He woke up to the irritating sound of the alarm buzzing. As soon as he woke up he turned it off and checked the date. It was Sunday and it was 4 am “What the f***? I have to get ready for school” saying this he shakes his head. It seems like he is still hung-over, even after sleeping for an entire day. He walks towards his fridge, grabs some soda and drinks it, and then goes to bathroom to freshen up. At around 5am he shoots to the café next door “Don’t tell me that you slept the entire day yesterday!” comes the greeting “Uh…hello Yasmin aunty and yes I did.” “You are even more messed up than her.” “Thanks for the compliment... I’d like my coffee now” he replies the aunt with a fake smile. She turns on the coffee machine and walks in to get some more of the coffee “hey aunty, can you bring up a big box cigarette please, I’m all out!” “You ain’t gonna get one”. She returns after about 10 minutes with a long box of cigarette and a packet of coffee. He takes the box, pays her, drinks the now lukewarm coffee and leaves towards his home and there he smokes one cigarette. After about 10 minutes he leaves walking slowly and quietly. In the early mornings he is still a dark figure and he walks so gracefully that he almost seems like a shadow ghost, reappearing and disappearing into the very shadow itself.
He reaches his school about half an hour later and then greets the guard, then runs to his class. He turns on the light and begins to sketch. He sketches from the deepest, darkest corner of his heart and the outcome of it is a dark beast. The beast he so passionately calls “the wraith”. The body’s outline is humanly. It has a burned face with strands of skin still remaining at the cheeks so that it’s not completely bone. It still has eye which is dark blue in color. The body is just human, without the skin but it’s all black with dark mater seeping out like the vapor. It has a pant but it too is dark. Finishing his sketch he puts his earphone on and closes his eye
She wakes up to the sight of her aunt going out with a large box of cigarettes. “Hey aunty, what’s that for?” “It’s for a customer” and saying that she walks out to run the café. “Who the hell smokes that much cig?” mumbling that she walks to bathroom to freshen up. Then it suddenly occurs to her, today is her first day at the high school. She freshens up and then packs up her bag. “Hey aunty can you drop me to my high school today? I really don’t remember the way.” “It’s on the road straight ahead. If you still don’t see the school give me a call and if you meet Ravi tell him that I’m gonna need his help today. He’ll know what to do.” She makes an awkward face and replies “And who the hell is Ravi?” “From the sound of that you obviously haven’t met him. Um… if you go right now he is gonna be the only student there. He is wearing a dark purple hood and black jeans with black converse shoes today.” “OK. Bye aunty!” and with these words she leaves the house
She walks silently on her sneakers, in the dark of the dawn, slowly but methodically. It’s the way she has been walking ever since her mother died. From afar it looks like a shadow gracefully moving like a breeze. Soon she reaches the high school. “Hey Dai, is this LP high?” “Yes miss and judging from that it seems that you are new here. Am I right miss?” “Yes. Um… could you tell me where the room of ‘commerce first year’ is?” “It’s the one with the light on. It’s in the 1st floor first room to the right. Have a nice day miss.” “Why of course thank you dai” and she walks to the room pleased with the greeting of the guard. As soon as she enters the room she sees this cute guy with earphones on, resting his head on a bench behind, with a sketch of a hideous beast on a sketch book in front of him. ‘Wow! It’s hideous and scary but it’s awesome art and this guy drew that? Is he Ravi?’ looking closely she thinks about what her aunt said <. He is wearing a dark purple hood and black jeans with black converse shoes today> well it seems to be him. “UM… Ravi??”
Her sweet voice penetrates right through the loud music on his earphone. ‘I think I’ve heard this voice somewhere.’ He opens his one eye and right in front of him he sees a not so bad looking girl with leather jacket and dark pant in front of him. “Yes! But who the heck are you?” a brief silence for he didn’t knew what to say and she didn’t know how to reply “err… well that was rude. Sorry but who are you anyway?” “I’m Aasha, aunt Yasmin’s niece…” “Well that explains a lot of things. What does she want me to do now?” “She just said that she needs some help, and that you would understand what to do.” She replies his question in a submissive and super sweet voice. ‘Where have I heard this voice before?’ “Did she think that I’m a prophet or what?” he looks at the sketch and smiles after saying this out loud. “Uh… I don’t know.” And with these words she puts the bag down and sits. “Don’t...” “Don’t what?” “Don’t sit there, the, sorry for the words, bitches sit there.” “What do you mean?” she asks him feeling a little offended. “The <air quote>bitches of this class sit there< air quote>”. She looks at him with a look of awe in her eyes ‘thought I was the only one who air quoted. He might not be so bad after all despite his rudeness’ “Oh then where can I sit? I mean is there any place free for me?” he sighs and after what seems like an hour of silence (actually it was just a few seconds) he speaks “there is but I don’t think that you’ll like the company.” And he points beside him. “Why are you so bad? I’ve liked your company so far. And why isn’t anyone sitting beside you?” “Same old story, know no one here, have no intention of knowing anyone here. Although the geeks have shown their <dramatic voice>oh so great pity<dramatic voice> on me I still don’t know anyone.” “You may not be so bad after all. And I have no choice either.” He nods in agreement and pulls his bag aside to let her sit. “Hey, what is that sketch anyway?” “Oh that piece of shit?”’Oops I let my mouth flow again’ “sorry for the language!” “No big deal.” “It’s just something I drew out of boredom” “it’s amazing. The beast is hideous but the art is amazing” “glad you like it” she noticed two small letters at the corner of the art O.F.
