Threads of Resilience

Chapter Three: Unspoken Bonds

As night fell over the orphanage, a hush enveloped the building, the only sounds the whispers of children settling in for the night. In the dimly lit dormitory, the children gathered, finding their spots on the worn-out mattresses. Rudrakansh lay awake, his teddy bear clutched tightly to his chest, surrounded by the soft murmurs.

The darkness held a sense of peace, a shared solitude that made the harsh realities of their days feel momentarily distant and soon he fall asleep.

But that peace shattered with the morning light. Rudrakansh woke to the sound of laughter echoing through the halls. He rubbed his eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to him. As he reached for his clothes, a sinking feeling washed over him. His heart raced as he realized that the clothes he had brought with him were torn and frayed by the same older boys.

“No, no, no…” he whispered, panic rising in his chest. The evidence of the previous day's bullying was clear, and he felt a wave of humiliation wash over him.

Determined to seek help, Rudrakansh made his way to Seema’s office, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and desperation. He knocked softly on the door.“Seema ma’am?” he called out, stepping inside.

Seema looked up from her desk, annoyance flickering across her face. “What is it, Rudrakansh? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“My clothes… they were torn by the older boys. I need—”

“Enough with the whining! You need to stand up for yourself instead of coming here to complain,” she scolded sharply, cutting him off. Her words felt like daggers, leaving him feeling smaller than ever.

He nodded silently, swallowing his frustration, and retreated to a corner of the garden. Sitting on the soft grass, he fought back tears, feeling utterly alone.

In that moment of despair, a soft voice broke through the gloom. “Why are you sad?”

He looked up to see a little girl with big, curious eyes standing in front of him. She couldn’t have been more than five, her pink floral frock swaying as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“Who are you?” he asked, a flicker of interest pushing through his sadness.

“I’m Avantika Sharma! I just got here,” she said, beaming with innocence. “What happened to you?”

Rudrakansh hesitated, unsure how to explain the bullying. “The older boys… they ripped my clothes. I… I’m not strong enough to stop them,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Avantika frowned, her small brows knitting together. “That’s not nice! You should tell someone.”

“They don’t listen,” he replied, feeling defeated.

“But you can still smile, right?” she said, her face lighting up with determination. “Let’s play a game! I can be the queen, and you can be my knight!”

Rudrakansh couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Okay, but I’m a very tired knight,” he chuckled, allowing her playful spirit to lift his mood.

As they played, laughter bubbled between them, a simple yet profound connection, a beautiful friendship forming at that moment.

Just then and Seema entered with Avantik's parents, a wide practiced smile on her face. “Oh Rudrakansh! You are here.” She noticed Avantika with him, smiling brightly. “I see you’re making friends.”

Rudrakansh’s heart raced again,
anxiety swirling within him, he noticed  the sharpness in her eyes when she saw him with her though Avantika and her parents didn't notice.

Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, Seema said politely, “Umm...I'll just take a moment with Rudrakansh... please wait.” She led him aside, holding his arm tightly.

“ You better not tell Avantika or her parents anything about the older boys, or you’ll regret it.”She warned in a serious tone.

Rudrakansh nodded, the threat hanging heavily in the air. He was scared at that moment, he could not tell her that he already told Avantika and could only hope that she won't tell her parents.

Satisfied, Seema released him and escorted Avantika and her parents to the other side of the orphanage.

Later at night, Rudrakansh turned back to Meera, who had quietly approached him. “Hey,” she said softly, concern etched on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“They ripped my clothes,” he admitted, a hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “But it’s fine. I have a new friend.”

Meera tilted her head slightly, curiousity in her tone. “Who?”

A soft smile crossed his face as he remembered. “Avantika... Avantika Sharma. She’s nice and sweet. She played with me when I was feeling very sad this morning. I overheard Seema ma’am talking to her parents—they’ll always come here.” He beamed. “I’m so happy! She promised she’d meet me tomorrow and introduce me to her brother too, Meera di.”

“She seems nice,” Meera said, a small smile creeping onto her face.

Rudrakansh nodded, but a small frown appeared on his face. “Meera di, where were you today? I tried to find you, but you weren’t here.”

Hearing him, her smile wavered slightly, a hint of nervousness in her tone . “Uhh...w-well I went o-outside for work...Seema Mam told me...with some elders.”

Rudrakansh nodded, his trust in Meera unfaltering and went to sleep, feeling a warmth in his chest at the thought of friendship blossoming in the most unexpected ways.