“So, take a logarithm of x and divide it by q + cos z…”

“Okay…”

“This is not a very difficult sum actually; What you need to know is the trick for solvi-”

“WAIT…”

He suddenly brought his palm in front of my face. 

I halted.

Yet again I was surprised by his sudden acts...

He brought his hand back towards him and then inserted his palm into his chest pocket.

His actions were kind of tiring me out. 

It was as if he was pulley-ing in the little energy I had left.

As a person, his character was kind of- kind of very active, totally opposite to that of mine. 

He pulled his hand out with a- Wait what?

“Are you perhaps kidding me…”

I was speechless...

He was already scrolling through the mobile phone he had taken out.

“Bhai, chill…”

I could feel something very creepy, slowly sneaking onto my conscience.

What sin have I done in my life to witness this complete absurdity of a situatio-

In the brink of a moment, he wrapped an arm around my neck, plugged one of the earbuds in my right ear, and happily exclaimed-

“MUSIC TIME WITH FRIENDS :)”

"... Wait a minute…"

Th- this guy listens to... this is kind of unbelievable but ALEN DELTA?

“Are you perhaps speechless my friend?”

I was really kind of shocked on hearing some of the tracks.

If there’s one thing I like anywhere and every time - it’s music. 

His playlist was full of unique compositions and artist names I had never heard or seen before.

“Hey, please send me all of these tracks on Whatsapp, these are so Epic!”

“Okay, no problem - I will send the link to this playlist on your whatsapp, enjoy all you want.”

“Thanks in advance but anyway, who are all these artists? I have never heard most of their names before.”

“That’s what commoners say all the time…” (Smiling)

“Huh?”

Dhruba got up.

“Oops, talk to you some other time…”

He walked away while putting his earphones and mobile back into his pocket.

What a weird and interesting fellow.

I looked at the clock.

What?

12: 26

He had somehow managed to keep me attentive for 15 minutes without me even realizing it.

I continued staring at him.

“Do you know the guy you were talking with?”

I was surprised yet again as I realized that Diti was back at her desk.

“Meaning...?”

“Like, is he a creepy or weird type of guy?”

“Yeah he is weird but why are you asking this?”

“Just a little curious from what little I have heard about him”

“What is it?”

“Nothing important, it’s just people are making up all kinds of theories due to his absence from school for the last two weeks”

“Wait, I totally forgot about tha-”

“Okay everyone, attention…”

It was the voice of the English teacher who had just entered the class.

“Talk to you later”

“Hmm”

Although the class resumed, Diti’s words continued lingering in my head.

Before this I had never had the chance to talk with Dhruba. I had always assumed him to be kind of an introvert who lived in a world of his own. 

Speaking of his absence, after the inter school festival, which had taken place three weeks ago, he was absent for two weeks. When he returned this week, he had several band aids on his face.

Yeah, he definitely had some cut marks on his face which I had totally overlooked while talking to him.

Maybe I am just overthinking matters. Maybe he just had a minor accident or something… Let’s leave it at that for now (Ya~~wn).

“What the hell is up with pop music these days…”

I was back at home, laying on my bed and scrolling through my mobile.

The door opened.

“Hey! Don’t waste too much time listening to music… The exams are near”

As if I am already not super worried about that…

“Okay…”

“And also reduce the volume of the speakers”

“What exactly is the problem with the speakers if the doors are closed, not to say the volume is already low…”

“Speaking up to your elders?! Learn some good manners…”

After speaking something entirely unrelated, she left the room slamming the door shut behind her.

“This is hell…!!”

It was a notification on whatsapp.

That too from an unknown number…?

Who is this?

Wait, this is a spotify playlist link, oh then it must be Dhruba…

As soon as I thought of Dhruba, the chain of events of that afternoon flooded into my mind.

His music collection was not half bad…

The conflicting thoughts of whether or not I should continue listening to music continued for a while in my mind but after a few futile attempts to study, my mind gave in...

As if someone studies post 12pm on a Friday Night.

Uplifting soothing music all night- Let me just switch to the speakers and sleep, for God's sake these exams are bothering my parents more than me.

I laid down on my bed listening to the music, wiping off all unnecessary things from the brain…

… and somehow like that I dozed off without me even realizing it.