<BEEP> he picks up his cell “Oi Ravi has Aasha reached there?” “Yes Yasmin aunty and what did you think? That I was a prophet?” “UH she was talking about the desks that I had to move around. I texted you last night” “in case you have forgotten I was drunk slash asleep all day yesterday.” “Oh! Never mind. Make sure that she settles there well k? I trust you with her!” “Do you think I’m a guard dog or something?” “You be nice with her” “ok fine I will look after her”’ wonder why I just said that I barely even know her’ “bye Ravi” and she hangs up the phone. “What did she say?” Aasha was waiting for the answer with anticipation “that I’m gonna be your guard dog!” he replied in a sarcastic tone “and you agreed?” “Why wouldn’t I she has been more of a mother than my own mother.” Well with that said there was a silence among them. Neither one of them knew what to say. Both of them had found a friend but it was still too early for them to realize.
Time passed and soon it was time for the first period to begin. The nerds were the first to enter the class after them and as soon as they entered they greeted Ravin but failed to gather up enough courage to talk to Aasha. After they settled down Aasha finally laughed. A laughter broke, that was absent from her mouth for so long. “What’s the matter with them anyway?” “And that’s why they are called nerds. Ba Dum Tss” ‘Did I just laugh? Why am I feeling so at home with this stranger? Why is he so familiar?’ this question ran on her mind as she realized that she had just laughed after a long time. She didn’t realize this but she was looking at the board with numb expressions. Ravi was familiar to this feeling, to this look, it’s what got him bonded with Maya in the first place; his understanding of other peoples pain. “Hey what happened? Why these sudden moods swing?” “It’s nothing” and she fakes a smile “Don’t even dare!” “Dare what?” “Dare to fake a smile. I can see right through them.” surprised at his this ability she asks him “Are you and aunt Yasmin taking some sort of class? Cause she said the same thing to be yesterday morning” “It’s something we learn, out of pain, seeing others in pain and being in one. She won’t ever tell you but she’s been through a lot. I’ve seen it all.” “Wow you really are an observer aren’t you?” “Nah not much”
“There’s more to you than that meets the eye” “what?” Ravi asks surprised at her this sudden outburst. She had been quiet for past two periods and throughout the lunch during which he sat alone and ate for she needed some time to think. “It’s a dialogue from the movie ‘Transformer’” “why this dialogue?” “It fits perfect for your character. You are more than what can be seen.” “Well I’ve got a saying of my own, think of it as a counter dialogue. ‘I’m not a graceful person. I am not a Sunday morning or Friday sunset. I’m a Tuesday 2am, I am gunshots muffed by a few city blocks; I am a broken window during February.’” “Wow! That is deep. Never took you for a deep guy to be honest.” “It hasn’t even been a day and you have…” “I do that a lot.” And she gave a wide grin. Then she let out a small laughter “what happened? Did I say something funny?” “No. it’s just… it’s only been a few hours and yet it feels like I know you better than I already do!” “And, excuse the expression, ‘the feeling is fucking mutual’ ”then both of then sat quiet for they had no more words to say. The next three hours went in silence. After the class one of the Nerd, Santosh calls him “Hey Ravi, what’s with the girl?” “There’s nothing. I just found out that she is my neighbor and rest, I was just following Yasmin’s command.” “Man she is cute. Do you think I have a chance with her?” Santosh, now was a typical nerd. He wore powered glasses, wore plain t-shirt, plain jeans and carried big bunch of books. If one were to remove his books and glass he was a fine guy. “UH… No! You could if you listen to what I say but I know you won’t do it. And I’ve said this many times to you guys, there’s more to life than books but you don’t listen to me.” “OK OK. You could’ve just said no. enough with your Baba Emotional lectures.” “Ok man I gotta go. See you ‘morrow!” “Yeah see you”
“what was that all about?” Aasha asks Ravin as soon as he returns back to her. “he wanted to see if he had a chance with you.” “And...?” “And what??“ “What did you say?” “That he didn’t!” a sign of relief was clearly visible of her face “But why?” “You’re not that DD type of girl, you know Date and Ditch” “well you got that right, better get going though don’t you think?” “Yeah! And extra classes don’t start till next Sunday so yeah let’s go.”
