Isolated

Chapter Two: New Beginnings, New Friends

Firdous sat quietly at her desk, her small hands folded neatly on top of it, her eyes wandering around the classroom. The chatter of her classmates filled the room, but to her, it felt like a distant noise. Her thoughts were racing as she tried to figure out what she should be doing. Everyone else seemed to know their place, while she sat there, feeling lost and unsure.

She glanced at the other kids, some of them still coloring, others chatting and giggling with their newfound friends. Firdous wished she could slip into the comfort of their easy conversations, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she stared down at her Hello Kitty water bottle, tracing the edges of its pink outline with her fingers, trying to ground herself in the one thing that felt familiar.

Just then, the door creaked open, and the room fell into a hush. Firdous looked up to see a tall woman enter, her saree draped elegantly around her. The bright colors of the fabric swirled as she moved, and a bulky handbag hung from her shoulder. The children instantly fell silent as she reached the front of the classroom, her presence commanding attention.

"Good morning, children," she said with a kind smile, her voice soft yet authoritative. "My name is Mrs. Perera, and I will be your teacher for the entire year."

Firdous watched as Mrs. Perera scanned the room, her sharp eyes seeming to notice everything. Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes briefly met, but the teacher quickly moved on, addressing the class once more.

"To start our year, we're going to begin with something fun—'playhouse.'"

Murmurs broke out among the students, and Mrs. Perera raised her hand to quiet them down. "Playhouse is a time for you to bring your favorite toys and things from home so that you can share and play with your classmates. It helps you get to know one another and learn to interact. Tomorrow, I want all of you to bring your favorite items from home—anything you like, as long as it's something you're willing to share."

Firdous blinked, her mind trying to make sense of the concept. Bring toys to school? She had never heard of such a thing. She stared at the other children, watching their excited reactions. Some of the boys were already talking about the toy cars they'd bring, while a few girls giggled about their dolls. But Firdous felt unsure. She didn't have many toys at home, and the thought of bringing something from her small world into this big, unfamiliar space made her nervous.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the day, Firdous gathered her things and walked toward the school gate, her mind still swirling with questions. Taqib was waiting for her, standing under a tree with his friends. As she approached, he smiled and ruffled her hair.

"How was your first day, little sister?" he asked.

"It was... okay," Firdous said softly, trying to keep her voice steady. "The teacher said we have to bring toys tomorrow."

Taqib raised an eyebrow, amused. "Toys? That sounds fun! What are you going to bring?"

"I don't know," Firdous replied, her voice uncertain. "I don't know what to do."

"You'll figure it out," Taqib said, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "Let's go home. Mom will help you."

When they arrived home, Firdous immediately told her mother about the teacher's instructions. Her mother's eyes lit up with excitement. "Playhouse! What a lovely idea," she said as she started rummaging through Firdous's things, pulling out a few old toys that had been forgotten in the corner of the room. There were a couple of dolls, a soft teddy bear, and a few colorful blocks.

"I'll pack all of these for you," her mother said cheerfully, grabbing a large, bulky bag and carefully placing the toys inside. "You'll have so much fun with your friends!"