Heyy everyone!!!💗
Welcome to the first chapter of *Meri Duniyaa -The young feelings* 🎀🧿
I hope you like it!👀✨
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कल पे सवाल है, जीना फ़िलहाल है
ख़ाना बदोशियों पे ही जाने क्यूँ
इलाही मेरा जी आए आए...
इलाही मेरा जी आए आए... ✨
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The afternoon air was humid and thick, with the scorching rays of the sun and occasional breeze of air around the surroundings. The atmosphere clearly indicated that winter was about to end and summer was about to start.
The air in the exam hall was thick with the flow of questions flooding each student's mind, and the excitement of the freedom after their exams was palpable.
It was their last board exam of class 10th.
Students occasionally furrowed their brows in concentration, clicking their pens as they tried to understand the questions in the English board exam paper.
Everyone was focused, with unwavering attention as they wrote their papers, scanning each question, thinking and thinking - till the answer formed in their minds.
Everyone was undeniably working hard for this moment as their eyes flickered with the spark that told them that all of the things they worked for, were finally going to get over after this examination.
The invigilator looked at the class, a stern look on her face. She momentarily looked for any signs of misbehaviour or unfair means and narrowed her eyes whenever she sensed something off. She gave every student a look that could make you gulp hard.
She was strict - terribly strict.
She gave the students the same look throughout the exam, occasionally telling them how much time was left for the exam to end.
The more she stated the time, the more the students gulped in anxiousness looking at the paper. They tried to appear calm, but the nervous glint in their eyes gave it away.
With a look at the watch that she was wearing, the invigilator said in a stern voice, "Hurry up students! Tie your papers now! Last 10 minutes!" she said, probably deliberately stretching her words for dramatic effects.
Nitya was on the last bench, brows furrowed in concentration as she heard the teacher's voice and looked at the last question on her paper - It was a six marker.
She gulped audibly and in one swift motion, she tied the paper. Carefully tugging every supplementary sheet into place.
She knew that the teacher won't give her the time if she did it after writing the answer. She stared at the question.
The chapter "The Baker from Goa" reminds us about the narrator's teenage years. With reference to the teenage years of the narrator, compare the feelings with the days in the chapter "Nelson Mandela - A long walk to freedom" It read.
[ AN: Agar ye question sachme exam me aagaya toh mujhe antaryami ghoshit kardena... bohot socha hai Maine iske baare me 👀]
Nitya plotted the answer mentally for a minute, determining the introduction, description and outline of the answer that she was going to write.
She clutched the pen tightly and began writing her answer, starting with the introduction.
She wrote it fast - extremely fast. She knew time was slipping away and the questions that whether she could complete the answer in time rushed in her mind.
She brushed the anxiety off and kept writing and writing. Her handwriting messed up a little but she didn't care. All she cared about was that she had to write the answer.
One last answer, 15 more lines for an 100/100 in this exam. She thought.
She knew all that she had written was correct and that she could get that perfect score, she even knew the answer to the question.
"Last 5 minutes!" The invigilator said in the same stern voice.
Nitya started writing even faster. She didn't take any break - she couldn't. She had wanted that perfect score with the whole of her soul, and she was just 5 minutes away from getting it.
She wrote the description hurriedly, adding the valid points as she jotted down every line with the concentration that gave her the straight A student energy that she was, especially in her favourite subject - English.
She was halfway through the outro as the invigilator said "last 2 minutes!" Causing Nitya's heart to beat faster ."Hey! Tie your paper now! Enough writing " she said to a student who was deeply immersed in writing.
Nitya wrote faster, hands trembled slightly as she practically sprinted her hand over the answer sheet.
With the last word of the answer, she dropped the pen to the side.
Mission accomplished, Respect plus plus plus. She thought, a victorious smirk tugging at her lips.
The invigilator began collecting the papers from the first bench, occasionally snatching the papers sometimes as students demanded 5 minutes more.
Nitya gave her paper a glance, subtly checking the paper and going through it again to ensure that everything was written perfectly with not even one mistake.
