A Wonderful Feeling!

It was Sanjay’s first year at his new school in Nagpur, India. His father worked for the Central Government and every few years he would get a transfer and the family would move with him. Sanjay was anxious about his board exams at the end of the school year. Grade 10 would not be easy but he was looking forward to completing it. His class had 32 boys and 14 girls.

Since the past few months in 1992, he started developing a crush on one of the girls. Her name was Kalpana but everyone in school called her Kim. Sanjay’s favourite Hollywood actress was Michelle Pfeiffer and somehow Kim reminded him of Michelle. They had no resemblance at all, but Sanjay would think that Kim was like Michelle.

It was the first week of October. Sanjay felt great. He felt he was falling in love with Kim. At the end of their Geography class one Thursday Kim’s book fell to the ground. Sanjay ran to pick it up for her. Her hand brushed on his hand and she said “thank you.” Sanjay said, “You are very welcome.” He smiled and then walked away.

That year October 14th was a Tuesday. Sanjay made up his mind. He told himself that he would let Kim know how he felt today. Then it would be up to Kim.

The interval period between classes was 40 minutes. Sanjay noticed that Kim would come to class 10 minutes before and wait for the next class to begin. Most students would come back in the nick of time. Sanjay was lucky that day. Kim did come to class about 10 minutes before the end of the interval period. No one else had returned but there was not much time. In a few minutes other students would start coming back.

“Hey Kim”, said Sanjay.

“Yes, Sanjay?”, said Kim. She was surprised to see him that day as usually he would get back to class at the end of the interval.

Sanjay said, “Hope you don’t mind, Kim, but I am really falling in love with you. I love you.”

Kim looked at him for a few second and then said, “Thanks, but I am sorry. I don’t think love would be possible between us. You don’t know but I have a boyfriend. His name is Nitin and he studies at another school.”

Sanjay was heartbroken, but he replied, “No problem at all. I can understand. Sorry if I offended you in any way.”

Kim smiled and said, “No, of course not. If you would like, we can be friends.”

Sanjay said, “I am not sure. We will see.”

Kim said, “Before everyone returns, come to me for one second.”

Sanjay said, “Why??”

Kim said, “Just come here and then you can go back.”

Sanjay sadly walked to her. Kim kissed him on his right cheek and held his hand for a few seconds. “Thanks for telling me how you felt. I am glad about that. Take care. I am sure one day you will find someone nice for yourself.”

Sanjay said, “thanks”, and then he walked back to his desk and sat on his chair. He could not concentrate at all on the remaining three subject periods for the day.

As he was going back in his school bus he felt bittersweet. He was very happy that her proclaimed his love for someone for the first time in his life but he was also very sad that she already had a boyfriend.

The next day as he returned to school he felt better. He told himself that he will be patient and in the future he will meet someone nice for sure. Also, he was glad that he expressed his feelings. He did feel quite good about that.

Now it is early 2019. Sanjay is happily married to Dimple and they live in Miami. They have one daughter named Meena. Sanjay works as a civil engineer in a construction company. Even though it has been so many years, each year he remembers October 14th with some fondness and thinks about Kim for a few minutes.