Palaash Ke phool (Flames of Fire )

The School bus is ready to leave, but he is still standing outside waiting for one last look before she crosses the road, reaches the gate of her colony, looks back to say goodbye. He smiles and waves.
The bus conductor shouts "get in or else I will leave you here, this is becoming a daily problem, what are you waiting for, get in." 
The school is closed for a week-long break.

Radha blushes as she gets into her colony. The feeling of love when you are fifteen is sweet, warm, and so soft. The thought of not meeting Raghav for a week wants her to run back to the gate. But she is with friends who are in the same school and live in the same colony.
The zigzag road that runs through the middle of her colony has Gulmohar, Neem and banyan trees on both sides. Radha lives in the third block on the ground floor. The house has two tiny gardens on both sides of the front door. A row of lilies makes the garden look lovely. 
Two-three days pass, lots of work at home had kept Radha busy. On day four, as she opened her school books to finish her revision, her thoughts wandered towards Raghav. She kept thinking about him throughout that evening.
Next day morning around 11 AM after finishing her work she took her cycle passing through her colony on to the main road surrounding it, she reaches the only classy looking bakery in the shopping complex, not for cakes but the phone. The bakery had a PCO (Public telephone booth). Raghav had given her a landline number. She called on that number, it rang, with each ring her heart raced, but no one picked up. She tried again, but no answer. She decided to come back in the evening.
Radha had no luck in the evening too. Two more days passed, and it was time for the school to reopen. 

It's blossom time for the flame of forest tree (Indian name Palaash) it's a native to tropical and subtropical parts of India and Southeast Asia. Radha loves the bright red flowers of this tree; right outside the massive black iron gate of her colony, the tree stands tall and happy, it has been a witness to their love since they were 10. Every morning Raghav would wait for Radha under this tree. They would talk and cross the two-lane road hand in hand to the school gate. 

But today he was not there. Radha crossed the road to school alone. The school building, with its pale red bricks, is right in the middle of this vast landmass with gardens and play areas all around it. There is a big field on the right side of the gate, beautiful gardens on the left, the long walkway to the building is muddy with very little grass on it. Students around are chatting, giggling, but she is quiet.  

Radha climbs up three floors to her class, Hasan is standing at the door of class 10th-B, he looks at her, smiles, coughs and clears his throat. A thin, short but a remarkably swift guy with little spiky hair, is the most trustworthy friend to both Radha and Raghav. 

"Where is Raghav? I tried calling him several times, but no one picked up at his place. Has he come to school yet?" Radha asked in one breath.
"No, I have no clue. I was not in town myself, but you should not worry Raghav will come." Hasan assured Radha.

The long spacious corridors with classrooms, three each on both sides are looking fresh with new paint and lights. Sun rays seep in beautifully from all the uncovered areas. Each class has tall windows on one side, and the door on the opposite wall right beside the blackboard has two tiny windows in it, to see through in the class. Radha sits on the fourth bench, and every time Raghav passed through her class, he would peep in to look at her. A smile lights up her face, and she blushes thinking about it.

The day passed, and Raghav did not come to school. Radha has all sorts of feelings crossing her head, she decides to make a call again. She walks past all the school buses, crosses the road towards her colony and reaches the bakery in the shopping centre. There is a one rupee coin in her pencil box; she uses that, the call connects, it rings, rings and rings but no one picks up.   

Radha and Raghav are the most active students of their batch; in debate, drama, painting they are a team. Radha is the captain of throwball and kabaddi team and is a fantastic dancer as well. Raghav was absent on the first day after holidays, that is so unlike him, thought Radha. Next day in School, Her eyes are looking for him, but he is nowhere, "What's wrong, I hope everything is ok with him and his family." She thought.

Hasan came and sat next to Radha, "Did he say anything about going out or something." He asked.
"No, Nothing, that's why it's bothering me." They were startled by an announcement; it was Miss Manju, calling all the dance students for practice on stage 2 in block A of the School. A vast rectangle stage open from three sides, covered from the top, with an entry from the corridor via wing styled doors, there are five steps on all three open sides. In front of the stage was an open area surrounded with dense, shady Gulmohar trees. Leaning on one of those trees, Raghav would watch her dance. He would be around as part of the art team involved in stage decoration etc. He was magic with colours and canvas. Whenever he painted, Radha would just watch him mesmerised.   

As Radha and Hasan cross the bridge to reach the block A ground floor, Mathew sir calls out for Hasan and asks "Where is Raghav? Why is he not coming to school?"
"We have no information about him, sir." Mr Mathew is the head of the English department at school and is very fond of Raghav. "There is an interschool debate competition next week, Radha, I want you and Raghav to start preparing for it."
"Yes sir will do, could I see you after the dance practice."
"Sure, Meet me in the staff room before leaving from School today."

Radha met Mathew sir after the last class; she told him that no one is picking up the phone at Raghav's house. Mr Mathew decided to call himself and this time Raghav's mother, who had got back in the morning from their native place, takes the call. She explains to him that Raghav's father has got transferred down south to Chennai and he is with him taking admission in a school there. He will be back to get his Transfer certificate next week.  

As Mathew sir told Radha about this, her heart sank, but she had to stand confident and not show her emotions to the teacher. She took leave from him and walked back home. Radha was not at all prepared for this; she was shocked, she wanted to cry loudly but couldn't. What would she say? Why is she crying? No one would understand that she is in love. Radha belongs to a middle-class family, where falling in love is not an idea that was respected. If anybody in the colony would get to know about it, the news will spread like wildfire, and everyone will question her character, Aunties would notice and comment on everything she does, from clothes to where she goes, who she talks to, everything will be under the scanner. It's a very closed society, and teenage girls who are too friendly with boys are not appreciated. 
The week went by, school is celebrating its Birthday, and there is a cultural event, with dance and drama. 

Radha was nervous; It was time for their final performance, her eyes were still looking for Raghav in the crowd of students. Hasan held her hand, which was freezing, he asked her to calm down; they are the first ones to go on stage. "He is here, Raghav is here," Radha looks at Hasan, who is smiling, "He will see you in the classroom after the performance." 

The performance was rocking, and Radha was like fire on stage. They bowed to the cheering crowd and left. Radha ran from backstage to her classroom. She opened the door; there was no one inside. She took a deep breath, went ahead and sat on the 4^th bench in the row near the window, that's their seat. Their names are engraved on the wooden planks. Radha is a simple girl, slightly chubby, long black hair, a fair round face and lovely expressive eyes; she wears kajal in her eyes because Raghav likes it. She is not one of those thin, stylish girls who could wear short skirts, leave their hair open, walk and talk in style to impress, yet she could make heads turn.

Looking out of the window, waiting for Raghav, thinking what would she say, tell or ask him, Radha was wholly lost in her thoughts. "You were as enchanting as ever in that performance, so graceful" he whispered in her ears, sitting right next to her. She could feel his warm breath close to her, she closed her eyes and turned around. One look at him and a flood of emotions ran through her; her heart was beating faster than ever. His killer smile is making those deadly dimples look more profound than a twister, his beautiful eyes are full of affection. His presence is so commanding that an empty classroom feels filled, with friendship and love. She looked at him, with tears rolling down her chubby pink cheeks. He hugged her tight, and she just cried.