8 years back

"Kids get in a line. Sandhya get everyone together."

"Yes mam," I replied and snatched each one of my classmates to form a line. I grinned when teacher scolded some students. They glared at me but I was used to it. I was the monitor.

Teacher started roll calling and one by one we all got on the bus. She furrowed her eyebrows and counted the students again. One was missing.

"Has anyone seen Ved?" she asked and we all shook our heads. I was happy he didn't come. I could enjoy the picnic so much without him.

"Present mam." Shit. Why did he had to arrive?

Teacher smiled at him and told him to take a seat. He smirked when he saw that the seat beside me was empty. I quickly put my bag on it and pointed my thumb to the back.

He moved past me after he pulled one of my pigtails. I got up to hit him but teacher told me to keep seated. I huffed and glanced back. He sat with his friends and began bragging about his soccer skills. Idiot.

Ayush was sitting few seats back. He had motion sickness so mam made him sit near the window. I brought some medicines for him, though I am sure he already had them. The ride to the water park was smooth.

As we started getting down the bus, Ved pushed me when I was on the last step of the stairs. I fell down and my uniform got dirty. Ayush helped me and scolded Ved. I thanked Ayush and teacher helped me to remove some stains. Didn't she notice he pushed me?

Even if they did, they never did anything. He was a rich kid afterall. Wealth speaks everytime. As I moved past him, I kicked him on the shin and ran away. He grunted but couldn't catch me because he was clutching his leg where I hit him.

We enjoyed a lot. The water slide was so much fun, I lost the count of how many times I rode it. The roller coaster was on another level. Ved and I argued for the front seat but Ayush intervened before we killed each other. Always the peacemaker.

All three of us sat in front with Ayush sitting between me and Ved as a barrier. He was afraid that we might try to push each other off during the ride.

After getting ourselves bruised by playing like there was no tomorrow, teacher told us to take a break. I was swimming in the swimming pool lost in my world. A hand grabbed my right ankle and started pulling me down. Ved! I kicked with my other leg but he kept pulling.

"Sandhya! Ved! What are you doing? Come out this second!" our teacher shouted and Ved left my leg . We came above the water surface and he tried to dunk my head inside the water before getting out. I smashed my fists on the water. I will get back to him.

After having lunch, we were taken to a nearby park. Everyone was busy and I made sure Ayush wasn't around. He would stop me if he saw me.

I went to the public washrooms and acted like I was waiting for someone. Whenever someone asked me what was I doing in front of Gents' washroom, I told them I was waiting for my father.

They got suspicious since I was in my school uniform but went away when I told more lies. I heard the lock open. Here was my chance. I rubbed my palms in anticipation. Just as I heard footsteps, I moved my right foot forward as I leaned on the wall.

I heard a loud crash and began jumping in joy. I tripped Ved. He glared at me from the floor and I ran away after pulling out my tongue at him.

I enjoyed it. A lot. I got mixed with the other kids and he told Ayush what I did. Ayush looked at me disappointingly. I shrugged my shoulders. I got my revenge. I won't allow Ved to get his way everytime.

We were taken around the city before we left. After visiting some famous spots, we entered a mall and teacher told us to be in sight. If anyone misbehaved, they would be sent home and their parents would be called. We all nodded our heads and spread out.

The mall was huge. I started counting the number of shops it had but gave up after sometime. I went to a jewelry store with some girls and imagined how they would look if mom wore them. If I had money, a lot of money with me right now, I would have bought the whole store. The employees smiled at us when they saw us looking at the jewels with awe.

They were kind enough to let us try some pieces and we thanked them. After that we went to a toy store. My eyes almost popped out when I saw so many varieties of toys under one roof. They were kept in rows, separated according to their size. Can I buy all of them? Dad would have to take a loan and he won't be very happy with that.

