Tiny sniffles filled the car as the Guptas drove in the valleys of Uttarakhand.
“Khushi “ Garima began gently,” It’s going to be okay! Nani had her schooling here, and so did I . Payal is here with you too”
From the corner of her eyes, she saw her sister roll her eyes.
“She’s just being dramatic, mom. I didn’t shed a tear when I was 11”
“That’s because you were happy to get away from me!” Khushi screeched.
“Khushi “ Shashi admonished.
“You’ll be fine beta. They will all be your age. All in the same boat. And oh! The memories you’ll make!”
She blew her nose noisily in her pristine white handkerchief, and grumpily looked out of the window.
The imposing building came into view.
Woodsmith School
The bane of her existence. Her family’s tradition. How will she ever survive?
—————
She looked around at the other children.
I am wearing the same thing, yet they look so smart, she whined in her head.
“Cheer up cry baby, this is not the end of the world” Payal said with a sharp nudge.
“In fact, this is the beginning!”
Khushi looked up to see a tall bespectacled boy walking towards them.
“Oh hi Akash!”
She narrowed her eyes at her sister’s sudden change of voice.
“Hi Payal. God, I missed you!”
Khushi gasped as the boy kissed her sister’s cheek.
Payal stiffened as she became conscious of Khushi.
“Well Akash , meet my baby sister Khushi. She is beginning today,”
“Hello,” she said in a small voice.
Akash bent down to meet her eye, his eyes crinkling with kindness.
“Hi Khushi! Welcome to woodsmith! You’ll have a great time here, even though now it will seem a bit daunting.”
Khushi nodded.
“Here, my brother is in your year too. Arnav, say hi !”
Khushi looked up at the young boy she hadn’t noticed till now.
Caramel chocolate, she thought as his eyes met hers.
He looked so much at ease, Khushi couldn’t imagine it being his first day too.
“Hi, Khushi “
“Hi” she swallowed nervously.
“Khushi” Payal said impatiently, “We need to go right now, Akash is the school captain! I’ll see you at recess okay?”
“Don’t be a cry baby” she hurriedly whispered into her ear.
Khushi looked on as her sister sauntered off with her boyfriend.
“I don’t think you are a cry baby”
She looked back at Arnav, who seemed so much wiser than her, she almost felt jealous.
“You don’t?” She asked, her eyes wide, seeking reassurance.
“Nope! Now, come on, let's go. They have a morning assembly every day.”
He said, his hands resting in his pockets.
Khushi hurried behind him, suddenly the thought of boarding school was not so scary anymore.
———
She sidled up beside Arnav, as scary adults lined them up. Their cruel eyes scrutinised them from head to toe. Their hands looked rough, probably from the beatings they gave to children like her.
This is nothing like Hogwarts, she thought.
“Silence”
Akash’s booming voice echoed across the hall. He looked far from the kind person she had met a few minutes ago. She watched as he stepped away from the mic, and a stout woman took his place.
“Good morning, young boys and girls. I am pleased to welcome the sixth class students to Woodsmith school. Established in 1915, it is an institution renowned across India for its discipline and excellence in all fields. You all will be divided into four houses. And those houses will be there with you till you leave this school. But the friends you make and the lessons you learn will last you life long! I welcome back all other senior students for another year of learning.”
Khushi crossed her fingers discreetly, wishing to be in the same house as Arnav.
Waiting patiently, she heard the names being called out with their houses.
“Khushi Gupta….Green house!”
She sighed. After all, Payal di was in yellow.
She looked at Arnav to see his eyes set on the stage, listening intently.
“Arnav Raizada….Red house!”
All her hopes came crashing down. The one person she could be friends with, would be away from her forever, she thought stewing in her own misery.
She startled as she felt a rough crumble of paper being stuffed in her hand.
“What?” She whispered into Arnav’s ears.
“Read it after the assembly “ he said sternly, before flinging his bag over his shoulder and heading towards the red house master.
Heart thumping, she looked around for her own house master.
She walked towards an older girl, waving a green flag, her hands still clutching the note.
————
Meet me at the secret stairs
Scrawled with pencil below this command were directions leading to the said staircase.
Khushi knew she should head towards her dorm room, but she just couldn’t let a friend down.
Arnav was her friend wasn’t he?
Stumbling and fumbling across hallways and grounds, she finally found the rustic dome Arnav had scribbled in his map.
She walked inside, noticing the brick walls and brick staircase.
“Boo!”
“Aah!”
“Shush Khushi! It’s me!” Arnav chuckled.
“You gave me a heart attack!” She slapped his arm.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Eleven year olds don’t get heart attacks silly!”
“Whatever” she muttered.
“Now come", he grabbed her hand leading her up the stairs.
There was his bag, beside two soda bottles.
“There was only one flavour” he said sheepishly.
“How do you know of this place?”
She felt at peace. Far away from the tall teachers and snobby children.
“Well, my parents brought me and my brother here this summer. You know, just to let me check out where I’ll be going. And I just explored the place.”
Then a streak of seriousness entered his eyes.
“No one should get to know about this place Khushi, I am serious. This is sacred. Do you get it?”
She nodded solemnly.
“Promise” She entwined her pinky finger with his, flashing him a toothy grin.
They sipped their strawberry flavoured soda quietly, sharing a few moments of silence before the mayhem takes over.
“We are in different houses,” she said sadly.
“But we are in the same class,” he clinked his bottle with hers.
Khushi didn’t budge.
“I’ll tell you what!” He opened his bag, held out a sharp compass.
He took his soda bottle cap and with an artist’s precision, began scraping at it.
There on the pink cap, over the bold letters spelling out soda, was the scratch
A+K
“A memorabilia for our friendship! It will last forever Khushi Gupta !” He winked.
“Okay” she smiled softly.
The brick walls stood still, as a tale of love began.
