"Here she comes," I uttered the moment I saw her, a second before I hid my face behind a book. I peeped from the other side, trying to locate her.

"Arush, she looked right at you," whispered Vikas, my best buddy.

I raised my eyebrows. "Are you saying the truth? Swear on my mother's name.

"I swear not just on her, but on your whole family. She looked at you and pinched her friend."

I was distracted for a moment. I could not even gather my thoughts. All of a sudden, the principal, Mr. Iyer, came striding down the corridor.

"Arush," warned Vikas "turn around Aiyaa is here." We used to call our principal sir Aiyaa. Cool na!

"Hey, you boys, hold on!" A huge, callous voice came from the back.

"We are gone, Vikas". I murmured.

"What are you boys doing here? Where is your class?" asked Mr. Iyer.

"Sir, we are from ninth A," Vikas answered innocently.

"Then go to your class. Why are you roaming in the corridor?"

"No, sir, I mean Yes, sir. We were going to the class only," I fumbled. "Sorry sir. Thank you, sir."

"Come on, run or else he won't spare us," mumbled Vikas.

So here are the two mischievous boys, Vikas and I, both studying in ninth class and staying together during and after school. I was prominent as the chocolaty boy of the school, a healthy, wealthy teenager hailing from a moneyed family. I lived in Patiala, Punjab state of India. I stayed with my family, and my dad was a well-known businessman of the city. I had one sister, and I was the only son of my parents. Maybe this is why I was a rich, spoiled brat; not that spoiled, but, yes, mischievous. I had a huge crush on Sonali. Yes, crush, for love is a special emotion that is never painless to feel or comprehend.

"Arush It's too much now. How long will you wait to express your unsaid words to her?" asked Vikas annoyingly while playing table tennis. "You know it's of utmost importance, or else she'll move to some other guy. And you keep on mounting strategies ... huh."

"No buddy, it's not about strategies. I am just trying to figure out how to approach her, for even I know that she has something for me," I said and pulled a smash. "Ha, see? You lost again." I winked.

"Hey! How about a letter" Vikas asked with gleaming eyes.

"You mean a love letter? Have you gone mad! It's not so simple to put pen to paper." I nodded, still holding the ball.

"Oh ho, nothing will happen, trust me. At least give it a try. You never know what will click. My heart says it's the best idea."

"Okay, let me see" I replied after a pause.

So the quest for my crush began — on a full-moon night!

I scratched my head and suddenly had a glimpse of the sky. Ahhh! Now I can write something good, filled with love. So I wrote:

My dear naaa, my dearest Shonali,

You know I love to call you Shonali. You remember last Friday in the assembly prayer when you came on the mic? I was amazed by your eyes. The moment you started speaking, my eyes were stuck on your lips ... roses filled with snow. Ahhhhhh! Every time you pass by me, I sense your fragrance. Trust me you are the most gorgeous gal in the whole school. Each time I look at you, my heart hums. "You are so beautiful." Shonali, I love you. It's late at night, but I am sleepless. There is a silver line in the sky reminding me of your smile. I always appreciate your long hair tied with two red ribbons.

I am not able to express my love any better. But I wish that, the moment you read these words, they'll put my love for you into a perfect picture.

P.S. I love you.

Arush

"I don't know how to give her this letter," I murmured, holding the piece of paper.

"Chill man, let her come first," countered Vikas, grabbing a bite of burger.

"That's okay, but I don't want someone else to learn what's in my heart. I just need her to feel ..." I said slowly as I peered down the corridor.

"Oh hero okay we won't let anyone else know." Vikas shook his head with a wink.

"Vikas, I have an idea. I know where to go. Yes, that'll be the best place."

"Fine, but where" Vikas enquired trying to chew the bite of burger in his mouth.

"At the bus stop. She stands all alone over there, waiting for the school bus to come."

I had yet another sleepless night. Somehow, at four in the morning, I had a nap. After a while, as I tossed and turned, I noticed black clouds encasing the sky. I jumped out of my bed and rushed to the balcony. "Wow! It's raining." Often it's been said that rain ignites burning hearts, and it was true for me then. I leaned on the door and kept gazing at the drizzling water, listening the tapping of pouring drops. After a while, my trapped imagination vanished with the buzz of the alarm clock.

"It's 5:30 a.m.! Gosh, I have to rush!" I swiftly got dressed, trying to look better than ever.

"Arush," my mother said, "it's still an hour before school starts. Where are you heading early in the morning wearing your uniform?" Mom took a sip of tea. Mothers, they are so protective.

"Mom, oh, I forgot to tell you. We have an extra math class today. Got to go."

"Extra math class? But you didn't tell me last night! I have not even prepared your lunchbox." Mom was quite surprised with my response, but I didn't bother at all.

"Maa, I will find something to eat. Don't worry. Love you," I answered as I rushed to the door.

I reached Sonali's stop before she did. I took my school bag off my shoulders and sat beneath a tree. While wiping the sweat from my face, I took the letter out of my bag to read it one more time. I glanced at my watch; forty minutes had passed, and still I was on pins and needles. After a while, I saw a girl dressed in a gray skirt, white shirt, and gray tie. As she looked for the bus, she twirled a strand of hair at the back of her ear. She patted her cheeks with her fingers. For a moment, I was lost in just watching Sonali, forgetting why I was there. A shrill bus horn brought me back to my senses. I stood straight, trying not to tremble, and moved toward Sonali with the paper.

"Sonali" I called her name very politely, like never before.

Sonali turned around, astounded to see me. I greeted her. As I had expected, she was stunned for a moment.

"Aammmm, I wanted to give you this," I said as I passed the letter to her.

Sonali just took it without uttering a single word, looking pale. She looked down at the paper and raised her eyes to mine. It appeared as if she wanted to say something — or nothing or everything. Abruptly the school bus came. She tried to hide the letter behind her skirt, and then spoke quietly. "Arush, this is meant only for me; I can't let anyone peek."

The bus stopped. Sonali stepped inside and sat next to the window. A cute smirk appeared on her lips. As the bus moved ahead a little, she turned from the pane, peeping out to see me. I stood there silently, staring at the window. Our eyes locked for a moment, and then the connection was lost.

"Hey, I am asking you, what happened," said Vikas. "And you are lost in some strange world. Hey, hello, Arush! I am talking to you." Vikas wouldn't stop talking. "Okay, enough, Arush. You are getting on my nerves now. Will you speak something or I'm leaving."

"What to tell you, man. It was a long pause, neither yes nor no. What to make out of it? Is it a yes? Or maybe it's a no. Ahhhhhh, it's killing me," I answered as I scratched my head.

"Oh, this is the matter. Many a time silence is...