Beyond the Beats

Chapter 70. Meaning a lot

I was really disheartened when I learnt that Srishti's class monitor had called her a beggar. I knew Srishti shouldn't have punched her classmate, but if I was in her place, I would have also ended up doing the same.

Still, teaching violence to kids was not appropriate, so after reaching Srishti's school, I apologized to her teacher and the kid Srishti had punched. I asked that kid why she had called my niece a beggar as it wasn't good manners.

That kid looked guilty, but she was honest. She told me that she was continuously telling Srishti about her uniform, but as Srishti wasn't listening, she ended up calling my niece a beggar after other classmates started teasing my niece.

I felt really angry, but I was dealing with kids. They had a lot of time to learn and amend their mistakes. My niece was stubborn and didn't want to apologize, but I convinced her and even told her that if she kept fighting with other students, she will never be able to pass her class.

Srishti said sorry to her class monitor and vice-versa. Thankfully, the matter wasn't escalated by the class monitor's parents. As a punishment, Srishti and other students involved were given extra homework and an essay to write about good manners. On principal's advice, I took Srishti with me before the school hours ended. We were exiting the school when Srishti stopped and looked at me seriously.

"Maushi (aunt), am I really a beggar?" she asked, her eyes pooling up with tears.

I shook my head, but I saw how her uniform was dull with mismatched buttons, and multicolored sewing threads were sticking out. One of her shoe had a big hole in the front and even her ribbons were of different colors. Mom was also busy in handling our house and outside work, so I knew she always got Srishti ready in a hurry.

"You are lying," Srishti told me. "All kids tease me about my tiffin. Aajji (grandma) gives me the same sabzi (lunch) every day. And today, she even forgot to pack my tiffin. I didn't have anything to eat and other kids were making fun of me. They said that principal will not keep me in school because my fees is still unpaid."

I bent down to her level and wiped her tears.

"Don't take those kids' words seriously, okay? It is our fault. We should have paid more attention to you. Your Aajji (grandma) is working hard for you only, so can you please forgive her for forgetting your tiffin? Your maushi (aunt) is also sorry," I said.

Srishti took her time and pointed at her stomach. "But I am hungry. I will forgive you both if you get me an icecream."

I hugged her. "Why just an icecream? Let's buy a new uniform and shoes too."

She broke the hug and looked at me with twinkling eyes. "Really?"

I kissed her forehead. "Definitely. My Srishti is so strong! But don't go around punching everyone. If anyone teases you, go and complain to your teacher first."

She looked hesitant while answering, but when I narrowed my eyes at her, she gave me a toothy grin.

"Okay, maushi (aunt)," she said.

We exited the school gates, and Srishti was complaining to me about one of her friends when Akshay's younger brother, Rahul, came running towards us and stopped himself before he crashed into me.

"Bhoomi Di, how do I look?" he asked excitedly.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "You look like... Rahul?"

He rolled his eyes and did a 360° turn. That's when I realised that he was wearing a totally different school uniform.

"Are you changing schools?" I asked.