Morning arrived finally and Pooja woke up excited, quickly got ready to go to Verma Coaching Centre. She took the gift along with her.....

”What should I say to him....should I just tell him a Happy Birthday or something else......”were her thoughts as she was on the way to her coaching centre. Then something struck her.... she should have wished him at 12 am but the biggest problem to that was that she didn’t have his phone no. And they were supposed to be ‘Lovers’

She felt kinda stupid for not asking his phone no. But then she satisfied her conscience by thinking “He didn’t ask my no. either.....” In between all these thoughts she reached Verma Coaching Centre, there were still 15 minutes left for classes to begin and still no sign of Ravi.

The bell rang signalling the commencement of classes. Teju who was sitting Pooja said, “I guess he won’t be coming today....he is usually early you know....anyway what do you want him for now? You know how things are here....”

“Ya ya...you are not supposed to lift your noses from the middle of the books....girls and boys are not supposed to talk to each other in class.....” said Pooja remembering a few incidents that happened to some of her classmates who broke a few rules.....



The first teacher entered the class and everyone became silent........

After two periods they had a break of 15 min.

In the Break........


“Teju, the thing is its Ravi’s Birthday today and I wanted to be the first one to wish him...” said Pooja sadly.


“Why, didn’t you wish him last night?” asked Teju a little surprised.

“I don’t have his phone no.” said Pooja a little embarrassed.

“What!!!you still don’t have his no. What do you people do after going home....” asked Teju now in complete disbelief.

“Actually we meet everyday... so the need for a phone never came.. He didn’t ask me either? So why should I?” said Pooja a little defiantly.

Teju then asked”Do you at least have a photo of him?”

“No....” said Pooja.

“You people are really a great couple.....no phone no. no email id, no photos....the first thing you do today evening is send him some of your photos which are really good.” Said Teju.

“But why?” questioned Pooja innocently.

“Don’t ask stupid questions just do as I tell you.....leave that did you at least buy him a gift?” said Teju seriously.

“Yes of course, who do you think I am?” said Pooja a little annoyed.

“No its just that you people are so close to each other that I thought maybe you would just tell him a happy birthday and be off with it.” Said Teju sarcastically....

“We know what is needed to know about each other and that’s enough for us.” Said Pooja her anger building up.

“So what is that which is needed?” said Teju raising one of her eyebrow.

“It’s personal.” Snapped Pooja and even their break finished after that.

The next class started but Pooja wasn’t really interested in listening to it....her mood was really bad because : 1.Ravi didn’t turn up after so much planning on her part.

2.The talk with Teju really raised some doubts in her......were they really behaving like a “couple”

After a while Pooja calmed down and thought coolly only to realize something.....She didn’t know much about Ravi even after so many days of being in a relationship. She remembered that Rule no. 2 of their relationship was “to know each other perfectly” but most of their talks in park were about useless trivial things rather than getting to know each other. Pooja felt really bitter when she thought about Ravi and how less they know about each other.

After one hour when she went home, quickly got ready for school but this time she didn’t take the gift along as she knew it would be impossible to give it to him at school.

At school she was the first one to enter the class and she had come early only to spend some time with Ravi alone. But she was disappointed as even at school he was not to be seen.

A few minutes later Shreya entered the class, both of them were not surprised on seeing each other at that time as they knew why they had come early but what was surprising was Ravi who used to come to class earliest did not turn up.

They did not look into each other’s eyes but simply went and sat at opposite corners of the class.

Pooja was thinking, “Does she know that it’s his birthday today..... she can’t....I am the only girl he talks to or did he tell that witch by slip of tongue.....na he wouldn’t.....”

Both of them felt very awkward not talking to each other....staring blankly at the black board with too many thoughts running through their heads.

They were like that for only a few moments but that small time interval seemed like hours for them.

Pooja then removed a book from her bag and started reading it, while Shreya went to meet some of her friends in different classes.

Both of them didn’t want to be in each other’s company at all.

Slowly the class started filling up and even their class teacher Ms.Savita came in and started taking the attendance.

She called everyone by their Roll No.’s

Roll No. 17 Pooja.....

Yes madam....

Roll No. 18....Roll No.18.....Roll no. 18 Ravi Teja.......

“Present......” said Ravi a little breathless, standing at the door.

Pooja was the one who heaved a sigh of relief in her heart and was really glad.
She thought ,”What took this idiot so long......silly fellow.”


“What took you so long....you could have given me a heart attack.....tell me why didn’t you come to Verma Coaching today?” were the first words said by Pooja to Ravi in the short interval.

“Sorry Pooja, I had a meeting to attend last night.... and I am just coming back from airport....really sorry.” said Ravi longingly.

“OK OK whatever but you could have at least told me....you don’t know how bad I felt when you didn’t turn up today morning, I bought you a gift and wanted to be the first one to wish you....” said Pooja a little sad.

“No one knows it’s my birthday even now and you would still be the first person if you had wished me even during our park time” said Ravi.

“Ravi there are still a lot of things I need to talk to you about.....anyway Happy Birthday.” said Pooja.

“Thanks and what are those ‘other things’ you want to talk about.” asked Ravi somewhat curiously.

“Now is not the place or time....meet me at our place 6 PM.” said Pooja and was getting ready to go back to her bench.

“But your friend Shreya already saw us there....is it alright?” asked Ravi somewhat confused.

“Firstly, she is not my friend anymore and secondly, that park is not hers.” saying those words angrily Pooja went away.

3 more periods passed slowly and it was lunch time.

Pavan as usual came and sat beside Ravi.

He said, “Ravi you know what I got an idea for a new book last night.”

Agent Scar was not interested much but said, “Good for you.”

Pavan continued ,”I get most of my ideas and scenes for my books in my dreams....Last night I got a dream about a person who took money to kill me.......that’s when I decided to write a story about An Assassin.”

Agent Scar’s eyes widened when he heard the last word..... He said,” Tell me Pavan what do you know about assassins, what’s the story?”

“Ravi I can’t tell you anything as of now but I will surely write only after doing research on the subject....you don’t think I get crazy dreams do you?” said Pavan somewhat embarrassed.

“Na nothing like that, I think it’s a new concept...anyway what is the name of the assassin.” asked Ravi.

“Still don’t know....you suggest something.” said Pavan.

Ravi thought for a few moments and said “How is the name Agent Scar.....a nameless, faceless Assassin.”

“Wow Ravi that’s really cool and mysterious....thanks a lot.” Said Pavan and he too went away.