"Mummy, meri belt nahi mil rahi hai?"

Shivani cried. Clutching a pair of socks in her right hand and a comb in her left as she looked through the cartons marked with her name.

Sunita replied, flipping the Paratha with an ease, as though she had done this for years. The faint sizzle of oil and smell of ginger filled the air, wrapping the house in warmth.

"Dekho wahi kahi hoga."

Shivani sighed as she started rummaging through one box to the other but there was no sight of her belt. She stormed her feet as she walked to the kitchen, careful of every step.

Sunita paused. She wiped her hand hastily in her pallu. Her bangles chimed with the efforts to hide her irritation that faded into the rhythmic chants and sound of bell, as Randheer continued to practice the morning prayers.

"Es ladki ko kuch nahi milta hai, saamne padi hui cheez bhi dikh jaaye mazaal hai."

The house was a hurricane, cartons were scattered, some half open. The crockery set shone under the faint sunlight that filtered through the window, along with the piles of clothes scattered on the chair, some hanging from the arm-rest.

Shivani followed Sunita, dragging the comb through her hair. "Itna failara hai, kuch dikh hi nahi raha hai." Sunita glared at her as she handed her the belt and ran towards the kitchen again. As the tea boiled over the stove-nearly falling on the edges.

She turned off the knob hurriedly. Suddenly Shivani called out again, standing at the door-frame. "Mummy baal jhaad do, bahut late ho raha hai."

Sunita hummed. She packed the lunch box, folding the parantha neatly along with some pickles. Shivansh walked out of the room, dressed in a crisp white shirt. His uniform neatly ironed without a single crease. He walked to her mother and touched her feet. A daily morning ritual.

"Parnaam Mumma."

Sunita nodded. She whispered almost in haste.

"Nashta table pe rakha hai, kar ke jaana-"

Shivani shouted again as she followed her. Her eyes darted to clock on the table.

"Mumma kardo na late ho jaayega."

Sunita's hands paused. She glared at her and snatched the comb. Shivani's eyes turned glassy but she turned to the other side allowing her to braid her hair.

Sunita tucked her hair as she muttered under her breath. Her hands worked almost in a hurry.

"Itni badi hogayi hai, khud se toh kuch karna hi nahi aata hai."

Shivani yelped. "Mumma dheere."

But Sunita barely heard it. Her hands neatly parted her hair braiding it into two neat plaits.

"Hum kab tak karenge, pehle khud der se utho, phir pura ghar sar par chadha lo."

Shivansh sighed as he picked up his bag. Watching the drama unfold in front of him. Shivani wiped her face as she hurriedly fumbled with the shoes, moving towards the entrance.

"Ladki nashta toh karke jaa."

Sunita handed her the Parantha. Randheer cleared his throat as he walked in with a newspaper in hand.

"Kitni baar kaha hai subah-subah chillaya mat karo."

He walked towards Shivani and tied her shoe-laces carefully as though he had done this for years. He gave her a reassuring smile as he patted her head. Shivani smiled back as he handed her a hundred rupee note.

"Kharch mat karna."

"Paisa kyun de rahe hain, naash karegi ye." Sunita countered. But Randheer looked at her and said,

"Thoda boli mein mithaas laao, gud khaya karo."

With that he turned towards Shivansh and handed the same amount to him. Shivansh touched his feet before he got up collecting the straps of his bag.

"Parnaam papa."

Randheer nodded. But before he could say something Sunita's voice cut through the haze.

"Haan aapke bache sunege nahi, ye jo abhi school ja rahe hai na wo bhi esliye ja rahe hai."

Both Shivansh and Shivani looked at each other, then their eyes flicked to their parents. Before they knew it they shouted their voice overlapping with each other.

"Mumma late ho raha hai hum ja rahe hai."

Sunita paused. "Aree par."

But they were already gone, almost running out of the house.

Sunita sighed as she glared at Randheer.

"Dekha bina chillaye ye log sunte nahi hai."

With that she walked to the kitchen again. Randheer traced her profile through his eyes. He shook his head as he sat down with the newspaper.

*****

Shivansh walked through the unfamiliar corridor. His eyes scanned the premises. Searching for his classroom. His eyes landed on a group of boys standing at the far end of the hallway.

He was about to walk towards them but his wrist scraped against the strap of his bag. The sting coursed through his veins. He looked down

The marks had turned deep, brown as though now it belonged there.

He shook his head. His footsteps echoed along with the chatter of students around him. The group of boys turned towards him and questioned.

