!!Story Time!!
The iron gates of **Shivani Girls Government Senior Secondary School** creaked open with the familiarity of a place that had witnessed a thousand goodbyes and reunions. Morning light filtered through the neem trees that flanked the narrow pathway, bathing the ground in a soft golden hue.
It was the first day of the new academic session.
Girls in sky-blue salwar suits hurried in, their braids bouncing with every step. Some arrived clinging tightly to their fathers' fingers, others waved goodbye to elder brothers, while a few jumped off rickshaws or bicycles, adjusting dupattas and pulling their schoolbags higher on their shoulders. The campus buzzed with the gentle chaos of a fresh beginning.
After the morning assembly, the students dispersed to their new classes—some excited, some anxious, and many lost in the fog of expectations.
In one of the classrooms on the first floor, a girl sat alone at the first bench, her back straight, her hands folded neatly over a closed notebook. Her name was **Radhika**.
She gazed absently out of the window, watching a squirrel dash across a branch.
> *"I don't think I'll have any friends this year,"* she thought, a soft sigh escaping her lips. *"Everyone got separated after tenth. Two more years—eleventh and twelfth—and I have to survive them alone. I don't think any of my old friends are in this class."*
The room slowly filled with unfamiliar faces. Girls were laughing, chatting, settling into their seats. Radhika remained quiet, her thoughts louder than the commotion around her.
Then, the door creaked open again—and in walked a tall, cheerful-looking girl with two neatly tied plaits and eyes that scanned the room curiously.
"**Hello, Radhika!**" the girl chirped, walking straight toward her.
Radhika blinked. "**Divya...?**"
Divya grinned and dropped her bag on the bench beside her. "**You have this class too?**"
Radhika's lips parted in surprise. "Are you serious? I didn't think you'd be in the same section."
"Same here!" Divya laughed, settling down. "What subjects did you pick?"
"History, Political Science, Painting, Physical Education, Hindi and English," Radhika replied.
Divya gasped. "**No way! Me too! That's *exactly* my combination.**"
Radhika shook her head with a soft smile. "I thought I'd have to do these two years all alone without my best friend."
"Well," Divya said, squeezing her hand, "Looks like God had something else in mind."
They both laughed, the tension melting away.
"Come sit," Radhika offered, patting the seat beside her. "I was just thinking the same thing. I'll be stuck without friends."
Divya looked around the room. "Do you think we'll make any new ones?"
Radhika made a face. "I don't know… Everyone seems to be from different sections."
Just then, the bell rang. Girls rushed to find seats. Minutes passed, but no teacher entered. The low murmur of voices began again. Radhika took out her novel and opened it to a bookmarked page, slipping effortlessly into its world.
Meanwhile, Divya leaned across to talk to the girls in the row behind her, eager to befriend someone, anyone. She was mid-introduction when the door opened and a teacher stepped in.
Everyone stood.
"**Good morning, ma'am!**" the class echoed.
The teacher smiled briefly. "Good morning, girls. I'm not your regular class teacher—she'll join you from tomorrow. I'm here to mark attendance for today."
She called out names, ticked the register, and left just as quickly.
Once the door shut behind her, the room came alive again with chatter and giggles.
Radhika remained in her corner, eyes still on her novel. That's when a group of girls huddled near the back decided to play a game.
"**Let's play Truth or Dare!**" said a lively girl with a red ribbon in her hair.
"**Yeah, come on!**" another chimed in. "It's the first day and no real classes. Let's have fun!"
Divya was already in the group and nodded. "Let's play! But don't expect me to choose 'Truth' every time."
As the bottle began to spin, one of the girls glanced at Radhika, who hadn't moved an inch. "Hey, call your friend too," she nudged Divya. "She's just sitting there alone."
Divya gave a crooked smile. "She won't come. Not when she's reading."
"Why?" asked another.
"Because," Divya said dramatically, "when Radhika reads… the world can end and she wouldn't notice. But go on—try calling her. Let's see what happens."
Curious, one of the girls walked over and leaned toward Radhika.
"**Hey, I'm Khushi. Wanna join us? We're playing a game. You're sitting alone. Come on!**"
Radhika looked up, blinked once, and offered a polite smile. "Hey, I'm Radhika. You all play, I'll watch."
Khushi shook her head. "Oh no, watching is not allowed. Let's go."
Before Radhika could resist, Khushi tugged her gently by the arm, pulling her into the circle of giggles and mischief. Radhika hesitated—then let herself be led.
The bottle spun again, laughter burst like bubbles, and for the first time that morning, Radhika forgot the silence she feared.
The session had only just begun.
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Thank you 😊