Undelivered

Chapter 3

Akshara walked into her new classroom, a nerve-prickling ordeal, staring at the alien faces assembled before her. There was a slight pause in the chit-chat that filled the room as some students turned their heads toward her. She hated it with intense displeasure-the new kid stares, the feeling of being under a spotlight when she simply wanted to blend in. Exhausted and almost feeling a little ashamed to catch anyone's notice, she took a deep breath and went up to a desk that was vacant and near the window with her head low, waiting for the teacher.

No one was in class yet, so the buzzing noises were there. She could hear snatches of conversations on everything from weekend plans to homework. A group of girls near the front discussed the latest gossip, while some boys at the back were having fun throwing crumpled paper at one another. Homesick, Akshara thought back to her old school, where she knew everyone and everyone knew her.

Just then, a girl with curly hair and a friendly smile slid into the desk next to her. “Hey, you’re new, right?”
Akshara nodded, trying to smile back. “Yeah, first day.”
“I’m Aditi,” the girl said, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you! Where did you move from?”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Akshara,” she replied, shaking her hand. “I just moved here from a small town. It’s been...a bit overwhelming.”
Aditi laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I can imagine! This place is crazy, but you’ll get used to it. The first few days are always the hardest.”
Akshara felt a little better talking to Aditi. She seemed nice, and there was something comforting about her easygoing attitude. “Thanks. I was kind of nervous about today, to be honest.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Aditi waved her hand dismissively. “People here are curious, but they’re not mean. Once they get to know you, it’ll be fine. Plus, you’ve already met Sanvik, right?”
Akshara blinked in surprise. “Yeah, how did you know?”
Aditi grinned. “I saw you two walking in the hall earlier. Sanvik’s a good guy. Quiet, but he’s cool.”
Akshara nodded, thinking back to how kind Sanvik had been. “Yeah, he’s been really helpful. I’m glad I met him.”
Before they could continue, the classroom door swung open, and the teacher walked in. “Alright, class, settle down,” he said, his voice cutting through the noise. The students quickly took their seats, and the room fell silent.
The teacher, a tall man with glasses, began writing on the board as he introduced the topic for the day—algebra.  She couldn’t help but feel a little lost, not just in this new school, but in the city as a whole. Everything was so different from her hometown—louder, faster, and more intense. She missed the quiet streets, the familiar faces, and the sense of belonging she used to feel.
But as she glanced around the classroom, catching Aditi’s encouraging smile and thinking about her brief conversation with Sanvik, she realized that maybe things wouldn’t be so bad. It was just the first day, after all, and she had already met a few people who seemed nice. Maybe, with time, she could find her place here too.
Akshara sighed and turned her attention back to the teacher. For now, she just needed to get through the day.
The sound of the bell ringing jolted Akshara out of her focus, signaling the end of the morning classes. Lunch break. She felt a mixture of relief and anxiety as students around her began packing up their things and chatting excitedly about their plans. This was her first lunch in the new school, and she wasn’t sure where she was supposed to go or who to sit with.
Aditi, who had been sitting next to her all morning, nudged her gently. “Hey, want to come with me to the cafeteria? You can sit with my group.”
Akshara smiled, grateful for the offer. “Yeah, thanks. I wasn’t sure where to go.”
“The cafeteria can be a bit chaotic, but you’ll get used to it. Plus, the food isn’t bad—on some days, anyway.”Aditi said, standing up .
As they walked down the crowded hallway toward the cafeteria, Akshara could feel the energy in the school shifting. The nervousness she had felt in the classroom started to fade as she realized she wasn’t completely alone. Aditi was turning out to be a friendly guide, and that simple fact helped settle her nerves.
The cafeteria was exactly how Aditi had described it—chaotic. Students were everywhere, grabbing trays of food, sitting in groups, and talking loudly. The noise was overwhelming at first, but Akshara followed Aditi to the lunch line and tried to stay calm.
“So, what do you usually eat?” Aditi asked, grabbing a tray.
“Uh, I’m not too picky,” Akshara said, glancing over the options. She ended up picking some rice, vegetables, and a juice box. Simple, but it would do.
Aditi paid for her food and led Akshara to a table near the windows, where a few other students were already sitting. “Hey, guys! This is Akshara,” she said, introducing her as they sat down. “She’s new here.”
