Growing Pains

-Consequences-

Arjun returned home late the next evening, still feeling the weight of the day's events. As he stepped into the living room, he noticed Amrita's backpack lying open on the floor, her school books scattered around. He shook his head at his sister's carelessness and picked up the book lying on the floor. He frowned when he found a crumpled piece of paper dropping on the floor.

He picked it up and felt his heart drop. The big red "F" at the top was glaring, but it was the forged signature at the bottom that made his blood boil. Arjun's mind raced as he recalled their earlier conversation about honesty and responsibility. Anger surged through him as he realized Amrita had not only failed her test but had also betrayed his trust.

"Amrita!" Arjun called out, his voice echoing through the house.She appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide with surprise.

 "Yes, Bhaiya?"

"Did you forge my signature on this test?"

 He held up the paper, his expression stern.

Amrita's face fell, and she opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.

"Answer me!" Arjun insisted, feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"I... I just didn't want you to be mad at me again," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun took a deep breath to steady himself. "You need to understand that this is serious. Forging my signature is not just a mistake; it's dishonest. You can't just avoid consequences by lying."

Amrita's eyes filled with tears as she realized how grave her actions were. "I'm sorry! I thought if you didn't see it, you wouldn't be upset."

"That's not how it works," Arjun said firmly. "You're going to have to face the consequences of your actions." He paused for a moment, contemplating what would be appropriate. "For this, I'm giving you corner time," he decided. "You will stand in the corner of your room for ten minutes to think about what you've done."

Amrita's face crumpled in distress as she nodded silently. She understood that corner time was meant for reflection, but in that moment, it felt like a punishment too harsh for her young heart.

"And after that," Arjun continued, "you will write lines—'I will always be honest with my brother'—fifty times."

As Amrita trudged to the corner of her room, she felt small and ashamed. The walls seemed to close in around her as she stood there, facing away from her toys and colorful decorations that once brought her joy. She could hear Arjun moving around in the living room, likely trying to calm down after their confrontation.

After what felt like an eternity, Arjun returned to check on her. 

"You can turn around now," he said softly.

Amrita turned slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. 

"I'm really sorry, Bhaiya," she said again, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Arjun knelt down to meet her gaze. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me, but you need to understand that honesty is important. It's what builds trust between us."

"I promise I'll never do it again," Amrita vowed earnestly.

"Good," Arjun replied gently but firmly. "Now go ahead and start writing your lines."

As Amrita sat down at her desk with a fresh sheet of paper and a pen in hand, she felt a mix of regret and determination. Each line she wrote served as a reminder of her mistake and a commitment to do better in the future.

Arjun watched from the doorway for a moment before stepping away, feeling both relieved and heartbroken at having to discipline his sister again. He knew this was part of growing up, both for Amrita and for himself as an older brother, but it didn't make it any easier.

Growing indeed pains.