Peacock...

49

Three years later

Vetri

Mayil, her father, and I are waiting impatiently in the school for her Twelfth examination result. The results would be published on the web at sharp 10 am. Other than Mayil, the few dedicated students who have given the exam are also anxiously awaiting the time.

The past years have flowed smoothly with Mayil's determined preparation for her examinations and our secretive intimate moments. Due to being under mother's scrutiny most of the time, we had to restrain ourselves from touching each other, although we despairingly wanted to do the same. Even so, we have never sauntered past the boundaries. One of the reasons was Mayil being way too innocuous and the other was, I didn't really want to distract her during the important phase of her life...

Hence I've stabled my mind to wait for my Mayil patiently. She is all mine anyways and I can wait for her, regardless of how long the time period is.

"Sir...I will pass, right?" Mayil asks me nervously as she leaves her father's side who is seated on a bench outside the school. He is the only parent who has cared enough to accompany his daughter to learn about her scores. She is really lucky to have him as her father.

"Definitely Mayil. Your efforts wouldn't betray you." I say softly, smiling reassuringly. "Hm...what's the time now Sir?" She blinks her eyes to my wrist and I pull up my hand to scan the time. "Scarcely three minutes more.." I attest, receiving an apprehensive breath as a response from Mayil.

"Wait here," I utter and move inside the office room, where a teacher is seated before a computer, prepared to browse the internet at sharp 10 am for the results. We usually take a printout of the scores of the students with their hall ticket numbers and glue it out on the common board outside. That's the usual process. But today I'm more than desperate to see the marks and I can't wait until it is printed out.

"It's 10," I boom and the teacher hurriedly shifts her fingers over the mouse, entering the website to retrieve the scores.

With few more clicks, a column of numbers, along with marks shows up and I intently analyze the list, checking for my Mayil's hall ticket number in it. "The school first is Gauthami. She has scored 467," the teacher says proudly. "She is a bright student," I reply, nodding my head.

My eyes become a little wide as I spot Mayil's hall ticket number. I follow the same vertically towards its end where in a box her mark was penned down, '372'. "Print it out soon teacher, the students are waiting eagerly," I say to the teacher who bobs her head hurriedly.

Meanwhile, I turn around and walk outside with a distinct feeling flipping my heart. I feel emotional. My Mayil has passed her exams. I'm so proud of her!!

Upon seeing my form, Mayil rushes to me again. "Did you see the results?" I shrug innocently. "No..it will be out within a few minutes," I lie, not wanting to pose any partiality towards other students. Let them all know it simultaneously and have their moments.

"I feel like I will get a heart attack, sir! My chest pains," I chuckle at her words and before I could reply, the teacher comes out of the office room with a paper in her hand. The student's dash and formulates a circle as they curiously watch her sticking the paper onto the board.

"Sir, I'm scared...I don't have the guts to see it! Please help me..." As she finishes her worried words, her father advances towards us with stressed features. "Go ahead Mayilu," he ushers Mayil who shakes her head, petrified. "Sir will do it on my behalf," she explains and gazes up at me.

Sending a slight nod, I stroll to the students who are standing nearby the board with happy expressions. I smile inwardly at their delightful faces and glance towards the board. As I'm already aware of Mayil's mark, I quickly leave the place and walk to a terrified Father-daughter duo.

Her father looks equally distressed as Mayil. "Has she passed?" Her father questions, uncertainly, whereas Mayil has her eyes strained on mine, expectantly.

"Yes, she has scored 372 marks," At the revelation, Mayil's father's face blooms into a heartwarming smile while Mayil just stands there, frozen.

"Mayil!" I shake her shoulder and she snaps back into reality, her eyes watering spontaneously. "I...can't believe it..." She grins but tears leave her eyes at the same time.

"Mayilu," her father embraces her in a fatherly hug and I just smile at their bonding, dull that I'm unable to showcase my appreciation as we are in public. After Mayil's exam came to an end, we had no chance of meeting except on Sundays when we both go to the temple to see and talk to each other.

Our parents have become quite strict now and as our marriage is three weeks later from today, we would be completely prevented from seeing each other within a few days.

As time passed by, Mayil and her father excuses themselves and leave. Suppressing the disappointment in me, I put on a neutral countenance and watch them walk away.

Halfway through, Mayil turns her head towards me and smiles warmly. Unpredicted, my heart skips a beat at her action and a genuine smile pulls at my brims as well...

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