"New admission? 11th grade? "

Shivansh nodded. His eyes carried a calm authority. Dressed in discipline as he waited for them to guide him. The boys looked at him curiously but then they whispered something to each other. Shivansh brows furrowed as he sensed something wrong but before he could think further a boy spoke.

"Yahaan se left loge, stairs hain, right side wala jo room hai starting mein, wahi hai."

Shivansh walked but his eyes were stuck on the marks. His pulse radiated beneath the calm as the boys laughed in the background.

But he complied, walking in the guided direction. The noises blurred as he walked to the secluded section away from the teachers and students. He looked around, only the faint footsteps echoed from somewhere along with him.

Before he could open the door someone yanked his hand. Her nails nearly dig into his left wrist. He winced as the blood oozed out from the newly formed crescent marks along with the old ones.

His eyes darted to the girl, who murmured something under her breath. Her footsteps landed with urgency dressed in crisp white shirt along with grey pants. His eyes traced her profile, hairs neatly tucked in a braid not a single strand out of place, commanding discipline and authority.

Before he could think further the girl's voice cut through his complex thoughts, almost trembling with fear.

*****

Isha walked through the corridor, humming a song to herself. Her eyes twisted in discomfort as she repeatedly adjusted her specs. She groaned.

"Kitna bakwaas chasma hai, kuch dikh hi nahi raha hai."

She removed her glasses, as she stomped her feet adjusting her bag repeatedly. A pain shot through her legs. A constant reminder of the stunt she pulled out yesterday or maybe it was something else. She stopped, storming her feet.

"Mummy yaar, ye roz-roz school kyun aana padta hai."

A girl passed by her giving her weird looks. Isha turned towards her sharply and shot back.

"Kya hai, jaake apna kaam karo na."

Her face paled in discomfort as she started walking again in her own dreamland. The specs which were for her eyes were now tucked on her hair. She muttered something under her breath, which felt more like a curse.

"Ek toh ye janwaar Shivin, iska project banaate banaate so bhi nahi paaye. Khud toh so rahe the maharaaj."

She looked ahead walking to her classroom. But just as she was about to enter inside. Her eyes darted to the staircase that led to the terrace. A hazy finger moved in front of her. She squinted her eyes as though trying to confirm it.

She rubbed her eyes as she followed the person. Rummaging through her pockets as though searching for something still walking through the stairs. Her eyes widened as she realised that the person was about to open the door. Without a second thought. She tucked his hand and dragged him down along with her.

"Aisa thodi hota hai, suicide hi thodi na option hota hai bhaiya, I know studies ka bahut pressure hota hai but zindagi bahut keemati hoti hai sabko nahi milti hai."

She muttered under her breath. The boy followed her helplessly. She didn't realise when they stepped down. Suddenly she turned around stopping just in front of him as she continued to ramble her own theory, still holding his hand.

"I know life mein bahut saare tough moments aate hai but you know I think na zindagi chote-chote moments se asaan banati hai aur sundar bhi. Tough times ka kya hai wo toh humesha aate jaate rehte hain. Aaj hai phir kal sab theek. Simple, sorted life.

Shivansh opened and closed his mouth, trying to speak. His eyes darted to his wrist where the blood seeped out. But before he could say something the girl spoke again.

"And I believe hum jaise sochte hain, life hume waise dikhne lag jaati hai, agar positive aspects dekhe toh positive lagegi aur negative aspects dekhe toh rote hi rahenge. Kyun?"

With that she turned towards him, ready to pat his shoulders. But all the colours drained out of her face as she recognised the person. She immediately left his hand ready to walk away but Shivansh called out.

"Miss life?"

She closed her eyes. Smiling to herself as she adjusted the straps of her bag and muttered to herself. "Pagal Isha." She turned towards him slowly almost carefully as she looked around as though it could be possible he had called someone else.

She pointed towards her, questioning him. His face was still not clear but he stood tall in comparison to her. Dressed with precision which only he carried. Shivansh chuckled as he nodded walking towards her.

Isha raised her hand. Shivansh paused. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense. But her hands moved to her hair as she dragged the specs from her hair to her eyes.

She exhaled. "Haan ab theek hai." But the moment she looked up. Her hands paused mid sentence. His face carried a regal look almost making it impossible to reach him.

She closed her eyes. Muttering to herself. "Haaye itne sundar log bhi hote hain duniya mein." But before she could continue with her rant. Shivansh's questioned. "Kya kaha?"

