The Strings Of Heart

9

Sitara POV

My eyes hold nothing... Nothing as I once again gaze at the hall entrance, hoping they will be here at least today. I see no one entering the hall except the guards who stood at the entrance.

"What ya thinking so hard?" Abhinav asked. Krishika is sitting on the right, Abhinav to my left. Becca, Sung and Joel are sitting beside Abhinav, Gaurav and Aryan are beside Krishika.

"Are you thinking about our grades?" Krishika asked looking anxious.

"If you are then you don't have to worry about your grades. I heard you are in the top ten list." It was Becca who said that. It wasn't about my grades and percentage that I'm concerned about.

My eyes shifted towards where all the parents are. Abhinav's mum and sister are clicking pictures, Gaurav's parents are here. Everyone's parents are here to see their kids graduate.

Heck! Even Sung and Joel's parents are here. They have already overseas to see their kids graduate while mine doesn't even care to attend it. Becca's dad is talking with Joel's father.

"Sitara..." Abhinav said understanding my silence. Is that pity I heard...

"Don't," I whispered. I hate it when people show sympathy and pity.

"A warm welcome..." I tuned down everything as the graduation ceremony started.

The anger, frustration and loneliness are building inside as the minutes passed. I chew the inside layer of my mouth as I tried to control my emotions and feelings.

Why? Why? Why can't she attend this! I know she is busy, I never questioned when she didn't attend any of my shows, skips, or my national competitions. But this... This is my last ever ceremony here and I'm all alone like an orphan.

"Sitara! Sitara!" I snapped out of my thoughts as my friends look at me with concern.

"They are calling you." I look around to see everyone looking at me. 

"Oh." I stood up walking towards the dais. Yuthika ma'am who is behind the mic started speaking.

"Ms Sitara Chindam has been Hebron high's basketball girls captain for three years without any downfall. Ms Sitara and her team have won inter-school basketball competition in a row for three years. Not only in sports but she holds third rank in academics..." She goes on and on as Fr Francis hands me my diploma.

My friends cheer up as I smile for the photographer as he clicks the picture. The lady steps away as I took her place behind the podium. I must speak a few words.

My eyes were on the student body and my group. "Uh—well, Hello." Some of them chuckled as I started.

"You know, I never understood why students give speeches when no one is going to give a s**t about it. Keeping it short, I read a proverb which says 'We all may be a different kind of fish but in school, we swim together!' Hebron was protecting us from the outside world, harm, issues. Hebron isn't a school, it was more of a home to some of us. Remember the world isn't a saint nor you, don't let anything or anyone kill your dreams. Everything starts from being an average."

There were claps and oohs "And I prefer to be a witch rather than a princess in this world." I ended my speech looking straight into the eyes of the teaching faculty who always had issues with me.

I smirked as they glared. I was stepping down the dais when my eyes met my sister's. She looked guilty as she sat down in the back. She missed my graduation...

My face was blank as I took my seat. Everyone was beaming about my short speech. "What happened?" Abhinav asked but I stayed quiet.

•

"One... Two... Three..." Elora says as she clicks the pictures of me with my friends.

The photoshoot went on and on as I clicked with everyone. My gaze went on the tall man who stood beside my sister Elora.

I don't know why the f**k he is here instead of my mum. His eyes snapped towards me as I looked straight into his eyes with a blank look. His lips twitched upwards but I didn't return the smile.

"Do anyone of you took the video of Sitara's speech? We heard her speak the last two lines." Elora asked looking at the gang.

"Yeah dee (sis), we recorded it in her camera," Becca replied. My sister relaxed hearing that.

"Mum wanted a video of her speech."

"Like she is ever going to watch it nor she cares."

"Sitara... It's not like that. Amma (mom) is busy with work and she tried to attend your graduation. But there was a meeting in the office with board members."

"Cut it sis." That came out harshly as I saw the hurt flash through her eyes.

The air became awkward around us as everyone understood my mood. Everyone walked to their families while Abhinav stayed back.

 "Sitara, this isn't the way you talk with your sister, kid." David took a step forward standing beside my sister.

"Oh, so are you going to teach me how to talk with my sister, old man?"

"Sitara! I know you are angry with us. David is just telling you. You don't have to talk with him with that tone." My sister looked into my eyes. Narrowing her eyes telling me not to make any scene in front of my friends.

The only people who are here is me, Abhinav, my sister and her best friend. The rest of the gang is standing with their family.

"Tell him not to teach me." I snapped.

"Elora, this... This is why I didn't want to be here. I know she dislikes me and look at her temper." He spoke with my sister lowly but too bad I heard it all.

Disobedience... Bad-tempered and intolerance is what David dislikes. He and I didn't sit in one room not even once because we can't tolerate each other.

As she spoke with him I slipped away... Running away from everyone to far away to the Selborne campus.

"Sitara! Stop!" I heard Abhinav yell as he ran. I let my graduation cloak and cap fall, I wore my running shoes as I don't have a pair of sandals that suits my cotton dress.

"This feels good. All those days when we used to run like this to reach our dormitory after spending our evenings together." I yell as I heard him laugh.

As I was sprinting, my hair is swaying against my face which I like the most. We reach the basketball court. "You okay?" 

I bend down picking the ball, "guess so."

"Let's play one on one," he said.

"Sure."

•

"I will miss this," Becca says as we all laid on the thick blankets watching the night sky. 

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you all," Aryan said with thick emotion.

"I...I don't want this night to end." Sung slurred. We are in our favourite spot with empty vodka bottles on the roof as we all laid back on the blanket watching the night skin as always.

My eyes sting as I controlled my tears. I can't control them forever as a few tears leaked down my cheeks as everything played in my mind.

"I will miss you guys." Gaurav is crying along with Krishika.

"I will miss you... Yo...you know I always wanteddd to sa—y but I—I couldn't." I pushed myself up, resting the weight on my elbows to see a drunken Becca speaking with Aryan.

"I will miss you too Becca, I don't understand why you wanted to study in the states when we all agreed to go to the same college," a drunken Aryan said looking at a crying Becca.

"N—no... Things cha—nge and plans too."

"She is correct," Abhinav whispered as he looked at Becca and Aryan. Abhinav and I are sober enough to remember everything.

We aren't that drunk like the rest of the gang. "Isn't it stupiddd Aryan? Everything changes but these silly feelings don't." Becca chuckled.

"Yes Becca, our plans may chan—ge but my... feelings for Aditi never chan—ge's. I love her so much Beccaaaa. I even promiseddd her that I will go to the college she goes." Becca started sobbing which made Sung and Joel hug her.

"Ssh... Becca. Don't cry, we will meet you always." Joel rubbed her tears. My gaze shifted to Krishika and Gaurav who are sleeping holding the hands of each other.

Cute...

We will be leaving tomorrow with all our luggage and say forever goodbye to this place. After the finish of our final exams, we had our farewell and final school trip Coorg. Coorg is a hill station, I enjoyed my time with my gang.

"Becca, Dung and I are going to be there. We will be applying for the same college as you," Joel said hugging Becca.

"Which state you are going to? State or USA like Becca, Joel and Sung?" Abhinav asked.

"Mumbai, we have already decided that we would be going to Mumbai..." I reply Abhinav                                                                                                                                                                                                                            My sister and David are staying in the parents sleeping quarters. At least I don't have to worry.