They walk back from the school slowly and quietly, enjoying the company of each other as much as they can. That however doesn’t lasts long as it is disturbed by a call ‘MAYA calling’. He picks up her call “What?” he shouts “What do you want?”
From the other side Maya replies “A second chance! Yaar why can’t you forgive me? Forgive us?” “What the fu** do you mean by us? Is that sonovabitch there too?” “Yes Abhi is here too.” “Give the damn phone to him!” “Ravi??” came the reply as Abhishek speaks. “Yaar why?”Ravi’s voice softens as he begs for an answer “because you were a Dumbass. Cause you held back. Every school has its own bullies but you, you held back when you could have retaliated, so we got used to it and unwittingly you became a part of our lives. You were one of us man.” this soft but strong reply from Abhi woke something inside of Ravi, something that he had buried a long time ago, Wrath. He was at times angry, yes but he was never wrathful “But I had enough. It’s better to be alone, than to have a Jackass for a friend. Give the phone to her” Maya from the other side quietly picks up the phone “If you are so sorry I’m gonna give a second chance to you, both of you. Don’t fail me.” And the wrathful Ravi pushes the phone back into his pocket as he shouts the last of his words.
Meanwhile Aasha was looking at his face all throughout the conversation and smiling. ’He looks like the type of person I could trust. He is damaged and may be able to understand what I’m going through. Funny, he reminds me a lot of Dad’ “what did I say something funny?” Ravi’s question breaks her stream of thought “No! Err… it’s actually the words you spoke-““what?” “Yeah, Even when you were so <Air quote> pissed off <Air quote> you were willing to give them a second chance. That is really something” he faked smiled back at her not so bad face. “Who were they anyway?” “No one that has anything to do with you.” A silence “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry into your private life.” “What the fu** yaar. Why am I even thinking about this?” “About what?” “About telling you all the shit in my life, why am I so desperate?” “So don’t. Don’t tell me now but you gotta tell it to someone. And I know that it’s strange but the feelings mutual.” A silence for a few seconds “Um… can I have your cell number?”Aasha breaks the silence “yeah sure its 98********(this was not the number that he uses as a Outcasted Phantom).” “Ok, I will give you a miss call and then you can feat my number it on your cell. So see you later?” “Yeah sure!”
Ravi storms into his house with a throbbing heart full of pain and he takes a shot of vodka and walks all the way up to the steam room where he punches the hell out of punching bag and tires himself to sleep.
Meanwhile Aasha looks on from the window as he punches the bag. So involved in this activity was he that he forgot what they had talked about in the morning. “Hey Aasha, When is he gonna come?” “I don’t think that he will” she replies in a soft sad voice “What the hell do you mean by that?” “Look for yourself.” And she pointed out of the window, from where they could see Ravi punching the bag like his life depended on it. “What happened with him Aasha?” “He got a call, from someone named ‘Maya’ and think he got Very pissed after that” “Damn he is really hurting. I can’t see him like this. I’m going down. Uhh… come down when you’re done with your observation will ya?” “yeah sure” ‘it’s strange that I feel so cuddly just by seeing him. What is going on with me? May be its just because he reminds me a lot of dad’ she smiles and watches as he tires himself to sleep. After a while she walks downstairs and asks her aunt “Hey Yasmin aunty what happened with him? I’ve met a lot of people but have never seen anyone like him. He is somehow like glowing shadow.” “wow that’s some expression for someone you’ve just met. Are you attracted towards him?” she makes a poker face (-_-) and replies “just answer the question.” “why don’t you ask him yourself?” “I’m not sure if he will ever tell me. He said “I am not a Sunday morning or Friday sunset. I’m a Tuesday 2am, I am gunshots muffed by a few city blocks; I am a broken window during February.” When I said that he is more than that meets the eye.” “he said that?” Yasmin asked surprised “yeah why?” “he usually reserves the quotes of the ‘stoic wraith’ for special occasions. And apparently he saw a special occasion with you. Don’t worry dear he will definitely tell you.” “stoic wrath? What in the world is that?” “it’s what he calls himself, you know a pen name. he is really interested into arts and literature so he kina writes short stories and sketches usually just to express how he feels and to get the emotions out of his head” “it seems like you two are pretty close.” ‘stoic wraith?? A ghost?? That’s some alias.’ “yeah I guess so.” Yasmin said that just realizing that she may actually be right. That night Aasha sends a text not being able to held the urge
“hello stoic wraith<aunt Yasmin told me this>. :D hey I saw you punch that bag like your life depended on it. Looks like you could really use a friend. You said that you are Tuesday two am, a broken window in February, well I might just like them if you show me what it really is. Soo friends?? I could really use one. And Oi pick me up tomorrow before going to school hai, the road is really lonely alone”. And he replied
“I’ma kill Yasmin. Ok Friends, and ok I will pick you up. Now good night and sleep its already midnight”
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