"I am feeling very much surprise. If there is no one at all in their minds to marry after divorce, why they both are that much desperate to be separated from each other?" with gathered frowns Jasmine asked her.

"That is what I too cannot understand." Mounika said.

"Anyhow it is a very big good news for you Mounika. In fact it needs celebration. That much big good news it is! There is no necessity to you to feel fear that your parents may be in love with someone else."

"I am also thinking in the same way." Mounika said. "When it comes to celebration, what type of celebration you want and where?"

Jasmine laughed and said "I do think about that celebration after solving your problem completely."

Mounika said with gathered frowns on her forehead. "Jasmine, are you really thinking that my problem can be solved? It is happy news that my parents are not in love with anyone else, but they quarrel always with each other, hate each other. I don't think that they stop from taking divorce. Even they don't take divorce" she paused for a moment "how I can be peaceful if they are quarreling with each other always like that?"

Jasmine while thinking hard said. "That is something we have to workout somehow or other."

"Sometimes I am thinking that it is better let them take divorce rather than living together quarreling with each other always."

"There is no surprise in your feeling like that." Jasmine said. "But I am an optimist Mounika. Moreover I made a promise to you and I never have broken my promise. I sure do solve your problem in all respects. Leave everything to me and just do in the way I am going to ask."

Mounika put her hands around Jasmine and kissed on her cheek. "You are my only hope." She said.

***

"He beat me on this day also. I have studied hard. Just made a simple mistake. But he beat me." With a pathetic expression on his face, Anupama's brother Ranjan said. "What would be the use in my studying hard if it is going on like this?"

"First tell me one thing straight. For whose sake you are studying? Is it is for you or to that principal?"

He said "Yes, it is for me."

"Then there is no question of stopping it." Jasmine said. "I am feeling very happy that you gave value to my words and start studying. Please don't stop. Just continue it."

Ranjan did not say anything. Jasmine understood that he was in deep thinking.

"If he continues beating let him do that. How long he beats you so? Just because of his doing so, please you don't stop your studying. Your parents and sister also are so happy with the change in you."

"What you both are talking?" Mounika came near to them and asked.

"Just routine talk. I am asking him how his studies are going." Jasmine quickly covered.

"Alright, alright" Mounika nodded her head.

"Hai, Mounika how do you do?" Ranjan asked her.

"Nice of course." Mounika smiled and then she looked at Jasmine and said "Okay Jasmine, I go into the classroom."

"Do you know one thing? Her parents are going to be divorced soon." Looking at the way Mounika was going, Ranjan said with a small voice.

"Is it is so? I don't know about that at all." Jasmine said.

"It is surprising! All the school knows about it. She used to be quite angry with everyone. She is such a great friend to you. How you did not know about that?" he narrowed his eyes.

"What matters if I don't know about it?" Jasmine said irritatingly. "Forget about it. In no way it concerns us."

"I never believe if you say you don't know about it." Looking curiously into the face of Jasmine, Ranjan said "You are not such a type to remain calm like this after knowing first time such shocking news about your friend." He paused for a moment and then said. "Tell me the truth. You already know about it, are not you?"

"Of course I am." Jasmine nodded her head. "But why should we discuss about it? It is completely unconcerned to us."

Ranjan nodded his head. There was a pause as they both did not know what to talk then

"But remember one thing. Don't stop or change what you are doing. Just remember always how much your parents and sister feel happy for the change in you." Before going from there, Jasmine said to Ranjan.

***

Interval was over and all the students were assembled in the class. As the teacher has not come into the class yet, they were helter-skelter talking with one another. Anupama and Madhuri went to the last bench and involved in talking with the students there. Mounika slowly sneaked beside Jasmine.

"What that Ranjan and you are talking?"

Jasmine startled on her asking like that. Did she hear anything? They have talked particularly about her problem in the end of their conversation. Except that, Jasmine said to her what she and that Ranjan talked.

