The Sharma Triplets

Home for Diwali

Yamika's POV

Mom and Dad picked me up from the airport yesterday. I was part of an exchange program for my school to study in the United States for two months. Although for some odd reason, I was required to do a dental checkup before I could come home. I woke up early to finish my unpacking. My brothers and sister didn't know I was home yet, and I wanted to surprise them. My brother, Dru, was having a nightmare. Ever since we were little, he's had a phobia of dentists. I shook him awake and he jumped. "Keep it down, would ya?" My other brother, Kal asked. "Dentist nightmare?" I asked Dru. "Yami, you're back!" Dru exclaimed as he hugged me tight. "I got back when you were both asleep." I explained. "Rise and shine my little wombats, it's Diwali!" Dadi, our grandmother announced as she popped some confetti and scared Dru. "Happy Diwali, Dadi." Kal yawned. Dadi went to wake up our older sister, Vidya. "Even Dadi scared you, how are we related?" I laughed as I got the confetti out of Dru's hair.

We put on our school uniforms and went downstairs to see what Dadi made for breakfast. "Kal, Dru, remember, cleaning duties." Dadi said. "I want to see my reflection in everything." "You look beautiful this morning, Dadi." Kal complimented. "But, I think it's Dru's turn to clean this year." "Nice try, two of you will work together." Dadi replied as Kal bumped Dru with his shoulder and he did the same. "No fighting on Diwali, wombats, it'll break your Dadi's heart." Dadi turned off the radio to stop hearing conspiracy theories. "And you are in charge of decorations, my little emus." "It's officially my Diwali wish to change that nickname." Vidya groaned. "Ganesh will be angry if you don't listen. "Of course, we will, Dadi." I replied.

Before we went to school, Dru told me he's been dreaming about the dentist a lot lately, so he decided to look it up on the web. "To dream of the dentist means an untrustworthy presence is about to enter your life." Dru reads as Mom and Dad came in and he hides his laptop. "Dru, since it's Diwali, we decided to lift your computer ban." Mom said. "But promise, no more hacking." Dad added. "As if!" I scoffed. "We mean it, we don't want another call from the school." Mom continued. "What kind of nerd hacks into the school's network just to find their results early?" Kal asked. "We know you're clever, Beta." Mom said. "But we want you to use your talents for good." Dad added. "I will, I promise." Dru replied. "Have a good day at school, kids." Dad said.

I raced my brothers to school on our bikes. "You may be smart, and you might be talented, but you both lose every time." Kal bragged. "It wasn't a race." Dru commented. "You keep telling yourself that." I said. "Dru, Kal, Happy Diwali, can't wait for Dadi's party tonight." Our friend, Chloe greeted. "Welcome back, Yami." "Thanks, it's good to see you." I hugged her. "You're coming?" Dru asked. "I mean, co-come if you want." Chloe waved to us as she walked to class. "Smooth." Kal joked. All of a sudden, the PA system turned on. "Mr Park's class will be participating in the Global Child Initiative dental plan today." The principal announced. "Please head to the sick bay." No, no, no, I thought that was tomorrow!" Dru complained. "Jokes on you, I had it done before I came home." I explained. "Come on." Kal said as they headed to the sick bay and I went to class.

Everyone went to their seats after the dental plan. "We have a surprise test, courtesy of the Global Child Initiative." Mr Park explains. "Sir, I feel sick." Kal lied. "Don't fall for it, Mr Park." Regan scoffed. Suddenly, a woman by the name of Miss Biggs came into the classroom to supervise the test while Mr Park was out. "The exam starts now." Miss Biggs announced as all the students picked up a pencil and began writing. A couple minutes into the test, other than me, Dru, and Miss Biggs, everyone was frozen in place. We each looked around the class and then at each other. We mimicked Kal and the other students once Miss Biggs looked up from her tablet. A few minutes later, everyone unfroze. "Pencils down, class dismissed." Miss Biggs said. "Kal." Dru whispered. "Everyone froze, everyone but me and Dru." I added. "That's because the test was hard and you're both nerds." Kal joked as the class froze again and we mimicked them again. "I'm with the class at Westbrook High." Miss Biggs said on the phone. "I think there's been a glitch, just turn it off and on." After she hangs up the phone, everyone unfreezes again. "Don't know what you're talking about." Kal continued as we left school for the day.