Star wars, Avengers, Pokemon, Duel Masters, Naruto.... I wanted them all! Grow up fast Sandhya. You can buy the whole mall then. I smiled at the thought and saw some boys fussing over some action figures. Slowly I moved to the girls' section. I saw some doll sets and miniature doctor and cooking sets. So stereotypical.

I kept moving and noticed Ayush. He was standing in front of a shelf, his eyes locked at the doll in front of him. I observed from afar. He was staring at a gorgeous warrior doll. She was dressed in a samurai uniform and looked quite expensive to me. Ayush could buy it if he wanted.

"Ayush! Where are you?" one boy called him.

He quickly tore his gaze away from the doll and looked here and there. He saw me and his cheeks turned red. I smiled. He quickly ran past me.

"You saw nothing," he said and joined his friends. Was he embarrassed? Why?

I picked up one teddy bear and melted in its fur. So soft. I hugged it tightly but was told to put it back by an employee if I wasn't going to buy it. So rude. I started picking up and hugging every toy to annoy him. He ignored me few times as he had customers to attend but when he got free, he threw me out.

I teased him and he warned me he would report me if I didn't leave. Idiot. I kept roaming around and imagining myself in dresses which elder girls wore. They were so pretty. I want to grow up and try all of them.

I went to kids' section and some employees asked if I wanted to buy anything. I shook my head. I didn't have that much money with me right now. Mom wasn't here too so I couldn't buy anything.

They allowed me to try some clothes I liked. Such nice people. I told them about that toy store employee and how he behaved. They told me stuff like that happens and not to worry about it.
I tried a frock and got out of the changing room to show them. They clapped and complimented me.

"Even a monkey would look better than you in that costume," Ved pointed at me and began laughing. His friends joined in too. I glared at him.

"Look at your face," He said inbetween his laughs. I fisted my hands to control myself. Suddenly his eyes widened and he stopped laughing.

"Dad?!" he exclaimed.

He was looking past me. I turned around and saw his father at the reception desk. He was with a woman. She had a lot of shopping bags in her hands and Ved's father took out his card from his wallet.

When he heard Ved's voice, he turned around and his face paled for a second. He quickly masked it and Ved ran towards him. He pushed past me and I cursed him.

"What are you doing here? Why is she with you?" he asked angrily. His father told him to keep his voice low but Ved continued shouting why he was with that woman. She was his mother, right? Why was he acting like that?

I grabbed Ayush's arm before he could move. I asked him what was going on and he told me to just ignore it.

"She is not my mother!" Ved shouted.

His father grabbed his arm but he yanked it away and stomped off. Ayush ran after him and I just stared at his retreating form. What just happened? Ved's father apologized to the people and consoled his weeping wife. I think that's what she was. They soon left the store.

I changed back into my school uniform and after thanking the employees, went out. Why was Ved so angry? I got to our meeting spot and waited for others to come. That idiot Ved ruined all the mood. Whatever was the issue, he shouldn't have have talked to his father like that.

I would have gotten beaten into a pulp if I even raised my voice to my parents accidentally. Spoiled brat.

"Come on Ved. Don't cry anymore." I heard Ayush's voice. Hm? Ved was crying? How could I miss this? I followed the voice and saw them standing behind a huge standee. Ayush had his right hand on Ved's shoulder while Ved sniffled and nodded to whatever Ayush was saying.

If I had a camera, I would have taken a picture. Why was he crying? I thought nothing could hurt him. I made a sound like camera shutter closing and opening. They both looked in my direction and Ved's eyes widened.

"Caught you!" I yelled and mimicked clicking pics like a reporter. Ayush told me to cut it off but I continued. I won't get this chance again. Ved stomped towards me and pushed me. Ayush caught me before I fell.

"You jerk. Why did you push me?" I yelled.

"Are you making fun of me?" he gritted his teeth.

"Stop it both of you!" Ayush intervened.

"Ved is a crybaby, crybaby~~
Cry, cry, crybaby~~~" I sang and mimicked him.

He punched me and Ayush clasped his mouth. He looked at us in horror. Ved's eyes widened and he realized what he did.