"It is quite surprising! You are just ninth class and he is studying tenth class. How a ninth class student can make a tenth class student hears whatever she is saying?" with a smile on her lips Mounika asked her.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine became angrier on hearing that.

"Oh, don't get angry. Please try to understand." Mounika said. "He is more aged and one year senior to you in school. It is he supposed to say anything to you but not you to him. How the reverse is happening here like this?"

Jasmine cheeks were blushed. She could understand what really Mounika meant by saying like that. Was she doing a mistake in involving in others matters especially boys, she has fallen into thinking.

"I am sorry that I made you feel uncomfortable." Putting her hand around Jasmine's shoulders, Mounika said.

"Its alright. You are my close friend. You have a right to talk like that." Jasmine looked into the eyes of Mounika and smiled. But she could not stop feeling uncomfortable and uneasy.

"There is something else I do want to say." After a pause, Mounika said as if to change the subject.

"What it is?" Jasmine became straight. "Is it is about your parents again?"

"Of course not" Mounika nodded her head in negation. "It is about that Ragini. Recently I am seeing her with that Pramod quite often."

"Pramod? That tenth class student?" Jasmine frowned.

"Yes, of course. That Pramod. He is a neighbor to her also."

"Then what is the problem? They both may be friends also." Still looking curiously into the face of Mounika, Jasmine said.

"I don't like it Jasmine. A girl and boy of that age should not be together often like that. It may cause something unwanted." With concern in her voice, Mounika said.

Jasmine got the meaning of her words and remained silent for a moment. "You are more a friend to her than me. Caution her not to go like that to him. Would not she listen?"

"I shall try. But I am not sure." Mounika sighed.

***

"Are you upset for anything darling?" looking at his daughter carefully, Malathi asked her.

"No, why you are asking like that?" Jasmine was still upset thinking about what Mounika said to her.

"Anyhow you are appearing different. You may become normal after some snacks and tea. Put yourself in your homework." Going into the kitchen, her mother said.

Jasmine was trying to force herself to do the homework. She was not feeling for what Mounika said to her. But she was trying to see and analyze the truth in what she has said. His parents and sister might have said the same thing many a time to Ranjan. Why did not he listen to them? Why he had heard once she said that to him?

She remembered the sparkling in the eyes of that principal's son also. He was also so much eager to talk to her. Not just they both, many other male students also were showing interest to talk with her.

Until that moment she never considered herself beautiful. But all those boys eagerness to talk with her was confirming that fact. It made her feel embarrassed rather than happy.

***

"I am feeling thrilled that we both are here like this." Ragini said to Pramod while they both were behind that mango tree. "I don't know but I am always feeling happy with you like this."

"I am also feeling in the same way." Pramod said while his eyes were sparkling.

They both were silent enjoying each other's presence. They knew each other for a long time as they were neighbours also and it led to their friendship. But it was the very first time that they both came out like this.

"Are we lovers now?" looking curiously into her eyes, he asked her.

"I don't know. But I am always feeling happy to be with you." Ragini did not know but her voice shivered while saying that.

He slowly took her hand into his hand and squeezed it. She felt as if electricity went through her body. It was the very first time that he touched her so.

"My god!" she said and closed her eyes.

He slowly took her hand to his lips and kissed on that. She felt as if a volcano burst in her. She withdrew her hand from him as if she received an electric shock. She ran away from that place fast.

He remained silent there still feeling thrill looking at the way she ran. Then he also moved away from that place.

***

"I am feeling so happy that we are all meeting here like this." Principal Mrudanga Rao said. "We are still in the beginning of the academic year. I want you parents discuss with teachers and try to know about your children' progress. You all people know that our school is producing best results every year. Most of the students of our school became very famous on this day." There was a proud look in his face at that time.

(..........to be continued)

(I hope you enjoyedit so far. Please don't forget to rate and review it. I update the next chapteras early as possible.)