THE HOUR BEFORE NIGHT

The shrill sound of the alarm woke Niharika up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at the clock.

6:00 AM.

For a brief moment, before her mind even registered the time, her eyes drifted toward the balcony. The tulips were still there, quietly swaying in the morning breeze. Only then did she allow herself to look at the clock again.

No... this can't be right.

Please... let it be 5:00 AM.

Or even 4:00 AM.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

She blinked a few times and looked at the clock again.

Still 6:00 AM.

Her heart sank.

"Oh no... I'm late! My students will reach the classroom before I do."

She threw the blanket aside and quickly got out of bed, her mind already racing.

Looking for her slippers, Niharika caught Scooby in action. Her fat, fluffy white cat was sitting on one slipper while happily chewing the other.

"No, Scooby, please! Not today-I'm already late!.

She tried to pull the slipper away, but Scooby only tightened her grip.

"Scooby, please give it back."

Scooby blinked at her once... then proudly bit down even harder.

"Come on, Scooby... That's my slipper!!"

And after a moment, Scooby finally released the slipper.

"That's my girl." She gently patted Scooby's head before rushing out.

* * *

Niharika rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Just as she was about to take a sip, she heard a voice.

Sumit had just stepped out of his room, lazily stretching before leaning against the kitchen doorway.

"Late ho." Sumit smirked.

"Haan, haan, pata hai. Ab tum shuru mat ho jaana."

"Pata tha to kaano ka shutter khula rakhti na, ma'am. Alarm sunai de jaata."

Niharika rolled her eyes before shooting him an annoyed look. She took a long sip of water before replying.

"Pehle hi late hoon. Tumhare saath behas karne ka time filhaal mere paas nahi hai."

Sumit only smiled, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Theek hai, chalo. Main market ja hi raha hoon. Drop kar deta hoon."

Niharika shook her head.

"Nahi, main chali jaaungi. Tum jao, warna tum bhi late ho jaoge."

Sumit shrugged dramatically.

"Jaaiye, ma'am... jaaiye. Padhaiye apne bachchon ko... universe."

Niharika couldn't help but smile.

"Haan haan... kisi ko to padhana hi padega."

She picked up her bag, grabbed the keys to her Activa, and hurried out of the house.

* * *

The morning roads were already busy.

And the traffic signal turned red just as Niharika reached the crossing. She let out a quiet sigh and gently pressed the brakes. Bikes, cars, and auto-rickshaws slowly gathered around her, filling the road with the usual morning rush.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind.

A scooter slowly pulled up beside her Activa.

"Good morning, ma'am!"

Niharika turned around.

"Oh, Simran! Good morning."

A cheerful smile spread across Simran's face. She was one of the students from Class 10, balancing her scooter beside Niharika's Activa.

"Late ho gaye, ma'am? Kal raat ko series dekh rahe the kya?" she teased.

Niharika raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile.

"Series maine dekhi ya tumne?"

Simran immediately burst into laughter.

"Arre ma'am..."

"Waise bhi," Niharika continued with a playful smile, "thodi late to tum bhi ho."

Simran scratched the back of her head, trying to hide her smile.

"Bas... thoda sa."

Both of them laughed.

The traffic signal turned green, and the vehicles slowly began to move.

As they rode side by side for a few seconds, Simran glanced at Niharika again.

"Ma'am... kaash aap hume bhi padhate."

Niharika smirked

"Kyun? Tumhare teachers itne bure hain kya?"

Simran quickly shook her head.

"Nahi, ma'am. Bas... aapki baat hi alag hai."

Niharika smiled, pretending to be strict.

"Sudhar jao tum log."

Simran laughed.

"Kabhi nahi, ma'am."

Both of them laughed as the school gate finally came into view.

The school had already come alive. Students walked through the gate in cheerful little groups while a few teachers headed towards the staff room, balancing notebooks and coffee mugs.

Simran parked her scooter in the students' parking area.

"See you, ma'am!"

"See you, Simran."

Niharika smiled before walking towards the staff room, already preparing herself for another busy day.

* * *

Niharika walked towards her classroom. She stopped outside Class 6-B, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The classroom buzzed with conversations as students laughed, chatted, and joked with their friends.

The moment Niharika stepped inside, conversations began disappearing one by one until the classroom finally fell quiet.

"Good morning, ma'am!"

"Good morning, class. Sit down."

She opened the textbook and wrote "The Solar System" on the board.

"Today, we're going to learn about the Solar System."

She paused for a brief second.

Oh no... I forgot to water my flowers this morning.

I hope they survive until I get home.

Before turning back to the class.

She smiled to herself.

Focus, Niharika.

"Can anyone tell me which planet is closest to the Sun?"

Several hands immediately went up.

"Yes, Aarav?"

"Mercury, ma'am."

Niharika smiled.

"That's right. Well done."

She looked around the classroom.

"Now, can anyone tell me why Mercury is special?"

This time, the classroom fell silent.

Niharika smiled.

"Alright, let's learn it together."

"Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is also the smallest planet in our solar system."

The lesson continued as Niharika patiently explained the rest of the chapter, answering every curious question that came her way.

An hour later, the final bell rang through the corridor.

Students quickly packed their bags, their conversations filling the classroom once again.

"Don't forget your homework,"

Niharika reminded them with a smile.

"Complete the exercise on page thirty-eight. I'll check it tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am!" the class replied almost in unison.

One by one, the students left the classroom.

Niharika erased the board, collected her notebook, and switched off the classroom lights before making her way towards the parking area.

A few minutes later, she was on her way home.

* * *

She unlocked the door and hurried inside.

Without even taking off her shoes or placing her bag down, she walked straight towards the balcony.

Her eyes quickly scanned every flower.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"You're all okay..." she whispered in relief.

Then...

Her smile slowly faded.

One of the tulips leaned ever so slightly, as if it had been waiting for her all day.

She gently cupped the flower in her hands.

"I'm sorry... I forgot."

She carefully watered the pot before softly brushing her fingers over the petals.

"Thank you... for staying with me."

For a long moment, she simply looked at the tulip.

She had no idea that the coming days would quietly bring people, moments, and memories she had never expected. Some meetings arrive without warning. Some moments stay with us longer than we ever expect.

Then, almost as if she were asking herself...

"Aakhir... phool murjha kyun jaate hain?"