The Shekhawat Bride

The Schoolyard Battle

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It was an ordinary Tuesday morning when the phone call came. Chaitanya was halfway through her first cup of coffee, seated at the sleek marble kitchen island, when the school's number flashed on her screen. Her heart skipped a beat, her thoughts racing. She glanced at Hukum, who was getting ready to leave for a meeting.

"Hello, Mrs. Mehta?" Chaitanya answered.

"Mrs. Shekhawat, I need you and Mr. Shekhawat to come to the school immediately. It's about your children."

The words made her stomach drop. She didn't even need to ask what had happened—she already knew. Chaitanya shot Hukum a look, and without a word, he nodded, grabbing his keys.

"Is everything okay?" he asked as they both headed to the car, Chaitanya's fingers tightly clutching the seatbelt.

"They wouldn't call unless it was serious," she replied, voice tight with concern.

At the school, they were ushered into the principal's office, where Hridhaan and Hridha sat together, looking unusually quiet for their energetic selves. Hridha's cheeks were flushed with anger, her fists clenched in her lap. Hridhaan sat beside her, unusually still for the boy who usually found calm in every situation. The principal, Mrs. Mehta, sat across from them, her expression serious.

Chaitanya bent down, her voice gentle. "What happened, sweetheart?"

Hridha didn't answer at first. She glanced at Hridhaan, and then, with a deep breath, her voice came out in a rush. "They were picking on Hridhaan. They called him names, Mama. And then they started saying things about you and Papa... about us being rich and that we think we're better than them."

Hridha's face flushed with the memory. "They said I was spoiled, that I get everything I want. But when I told them to stop, they pushed Hridhaan. I didn't know what to do."

Hukum leaned forward, his voice calm but his eyes hard. "Who pushed him?"

"Jai and Rohan," Mrs. Mehta spoke up, her face etched with concern. "It started with teasing, but when Hridhaan didn't respond, they began shoving him around. Hridha, of course, couldn't sit still. She stepped in to protect her brother, and that's when things escalated."

"What do you mean by 'escalated'?" Chaitanya asked, her voice sharp with protective instinct.

"Well, the twins... they fought back," Mrs. Mehta explained. "They... both of them beat Jai and Rohan. They were on top of them, hitting them until teachers intervened. It was... unexpected."

Hukum's lips twitched with something between pride and frustration. "I see."

Chaitanya was silent for a moment, glancing at the twins. Hridhaan's eyes were downcast, avoiding her gaze. Hridha, on the other hand, looked her mother in the eye, her jaw set, her expression one of quiet determination.

"We didn't let them hurt Hridhaan, Mama," Hridha said, her voice full of conviction. "We won't let anyone hurt us, no matter what."

Chaitanya's heart swelled, a mix of pride and worry flooding her chest. She knew her children were strong, but they were still so young. She also knew they hadn't learned yet how to resolve conflicts without fighting, and that worried her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Shekhawat," Mrs. Mehta continued, "I understand your concern. But I need to let you know that Jai and Rohan have been suspended for their behavior. They instigated the entire situation, and while I believe the twins were defending themselves, I'd like to make sure we have a conversation about how to handle these situations better in the future."