My Teenage Crush Story

Do you remember that moment when you first felt that adrenaline rush when you looked at someone? That lup dup lup dup sound going totally out of the rhythm?
The blood rushing to your face and your eyes almost unable to get closed even for a brief second?
Roll number 23, Ashish was called out by the teacher. It took some more time to get it registered in my mind. He was our new classmate.
It was the first time I realised that there could be something as wonderful as that which didn't feel normal at all at that time. I wasn't used to seeing someone and feeling that lup dup lup dup for so long!
'Ashish' I rolled my tongue and just felt how good his name felt when I whispered it...
He randomly looked at me and I looked away!
The maths teacher had asked us get our text books to the class. I had carried a new label. I was eagerly waiting for the teacher. I knew that most of them must have forgotten about it. But I had remembered.
She was dressed in her all time beige cotton saree and pink blouse. She repeated it thrice every week. She went ahead with the next chapter and that's when I stood to remind her about the text books!
She started inspecting us one by one. The ones who didn't get the text books were supposed to suffer the punishment. That's when she stood, hands folded at Ashish's desk. He looked around, clearly must have forgotten about it. He was yet to figure out what happened when one forgets to complete the tasks given my our Maths teacher.
Her wooden scale was dangerously held tight in her right hand. I wondered why was he so absent-minded! 'Your right hand!' she exclaimed. Cluelessly he held his right-hand open, while she started lecturing about why one should carry text books to the class. I don't remember it as I was busy sticking the new label on my book and writing 'Ashish' on the book.
I stood and said, 'Teacher, here is his book. I had borrowed to solve a sum.' I passed on the book to him through ten more students. He looked surprised looking at his book travel towards him. He knew it was not his. In fact, that must be the first time he was aware of my existence.
The teacher with a boring fashion sense looked at me and asked about my book. I said that I had forgotten to get it. She ridiculed me about reminding her of something that I personally hadn't followed.
She asked me to stretch my right hand and then the left. Her wooden scale alternated about ten more times between my hands. It didn't sting so much because he was looking at me, almost apologetically, confused and with pity. My heart was back to the loud lup dup lup dup.
He looked at me, I looked away!
I died a little, the moment I caught him chatting with nimisha. Damn! What kinda name is it at the first place? I hissed at her very existence.
I am not someone one could easily notice in a crowd. Umm.. but if you talk to me, you will surely be captivated.
But how do I get him into talking to me? Nimisha giggled like a sweet song and lightly tapped on his 'Tide white' shirt. I wonder how few people simply make friends just like that. Here, all I could do is weave scenarios in my mind, while in reality he was laughing out loud with a girl with a funny name!
I often found myself looking at him. The maths classes no more felt so boring. I no more noticed how pathetic her dressing sense was. It was soothing to simply keep noticing him. His little pimples, pointy teeth and a unibrow added to his charm.
He was never alone. He had instantly made friends. A lot of them, where in I remained aloof. I no more bothered to remind the teachers about the homework, though I often completed it. How often could I save him from getting beaten up?
Today was a different day. He had noticed me and waved at me. My heart thumped lup dub lup dub. I could feel it in my throat! I blankly stared at him. He handed over my text book to me and said, 'It wasn't required.' A slight rub on my right palm and he added, 'Hope that didn't hurt you too much.' I smiled awkwardly. He kept looking at me, I looked away.