She raised her hand and said, "Ma'am, may I go to the washroom?"
Ma'am nodded, and she walked out of the class like a flash, making her way quickly.
It was a Maths lecture — my one and only favourite subject. I had scored full marks in Maths last year at my previous school. I still couldn't understand why Paa changed my school this year. Huh. I hated him for that.
New school, new standard, new classmates... but honestly, nothing excited me those days. Maa even bought me a new school bag when I entered 7th grade.
But as I remember that day, when I entered the classroom, I quietly settled myself on the third bench. I placed my new bag carefully — after all, I had stayed empty-stomach for a whole day just to convince Maa to buy it for me. (Though honestly, I can't really hate her for that. Nah, I don't.)
Oh! Ma'am completed one sum — so easy!
But where was that girl? It's been a whole sum and she still hadn't returned.
"Ma'am, may I go for water?" I asked.
She nodded again.
(Of course, dumbbo, I wasn’t really thirsty — just bored of her Maths.)
I made my way out of the class, whistling the new tune of Tokyo Drift I had heard last Friday.
In the next minute, I was at the canteen area for water. Then I thought — why not pass a few more minutes? Let's go to the loo.
As I returned from the girls' washroom area, I heard someone sobbing.
Why do girls always cry? I wondered.
Never mind.
I walked past... but after about three and a half steps, a thought flashed through my mind — maybe she's my classmate.
I turned back and knocked on the door.
No reply.
I knocked again.
Still no reply.
I left, thinking maybe it was the same girl who had left class before the first sum.
But then I heard the door click behind me.
I looked back — and yeah, I guessed right. It was her.
She passed by me, heading towards class, and I quietly followed her.
She sat at the girls' side, second bench, third seat.
I observed her throughout the lecture.
Suddenly, the bell rang. I checked the timetable — after lunch it was Social Studies.
"Boring. Good, I can sleep through it after filling my tummy," I told myself.
While having my jam-paratha, I kept glancing at her.
Why isn't she eating? I thought. Did she forget her lunch box? Maybe.
Should I offer her one of my parathas? Nah, I decided.
But something pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I walked up to her and said,
"Hey, you forgot your tiffin? Wanna have a paratha? It's rolled with mix-fruit jam — my favourite. Maa packs it for me. I was even called 'Paratha King' at my last school."
She said no, still staring blankly at the blackboard.
"Good! More for me then," I shrugged and started eating my last one.
Suddenly, she turned to me and asked,
"Previous school? Means you’re new here too?"
"Hmmmm," I replied, mouth full of sweet jammy goodness.
"Too? Means you’re also new here?" she asked again.
"Yeah."
"Which was your last school?" she asked.
"Nand Vidyaniketan," I answered.
"Oh! My brother is in that school!" she said.
"Hmm. Which class?"
"4th standard."
"Good," I said (not that I knew him — he’s just a kid; I was in 6th there).
"I miss my school," she said softly.
"You were crying in the washroom," I said.
"Hmm."
"Why?"
"I miss my friends. I don’t have any here."
"Neither do I, yaar. Wanna be my friend?" I asked, smiling.
"Hmm, okay," she nodded.
"Good! By the way, why didn't you eat lunch? You forgot your tiffin?"
"No, I have it... just didn't feel like eating."
"You should."
"Hmm, I think so. Wanna have one more mix-fruit paratha? I have the same as yours."
"Why not!" I grinned.
(Now that's the kind of friend I like! Maybe this friendship will last long.)
"Here," she said, handing me a paratha. She also started eating.
We finished our parathas just as the bell rang, ending the lunch break.
I went back to my seat, and when I looked at her, she looked back and smiled.
And so did I.
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