"Mishti, get up or you'll be late for school!" her mother, Shweta, yelled at the top of her voice, but Radhika didn't budge. Two minutes later, her mom was in her room, facepalming herself. "Yeh ladki!"
"Uth jaa, beta, it's 7 o'clock already, and your bus will arrive by 7:30," her mother said.
"Offo!" Radhika lazily flicked one eye open and tried to adjust to the sunlight streaming through the window. Her mother's words soon sank in, and she jumped out of bed to get ready for school. Somehow, she managed to get ready in just 20 minutes. As she fastened her watch, she huffed. "Yeh mummy bhi na..."
"It's 7 AM now," she chuckled, amused at her mother's daily antics of trying to wake her up, and then went downstairs to have breakfast with her older brother, Advik, who was all set to leave for college in the next hour.
As soon as her mother placed her breakfast in front of her, Radhika glanced at her with a sweet smile.
"What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?" Shweta asked.
"Nothing, I was just thinking... aap itne bade ho chuke ho , but you still can't manage to check the time properly. Should I teach you?" Radhika said with a teasing smile.
Advik burst into laughter but quickly stopped when he saw his mother glaring at him.
Shweta returned the same sweet smile Radhika had given her and playfully twisted her daughter's ear. "You know, the reason you're never late is because of all these things I say to you, understood? now eat"
"Okay, okay" Radhika huffed, and then did as her mother asked.
"Kanha ji, it's the first day of 11th grade. Please, no drama today," Radhika muttered to herself as she walked through the corridors of her school, looking for her class.
Radhika had always been the quiet one, so she chose to sit near the window in her classroom, patiently waiting for her best friend—or perhaps, her only friend—Siya. Time passed, but Siya hadn't arrived yet. Just then, their new class teacher walked in, with Siya following behind, panting as though she had just completed a marathon.
"How do you manage to be late every single day? " asked radhika."BHAI RUKJA SAANS TOH LE LENE DE , SEEDHA LECTURE MAARNE LAGI"she replied.
Radhika huffed at her behavior but ended up shaking her head with a faint smile.
"The new class teacher, Rita Ma'am, explained the schedule and syllabus for the year. 'Ma'am, may I please come in?' he asked. 'You're late, but since this is the first day, I'm allowing you. Do not repeat it next time.'"
"God , this idiot is in my class" "yehi hona baaki tha"Radhika muttered in irritation.
The day passed quickly, as there wasn't much to do on the first day.
Radhika stood waiting in front of the school gate for her brother, who was supposed to pick her up today. He didn't usually do this, but since it was the first day of 11th grade , he thought it would be nice to pick her up and ask about her day. Radhika and Advik had a 5-year age gap; therefore, she was always given the princess treatment.
"Oh god! What is he doing here ?" Radhika muttered as soon as she saw Aditya coming in her direction. Aditya was about to say something ,but advik's bike stopped in front of her, and she immediately rushed to him and left with him.
"shit" Aditya muttered under his breath but eventually sighed and headed back home.
.
.
.
"Mishti, I was thinking that you should participate in your school functions and sign up for various activities. You've always rejected the idea of being on stage, but I believe it's time for you to focus on that as well," Advik said the moment they reached home.
"I know, but the moment I get on stage, I feel like anything I do will make people laugh at me," Radhika replied with a sad expression. She wasn't the one to expresses about her feelings or approach people , getting on stage and speaking confidently felt like a distant dream to her.
"Exactly. That's the point. To overcome your stage fear and step out of your shell, you need to face failure sometimes and and it's okay take it one step at a time.These people won't even remember you after school, but you will gain valuable experience and lessons in the process.," Advik advised her.
"Okay, I'll try," Radhika said with a hint of determination.
Advik smiled at her determination.
It was 5 pm. "Maa, I'm going out to buy some reference books and stationery for school," Radhika said to her mom. Then she turned to her brother and asked, "Bhaiya, the bookstore in front might be closed today. The one in the other colony is open—could you drop me there? I'll come back on my own."
"Why should I do it for free?" Advik replied.
"Please, Bhaiya..."
Advik knew he couldn't win against his sister, so he reluctantly agreed to drop her.
"Thank you! I'll come back on my own, don't worry. You go ahead," Radhika said.
"No need. I'll drop you. I'm here, aren't I?" Advik replied and waited for her to purchase everything.
"Advik Bhai? You here?" a guy asked him. Radhika assumed he was one of his college friends or someone from his sports academy, so she didn't pay much attention and continued with her tasks.
"Oh hey! How are you?" the guy continued. "I was here with my sister; she needed some books and stuff for school."
"I'm good. Lately, they've been making us practice a lot, so it's been pretty hectic and tiring," he replied. " It was the same for us as well , but we somehow managed , I'm sure you will too". Advik said.
Radhika's POV:
Bhaiya was talking to some while i was buying my stuff....BUT....
Why does this voice sound so familiar? Is it him?
"Don't turn around, Radhika. Just focus on what you need to buy," she reminded herself. Soon, she had finished purchasing everything and, by then, the conversation had died down. She couldn't hear him anymore. Thank goodness.
Aditya is a walking troublemaker. I don't hate him, not at all, but it's just that he's always getting himself into some mess and talks nonstop! Oh my God! How can someone be so chatty?
Not everyone is like you, my conscience spoke up.
True, I thought.
"Done?" bhaiya asked. " yes " I replied. After that we headed home .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
hope you liked that chapter <3
Write a comment ...