LEECH

CHAPTER ONE - AISHA (NOW)

"A cow is truly a magnificent being." I gaze at the herd of cows sitting outside our school gates, munching mindlessly as their beady eyes regard us impassively. I want to laugh at the droll look on their cute faces. 

Samaira's head whips to face me. "What drugs are you on this morning?"

I smile. "Nothing. Just bournvita."

She rolls her eyes. Tara slips beside her, slinging an arm around her shoulder as she yelps. "Ew. Who eats bournvita in the 21st century?" She mock-gasps, horrified.

"Aisha, apparently."

I shrug. "There aren't many who are as cool as me."

Tara slaps my shoulder. "We aren't friends anymore from today."

I make a pouty face, laughing. The bell rings, alerting us of the assembly time. We get up from our place on the freshly mowed grass field, brushing away the tiny twigs and dried pieces of leaves stuck to our uniform. "Hurry." I urge. "Minakshi mam will kill us."

We scurry back to the assembly area, running faster when we notice that the lines are already half formed. By the time we reach our class, I am panting and half my hair is in a disarray. Neil emerges out of the blue, stopping to wrap an arm around Sam's waist. She pushes him away hurriedly, casting inconspicuous glances around us to check if someone saw them.

I roll my eyes, muttering, "Lovebirds," under my breath.

Neil doesn't look so sheepish. I mean, neither would I, if I had Sam as my girlfriend, but this is too fine of a morning for lesbianism.

Suddenly, a hand wraps around my fist and tugs me back. I turn, coming face to face with Vaani's murderous eyes fixed upon mine.

I raise my arms, palms facing her in a surrender position. "What grave crime did I commit this morning, your highness?"

She just glowers at me for a moment.

I stare back, donning my most innocent look, waiting for her to falter.

Finally, she caves in, heaving a deep sigh as she straightens and points towards the stage. "Minakshi mam has been searching for you for the last ten minutes. Where the hell were you, dummy? Did you forget you had a prize today?"

I scratched my head, puzzled. "Prize? What prize?"

As far as I knew about prizes, I'd already received my maths exhibition prize three days ago, so I didn't have any impending prizes hanging over my head. They were a chore, to be honest; I mean, don't get me wrong, I loved getting them and they were something to be proud of, but after a certain period of time, it's just exhausting to go up there and grin toothily at the camera and do small talk with the teachers. Even my parents, who used to laminate each and every certificate I used to get in preschool and elementary school, had gotten tired of it to the point that they didn't even care what I participated in and what I won.

Presently, Vaani smacks my head. "The inter-school debate competition, Ash. You just...what am I gonna do with you?" She sighs, looking up as if asking the heavens to drop-kick me somewhere away from her. I smile. She loves me too much to let that happen, though.

"Oops, forgot about that one." I reply.

"I'm two seconds away from kicking your butt."

"My very gorgeous butt."

"Aisha Rai, I swear to God you devil spawn —"

I giggle, running away from her, weaving through the long columns of students shifting from one foot to another, and reach the place where the teachers are standing, engaged in some serious discussion. Priyamvada mam, or Priya mam as we like to call her, and Minakshi mam spot me. They walk towards me, wearing similar exasperated looks on their faces.