Under The Clear Summer Sky

6 | re-meeting

10 years ago.

Anu stood nervously in the dining room of the 1102 apartment. She was there for her first tutoring session. A tutoring session with a handsome guy was like something straight out of a romance novel. The thought seemed to make her more nervous. Her shoulders were taut from how stressed she was.

"Why are you so nervous? It's just Vineet!" Nina exclaimed, laughing a little at Anu's rigid posture.

That's the problem! Anu thought, inwardly sobbing. 

"You'll be fine. Doesn't he teach well, little devil?" Nina turned to the young 7 year old boy who had been watching TV. 

He nodded, eyeing her out of curiosity. Anu managed a weak smile. A million thoughts breezed through her head. She was going to malfunction any time soon.

Finally, Vineet's room door opened. 

"Hello." 

Slowly, Anu turned and gave him a small smile. "Hello."

"Come in, the room is all cleaned up."

She padded in, cautiously. There were two study tables and a bunk bed in the room. In the middle, there was a mat and a table set up. 

"Are you ok with sitting down on the floor? I thought we'd have more space to open up books. My study table is pretty narrow."

Anu nodded and meekly informed him that she had no problem with the arrangement. She plopped down and placed her books on the table. He followed her and sat down, opposite her.

Nina grinned to herself, watching the two of them sit. The two pretty kids seated opposite each other could make for a good picture.

Anu tentatively opened the chapter she was having difficulty with. Vineet watched her. Then, he smiled.

"I hope we can get more comfortable with each other."

Anu looked up at him.

"I've never  had any friends-" He leaned forward, resting on his elbows. "since I didn't really have time for it. I've spent all my years in books and exams. It would be nice if we could be good friends, as well, along with this tutoring gig."

Anu sat up straight. Who knew the handsome boy had such a tragic backstory?

"You've never had friends? Even in school?"

Vineet shook his head. "I never really attended school although I was technically considered the school's student."

Anu's wide eyes watched him carefully. Her heart felt very sorry for him.

"I'll be your friend, from now on." She held out her hand for him to shake. He shook it, with a soft smiling further gentling his features.

"What's your favorite subject?" He asked, wanting to make her more comfortable. Anu's shoulders eased. "English" After a little thought, she added, "Math, too."

"That's pretty cool."

A pause.

"Shall we get started?"

After an hour and a half, Anu seemed to get better clarity on Kirchhoff's laws.

"It may seem like you've understood it now." Vineet said, while packing away his pens. "But you should practice a lot of problems in the concept to really master it."

Anu nodded vigorously. "I'll do that."

Vineet watched her, smiling. She really was as cute as his mom said she was. There was a natural grace and innocence to all her movements and expressions. Vineet really liked her.

"I'll get going now then. Thank you for the session!" Anu announced as she left the room. Nina was arranging food on the table. 

"Ah? You're done? Come, have some food before you leave-"

"Ah, no no aunty. I need to go back home. My mom will be waiting. Bye, auntie. Bye, Shrest!"

The little black haired boy nodded at her, seriously. 

She went back home, feeling at ease with physics after a long time.

"Isn't she so cute?" Nina remarked. Vineet nodded slightly, eyeing his dinner. He glanced at Shrest, who was also eyeing the dinner.

"I call the peas card!"

"I call the peas card!"

They both whispered at the same time. 

"As your older brother, I'm worried about your health, Shrest. You should eat more protein to do better at your studies."

"As your younger brother, I'm worried about your health as well. You're in 12th grade. You, too, should eat more."

The two were at a stalemate.

"Both of you will have peas." Nina declared the verdict.

They groaned as they sat down, staring at their dinner with feelings of melancholy. "Shrest, your teacher told me that you haven't performed well in the unit test."

Shrest grew even more sullen.

"If you don't score well in the first test, how will you make a good impression with your teachers?"

"I know.." He muttered.

"Your brother used to score full in every test in 2nd grade. Why can't you do the same?" 

Vineet sighed. "Ma, you shouldn't compare Shrest with anyone."

"How else will he get to his senses? You keep quiet."

"Comparing won't get you the result you want." Vineet mumbled.

"All day you're going out and playing and drawing. When are you going to study?"

Vineet felt himself lose his appetite. 

"All day long, you play with those good-for-nothing friends of yours. I heard one of them nearly failed their math exam. Instead, you should be associating with other kids, like Mehra's daughter. Apparently, she's very good at-"

"But she's such a snob." Shrest whined.

Nina clicked her tongue. "Our apartment getting flooded is such an inconvenience. I could've at least sent you to study along with Sana. That girl is the only one who seems to understand what life's priorities are."

Vineet closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. 

"Shrest, all this playing isn't important. Your studies comes first. Don't you want to make me and your dad proud?"

Shrest's shoulder drooped lower and lower.

"You didn't let me have a childhood. At least, let him have a childhood." Vineet placed his spoon down.

"You-"

"I'm done." Vineet trudged to his room. 

He leaned against the door. He hated who he was sometimes.

✿

word count: 1012 words

a/n:
adults need to let the kids play. playing isn't a mundane thing that's a waste of time. it helps the child learn the little things in life - how to share, how to handle peers, etc all while having fun. studies and test scores don't define anyone.
on a side and light-hearted note, we finally saw vineet and anu's first meeting! it only gets better from here *wink* *wink*