It's been a year since college started, but I've only seen him two times. He is a sports person, so he'll not come to college daily but he'll come whenever he wishes to. Finally, it was even semester, and all the students were in a rush. Every department was preparing for college sports day to give their best. As a secretary, I was running through the corridor here and there. Our department corridor will be crowded from 8:00 am to 8:25 am as college starts at 8:30 am. My department corridor is the way to the History department, Forensic science department, and the English department. So, I was busy collecting names for the competition. There, I noticed a familiar face but didn’t have time to look, so I just moved on with my work. It’s been a week since I’ve attended my lectures. So today, I’ve decided to catch up and was in class taking notes. Haa. I was tired from all the classes. My friend and I went for a coffee break. I was busy chatting with my friend and stepping out of my class, trying to get a good breeze. While I was stepping out, someone entered. Before I could see them, my long thumbnail touched him, or we could say punched him in his hip. I was frightened and shouting with my eyes closed. Not even looking at the person, I stepped into the corridor. Then I heard a voice behind me, "Are you okay?" Before I could see the person, I saw my friend who was giggling. Again, I heard a voice, "I'm sorry, I frightened you." I said it was okay while slowly turning back, and I became mute. Oh, my goodness, it's him, it’s him, it’s him! It’s my school senior and he is my college senior too. I could scream now, but being a mature girl, I said, "It's okay. I'm sorry I didn’t look." After that scene in the corridor, my friends were tired of me repeating the things that happened.
Days passed, but my mind was reliving that corridor incident again and again. I can't shake my mind out of it. It’s finally the sports day. In the meantime, I had a few interactions with him regarding sports day, as he was representing our department in a few games. I was there on the ground with a bunch of students as the competition was going to start. I had so many opportunities to speak with him, but I didn’t. He won prizes in all the competitions he participated in, except for relay, and the final would be conducted that evening. I had some work to finish, and after finishing that, I returned to the ground. He was there. He didn’t even know my name or that I was his school junior. I said to myself, "One day I’ll speak with him, just to get to know him."
It’s time for the relay. I know he will win as he has been in this field for almost 8 years. If he wins this competition, he will be the overall champion, and our department has a chance to win overall trophies. All the players were getting ready for the final event, the relay. All were professional athletes, so it’s a tough competition. The first five were ready in their lane. He is the last person in the finishing lane. The gun was shot, and the race started. Athletes were so fast. Our department boys were running second, and I knew the last person would pull through. The third person passed the baton to the anchor, and he was in the lead. We all were cheering for them, and suddenly, another athlete crossed into his lane. In a fraction of a second, two of them crashed into each other and fell. We were focused on the finishing point, but he was not there. My heart raced, and I was running towards the boys who fell. He was there on the ground. Before I could come to my senses, I was calling his name, "Akshay, Akshay!" and running towards the crowd.
Oh God, his collarbone is injured. The person who ran behind him stepped on his neck with spikes. Tears were rolling down my eyes after seeing him. I wanted to go near and talk to him, and I did the same. I went near him, and tears filled my eyes. I called him Akshay. He turned towards me before he could see the paramedics arrive. They took him. All events were finished, and my department won second place in the overall competitions. All were back to the regular classes. But I’m stuck on that ground, revisiting all the things that happened in these few days. I don't know what I'm waiting for, but here I am standing in the corridor from 7:45 am to 8:25 am.