Jivika~

"Examples of natural indicators are Lichen and Turmeric— "

Wait. Wasn't there an advertisement about turmeric? What was it? Why can't I remember it? Oh! Yes!

Muttering the lyrics of 'Vicco turmeric, nahi cosmetic, vicco turmeric ayurvedic cream' I continued with my revision. Chemistry revisions always got me diverted from the topic. My eyes scanned over the Ethanol-Sodium reaction. I smiled remembering how I made Lavanya remember the product of that reaction.

"Yaar Jivi-Ma, I cant remember this CH3CH2O-Na+!"

"Its easy. Just remember, 'chchch-chch-ooh-naa'! Three ch's for CH3, two ch's for CH2, long ooh for O and naa for Na."

Wisps of memories popped out of nowhere, days and nights were getting impossible to pass through without the six of them. Ansh, my younger brother, screamed into my ears, breaking my chain of thoughts.

"You! You, get out of my bed!"

"Call me didi  you potato! And where is it written that its Ansh Mallik's bed, huh? Why, cat got your tongue?"

He might be just ten years old, but the length of his tongue made me doubt if there was some mistake in his birth certificate or not. Lost for words he went whining, probably to complain.

These younger siblings are such a pain in the ass.

Before I could get back to my revision, my mother called out.

"Jivika, dinner!"

The table was set. My late arrival was reprimanded, though not by my parents. It was Ansh who chose to point it out, 'Be our guest!' and clicking his tongue in disapproval. Thank god he was studying in a different school. Who knew how I could've tolerated him six hours in school as well. Lifting the lid of the casserole, I dropped two Rotis in my plate and went for the bowl of channa [chickpea]. It was a Saturday, the latter was a definite in the platter.

"So, I have something to say," started my father. Listening attentively I saw my brother sending me a surprisingly satisfying glare. He must've told them something.

Crybaby.

"I have been promoted!"

Congratulations passed around the table as we dug into our food. The statement had come to an end, or at least, that's what we had assumed.

"As a part of the promotion, I am getting transferred to Dubai."

Wait, what? Did I hear correct—

Probably would have. I am not my grandmother.

"So that means Papa that we too ... ?"

I could only manage to let that much out. And the nod I received was not helping me in completing the sentence. Squashing the Roti against the gram a bit harder, I blinked away the tears threatening to drop. Jivika Mallik does not cry in front of others. Finishing the meal faster than I ever could, I dropped the plate in the sink and rushed away. My mother was surprised, I was a slow eater.

Sitting on my own bed, I was disappointed at myself. The way I was reacting, it was a total bullshit. As the daughter of a bank employee, I should be used to transfers and moving. Every three years, this was a ritual. Shrinking closer against the wall, I stared outside the window.

Though dark and almost invisible, Tulips society children's park  provided me some sense of comfort. Something which I was not able to decipher. Trying to calculate and recalculate, I estimated that we will be shifting only after my tenth grade. And nothing was sure yet. Still, such a short notice.

As if you were told this before then it would've made any difference.

"Oye, dekh!"
["Hey, look!"]

I craned my neck to see what masterpiece had my brother created. I guess we siblings do have something in common, our madness. Written on the white sheets with red oil pastel, my brother has made his statement. And I had to appreciate his efforts.

"This is Ansh Mallik's bed. I and the bed will not go to Dubai."

And I came to a successful conclusion. Having this monkey as my brother was worth it. But I'd never admit that on his face.

Phir toh uski ego Kohli seh kam nahi hogi.
[Then his ego won't be any less than Kohli's.]

"By the way, dideee ..."

He is calling me didi. He is dragging on the didi. There is something wrong. He is going to ask me something. What is it? Homework? Fake signature on test paper? What could it be?

"I have a doubt."

I could only nod. I was curious and a bit perplexed.

"A girl told me, I love you. What should I tell her?"

"What did you tell her Ansh?"

"She ran away."

Okay. This was shit awkward. We were not that kind of siblings. The ones who talk. I should probably ask Kiara about it. She would know how to answer this.

"For now, you don't tell her anything, okay?"

"Okay."

And he dozed off. Leaving me wide awake for rest of the night. No, not because of the incident. No.

Was that girl really blind?

The question lapsed over and over again, leaving me sleepless for the night.

*

Memorizing the story of how Manchester goods came to India, I repeated the lines again and again. Sitting on top of the dusty bench, I set aside the textbook for a while. I snatched Lavanya and Maahi's as well and dropped it on top of mine.

"Take a break!"

