The Soulmate

“She is mostly seen with that nerd Vijay these days – the one who is responsible for your sister’s suicide.” The pain in Tsheten’s voice was quite palpable as he sat in the canopy near the 12 block, talking to his best friend, “NO, I’m serious, yaar. Please do something before it’s too late, before another promising girl of our school ends up as a framed photo on the wall …” He was so emotional that he concluded rather abruptly.

“Lemme tell you something. I don’t care two hoots about all this bullshit. My sis was passionately in love with this guy Vijay and so far as Gaki is concerned, she was born for me. She is meant for me and she’ll be mine shortly, no matter what …”

The bell marked the end of their conversation as well as the recess. As they headed up the stairs on their way to the class, out came the very girl Gaki, who dashed against Norden while rushing past him. “I’m extremely sorry. I’m in a hurry to meet my parents, you know …” she mumbled out a hasty apology.

“It’s all right. Say “Hallow” to your parents from me,” replied Norden as she shot out of the 12 block flashing out her sparkling teeth in the process.

It was only then that Tsheten noticed the pink paper lying near Norden’s feet, folded into neat four. But before he could open it, Norden snatched it away form his hands and read:

Dearest,

My life is no more mine since the day I saw you out in the basketball court. There was something divine and graceful about your whole persona as you swept me off my feet by your skill, stamina and flexibility. My eyes simply could not feast enough on you.

Thanks a million for letting me be a part of your life. I love you truly and madly.

Yours forever,

Gaki

P.S. Don’t ever betray my trust and heart.

It was not so much the content as the innocence that seeped through the letter that made Norden mad. The rumours then, were true after all. Tsheten was not far from the truth. Something had to be done sooner before another Gaki fell an easy prey to Vijay or his charm!

Next day was a Saturday. Though Norden was not much of a sprots-freak, he decided to have some fun with the other boys of the school’s basketball team that included Vijay as well. When the players were divided into two, he made sure that he went to the opponent team.

Noden made an early attempt at felling Vijay in the second quarter of the match. Vijay started keeping out of harm’s way from then on. Vijay even scored two points for his team from the free baskets due to the infringement. Norden knew that he had to take the risk once more as the match was by then into the last quarter. Vijay was moving through the couple of defenders like a slimy snake. It was not so much the way he was befooled by Vijay’s teammate who had passed the ball backhanded to him as the sly and mocking smile on the charmer’s face that did it. Vijay in the meantime had moved towards the net and was switching the ball from his right hand to his left before shooting. Norden then hurled himself at Vijay’s feet from the sideline. The boy was totally unprepared for this unexpected attack. He tried to sidestep the onrushing invader. But he was late by a fraction of a second. He fell face forward on the concrete the next moment with a thud as there was a complete hush among the players.

It was not before three months that he got released from the Referral Hospital in Thimphu with strict advice from the doctor not to take to the court at least for the next six months. The last of Vijay was seen, not so surprisingly either, when he left CHSS for good, for his hometown, Gaylekphug.

It was shortly after that one day, when Gaki was coming out of her class and down the stairs that Norden collided with her.

“I’m sorry. I’m on the look out for our Physics teacher …” uttered Norden as he was gone from her sight in a flash. The blue paper lying on the step caught Gaki’s attention. What was this?

YOU ARE MEANT TO BE MY SOULMATE AND NOTHING; NO EARTHLY OBSTACLES CAN COME IN BETWEEN US.

DESTINED TO BE YOURS,

NORDEN

When Norden fell sick soon afterwards and absented himself from school, Gaki was heard enquiring about him to Tsheten, in that off-hand, girlish manner typical of a girl of her age, with a new found love in her life again.