MIRA

Delhi, 2000

“Ram! Hurry up! Miru and I are ready. We are getting late.” Sudha yelled.

It was Mira’s very first day of school and her parents were getting her ready to drop her off. Little Mira on the other hand was all ready for the first day in her brand new school uniform. Before she could make out what was going to happen with her for the next few hours, they were already at the school and the principal was showing them around.

“And here we are, this will be Mira’s class.” said the Principal, pointing towards a small room filled with at least 25 other small children her age.

Holding her mother’s hand tightly, Mira walked into the class and was led to her seat. At this point, the fear and nerves kicked in for Mira. “Mira kutty, this is your new class and you are going to stay here until Amma and Appa come to pick you up.” said Sudha.

Mira did not say anything in response. Just then, a girl walked to Mira and gave her a sketch pen. “What’s your name beta?” Sudha asked the girl. The girl smiled at Sudha and said “Preeti.” Mira started drawing on a paper with Preeti while her parents slowly began to make their way out.

All of a sudden, Mira realised what was going on. “Amma!” she yelled and ran to Sudha.

“Amma, I want to go home.” Mira complained. Sudha and Ram were trying their best to make Mira stay but she had started crying. Just then, Gopal had come to drop off Vikranth in the same school. Vikranth was studying in the 2nd standard which was located on a floor above Mira’s classroom. Gopal spotted Ram and his family in the corridor and walked up to them with Vikranth.

Gopal noticed Mira crying and asked “Hey Ramki! Hi Mira baby! What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“She doesn’t want to stay here.” replied Ram.

“Oh Mira kutty, look you are a big girl now! See, even Vikranth is going to school and will sit in his class like a good boy. You are also a good girl no?” Gopal asked. Mira didn’t respond.

“Hmm... we will drop Vikranth in his class first and then drop you. Okay?” suggested Gopal to Mira who nodded in response. She had stopped crying now.

Mira’s parents and Gopal were all heading to Vikranth’s class while Mira was holding Vikranth’s hand and walking up the stairs. Vikranth said bye to his father and walked into his class. Mira followed him and sat next to him.

Sudha and Ram realised that Mira was scared of going to her class and so decided to sit with Vikranth in his class. They were about to bring her back when Gopal went up to the class teacher and said something.

When he came back to Ram and Sudha, he said, “It’s okay Ramki, let her sit with him. At some point, she will get used to the environment and agree to go to her own class.”

Ram and Sudha smiled and started to leave with Gopal.

Little Mira on the other hand, didn’t say anything, but just observed all that was going on around her, she looked around to see the other students settling down and the teacher making announcements. Vikranth was busy settling down as well for the first lesson of the day. It all seemed alien to her. All except for one person, Vikranth. Mira found comfort in sitting next to him which felt a lot safer than her own classroom. :)