Kamalesh! 💓

 

Kamalesh! 💓

 

“Deepan, Deepan!” I heard a faint voice waking me. I hardly opened my eyes. I made out that a hand with Bangles gave me a tumbler of some flavored milk. I sprung up, got the tumbler, and sipped it until I got back to my senses. The room was totally different, and so chilly, in contrast to my home. It took me some time to realize that I was in Kamalesh’s house. I slammed my head, for being irresponsible. I came to stay here temporarily, as my parents were out of the station.

I laughed within myself, while my mind travelled back to the day, we both met. I don’t know exactly what happened that day, and neither will he, as we met when we were hardly 4 years old. Our parents became too close before we got to know we both existed in the same class. Everything then, (and now too) was Kamalesh for me. He was the first person who accepted me as a friend. I felt so proud then. I used to do whatever he tells then. That much, I loved him.

Distance yourselves, girls. Someone's hot. 

I enquired where he was. Uncle said he might be in the restroom, with great aggression, rubbing the towel against his hair. He’s a caring person. Whenever, or wherever I see him, undoubtedly, his first question would be, “Had Food?”. If I go to Kamalesh’s house while he’s at home, it's so tough to escape without having food. Not exactly escaping, I would love to eat at Kamalesh’s.

We grew together. After lots of fights and disputes, we found we were inseparable. Whatever fight we have, he would beat or swear at me, and the next day, we’ll be the ‘Mustafa’ friends again. Food played a vital role in keeping us together. We always liked each others’ lunch box dishes, and equally hated ours. So, a great way was to exchange the boxes. While my Amma treated him with Modern and Western recipes, His Amma surprised me with Down-to-Earth Traditional recipes, which are regular by names, but exceptional by taste. The Rasam she makes, Paahh!

The 'tallest' person of our gang. 

I came back to the kitchen after discovering the light ‘on’ in the restroom. It was already 6:30. Even though I never wake up by this time in my house, I didn’t want him to be late because of me. I walked here and there, enough to turn Aunty suspicious. “You need something?”, she asked me. “No, aunty, am just waiting for him to come out. I need to brush and Bath. That’s it.”, I replied as politely as possible. She laughed at me. She took a bucket of hot water to the balcony and gave shocking news, which hurt more than my hands being dipped in it. I was supposed to bath there, in the balcony. Half naked, with a towel around my waist, I felt I was hotter than the water. No girls were there to enjoy this visual treat, or, maybe, they were fortunate.

Then, came the fun period, where students started to get attracted to each other. Words like couples and crushes were introduced. Even Kamalesh was attracted to someone. But when the school authorities created a list of couples and slammed them with punishments, he was probably the only one to escape. Yeah, like Christopher Nolan, (Sorry Nolan fans) his love was inexplicable as he was attracted to a primary teacher. Premam fan, he got inspired, maybe. An exclusive heartbroken version of him was available when she gave up her profession.

I put on my white uniform and sat down for Breakfast. Kamalesh had gone to bath, in the restroom it seems. “I didn’t see him since morning and now he isn’t bathing the same way I did,” I thought. That backyard bathing was a wonderful experience. I felt fresher than ever. Hot Idlies with Sambar made me eat more than the limit, that I thought to maintain, for decency purposes. Nothing can stand in front of Aunty’s food, I realized. I came out and started wearing my shoes. It was 8:00 and I saw him sitting for eating. He was the man with the badge of punctuality. I thought we’ll make up for school on time.

Even though we don’t talk daily, he never misses to call me, at least twice a week. We talk easily for an hour, about various movies, Marvel & DC, and much more! He would seem to be more of a ‘Why would I care’ person, but he’s the keen person to notice everything. Other than this, we play cricket weekly. Even though am the worst player in the team, I’ll be the first to be called for playing. More than cricket, he wants to be with us. Even we all feel the same. Cricket with Dhoni and without Dhoni is not the same. That’s how our captain is. Deals with everyone’s problems in the funniest way possible and finishes in style. He had always been with me, while we both were caught up in problems. But whatever happens, he’ll say, “Vidu Machi, Paathukkalam!”.

It was getting late. I hopped on my cycle and shouted inside. I saw his mother smile at me. I felt lucky. Probably, this friendship with Kamalesh gave me another family. I felt like I was one of her sons. While my mind drifted over all these thoughts, I expected he would have finished eating. But I still saw his silhouette structure, eating Idlies in a calm way. He came after five minutes, jumped into his shoes, and smiled in his trademark way. That smile boosts one’s confidence, enough to tackle the PT sir. I laughed and took the cycle off the stand. All I heard was, “Vidu Machi, Paathukkalam”, before he sped his Sparta and overtook me.