She smiled to herself, knowing that she would get the score she desired and had worked for.
The invigilator came to her table and she gave her answer sheet to the teacher with practiced ease.
Just as she gave the paper, a sense of relief rushed through her and she instinctively took her water bottle and took a sip of the cold water. Every ounce of anxiousness faded away with the last board exam and the anticipation of the days after that.
The girl sitting in front of Nitya turned, grabbing her own water bottle and taking a sip.
"Finally tension gaya, Mai toh abhi Ghar jaakar do- teen kdramas ek saath dekh daalungi. Ab toh koi rok bhi nahi sakta" She said, smiling cheerfully at Nitya.
[ Finally our stress is over. Today I'll go home and watch 2-3 k dramas in one sitting, no one can interrupt me now that exams are over ]
"Ha Bhai, meri toh jaan hi nikal gayi thi.. tujhe pata hai? Mera last 6 marker bacha tha aur sirf 6-7 minute bache the.. bhagwaan jaane maine kaise handle Kiya" Nitya said, she rubbed her temples and sighed in relief at her narrow escape from the situation that she had won over.
[ Yes Bhai, I was at the verge of dying. At only 6-7 minutes left, one six marker of mine was remaining. God knows how i completed it on time ]
"For real bhai kuch zyada hi lengthy tha paper..writing section me Maine itni phekuchand - giri ki na kya batau par atlast ho hi gaya sab... Aaram se 90+ aa hi jayenge... but I'm rooting for 95+ you know" The girl said, a sense of relief on her delicate features.
[ Really, The paper was too lengthy. I wrote so much in the writing section, But at last, finally it is over. I'll definitely get 90+ but I am rooting for 95+]
"Maahi yaar par tujhe kya lagta hai mujhe is baar 100 aa payenge? Like isme maine sab correct hi likha hai but Preboard me sab correct likhne ke bawajood bhi kaate the na marks. Bas aajaye bhagwaan ji.. pehle hi maths ne meri fielding set kardi hai abhi isme toh aajaye jisse cover ho jayega" Nitya said as she joined her hands and prayed to God.
[ But Maahi, Do you think I'll get a 100 in this? Like ice written everything correctly here. Even in preboards, i wrote everything correctly but still lost marks! I hope i get a 100 in this. Maths has killed me already Oh god please help me!]
"Aa jayenge bro I know, kyunki Preboard me marks kar hi jaate hai... chal abhi ye sab chhod. Hum aaj Adarsh Bhaiya ko bolenge ki ghar drop karte vakt icecream khilaye,. Abhi toh voh mana bhi nhi kar sakte" Maahi said, trying to lighten Nitya's anxiousness about her marks.
[ Don't worry bro, you'll get your desired score. They often cut marks in preboards, even for no reason. Now leave these things, Today, we will ask Adarsh Bhaiya to get us ice cream while dropping us. He can't even deny us now!]
"Ha ab jo hoga voh manjure khuda hoga... Aaj toh mai chaar chaar icecream khaungi. Finally ye torture khatam hua... Ab toh maiaisa soungi ki sab sochenge ki exam khatam
hone ki Khushi me sadma lag gaya aur
swarg sidhar gayii" Nitya said as she brushed off her anxiousness.
[ Yeah now everything is based on God's will. I'll eat 4 icecreams today and when I reach home, I'll sleep so much that everyone will think i died ]
Both of them walked out of the hall, chattering about the unusual exam center and gossiping about their terribly strict invigilator that narrowed her eyes whenever she caught someone even breathing outside their territory.
As they walked out of the gate, they saw that Nitya's elder brother - Adarsh was standing just outside, casually leaning against the door of the car, scrolling mindlessly on his phone.
His sleeves were shot up and his strong biceps were visible, his tall and muscular, fair body glowed even more with the rays of the sun falling over his features. He was waiting for Nitya and Maahi to drop them to their respective homes. His presence was not something anyone could avoid. Heads turned, teenagers looked with admiration at his features.
