The Girl in the Gym

Roses on the Piano

For Inaya, it was the closest to heaven at that moment in time. She let out the laugh and jumped on the bed. Lying flat on her back, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. For the first time since her parents died, she slept comfortably in a cosy bed instead of a flea-ridden, dirty mattress on the floor.

She woke up ten minutes before six the next day, a thin sliver of sunlight could be seen from between the curtains. The room was filled with a rosy glow. Inaya smiled. She got up, rubbed her eyes and pinched herself to make sure that yesterday was not just a sweet dream. It wasn't, the kind family had taken her in and given her shelter. Now, it was time to start repaying them for their generosity. By the time Mala came knocking, she had already taken a quick bath and pinned her hair back neatly. She was given milk and bread in the kitchen and then asked to lay the dining table for breakfast. When it was done, Mala told her that she needs to learn to iron clothes and fold them, and stack them neatly in Kalyani's cupboard. "Here, take these table mats and practice on them. I want them crisply ironed and folded in fifteen minutes," said Mala. Inaya got to work. By the time she was finished, it was almost 7.30, and the rest of the family trooped downstairs for their breakfast.

"Good morning, sir, ma'am," she said. "Hi, Kalyani." They wished her back. "I want to thank you for taking me in. You are the kindest people I have ever met in my life," she said, emotionally. This made Kusum teary-eyed as well, "Oh no dear, it was clear to us that you belonged to a good family and circumstances went against you. We have a daughter, and I would be distraught if anything happened to her. Just do your work with dedication, and be a good friend to our Kalyani. That's all we want."

Inaya bowed her head and nodded. She had a feeling that the arrangement was more beneficial to her than anyone else.

After breakfast, the mother and daughter led her upstairs to Kalyani's room. It was bright yellow and sunny, with flowers and books everywhere. "I'll leave you, girls, now. Inaya, make sure she has her medicines on time, and that she studies for at least two hours before lunch." Inaya nodded.

Once her mother had left, Kalyani took Inaya's hand and led her to the cupboard. It was in shambles. Clothes were spilling out on to the floor. "I know, it is a mess. Will you help me fix this? I try to be neat, but it always gets like this," said Kalyani with a sigh. Inaya let out a stunning laugh and nodded. That day was the beginning of the first childhood friendship either girl had ever had.