Chaos of Hearts

As the sun rose, it shone through the window. Shining brightly on the face of Meher. She slowly opened her eyes as the sunlight touched her cheeks. She got up and looked out the window.

It was going to be her first day of school after moving to a new neighbourhood. It wasn't like she was anxious about it. She had always been the class topper she was assertive about still being the topper in 11th standard.

She went to the washroom to get fresh. Quickly brushed her teeth. And then made her hair. She went to the ironing table to iron her uniform. She quickly ironed her uniform and got ready.

She went down for breakfast. Her parents were already waiting for her proudly. Meher was their youngest daughter. She wasn't perfect but when her parents saw her comparatively next to her brother she looked perfect to them.

Her brother, Arav, has been failing every class for the last two years. Their parents never directly called him a failure, but Arav could feel their disappointment towards him.

In the dining room, Arav sat quietly. Family surrounded him, yet he felt lonely. Meher excitedly told her parents about all her study plans for this year. Her parents listened patiently.

"I am so proud of you, my baccha," Her father said, patting her hand. Meher smiled even brighter.

Then their mother asked, "Arav and Meher, you both are in the same class, right?" Arav nodded.

Both of them took their parents' blessings as they went off to school.

At school, both of them walked through the hallway. While Meher kept her head high, Arav appeared pretty hopeless.

Outside their class, Meher saw a boy standing in the doorway with a few other boys. She walked up to him and asked, "Is this class 11th F?" With a confident smile on her face. The boy looked at both of them up and down and said, "Yes, but why are you asking me? Can't you read?" While pointing at the class number outside.

Meher looked at him like she was ready to pick a fight. But Arav quickly took her inside the class so she wouldn't create a scene on the first day.

Meher looked at Arav and said, "Bhai, you were in the same school, right?" Arav nodded in agreement.

Then Meher found an empty seat in the first row and sat down. People looked at her, already judging her.

While Arav found a seat in the back and sat there. As soon as he sat down, some boys nearby looked at him and exchanged glances with each other. Arav was used to judgment, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt. He already knew that they would make fun of him.

"See, look at that failure. Couldn't even try, " one of the boys said to the other ones. All of them laughed. It wasn't even funny, but unfortunately, people's pain is always funny somehow.

Meher turned around facing the boys. As soon as she was about to say something. Arav looked at her mouthed of the word, "No."

Meher bit her tongue and held back.

After some time, the teacher entered the class. His name was Vijay Oberio. He was probably in his 40s. He had slightly grey hair. And he had a sharp eye.

He looked at every student with his sharp eyes, then his eyes landed on Arav, and he scoffed. He walked up to him and stood over his desk. He looked at him smiling sarcastically and bent down to his level and said, "Once a failure, always a failure," he scoffed and then left. Meher's blood was boiling.

The teacher came in front of the class, and then his eyes landed on Meher. He pointed at her and said, "So you are the new student?" Meher stood and said with her head high,"Yes sir, Meher Oberio. " He looked at her and said, "Are you the sister of Arav?" While raising his eyebrows. Meher nodded. "So, you're also a failure? " he said smugly. Meher got angry and said, "Well, I have been the topper my whole life, and yes, I was also the debate captain," she said confidently, smiling. Then he looked at her and muttered, "We'll see" to himself.

Then he went to the front and started teaching Maths.

The first few periods went well. The lunch started pretty well. Meher just kept to herself but then the same boys whom she encountered in the morning came up to her and stood over her.

Meher looked up and asked, "What?" The boys smiled weirdly. Then one of the boys came near her ear and said, "You are bold. Trust me, you won't survive. " he said this much and then left. Meher was confused but decided to ignore it and went ahead with her day.

When she reached home she went straight to her room and started doing her homework. As she was engrossed in her work, a knock came on the door. "Who is it?" Then the Arav said from outside, "Me." Meher said "Come in"

Arav entered the room and then sat on her bedside. Meher raised an eyebrow at him. Arav cleared his throat and said, "Meher please don't stand up for me." Meher looked at him with confusion. "See people don't like strong people and if you do it again and again you will become their next target. And also teachers already hate me." Arav said looking down. Meher sighed and then agreed.

Then Arav left her room while Meher went back to her work.

That night Meher felt a weird feeling, the night felt a bit too quiet, as if a storm was coming soon. She couldn't shake this feeling.

But the question was whether it was just a feeling or a sign?