Between Stars

Chapter 1

Under the dimming stars of early morning, I woke with anticipation buzzing in my chest like a persistent hummingbird. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter—11th grade, a surreal step into the unknown corridors of senior school

After choosing my outfit carefully, I had breakfast, applied hair gel, and styled my hair. Saying my goodbyes, I went outside and grabbed my bicycle.

Pedaling through the quiet streets of my neighborhood, I reached the main road and noticed more cars than usual. A new bridge had been built near my neighborhood, connecting it to the other side of the river that separated my homeland from bustling city life.

I parked my cycle at the bus stop, settled onto the familiar bench, a routine I had followed for years. The private bus Sachin would arrive promptly at 8 a.m., my dependable mode of transport that faithfully delivered me to school each day.

Before long, the bus arrived, and I climbed into my favorite seat near the backdoor. Looking through the window, everything appeared as it always had. The same uncle who would get off a stop before my school... Two stops later, I knew my friend Abad would be waiting at his bus stop near a petrol station.

As expected, Abad was there, wearing his trademark grin. His smile, brightened by his exceptionally white teeth, was his most charming feature. We exchanged excited greetings as he hopped onto the bus and took the seat beside me. I asked him about Najad, our friend and junior who lived near him. Abad informed me that Najad had left earlier for a special class and needed to be at school by 8. It was then that I recalled their classes started earlier than ours.

Abad and I chatted about our expectations for the new school year, discussing classes and teachers. I asked him which stream he chose for 11th grade. He had chosen Commerce, while I had opted for Computer Science. We had been in the same class until 10th grade; 11th grade marked the first time we would be separated.

Kanjoor stop was the next big thing. This pivotal junction hosted not one, but three schools: a boys' school, a girls' school, and a CBSE institution. The bus hummed with the energy of students from these schools, their lively conversations and laughter creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The conductor, always watchful, periodically raised his voice to remind passengers to purchase their tickets before the upcoming stop. His announcements echoed through the bus, ensuring everyone was aware of the protocol. Additionally, he would step off the bus to personally check tickets of students disembarking from the rear, maintaining order with efficiency and a no-nonsense demeanor.

We were joined by our friend Vishal at Kanjoor, who had been one of the best sportsmen in our school and the top athlete in our class. Unfortunately, during a competition, he suffered an injury that sidelined him. Now able to walk again, I eagerly anticipated seeing how he would reclaim his status as the top athlete.

Soon, we arrived at our destination, the campus of our senior school. At the bus stop, we were joined by Arun, Vishal's cousin and my classmate. He had been inside the store near the bus stop buying candies, which he generously shared with us. The shop held a special place in every kid's heart who commuted by private bus. There wasn't a single student who hadn't bought something from that store.

Arriving at school, the morning sky whispered promises of new beginnings, stars gently fading into the sunrise, mirroring my excitement for the challenges and joys of 11th grade.