"Shit. It was your fault. Look don't cry now... Shit yaar. Sandhya I am sor-" he began but I cut him off.

This was it. I punched him back. We got into a fight and Ayush ran off to call the teacher when he couldn't stop us.

"You moron. You think you will get away this time. You hit me!" I kicked him and he tried to get me off of him.

"Ved!"

He stopped his punch mid-air when he heard his father's voice. He pulled Ved off and his mother helped me up. He kept his head low unable to look his father in his eyes.

"I thought I taught you better than this. Hitting a girl? So shameful," his father spat.

Ved glanced at me and winced. Ayush arrived with teacher and she almost fainted.

"Apologise to her," his father commanded. Ved bit his bottom lip. He looked at me and I challenged him. I dare you. He read my thoughts and exhaled.

"Sorry," he said in a low voice.

"Say it louder!" his father boomed. Ved flinched and I narrowed my eyes at him. He was afraid? I wasn't used to seeing him scared.

"I am sorry Sandhya. I shouldn't have hit you," he said and by his tone, he really meant it. Why now? Was he that scared of his father?

"I am sorry too Sandhya. For my son's behaviour. It is bad to hit girls," his mother said and Ved glared at her.

"No I should be sorry. It was my fault. I started it. I made fun of him first and that's why he hit me," I said and mentally face-palmed. Why was I saying this? Shut up already.

Everyone stared at me like I was speaking some alien language.

"If it's not okay to hit a girl, it shouldn't be okay to hit a boy too," I shrugged. Oh my god. I need to keep my mouth close. I mentally kicked myself.

"Such a smart kid. Learn something from her," Ved's father told him and he just stared at me blankly. We were taken to a clinic and bandaged up. I was proud of my bruises. I stood up for myself.

I proudly flaunted them and smirked at Ved. He scoffed.

"Don't think I am going to leave you alone after the act you just pulled. You like to be the good person all the time, don't you? You will regret it one day," he hissed and left.

What an idiot! I just helped him and he threatened me? I should applaud him. But, why was he so angry at his mother? Mother.... Hold up. That's not his mother. As much as I remember, his mother lived overseas. I have seen her at Parent Teacher meetings sometimes.

Then who was this woman? She was definitely not his mom. Whatever. Why was I thinking about this? I should worry about myself. How was I going to explain all my injuries to my parents? Great. I enjoyed picnic too much. Too much.

"That's my seat." Ved pushed me as I tried to sit beside Ayush. I was going to push him back but remembered our earlier fight. I didn't have enough strength for another round.

I wonder what he will do now after I decided to fight him. Ayush looked at me apologetically and I sat beside a girl. We started chatting and the whole ride I kept thinking about that woman. Why? Mind your own business. My curious mind had other plans though.

I asked Ayush about Ved's mother the next day. He took me to an empty classroom and made me promise, I wouldn't tell anyone. I nodded my head and after minutes of thinking, he began.
He wasn't sure if he should tell me or not. I pinky promised.

My face paled when he told me Ved's mother died last year and not many people knew about it. The woman we saw yesterday was Ved's stepmother. That's why he was so angry. I got it now.

I hated him but also felt sad for him. No one is happy to lose their parents. I wouldn't want to. Ayush made me promise him again that I would keep it a secret. I assured him and we went to the class. I kept stealing glances at Ved imagining what must be going through his mind.

"What are you looking at?" Ved shouted.

"Jerk," I said and got back to doing my homework. It saved time to do it in school during free time. That way I got more time to play at home.

He picked up my notebook and ripped off some pages. My eyes widened and I tried to stop him. He laughed evilly and I began crying. Ayush came for my help and picked up the torn papers. I was about to complete my assignment.

Ved yelled at Ayush for helping me. Ayush was stuck between us. He couldn't decide which side he was on. I felt bad for him and cried more. I picked up my bag and ran out of the classroom.

That idiot. There was no use to sympathize with him. He was a jerk and would always be one.