Let's Defy Conventions.

Chapter IV: The beginning of everything.

The entire Khan family was now sitting together, discussing the happenings of the day over a cup of coffee. Everyone seemed cheerful and happy.

That made Sana, who was planning to tell them the happenings of HER day, feel even more cruel.

Her face felt hot, her hands sweaty. How would she tell them that they'd been called to her school for something SO stupid?

She was thinking about what she would say, how she'd explain, when suddenly, silence fell.

This is my only chance, she thought.

"M-mom?" Sana quivered.

"Mm?"

"I.. have to tell you and dad something."

"Go ahead, then."

"It's, er, about school."

At the mention of school, everyone turned to face her. She smiled lamely.

"Well, tell us?" Mr. Khan asked.

Sana looked around at the curious faces nervously. Even Adil had stopped playing with his broken bat.

"What is it, Sana?" asked Mrs. Khan, concerned.

"I.. well.. I.. urm, p-p-punched a girl in school today," she stammered.

There was an awkward silence.

Sana could feel the tension rising rapidly.

Her parents had blank expressions plastered across their faces. Sana felt nauseous.

Just then, something strange happened.

Adil chuckled. But what was even more strange was what happened after that.

So did Mr. Khan, who was followed by Mrs. Khan.

In the end, the Khans were laughing hysterically, something so unusual that Sana felt like she was dreaming. Or wait. Was she dreaming?

"Y-you what?" Mr. Khan said between snorts of laughter.

This was amazing.

"I punched her!" Sana laughed, all her nervousness gone.

"Haha, but why?" Mrs. Khan asked, looking a bit solemn now.

Now that they were all being so casual, Sana told them the truth.

Every single bit.

Her mother looked hurt. Like really. Not angry or furious. But hurt. Her father was smiling sadly. Adil had resumed playing.

Awesome. She had just ruined everything.

*****

The next day, Sana was supposed to take her parents to her school for the talk. Her parents had agreed. There was something really weird about them these days. Whatever had happened last night still hadn't sunk in. What even..

"Good morning, Sr." said Mr. and Mrs. Khan as they entered the principal's room, only to find the Kapoors already seated there. The Kapoors had brought flowers with them for Sr. Lydia.

Hah. Bad move.

The principal nodded in acknowledgement. They sat down opposite her.

"Good morning to you all," she said, addressing the parents, "I suppose you already know what happened in school yesterday?"

All four of them nodded. Sana and Riddhi were standing behind their respective parents.

"And what do you think?" she asked them.

"Sis-" Mrs. Khan was about to speak when she was interrupted.

"Oh, Sr. Lydia! It was not my daughter's fault! She's such a princess, she would never say anything to someone!" Mrs. Kapoor said dramatically.

The Khans exchanged looks.

"But, Mrs. Kapoor. It so happens that she said something against Sana's mother," Sr. Lydia defended.

After an hour of argument, Mrs. Kapoor was still in denial.

Riddhi hadn't spoken a word all this while.

"No, Sister! That's not possible!" said Mrs. Kapoor shrilly.

"Oh yes. It evidently is. Isn't it, Riddhi?" demanded the principal, acknowledging Riddhi's presence for the first time that morning.

And, shockingly, Riddhi hung her head in shame and did not protest.

******

Now that Sana was cleared of all charges (hah.), she decided to pick up the form for the exchange programme. She took Saakshi along to the reception.

"Come on, Saakshi! Try, at least?" said Sana, repeating the same sentence for the seventeenth time now.

"Saying that in seventeen different tones won't convince me. So save your breath, Sana."

"But why won't you? This is an opportunity not available to many, my dearest friend," Sana said.

"Yeah, thanks, Mr. Kant," replied Saakshi sarcastically.

Giving Saakshi a go-to-hell look, Sana pushed open the door to the reception.

"Here we go."

******

Author's note:

I know the updates are getting shorter but I promise I'll make up for it. I'm just a bit busy atm.

Thanks.