The Strings Of Heart

5

Sitara POV

"Father Francis is waiting inside." The front desk lady said as I waited for her to call me.

With a heavy sigh, I knocked on the door before opening it. "Praise the Lord, father," I say dully.

"May the Lord be praised. Come in, child." I entered the room looking at Fr. Francis. I knew him from the day I stepped into this boarding school.

"Sitara... Another complaint just after you finished your game. I've told you not to argue back with your teachers and warden." He gave me a disappointed look.

"Father, it's not my mistake. We were just enjoying our evening. I don't know why she would complain about it."

"Sheela wrote a letter saying, you and the girls were too loud disturbing while she was doing her daily homework. You know it's not the right thing." he signed while I looked at the window not wanting to roll my eyes in front of him.

"We weren't loud, we don't even have any homework yesterday. Why she is the only one who always complains and not some other person."

"Sitara... Angry isn't the solution. You see these papers here." he pointed to the huge stack of papers near his laptop.

"Yes."

"They are the letters of complaints of you." expected.

"Sheela isn't the only one who complains. See my child, I know you are a bright student and quite rebellious but this is your last year here. Try to amend matters and relations with people around you. Mingle and don't give headaches to your teachers."

"Yes, father."

"Enjoy your last year peacefully Sitara. You may go now."

"Can I take them?" I say pointing to the stack of papers.

"Why?" he looked genuinely confused.

"It's my last year if I want to amend things I need to know what's their problem with me. To find my solution I need to know the problem." I smiled as he for a second seemed taken back by my words.

My head swiped back when I heard a chuckle. Kabir was sitting on the sofa. What is he doing here...

"Sure, take them." I took the letters walking out of the room. I made another eye contact with Kabir as I walked out.

The corridors are empty as everyone is in their respective class by now. I'm already late to my first period and it ends in another twenty minutes. I don't wanna disturb the class nor I'm interested to go.

I decided to go to the music room. "Sitara!" I turned around to see Kabir jogging to catch up.

"Yup?" I don't know why he is calling. I mean he is my super super senior who is quite famous here. He used to be the basketball, football and also cricket captain. Basically all-rounder and head boy of Heron. He even plays for the national cricket team, the boys here treats him as the god.

I never personally spoke to him but heard so many stories and obviously spicy rumours of him.

"Bunking the class?" He asked as I simply pushed the door open.

"Isn't it obvious?" He chuckled following me. I put the letters on the bench as I sat on one of the chairs.

He took the chair in front of me. "Aren't you going to read the letters?" he asked looking at them.

"Nope."

"Why did you take then?"

"To read in my old age," I say blankly, I don't want to be rude but I can't help when it comes to people I don't know.

He laughed shaking his head while I stared at the posters on the walls. There were three posters made by me and Krishika. A solo poster of Beatles which I made personally for last year's music festival.

"Not much of a talker," he says as I turned my gaze to him.

"Why you were in Francis office?" I asked.

"Fr. Francis invited me to talk with the junior and senior boys about dreams and goals." speeches...

"Such a boring drama," I whispered under my breath. I don't like it when people stare at my face for more than required. I narrowed my eyes as he didn't stop looking at me.

"We are having a test match in Tamil Nadu. Fr. Francis asked me to select ten students who are inspiring, they get a chance to watch the match and also to meet the players." He started saying.

"So?"

"I select you as my first student." I didn't say anything nor I showed any expression, I looked at my wristwatch. Standing up, taking the letters I started walking out towards my classroom.

"What's your answer? Aren't you thrilled to meet the national players or aren't you excited seeing me?"

"Nope."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you on Saturday." He said as I walked into the class. Everyone's eyes widen seeing their handsome and favourite cricket player.

"Kabir!"

"OMG! It's Kabir!

"Kabir pant!" There was no teacher in the classroom. I sat beside Abhinav rolling the letters and putting them in my bag.

"What did Kabir say? Did you talk to him?" Gaurav asked excitedly.

"Father Francis isn't happy and there were tons of compliment letters," I said sarcastically ignoring the question.

"You mean complain letters?" Becca asked.

"Technically complains are compliments to her," Abhinav said wrapping his arm around my shoulder. While we spoke, there was excitement in the air after seeing Kabir.

"Why are they so loud. And where is the damn teacher." The excitement filled voices are increasing in the class.

"They can't contain their happiness after getting a glimpse of Kabir unlike you," Aryan said. I punched his back playfully.

"He used to study here duh. What's so special about it." I say.

"He is an Indian cricketer and regarded as one of the best batsmen of the world," Sung stated as if I'm not aware of that.

"She already know about that," Joel said rolling his eyes at his cousin.

Gaurav and Krishika started talking about something which I can't hear nor I'm interested in. Becca and Joel started sitting together with Sung while Aryan sat with Gaurav and Krishika.

"Hey Sitara, thanks for the notes," Ayush said handing me my civics notes. I gave him a smile before looking at Abhinav who seemed distant.

•

"Are you going to spill the beans or not yet?" I say throwing the ball in the basket. The group isn't here, I'm alone with Abhinav as we are playing basketball.

"Got a call from home." I stopped playing, he took the ball from my hands as I waited for him to continue.

"It's about mum." I mopped the sweat on my forehead.

"Akanksha caught mum meeting some man. It's the fourth time in a month." He stopped playing sitting down.

"Did she tell your dad?" Abhinav doesn't really open up about his parents like me. If there is something to share about them, it's always between us two.

Abhinav's father is a collector which makes him stay away from home. And he isn't the family-oriented man in the first place.

"Abhinav, your dad always stays away from home. A person really needs someone to share their feelings and emotions. It's not always romantically. I mean just think how lonely your mum must've felt all these years."

"Yeah but."

"See yaar, it's clear. We can't come to a conclusion when we don't know the other side's story. If your mum is seeing someone then be it, you can't be selfish and make your mum live alone till her last breath. Talk to her and ask her softly. If there is something, end things to start new beginnings."

"True, but what about dad?" he looked at me while I rolled my eyes.

"Bro, your dad already behaves like he is a divorcee. It doesn't really matter if they part ways as they already living like one." I say laying on my back. It's getting dark now.

"Akanksha is getting angry." She is his elder sister.

"Tell her to think like an adult and it's common though getting angry but explain her." Relief brought a smile to his lips.

"Thanks yarr. My thoughts were killing me from yesterday." He gave me a great full smile and I returned my own smile.

"Chill, it happens."