Age- 6&10
Ishan and Mayank were returning to their class after distributing chocolates to their principal, teachers, guard uncles, and didis and bhaiyas. Well, didis and bhaiyas were the support staffs of the school.
Today is Ishan's birthday, so he took his best friend Mayank with him to distribute chocolates. The doe-eyed, chubby-cheeked boy, who is three apples tall, received so many "awws", along with cheek-pulling and affectionate remarks.
They were crossing the senior classes when they saw a boy, tall and lanky, standing outside a class. Mayank didn't pay much heed, but Ishan stopped a few steps behind. He blinked his doe eyes and tilted his head. A pout came on his lips as he looked at the boy standing there.
Ye subah subah yaha kyun khade hain? Ishan thought. Mayank stopped when he saw that his best friend was not beside him. He turned and saw Ishan standing back there. He walked back to him.
"Kya hua Ishu? Yaha kyu khade ho? Chalo jaldi, mam padha rahi hongi."
"Mayu", Ishan again looked at the tall boy, "wo bhaiya waha class ke bahar kyu khade hain? Hum sab toh abhi class me hote hain na?"
After a beat, he asked with wide and sparkling eyes, "Kya bhaiya ka bhi birthday hai aaj?"
Mayank's brows furrowed a bit. "Pata nahi Ishu. Sayad ho sakta hai... par unke saath toh unka koi best friend nahi hai toh wo chocolates kaise batenge?"
Ishan frowned too, his pout more prominent. "Haan, ye toh hai... Chalo na, hum bhaiya se puchte hain."
"Aree, par Ishu hamari class-"
"Hum turant puch kar class chalenge Mayu. Aur waise bhi mam aaj kuch nahi bolengi, mera birthday hai na", Ishan proudly said.
Mayank hesitantly agreed. Together, they went to the boy standing there.
Shubman was standing out, casually leaning on the wall of his class. His class teacher, Reema mam, punished him in the first period only because he disturbed the class. In his defence, it was a harmless prank. His classmate, Rahul, was an innocent and shy boy. He doesn't talk much and will always reply in his slow and a bit nervous voice. Shubman and his friend, Hardik, just wanted to help Rahul overcome his fear, so they sneakily put a toy lizard in his bag when the class was going to the assembly ground. When Rahul opened his bag, he jumped back a few steps and screamed. Reema mam was taking the attendance, but she hurriedly walked to Rahul's bench. To say she was furious was an understatement. She asked a few times, but no one answered who pulled the prank. When she glared at the class and threatened them that she would punish the whole class, one boy stood up and told her that he saw Shubman opening Rahul's bag before going for the assembly. So, after lots of scolding, here Shubman is. But he doesn't mind. It's not the first time he has been punished. He is the notorious kid in his class.
Shubman was bored. Wish he could roam the school, but alas!
Ishan and Mayank approached the tall boy. Ishan raised his hand and softly poked the boy's left arm with his finger. The boy looked at him. He frowned and bent a little to their height. The boy raised his brow, as if asking what?
"Hello bhaiya! Mai Ishan hun. Aur ye mera best friend hai, Mayu", Ishan said. Mayank waved at the boy.
Ishan further continued, "Aap yaha bahar kyu khade ho first period me? Aapki class nahi hai kya?" Ishan asked with wide, curious eyes.
Not gonna lie, Mayank was a bit nervous. He has heard some stories about the senior boys at their school. The seniors take no time in pranking or laughing at someone. But how's he going to make this curious cat, his best friend, understand this?