The group smiled and greeted her warmly.
One of the boys, Kushal, gave her a nod. “Welcome to the madness.”
A girl with short hair named Meera leaned over. “First days are always the worst, but don’t worry, you’ll find your rhythm soon.”
Akshara smiled, appreciating the support. “Thanks. It’s been a bit overwhelming, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
They chatted for a while, mostly about school gossip, upcoming events, and the teachers. Akshara listened quietly, trying to absorb as much information as possible. It felt strange to be on the outside of these conversations, but at least she wasn’t sitting alone.
Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Sanvik entering the cafeteria with his friends, Rishi and Kartik. He spotted her too and gave her a small wave, which she returned. She felt a little more at ease knowing she had already made a few connections in this overwhelming place.
Aditi noticed her looking at him and grinned. “Looks like you’re already making friends.”
Akshara laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess. He helped me find my way around earlier. Seems nice.”
“He is,” Aditi said. “Sanvik’s one of the good ones. Quiet, but smart.”
As they continued eating, Akshara felt herself relaxing a little more. The initial fear of being in a new place was still there, but it was starting to melt away as she realized she was finding her footing. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
The lunch break passed quickly, and before she knew it, the bell rang again, signaling the end of the break. As everyone stood to leave, Aditi turned to her “so what do you think..wanna join me and our group?
Akshara smiled warmly. “Thanks, Aditi. I’ll definitely take you up on that.”
The rest of the day dragged on in a blur of classes. Akshara sat through lectures, trying to keep up with the new teachers and their unfamiliar teaching styles. She took notes, asked a few questions when necessary, and tried her best to stay engaged. But her mind wandered now and then, drifting back to the small town she had left behind, the quiet streets, and the familiar routines she missed so much.By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Akshara felt a strange mixture of exhaustion and relief. The first day had gone better than she’d expected.
As Akshara and Aditi walked out of school together, the fact that they were in the same class, made Akshara feel a little more settled. Knowing that she had at least one friendly face in her class was reassuring. Aditi had been a huge help today, and Akshara was grateful for that.
“I’m glad we’re in the same class,” Aditi said as they reached the gate. “Makes it easier to survive, right?”
Akshara laughed softly. “Yeah, definitely. Thanks for showing me around.”
“No problem!” Aditi grinned. “Tomorrow will be even better, trust me. We’ll get through this together.”
Akshara noticed Sanvik standing near the school gate, talking to his friends, Rishi and Kartik. He caught her eye and waved her over.
“Hey, how was your first day?” Sanvik asked as she approached.
Akshara shrugged. “Not as bad as I thought it would be, but still a lot to take in.”
“Yeah, the first day’s always a bit rough,” Sanvik said, nodding. “But you seem like you’re handling it well.”
Rishi chimed in with a grin. “You didn’t run out screaming, so that’s a good sign.”
Akshara laughed. “True. That’s a win in itself.”
Kartik nudged Sanvik playfully. “See? Told you she’d be fine. We knew you’d make it through the day.”
Sanvik looked at her, his usual quiet demeanor softening into a small smile. “If you ever need help with anything, you know where to find me.”
Akshara nodded, appreciating the offer. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
As the group began to disperse, Akshara waved goodbye to Aditi and the others before walking toward the gate. She could see her mom’s car waiting for her across the street, the familiar sight bringing a wave of comfort. But before she could head that way, Sanvik called out to her again.
“Hey, Akshara?”
She turned back to face him. “Yeah?”
“Tomorrow will be easier,” he said, almost as if he knew exactly what she was feeling.
Akshara smiled, a warmth spreading in her chest. “I hope so.”
With that, she headed toward the car, her mother greeting her with a smile. As she got in, Akshara looked out the window, watching as Sanvik and his friends walked away. Today had been tough, but not impossible. She had met some kind people, navigated her way through unfamiliar halls, and, most importantly, she had made it through.

As her mom started the car and they drove away from the school, Akshara felt the tension in her shoulders start to ease. Tomorrow would be a little better, just like Sanvik had said. She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time since the move, she felt like she might be able to carve out a place for herself here.