Where there is wind, the trees sway.

Nothing's changed

Sulekha

Madhavi and Sahiti were always bickering. This time, I was solving a dispute on whose mother was the better cook, when Ramnath sir entered the class holding a bundle of papers in his hands. The whole class grew silent.

Everyone knew what it was. It was the Mid-term test papers. He'd corrected them. I couldn't help but worry; I had studied so hard for that test.

My name was called and he handed the paper to me. Taking a deep breath, I looked at my score. I couldn't believe my eyes. Finally, Mummy and Baba were going to be proud of me too. Anit had never scored full marks in any subject, no, he had barely passed in any subject. That was why he had stayed in class five for two years.

Even Ramnath Sir smiled at me and all the girls in my class clapped for me. I was so happy that I went around the class showing my score to everyone. Madhavi was so happy for me but Sahiti who had missed my score by just one mark, sat in a corner sulking.

That day, after school, I ran home as fast as my legs would let me.

"Today is a day of change. "I thought."Maybe I'll even rub it in Anit's face."

The moment I reached the front door I shouted,

"Ma, look at my score. I got full marks."

My mother came running outside. She looked worried.

"Why are you shouting? I thought that you had hurt yourself or something. What's the matter?", she asked.

"I scored full marks in Math!"

" Is that why you are raising hell outside the house? Come inside you stupid girl. Help me with the kitchen."

"But Ma,.."

"Yeah you scored full marks, so what? Get inside."

Heartbroken, I got inside, but I was still hopeful about Baba. Maybe, he'll like me better now. I thought.

Baba came home tired. I went towards him excited and smiling.

He asked," What's the matter Sulekha? You seem very happy."

"Yes, Baba. Look."

I showed him my test paper eagerly.

Then he said the words that would hurt me for a very long time. It meant nothing, perhaps that's what had hurt the most.

"Good. Now, will you tell your mother to bring me my tea?"

I wanted to tell him so much. Maybe he hadn't seen the paper properly. But when I looked at his face, I knew that he couldn't care less.

I saw Anit run-up to Baba and I saw the gleam in my father's eyes when he saw him and I knew nothing had changed.

I felt so hurt. I ran outside to the fields near our house and sat looking at the sunset for a long time. A herder was calling his cows back to him, walking them home. A flock of birds flew across the sky. The hens in the coop next to me continued to peck at their grains.

They didn't seem to be bothered by me. No one did. I stood up, dusted off my skirt, and took a deep breath.

I went home, helped my mother with her chores, ate, laid my bed, and cried myself to sleep. The next year, my parents stopped me from school.