Part 6: Forays into School Life

Meena and Kasturi went to the same Government school as the other children of the neighborhood. They had their own gang with Meena, Kasturi, Bhola, Sukuma, and Narayani. Meena, in Class 4, and Kasturi, a year older in Class 5, weren’t in the same grade, but that never stopped them from being inseparable during recess and after school. Kasturi being a year senior, was the leader of their gang.

The Government school was a modest building with cracked walls and a playground that turned muddy at the slightest hint of rain.

“Meena! Over here!” Kasturi would yell as soon as the lunch bell rang, waving her hands from across the playground.

“I’m coming! Wait!” Meena would sprint over, tightly clutching her lunchbox in one hand.

The two girls would run towards the lone mango tree in the yard, their usual place. Kasturi’s lunchbox usually had roti and sabzi, while Meena’s smelled of fried luchis and aloo dum. They’d often swap a portion of their meals, giggling as they debated which dish was better.

In between morsels, Kasturi would often ask questions, to show off her “big-girl knowledge.”

“Do you know why leaves are green?” Kasturi asked one day, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Of course I do! Chlorophyll!” Meena replied smugly, feeling proud of herself.

Kasturi blinked in surprise. “How do you know that already? They teach that in Class 5!”

Meena grinned. “Baba once told me all about it. He really loves plants. I’m smarter than you think, Kasturi!”

Apart from fun and games, school came with its fair share of challenges, and that’s when Meena and Kasturi always had each other’s backs.

One time, Kasturi had forgotten her homework—a math exercise involving multiplication tables. Her teacher, known for his strictness, was already glaring at the students as he walked into the classroom.

“What do I do, Meena?” Kasturi whispered frantically just before the morning prayers started. “I’ll get scolded!”

Meena thought for a moment. “Wait, I’ll tell you what to say. Tell him your dog ate it!”

“I don’t have a dog!” Kasturi hissed back.

“But the teacher doesn’t know na” Meena whispered but suddenly then she came up with another idea

“Well, say a monkey took it. There are so many of them outside!” Meena said, barely suppressing her laughter.

Kasturi couldn’t help but giggle, though she confessed the truth to her teacher and got a nice stern lecture.

They shared their victories too. Meena had a penchant for storytelling. When she won first prize in the Class 4 storytelling competition, Kasturi cheered the loudest.

“You sounded like a real storyteller up there, Meena! Your voice was so dramatic!” Kasturi said afterward, beaming with pride as if she had won it.

“And you helped me practice, remember? You’re the best audience, Kasturi,” Meena replied, hugging her friend tightly.

Their friendship extended beyond the schoolyard.

It wasn’t just academics. They also had a knack for getting into trouble together. One day, during recess, they decided to climb the guava tree near the school gate.

“Higher, Kasturi! I see a ripe one up there!” Meena shouted, her voice full of excitement. The gang cheered Kasturi with Bhola almost drooling over the juicy guavas.

“I’m going as fast as I can! Don’t rush me!” Kasturi shot back, trying not to lose her grip.

Just as they were reaching for the guava, the school’s peon spotted them and yelled, “Get down from there! Now!”

The girls scrambled down, red-faced but laughing uncontrollably. They were scolded later, but the thrill of the adventure was worth it.

For Meena and Kasturi, school wasn’t just a place to study. It was a world of endless possibilities, where every day brought a new adventure. Through victories, failures, and a fair share of mischief, they became each other’s constant proof that friendship could turn even the most mundane school day into something unforgettable.

Until the day when the letter arrived…..

PS: I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z