Chapter 4

Captain O Captain
Chapter - 4



There used to be a free period right after the Hindi class. During this time, half of the class would go outside. Today as well, Manoj had gone to the terrace with his friends. But he had to come back to the classroom to get his bottle.
While he was drinking water, he saw Julia taking something out of Akshita’s bag.
He interrupted, “What are you doing, Julia?”
“Oh, nothing. I needed Fevicol. She will definitely have it,” Julia said shamelessly.
Manoj didn’t like her tone at all. He said firmly, “Did you even ask Akshita? You’re taking it without asking?”
But Julia had already found the Fevicol and immediately left. She didn’t even listen to what Manoj was saying.
Manoj muttered abuses at her and then looked at Akshita’s bag. Julia had left it completely open. Manoj went to Akshita’s bench and started closing the zip of her bag.
Just then, Akshita arrived. To her, it looked like Manoj was taking something out of her bag. She immediately lunged forward and snatched it away.
“What were you doing? Have you no shame?”
Hurt by her words, Manoj started explaining, “No, no! I didn’t touch your bag. I was just—”
“Then why are you laughing?” Akshita cut him off, staring sharply.
Manoj then noticed that he was indeed laughing. He said, “I’m crazy. I start laughing in situations like this. Please, I’m telling the truth.”
He burst into laughter again. But Akshita’s suspicion kept growing, and seeing that made Manoj laugh even more.
Finally, a third student confirmed that Manoj was telling the truth. Only then did Akshita let him go.
But this incident affected Manoj strangely. He didn’t even realize that while closing the bag, his fingers had rubbed against the zipper. But when Akshita had snatched the bag, her hand had touched his. He kept recalling that touch again and again, feeling happy, and kept laughing to himself.
It was lunchtime. Even after trying to stop himself, Manoj once again went to the fields. Akshita was still eating.
“May I come, Captain?” Manoj asked from a short distance.
Akshita almost choked on her bite. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Come. I’ll tell you something today.”
Manoj became excited and went to sit near her.
Akshita said seriously, “Manoj, I don’t like you at all. When you call me ‘Captain’, I don’t like that either. I understand everything you’re trying to do. But I have no interest in you. Forget being in a relationship—I can’t even make you my friend. So please, stop bothering me. Stop following me. This is a final warning. I don’t tolerate more than this.”
Manoj listened carefully. He felt a little scared too. Then he spoke, “I don’t want to be your boyfriend. I don’t even want to be your friend. But can’t you at least talk to me a little?”
After a pause, he added sincerely, “Really… really… Captain, I don’t like seeing you alone. At least talk to someone.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone. I’m happy alone,” Akshita replied clearly.
Both fell silent. Manoj couldn’t think of anything to say.
Seeing the conversation settling, Akshita struck again, “And anyway, why do you care if I stay alone? I’m happy. You mind your own business.”
Taking a deep breath, Manoj said, “You’re happy? Really, Captain? I may look foolish, but I trust my intelligence enough to say this—I feel like you’re unhappy. There’s some pain you’re not sharing with anyone. Even just now, when you said you’re happy, it felt like you were lying. Please tell me what’s troubling you. Is something wrong at home, or something else? Whatever it is, please tell me.”
For the first time, Akshita’s face showed a moment of unease. But the very next moment, she hardened again.
“No, there’s nothing like that. Don’t try to make it seem like I’m sad so that you can ‘fix’ it.”
Now Manoj felt hurt, but he couldn’t say anything. Nor could he understand her behavior.
To end the conversation, Akshita said, “That’s it. Don’t talk to me anymore.”
For a moment, Manoj felt like tearing her apart right then—*who does she think she is?* I’m giving her so much importance and she—
But the next moment, he controlled himself and became calm.
Akshita stood up to leave. At first, Manoj thought, *Let it go. I’ll stop following her.*
But then her smiling face flashed in his mind. Her voice echoed. That small mole below her lip came to mind.
Crushing all his self-respect, in a pitiful, almost begging voice, he asked one last time:
“Will you really not talk to me anymore, Captain?”
Akshita stopped. She stood still for a moment, then turned and said, “Alright. I’ll give you a task. If you complete it within the given time, I’ll start talking to you.”
Saying this, she walked away.
Manoj was so happy that he jumped. Since he was alone, he even shouted, “Wow! Begging paid off!”
That day, at dismissal time, Akshita gave Manoj a slip of paper. It had a list written on it:
* *Our Share* Autobiography collections* *Alo Andhari* Autobiography* *Awara Masiha* (biography)* *Mati Ki Moortiyan** Life Sketch collections* *12th Fail* (novel)
Along with each, it was written where they could be read or obtained.
Akshita explained, “You have to read all these books before the exams end. On the last exam day, only come talk to me if you’ve completed everything. Otherwise, never talk to me again. And during exams, you’re not allowed to talk either. Understood?”
“Exams start next week and last for two weeks. So in total, you have three weeks.”
Manoj blurted out in one breath, “In three weeks, what all will I study? When will I prepare for exams? When will I rest?”
In response, Akshita gave him a sharp look from behind her glasses that clearly meant—*If you want to talk to me, then read. No excuses.*
Like a weak dog lowering its head, Manoj also lowered his head.