“Papa, what was the name of your school?” ten-year-old Lucy asked Joseph, holding a school form.
Her school had instructed the children to fill in the form in their own handwriting. Lucy had already written most of the details but was annoyed by the number of personal questions.
“Grandfather’s name?Grandmother’s name? Father’s details? Mother’s details? Why do they need to know so much?” she complained.
Joseph smiled. “Just fill it in, Lucy. Don’t grumble.”
Joseph patiently dictated the details. When she came to the question about her father’s school, he paused.
“Vidya Vinayam Samskaram,” he said.
Lucy looked up. “That’s such a long name!”
“We called it VVS High School.”
She carefully wrote it down. Alina, Joseph’s wife, noticed his expression.
After dinner, when Lucy was asleep, Alina asked Joseph about his school memories. Joseph spoke about his best friend, who was interested in crime series and later went abroad to study. Then he spoke about Dimple, but his voice became heavy.
His group of friends had scattered after their tenth results. Some went abroad for higher studies, some joined colleges across different states of India, some pursued teaching, journalism or professional courses, while others struggled to continue their education because of financial difficulties.
Joseph was doing well as a timber merchant, though sometimes the achievements of his professional friends pinched him. He was happy with his business, but after twenty-five years, he had planned to meet his best friend during the Onam vacation.
Finally, the day came. Joseph reached VVS, but his best friend, stuck with work, could not make it. Joseph asked the watchman to allow him to walk around the premises, but the watchman refused.
The school had changed completely. The old building had been renovated and new structures had come up. As Joseph stood outside, memories of his childhood returned.
Suddenly, a woman walked towards the gate.
It was Dimple, his former classmate and college love, dressed in a white saree with a blue border. She resembled Mother Theresa.Dimple was now the principal of Vidya Vinayam Samskaram.
She recognized Joseph immediately and allowed him inside. They walked through the corridors and classrooms, talking about their teachers, classmates and those carefree school days. Joseph and Dimple had fallen in love during college. Dimple had accepted Joseph’s proposal, but after Class 12, Joseph discontinued college. His father had been against their relationship, and life slowly took them in different directions.While talking, Joseph mentioned his best friend and casually suggested that Dimple meet him someday. Her expression suddenly changed. She became uncomfortable and avoided the suggestion. Joseph noticed her hesitation but did not question her further.
The next morning, after Mass, Dimple was walking towards VVS when a familiar man greeted her. It was Jackson, her former classmate and Joseph’s best friend. The quiet boy from their school days had become a successful lawyer. They walked towards the school garden together, and the old surroundings slowly brought back memories. Dimple finally opened her heart. In Class 10, she had proposed to Jackson, but he had rejected her. He was focused on his ambition and dream of becoming a lawyer. Hurt by his decision, she later accepted Joseph’s proposal during college. After her story with Joseph ended; she fell in love with Sunil Nambadan, a young doctor who lived near her home and was close to her family. He promised to marry her, but when circumstances became difficult, he abandoned her. Her parents were furious, and eventually she left her home. A charitable institution gave her shelter, where she continued her education while working.
She rebuilt her life, dedicated herself to children and eventually became the principal of Vidya Vinayam Samskaram.
Jackson listened silently, his eyes filled with regret. He asked if they could take a selfie together. Dimple agreed. Standing before their old school building, they smiled for the camera. Looking at the photograph, Jackson felt that twenty-five years had disappeared for a moment. He finally found the courage to propose to her.“Dimple, if you can forgive me, will you give me a chance to make up for all these years? Will you marry me?” Dimple looked at him for a long moment. She had survived betrayal, loneliness and rejection and had built a life of her own. Then she smiled through her tears. “This time, Jackson, I would say no.”
Jackson accepted her answer with a quiet smile. He realized that loving her did not mean forcing her to return to the past. Nambadan may have been the man who betrayed her, but Jackson refused to become another villain in her life. He had once been the insignificant boy who said no; now he had the courage to accept her no. As they walked away from VVS, the school of their forgotten memories, Jackson understood that sometimes the greatest act of love is not winning someone back, but giving them the freedom to choose their own happiness.