Nitya and Maahi reached the car. Adarsh didn't notice them, still engrossed in his phone and paying no heed to the admiration in the eyes of the teenage girls, seemingly very habitual of that attention.
Nitya went on and realised that he had not noticed them approaching. She stood on her tiptoes and with a light smack on his head, she said "Bhaiya, aapka dhyaan kaha hai?" She tried to peek into his phone "Aapki non existent girlfriend se baat jaari hai kya?" She said playfully.
[ Bhaiya, where are you lost?]
[ Are you busy talking to your non existent girlfriend??]
Adarsh flinched, caught off guard by the sudden interruption. He blinked once and looked at Nitya. With one swift motion of his hand, she picked her ears tightly, causing her to wince in pain.
"Abbee oo Sasti wannabe investigator, zyada na zubaan chalane ki zarurat nahi hai....6 saal bada hu tujhse, ek laafa de diya na toh Mumbai se seedha bharat-darshan karke Kanyakumari me giregi" He said, twisting her ear even more.
[ Hey you wannabe investigator, don't speak out of your limits. I'm 6 years older than you, one tight slap, you'll go from Mumbai to Kanyakumari]
"Arree Arree bhaiya, mai toh mazaak kar rahi thi...Sorry sorry" She winced in pain.
[ Bhaiyaa I was just joking... Sorry, sorry ]
He let go of her ear. "Bade bhai ka khauf jama rehna chahiye" He said, as he smacked her head lightly.
[ The terror of an elder brother should be maintained ]
Maahi was enjoying their playful banter. Laughing at Nitya and turning to Adarsh "Bhaiya, is chudail ko chhodo... aaj boards khatam hone ki Khushi me aapki pyaari behen ko icecream khaani hai... aap mujhe le chalenge na??" She asked, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
[ Bhaiya, let this chudail be. Today, on the occasion of the end of the boards, your beloved sister wants to eat ice-cream.. you will take me to eat ice-cream right?? ]
She deliberately dragged the words "Aapki pyaari behen " pointing at herself as she looked at Nitya's unamused expression.
Nitya was unaffected, unamused as she looked at her brother and her best friend, teaming up against her. She was too habitual of their antics.
"Ha ha kyu nahi, chalenge na! Bas iss chudail ko puch toh zara aayegi kya humare saath ya yahi pade rahegi... vaise bhi kumbhakaran toh ye hai hi... yaha bhi gadda bichha do toh so jayegi" He said, teasing Nitya further.
[ Yes yes, we will go! Definitely. Just ask this chudail if she wants to come or stay here only. Nevertheless, she is kumbhakaran, if you take a matress and lie it here, she will drift to sleep ]
"Kabhi kabhi toh lagta hai ki Mai aur tu hospital me exchange ho gaye honge aur is liye mai Arora khandaan me aur tu Ahuja khaandan me chali gayi hongi... Is bhaiya se achha toh mai akele reh leti, vaise bhi Rashi aunty aur Manish uncle mujhe tujhse zyada pyaar karte hai" she said, clearly irritated by their banter and sat inside the car with her arms folded in the passenger seat.
[ Sometimes, i just think that Maahi and I were replaced in the hospital, which caused me to go to the Arora family and her to go to the Ahuja family.... I should've been a single child instead of having a brother like this. After all Rashi aunty and Manish uncle love me more than Maahi ]
Adarsh and Maahi did a high five. They took their respective seats as Adarsh said "Dekh na Maahi, car me se jalne ki buu aa rahi hai...Aur teri harkatein agar sudharegi toh Maahi jaisi treatment dunga.. nahi toh bhool ja" Adarsh said teasingly as he started the car.
[ You see Maahi, someone is jealous.... And if you improve your actions, only then will i give you princess treatment like her... Or else, forget about it ]
"Jaise mai badi princess treatment ke liye mari jaa rahi hun..." Nitya muttered under her breath as she looked out of the window.
[ As if I'm dying to get the Princess treatment ]
The air gave her the unmistakable feeling of freedom. Her boards were finally over and now she had more than a month to herself where she could do all the things that she had listed in her bucket list.
