"Oh, not again!", Swara groaned as she glanced at the laptop clock. She was going to be late again, picking up her daughter Sandhya from school. She'd hoped for a better start to the week. These damned calls! But she knew they weren't the ones to blame, really. She had looked at the clock only ten minutes ago and she should've started then. But she'd ignored it, as if saving these five-ten minutes would make her feel less guilty about working from home.
Anyway don't think about it now, she hurried on the road, ten minutes' run to the school. But there was something else bothering her too. What now! Yes, it was that kid Geeta, Sandhya's classmate the previous year. Sandhya was excited to befriend her initially and even Swara was taken in by the friendly, exuberant girl who could talk to anybody. Swara and Geeta's mother Surabhi had formed a bond too. Surabhi had started working as a teacher and the common struggles were the typical conversation.
Over the course of the year, Sandhya's enthusiasm towards Geeta had evaporated. Geeta was careless, she was a bully, she hit everybody in the class...and now Sandhya hardly cared to smile at her, even when they weren't classmates anymore. But Swara had retained her soft spot for the girl; she reminded her of someone from her own school days, may be more than one. She knew Geeta meant well. So she'd continued having little chats with the kid, even as Sandhya scowled at her. Silly girl!
Over the past few days, Swara had noticed that Geeta was going home on her own, no Surabhi to pick her up. She'd felt a little jealous that Surabhi could take that step. I mean, she wasn't even sure when she could let Sandhya come home alone, even if Sandhya wanted to. There were reports of a kidnapping nearby a couple of years ago and now even older boys were being escorted by their mothers. May be some of the nearby kids could come together but nobody was taking the first step.
Anyway, last Monday Geeta had walked home with Swara and Sandhya and she seemed worried when their paths forked. Swara had offered to accompany her and the girl had jumped gladly. Swara had never seen that area before and she realized the girl may have some genuine grounds for her misgivings, walking on that lonely road. There was a group of unkempt youth round a corner, some sleeping and some staring at them. Had anybody done or said anything to Geeta? The girl was evasive and only said she was just scared of people like that. They'd walked on in the sun and at the end of the road there was another group of older men talking and Geeta was again jittery. Swara didn't know what to think. May be somebody had put some fear into the kid's head.
This had repeated for a couple of more days. But on Thursday when Swara had learnt that Surabhi wasn't working anymore, she was angry. Why couldn't Surabhi pick up her daughter then? Why traumatize the kid! As if it was easy on Swara! Sandhya had begun to complain that she had toilet emergencies and that she was exhausted walking that extra half a kilometer in the sun. And it was taking 20 minutes more and leaving Swara very hungry by the time she reached home, not to mention guilty.
So on Friday she'd decided that she'd had enough. Right after Geeta had come smiling calling out to her, she'd said she couldn't drop her today. She had a call to attend to. The smile had vanished from the girl's face and she'd just nodded quietly. Swara had hurried back with Sandhya, suppressing her urge to look back.
Swara's thoughts were broken by the din of the waiting crowd and she craned her neck to spot Sandhya in the sea of children. What chaos! She couldn't see Sandhya yet. Geeta was not to be seen too. She stood on tiptoe to scan the crowd when she felt Sandhya's tug on her hand. "Who are you looking for?". Nobody, Swara said throwing one more glance back for Geeta. Where was she! On the way, a sudden fear gripped her; what if something bad happened! It couldn't be, she consoled herself. It would be too much of a coincidence.
On Tuesday Geeta had occupied her thoughts fully as Swara reached the school. She was hoping more to see her than her own daughter. But she wasn't there again. Swara began to panic now. What was happening? She looked around to see if she could spot anybody who went in their route. Nobody. She asked Sandhya if she had seen Geeta or had heard anyone talking about her. No. Swara could hardly concentrate on anything that day.
Wednesday came and Swara dragged herself depressed towards the school. What was she going to do! If indeed something had happened, how was she going to forgive herself! May be she should go to her house to check on her, strange as it may seem if things were alright. Or should she check with her teacher once? Swara was still grappling with the thoughts when the familiar "Auntie!" reached her ears. She'd not heard anything more musical! She gripped Geeta's hand eagerly, patted her head and didn't know what to say. The girl helped; it seems her family had gone to attend a wedding back home. Oh! Wonderful! Life was normal again. Swara exhaled with relief as she took both the girls and started walking home. She was going to take Surabhi's number and speak to her today.
