat. I turned back
to the room and everyone was looking at me. I shrugged and walk to my seat.
"She
has a crush on you….baby…” martin said in a musical voice.
I
broadened my chest and rank fingers over my upper lip. Girls are laughing and
some boys too. Martin’s face paled because everyone knows that he is short on
hair there. He couldn’t answer me because next teacher arrived.
I
flowed with the routine and involved in the activities. I had forgotten about
the meeting after lunch but remembered when I saw the car. I search the big
eyes through the faces in lunch room but no result there. I was sure now he is
studying here and one of our teacher’s relative and he is going to pay spraying
the mud water on me and laughing at me.
Martin
and his crowd met me on the courtyard. I’m on my way to the staffroom. Martin
is standing under the banyan tree surrounded by some junior boys. He is talking
them and they are eagerly hearing his words as if is some sermon. I can see he
is hanging his hands loosely on one of boy’s middle standing in front of him
and martin is pressing his pelvis on the boy’s buttocks.
"Hey,
martin…. What’s going on…?” I smiled as calling him.
"Welcoming
the new boys…buddy…” he is winking. "Where are you up to…?
"See
new ma’am. We are fixing for a date…” I
wink back as keeping my pace.
"Yeah….
Update me later…” he starts caressing the boy’s stomach.
"Yeah…”
I nodded and cross the yard to office.
Clara
ma’am saw me crossing the yard through the window. She said something to the
other teachers and is coming to the veranda to meet me. As I approaching her
she signaled me to follow her and start to walk along the veranda with me.
"Ma’am…
you asked me to come to the staffroom…” I was confused. What is she up to? May
be she is taking me to the principal…?
"Yes…
but I changed my mind.” she is smiling.
"Where
are you taking me…? I want to know.
She
stops suddenly and pointed. "I want to show you something…”
I
look where she is pointing. We are near the staff’s parking area and she is
pointing to that car. I look at her puzzlingly.
"You
wanted to know who that car which showered you with mud water is. It’s
mine.” Ma’am is looking me into the
eyes. I raise my face so she can't look straight into my eyes. This is the advantage
of my height I have.
"Oh….”
I look at the broken lights.
"So…
what is your plan…? She didn’t smile.
I
shrugged. "Nothing… you had showered me with mud and I had broken your lights…
I had my revenge…” but not for that boy. I said in mind.
"Are
you sure Nicholas…?”
"Sure…”
I smiled. I didn’t ask her who is the boy and she didn’t said.
"Come
on then…” we turned and walk together to the staffroom. "Nicholas… I thought
you are some over aged bully stuck here but now I know you are not. When I talk
to the others, they said you are not like that. They have a good opinion about
you.” She is smiling.
"Call
me Nick ma’am…” I smiled. "So, you don’t have to labor your tongue…”
"How
old are you...nick..?”
"Eighteen…
but I look older than my age….” I cleared her doubt.
"Eighteen…..”
she is saying softly and her face was saddening.
We
reached the staffroom and I said bye to her. Why she is sad when I told her my
age? Is there is something happened to her? I thought as crossing the courtyard
and walk to our class room. Martin and his crowd are not there. I know where I
can meet martin now. Lucky boy…! He is good at catching some fish…!
Other
boys are in the class but not Martin. Some of them are reading and others made
a group and chatting. Everyone stop their doing when I opened the door and
looking at me for some clue. I wear a gloomy look and look each of everyone
sadly.
"Well…boys…
suspension.” I walked to my seat and sit.
"What….”
Every mouth was open. Silence fell in the classroom.
This
is the first time they hearing I am in a problem. Everyone is shocked.
"But
you didn’t do anything to get a suspension…” that is Paul. He knows very well
what problem would earn me a suspension.
"That’s
the problem…” I’m enjoying this. I look at each worried face and laughed
loudly. "It’s okay boys… I didn’t get a suspension. Ma’am knew whose car
splashed the mud on me and she told me. That’s all is happened.”
Everyone
sighed and starts to complain and I assure them there is nothing to fear about
new teacher. She is better than Mr. William and is friendly. We are going to
enjoy the English class. Martin came two minutes before the bell rang. I told
him what happened. I didn’t ask him where was he because I know.
I
forgot whole my thoughts and focused me in the class. But those eyes didn’t go
and keep appearing. Last period ended at three thirty and everyone is rushing
out the class. I stay back from them. I have to join others in music room. It
is in the last corner of second building. Our class room is in the first
building and it’s take you five minutes from here if you are fast.
I
walk fast. I saw the others walking the same direction. Our music room is a
hall attached with some toilets. We are fifteen boys from various classes
practicing after the school time. Our music teacher’s name is Robert Gracious
and he is living in the staff quarter. He came last year and very talented in
his profession. He is shorter in height and barely reaches my chest. All staff
quarters are in the school compound. He is not married and about in his middle
thirties. I like him because he is very friendly to me.
I
heard the sounds of various instruments coming and I fastened my pace. Everyone
had taken their positions and Mr. Robert is standing near a boy who was sitting
and both are facing the other side. I knocked and enter the room.
"Good
evening… Mr. Robert.” I said and took the seat near the drum set.
"Evening…Nick…”
his face is blooming. He is blooming whenever he sees me. He has a sweet and
soft voice and has something that remembers me feminine. But I am not looking
him but the boy who is looking me. Those big eyes…! I stare those eyes.
"Ah...
Nick. This is Mr. Melvin D’ Souza. New boy from tenth class and he is in to
guitar.”
"Hello…”
I shake the hand he offered. "I’m Nick.” A smile is appearing on his face but
he hides it cleverly.
"Nick…
you help him with his lessons today…please…I’m busy today.” Mr. Robert looks at
me and I lower my eyes. I can't face his eyes and didn’t know why…? Something
in his eyes that makes me uneasy.
"Yeah….”
I stand and walk to them.
"Thanks…my
boy…” Mr. Robert turns to go other corner as I near them.
I
stand in front of him and is searching him. I know he is looking at dress and
having a laugh inwardly.
"Mr.
D’ Souza…” I call him. He raises his head to look at me but his eyes focused on
my middle and focused on the bulge visible through the thin uniform. I feel
embarrassed and that made me angry.
"You
want this….” I hissed and point my finger to the bulge. He looks at my face
then searches others if anyone is watching us. No. everyone is busy with their
practice. I sit down on the chair beside him and smiled.
He
is looking at me and I search from toe to hair. He is a beautiful boy. He is
fare and has a chiseled face. I already know his big eyes but now I saw it is
blue and has sadness in them. He has long blond hair like mine. I think he is
five feet and a half and has some baby fat in his body. His body is not fat and
not slim and his cheeks are smooth and have no hair is appearing. As I looking
at him, my heart is filling with an unknown feeling.
"Mr.
Nick…” he is calling me.
"Call
me Nick...” I saw him frowning. I’m angry because my heart is pounding and my
mouth is dry. Why this is happening. Is Melvin making me nervous? I shook the
feelings out and lick my lips and take the notation book.
"Are
you a relative of Clara ma’am?” I ask him as turning the pages.
"She
is my mother…” he said and takes his guitar.
I’m
angrier now. I was angry because he laughed at me and angrier because he is
making me nervous. This is the first time ever I fell like this with someone. I
want to hit him for this but I can't. If I did ma’am would know. I need to
think some another way to payback him. As thinking I give him instructions and
saw he is checking me with those big eyes when he thought I am not looking him.
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