Their banter ended and Nitya and Maahi began to tell Adarsh about their day. They gossiped about their invigilator, the last moment panic during exams and also chatted about what they'd do now.
They reached the ice cream parlour and grabbed their favourite ice cream. Nitya took the chocolate one, her constant and Maahi took the blackcurrant flavour, wanting to try it. Adarsh settled with a waffle, his favourite dessert.
They ate their desserts. Nitya and Maahi grabbed another ice cream before settling in the car, they ate the ice cream and continued their blabbering. Adarsh listened instinctively, giving in to his reactions to the words of his younger sisters.
Nitya and Adarsh dropped Maahi to the Ahuja Banglow, waving her Good bye as she left and went inside the house.
Nitya and Adarsh continued chatting till they reached the Arora Residence, A mansion with a swimming pool and a decent sized garden.
Nitya came out of the car and looked over to the neighboring house, her brows furrowed in confusion as she looked at it.
There was a truck full of cartons and furniture, the workers worked smoothly to transfer the truck's contents inside the house.
The sight was clear, someone had transferred there - in the neighboring banglow, equally lavish and newly painted. With a swimming pool and similar garden.
"Bhaiya, koi naya rehne aaya hai kya?" She said to Adarsh, pointing at the banglow.
[ Bhaiya, has anyone new transferred there?]
"Ha hoga koi, lag toh vaisa hi Raha hai... chal tu ghar ke andar jaa ab. Mujhe college se message aaya hai, ek important extra class hai Aaj toh Ghar nahi aaunga mai. Lock the doors aur pooch ke darwaza kholna. I'll be back in a few hours" Adarsh said, his concern and the responsibility as an elder brother intact in his tone.
[ Yes it seems like someone has transferred there. Go inside the house now. I've just gotten a message from the college about an important extra class. I won't be coming home now. Don't open the door for unfamiliar people ]
"Aur haan, aaj saare maids and everyone is on holiday toh chup chap maggi bana ke kha lena yaa kuch order karke mujhe QR code bhej dena" Adarsh said with a tone that was a mix of authority and concern.
[ And yeah, every helper is on leave today so just make Maggi or order whatever you want and send me the QR code ]
Nitya nodded "Okie Bhaiyuu" she said and smiled. "Byeeee" She stretched the word and hurried inside the house, waving one last time at him.
Adarsh waved back at her. He gave the security guard some instructions about not letting anyone unfamiliar enter the house and turned swiftly towards the car.
He drove off once he saw her fully and safely inside the house.
[ AN : I'm suffering from lack of bada bhai syndrome 🙏🏻😭 ]
No matter how much they teased each other, fought and quarrelled, he never failed to fulfill his responsibilities as her older brother. He loved their playful banter and also cared for his sister, deeply without any limits.
As Nitya entered the house, She went straight to her room, changed into comfortable clothes and tied her hair with a loose scrunchie in a low ponytail.
She drifted off to sleep as if entering into hibernation.
She did not even bother to check her phone, didn't even bother to cook or order something. She just drifted off to sleep as she reached the bed.
This was because today, sleep was peaceful. She didn't have to worry about what will happen in the next exam, and didn't have to prepare for the next exam tirelessly.
She drifted off to her peaceful slumber in mere minutes, the loose strands of hair cascading down her face as they fell apart from the loose scrunchie that she tied her hair with.
She slept peacefully, forgetting every worry of her life, every anxiousness.
Until....
Her phone began to ring..
The ringtone cut the silence sharply - it's volume was fiercely cutting through the ears.
This was a special ringtone that Nitya had herself picked for herself to avoid falling asleep during exams and it rang - unchanged and persistent as ever as if urging her to wake up.
As the phone violently rang, the peaceful silence that the room was in for the past two hours disappeared.... With the annoyingly noticeable ringtone.
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Word count : 3k (almost)
I hope you liked the first chapter!!🎀
Your favourite moment from this chapter??👀
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~ Love ya!!👀✨
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