Anyway don't think about it now, she hurried on the road, ten minutes' run to the school. But there was something else bothering her too. What now! Yes, it was that kid Geeta, Sandhya's classmate the previous year. Sandhya was excited to befriend her initially and even Swara was taken in by the friendly, exuberant girl who could talk to anybody. Swara and Geeta's mother Surabhi had formed a bond too. Surabhi had started working as a teacher and the common struggles were the typical conversation.
Over the course of the year, Sandhya's enthusiasm towards Geeta had evaporated. Geeta was careless, she was a bully, she hit everybody in the class...and now Sandhya hardly cared to smile at her, even when they weren't classmates anymore. But Swara had retained her soft spot for the girl; she reminded her of someone from her own school days, may be more than one. She knew Geeta meant well. So she'd continued having little chats with the kid, even as Sandhya scowled at her. Silly girl!
Over the past few days, Swara had noticed that Geeta was going home on her own, no Surabhi to pick her up. She'd felt a little jealous that Surabhi could take that step. I mean, she wasn't even sure when she could let Sandhya come home alone, even if Sandhya wanted to. There were reports of a kidnapping nearby a couple of years ago and now even older boys were being escorted by their mothers. May be some of the nearby kids could come together but nobody was taking the first step.
Anyway, last Monday Geeta had walked home with Swara and Sandhya and she seemed worried when their paths forked. Swara had offered to accompany her and the girl had jumped gladly. Swara had never seen that area before and she realized the girl may have some genuine grounds for her misgivings, walking on that lonely road. There was a group of unkempt youth round a corner, some sleeping and some staring at them. Had anybody done or said anything to Geeta? The girl was evasive and only said she was just scared of people like that. They'd walked on in the sun and at the end of the road there was another group of older men talking and Geeta was again jittery. Swara didn't know what to think. May be somebody had put some fear into the kid's head.
This had repeated for a couple of more days. But on Thursday when Swara had learnt that Surabhi wasn't working anymore, she was angry. Why couldn't Surabhi pick up her daughter then? Why traumatize the kid! As if it was easy on Swara! Sandhya had begun to complain that she had toilet emergencies and that she was exhausted walking that extra half a kilometer in the sun. And it was taking 20 minutes more and leaving Swara very hungry by the time she reached home, not to mention guilty.
So on Friday she'd decided that she'd had enough. Right after Geeta had come smiling calling out to her, she'd said she couldn't drop her today. She had a call to attend to. The smile had vanished from the girl's face and she'd just nodded quietly. Swara had hurried back with Sandhya, suppressing her urge to look back.
Swara's thoughts were broken by the din of the waiting crowd and she craned her neck to spot Sandhya in the sea of children. What chaos! She couldn't see Sandhya yet. Geeta was not to be seen too. She stood on tiptoe to scan the crowd when she felt Sandhya's tug on her hand. "Who are you looking for?". Nobody, Swara said throwing one more glance back for Geeta. Where was she! On the way, a sudden fear gripped her; what if something bad happened! It couldn't be, she consoled herself. It would be too much of a coincidence.
On Tuesday Geeta had occupied her thoughts fully as Swara reached the school. She was hoping more to see her than her own daughter. But she wasn't there again. Swara began to panic now. What was happening? She looked around to see if she could spot anybody who went in their route. Nobody. She asked Sandhya if she had seen Geeta or had heard anyone talking about her. No. Swara could hardly concentrate on anything that day.
Wednesday came and Swara dragged herself depressed towards the school. What was she going to do! If indeed something had happened, how was she going to forgive herself! May be she should go to her house to check on her, strange as it may seem if things were alright. Or should she check with her teacher once? Swara was still grappling with the thoughts when the familiar "Auntie!" reached her ears. She'd not heard anything more musical! She gripped Geeta's hand eagerly, patted her head and didn't know what to say. The girl helped; it seems her family had gone to attend a wedding back home. Oh! Wonderful! Life was normal again. Swara exhaled with relief as she took both the girls and started walking home. She was going to take Surabhi's number and speak to her today.
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