"But we have a test next period! You have studied Jivika, I have not! And Maahi doesn't even need to study for it, Lata ma'am will leave her just like that!"

"No no no. I have not studied. What am I gonna do?"

Sighing, I clutched onto the three textbooks as if my life depended on them. Knowing that they were not going to get them back, they watched the playground stretched out ahead of them. What's the use of a games period if you cannot enjoy it?

Waving his hand like a madman, Shreyansh yelled at us, trying to secure the goalpost of his team simultaneously.

"Why are you people studying?"

"Test!" we yelled out, surprised that he did not remember it.

"Arrey! Lata ma'am has taken some child of her class to the hospital! She wont be there today!"

My mouth formed an 'o' as I realized that we were stressing over nothing. Chucking the books out of my sight, we sat listening to Lavanya repeating 'yaar'  again and again. We had wasted the past three periods crying over Industrial revolution, and now were exhausted. The bell rang signalling the end of the games period. We should've been giving a test now, but our teacher ditched us. Checking with the rest of the class, we had a majority decision. No one was going back.

Anyways it was the last period and with Lata ma'am out of the way, no one would mind us spending our forty minutes in the ground. Children from the primary classes were left early, at the strike of one. Their parents paraded outside the gate, as only after another twenty minutes they would be allowed to pick up their kids. I watched the long train of first graders march into the ground. The child who stood first in the line held onto Lavanya's mother, dutifully following their class teacher.

Those little children separated into their own groups, playing around. Bored out of our wits, we caught hold of one kid, a girl with short curly black hair. Lavanya, trying out her baby-voice, coaxed the kid.

"What is your name kiddo?"

"Ishita. Let's play hide and seek didi!"

We denied the kid. She refused to accept it and tried to pull us into the game. Even after the gates opened, no parent came to pick her up. And so, we were stuck with her. Engaging the girl into answering our questions, we tried to make her forget the game. But the moment when she stopped speaking, she would remind us again. One demand of hers was abruptly cut, as the ground turned chaotic with the entry of a herd of cows and bulls, running around here and there.

We were thankfully standing on the stage in the playground, at a height where they weren't likely to climb. Our class's football match came to a pause, and so, Shreyansh, Amaan, Parth and few others walked up on the stage. Approaching us, they spent their time playing with the girl, until Amaan and Shreyansh proposed an idea, together.

"Ishu, let us play another game, okay?"

"Okay bhaiya!"

"You see that didi and bhaiya over there? Go and talk to them. And if they ask who sent you there — then — then — don't answer them, okay? Now go!"

We watched the girl rush away. Without even bothering to speak a word, we watched her sandwich herself between Kiara and Pratik, who were talking since the last period. Both of them were taken aback, looking at each other and the girl awkwardly. All of us hid behind the tables on the stage, muffling our laughter with great difficulty. Kiara chose to take the lead as she asked Ishita who sent her. The kid laughed at her question, making us laugh as well but quietly.

Kiara asked her again to point out the people who sent her. And Ishita? She laughed, again, making us and Pratik as well, tumble on the floor cackling. Figuring out that it was us, the two of them pleaded to give them some time alone and at last we compiled, calling the kid back. As the bell signalling the end of school rang, I felt lazy to go to top floor and bring my bag. Shreyansh was already bringing Lavanya and Maahi's bags, only because Lavanya promised him a treat and Maahi swore to help him with the history chapter.

"Oye Amaan, bring my bag, please!"

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please, I know you will. And no snooping around, okay?"

"On the other hand, just cause I'm being generous, I'll bring it."

Knowing that he would do exactly the same thing, I smiled at my brilliance. There was nothing worth hiding inside. Except for a one rupee coin. But asking him not to snoop around, would lead him to thinking that there was something and so, luring him into the trap. With a grumpy face he dropped my bag, not happy with how he fell into the trap. Maahi and I waited for Lavanya, who was busy narrating the whole thing to her friend who lived in her same building.

"And we had so much fun troubling Kiara and Pratik, it was amazing!"

"But who was that kid?"

"Look! That girl."

Naira, her friend, laughed louder, earning all our attention. In fact, whoever was present there. Breathing in and out, she spoke up.

"Do you know who the kid was?"

"No?"

"Ishita, the Vice Principal sir's granddaughter!"

We had been troubling his granddaughter? Well, shit. The kid looked nothing like him! And we did not exactly do anything wrong, right? Well, I don't care. We did not do anything wrong. This was a statement. The fog of uncertainty crept into my mind, as I shared a look with the person standing next to me.

I looked.

He looked.

We looked away.

And we looked  back again.

~