Chapter 4: I Don’t Want To Lose Them!!

As all four sat down to eat, Aakash and Aanya’s sixteen-year-old son Aarav, asked Cabir, “So, how did you become friends, Uncle Cabir? Did you have more arguments and fights after that day?”

Cabir guffawed loudly and replied, “I’ll tell, I’ll tell. But why are you suddenly so interested in our friendship when you have never been curious before?”

“Uh...” Aarav looked away, a little embarrassed.

Aakash answered in his stead.

“He’s gonna transfer schools for Class 11. He wants the PCBM combination which his present school doesn’t offer. But you know, he’s been in his present school from the beginning and he’s also quite a shy-”

“Dad!” The boy protested.

Aakash looked over at him with a reassuring smile, “What does your Uncle Cabir not know about you? He’s practically watched you grow up here in Mumbai. It’s only in these last three years that he’s moved away to Delhi.”

“Anyway, as I was saying. He’s shy and introverted so he’s worried he won’t be able to make friends since he’ll be the ‘new kid’. He thinks people will avoid him. On the other hand, he doesn’t want to be the centre of attention either. But, most of all...he’s worried that he’ll lose touch with his old friends since they won’t be able to meet every day.”

Cabir shared an understanding glance with Aakash and Aanya, then reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair with his left hand.

“You are right to be worried, kid. New schools are difficult to get used to. You’ll meet new people and it’ll be awkward to talk to them at first. After all, they are strangers. I too changed schools in Class 11th. As did your parents. We transferred to the same school-”

“But, Uncle Cabir, you could talk to each other then!”

“Ah ha! We went to the same school but we weren’t in the same class! I mean, your mom and I were-”

The boy interrupted Cabir.

“Uncle, you are so extroverted! You find it easy to talk to people! I’m not good at talking to strangers and I hate being the centre of attention!”

Taking a sip of Sprite from his glass, Cabir explained patiently, “I’m not asking you to learn from me. Our personalities are quite different. Though, even I was also uncomfortable talking to new people. In my case, I just pretended that it was easy and soon enough, as I got to know them, it did become easy. You can hear your mom and dad’s experiences from them. Though, for your dad..." Cabir smirked mischievously, "For your dad, they were undoubtedly much more different than being admired by everyone after beating up the class bully as he did back in Class 2nd.”

Everyone on the table laughed aloud at that.

“Look kid, most people are mature enough by the time they reach Class 11. People won’t crowd around you unless you do something that draws too much attention or you are as handsome as me-”

Aakash choked at that and then motioned told his son, “He wasn’t surrounded either. So, you can consider him as not being handsome.”

This comment evoked a mock hurt expression from Cabir as all four dissolved into laughter again.

“Well, anyway. A few people will come over to talk. With your personality, my way won’t work. You don’t have to speak too much. Just answer the questions you want to and nod along or mutter “Uh huh” at their comments. You’ll familiarize yourself with the people in class soon enough. Don’t expect things to move quickly, kiddo. That familiarity will take time to bloom into friendship. But don’t worry either, Everything will fall into place soon enough.”

Cabir picked at his noodles as he continued, “When we were promoted from Class 11 to 12, we didn’t have any shuffling, so my classmates and I were all in the same class again. Yet I didn’t remember the names of a few of them until the middle of Class 12th.”

Aarav nodded mutely, disbelieving.

Aakash smiled, “Even if it’s a new environment, everyone’s human. Uncle Cabir gave you a suggestion of what you can do when people come over. If you are really uncomfortable, his suggestion is something you can go for. But of course, if you think you can deal with it in another way, go with what you feel.”

Cabir added to Aakash’s words, “As for not being able to make friends in case they avoid you...the thing is, they won’t avoid you unless you are hostile or too antisocial. Shyness is not a fault. The fault is when you use that shyness as an excuse to not putting in any effort when others evidently are. If someone asks you something, answer to the best of your abilities. You don’t have to try being overly friendly but nor should you shut them out completely.”

As the boy looked up, listening intently, Cabir continued.

“Aarav, some of your classmates might be shy too. You’re not the only shy kid in the world. There are loads like you. All of you will adjust to each other in time. And the feeling of being the centre of attention will also die down within a day or two because everyone has their own groups. They won’t keep on pestering you.”

All done saying what he wanted, he began devouring his noodles with gusto. Aarav nodded, a smile blossoming on his face when suddenly he seemed to remember something and the corners of his lips curved downwards.

Cabir caught the look and quickly swallowed his noodles then gently asked, “Anything else troubling you?”

Aarav looked up, fidgeting with his hands over his plate, ‘Uncle...I might make new friends...but what about the ones now? Even if I am able to contact them through social media...we won’t have much to talk about! I mean, some of our subjects might be similar but we’ll be so far apart and have nothing else in common! Our seniors with whom we talk from time to time during our Annual Day functions talk about how they have lost touch with so many friends who have transferred away! Some of them are not even good friends anymore just because they are in different sections and don't interact as much! I don’t want to lose them!! My best friend, Saakshat is going to stay here too! I don’t want to lose anyone of my friends after so many years together!”