Growing Pains

-Forging Signature-

Later that night, after a long day filled with both frustration and warmth, Arjun sat on the edge of Amrita's bed, her room illuminated by the soft glow of a bedside lamp. The walls were adorned with colorful drawings and posters of her favorite cartoon characters, creating a cozy sanctuary that felt worlds away from the chaos of the police station.

"Once upon a time," he began, his voice gentle and soothing, "in a faraway kingdom, there lived a brave knight who protected his village from dragons and evil sorcerers." 

As he wove the tale, Amrita listened intently, her earlier sadness fading as she became engrossed in the story. Arjun's storytelling was magical; it transported her to another world where she could forget about her troubles.

As the story came to an end, Arjun tucked Amrita in tightly, ensuring she was warm and comfortable. "Goodnight, princess," he said with a smile, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Dream of adventures."

With that, he quietly left her room, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. However, as he retreated to his own room, Amrita's earlier mischief lingered in his mind. He hoped she would learn from her mistakes and take responsibility for her actions.

In the stillness of the night, Amrita lay in bed but found sleep elusive. Her mind raced back to the day's events, the chaos in the kitchen and Arjun's stern words. She felt a pang of guilt but also an overwhelming desire to avoid another confrontation.

After several minutes of tossing and turning, she quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed to her desk. The dim light from the hallway illuminated her small workspace cluttered with schoolbooks and art supplies. There it was: her failed history test, crumpled at the corner with a big red "F" glaring back at her.

The test had been a disaster—she had studied hard but still managed to mix up dates and important events. Tomorrow was the day she needed to submit it for Arjun's signature before handing it in at school. The thought of facing him again filled her with dread; she could already imagine his disappointed expression.

"What if he punishes me again?" she whispered to herself, biting her lip as anxiety washed over her.

In that moment of vulnerability, Amrita made a choice that felt like the only option available to her. She reached for a pen and paper, glancing nervously toward her brother's closed door. With shaky hands, she practiced his signature on a scrap piece of paper until she felt confident enough to attempt it on the test itself.

"Just this once," she murmured under her breath as she carefully forged his name at the bottom of the paper. A rush of adrenaline coursed through her as she finished; it felt like both a relief and a weighty secret all at once.

As she placed the signed test back on her desk, Amrita felt a mix of triumph and guilt swirling inside her. She tiptoed back to bed, pulling the covers tightly around herself as if they could shield her from the consequences of her actions.

Lying in bed once more, Amrita couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. The excitement of having avoided another confrontation with Arjun was overshadowed by an uneasy knot in her stomach. What if he found out? What if he was disappointed again? 

With those thoughts swirling in her mind, sleep finally began to creep in, but not before she resolved to keep this secret hidden for as long as possible. However, her as long as possible did not go as planned.