Isha's eyes fluttered open. She shook her head hurriedly, repeatedly adjusting the straps of her bag. "I am sorry bhaiya, galti hogayi, wo kal ke liye bhi....sorry, I dont know pata nahi kaise-"

Shivansh's voice cut through her half embarrassed apologies. "Koi baat nahi, infact I should say thank you and sorry to you I guess." He chuckled. "Ab aap ne humari jaan do do baar bachaai." He raised his brows, as his eyes met her and said. "Ab wo baat alag hai, ki I got lost while searching for my classroom and ended up here."

Isha immediately looked down. She cursed under her breath. "He Bhagwaan inki ankhe itni sundar kyun hai?"

Before she could complete her talk with herself. Shivansh's voice cut through the haze again. "Waise khud se baatein karne ka shaukh kab se laga hai."

Isha froze again. His amber eyes carried a light that shone under the sunlight, giving him a radiant look. But this time before he could say something. She muttered a sorry and ran to her classroom.

"Isha pagal hai kya ladko se baat nahi karte hain, bahut jaldi rang badlete hain, looks pe mat ja haan. Aur padhai pe focus kar career, wagera bana, huh shaadi kaun karta hai?"

Shivansh chuckled as he stared into the void. His eyes darted to the crimson marks blooming on his wrist. A deep red settled there. The sting felt familiar and the city felt less foreign and more like a homecoming.

He blinked back as the bell rang and he hurriedly walked to his classroom. Though he still turned to look through the corridor and his gaze lingered on the board of the classroom.

9th-A

His lips curled into a smile. With that he finally moved inside his classroom.

******

The ground reverberated with the rhythmic thud of the shoes falling onto the pavement in sync along with the collective groan of some students. As the P.T.I sir blew the whistle again which felt like a shrill breaking into some sleeping ears.

"Stand at ease."

"Attention."

On the other corner of the ground. Shivani scrunched her face in discomfort as the sun directly hit her face. She dragged her feet along with others just in formality.

She jerked ahead as the sharp push landed on her arm. She looked around but everyone was singing the prayer in sync. She leaned closer to the left side. She heard the distant lyrics, completely off track from what others were singing.

Thoda kudiyon o khud ko sambhaalo zara yun khule aam humko patana hai bura.

She looked at the face of the boy, hair messed up as though he had just woken up from the bed. The cuffs hanging low, the collar-button open. She scoffed almost in discomfort as she straightened in her position.

"Toh es bandar ko pataa bhi kaun raha hai."

With that she turned to her side and closed her eyes and sang the long lyrics with utmost confidence.

Dusro ki jai se pehle khud ki jai kare.

But after one line she opened her eyes as she patted her face with her hand. Squinting her eyes towards the sun. The air was filled with the beats of prayer as the teacher played the synthesizer.

Her voice nearly got lost with the notes.

"Haaye kitni garmi hai, ek kaam karti hoon gir jaati hoon."

She looked around as though contemplating whether the plan was right or not. A student was patting his head. Sweat dripped from his hair. Her face twisted in discomfiture. The teacher stood calmly in front of them. As the students recited the pledge.

She smiled. She tilted her hand slowly, as though it had no life and made her voice gravely low with no energy.

All Indians.....

Her hand immediately landed on the cheek of the boy who was murmuring the off track notes of the prayer a moment ago. The boy's eyes snapped open. Trying to make sense of the thing that just happened. His fingers rubbed his cheek where a flush of red was blooming

But before he could decipher the moment. Shivani fell upon him. His balance faltered. But his hand immediately shot up holding her in place, preventing her from falling.

The teachers ran towards them. Some students held her hand as the rest of the eyes present in the ground turned towards them. Rather to the student on the stage who was speaking thought of the day.

Shivani opened her left eye but immediately closed it. As the boy shifted her weight towards the girl who was holding her. Shivani released a breath still in full character as the girls took her to the nearest classroom carefully. The teacher followed almost in a worry until they faded into the classroom.

Behind her the boy huffed. "Pagal ladki hai," He rubbed his face once again as he muttered to himself. "Ek toh ye thappad kisne mara yaar, mera handsome face kharaab kar diya."

But before he could continue his self praises the drum beat echoed through the campus. The air itself stilled as the beats of the national anthem finally started.

Shivin stood up straight, reciting each word though his eyes were still stuck on the entrance of the classroom. Heat crawled to his cheek, maybe from the scorching sun or it was something entirely different.

******