8 years back
Which one is better? Pokemon or Digimon? Of course Dragon Ball Z is the best. No comparison. Then, I liked Naruto too. Disney princesses! Winx club! I love Pooh too. I won't discriminate.
"Easy there. You only get to choose one of those," Mom told me and I pouted.
"Why can't we buy all of them?"
"You only need one of those. Make up your mind soon or I will leave you here," she scolded.
How could she ask me to make such a difficult decision in a second? After pondering for ten more minutes, I went with Pokemon.
"Aren't they so pretty?" I asked and took the name stickers from the shopkeeper.
My mom paid the money and we left the shop. After buying more stationary, we got to our home.
"I am never taking you to shopping with me," Mom sighed and relaxed on the chair.
"I will still come." I jumped up and down and showed dad the new stickers I bought.
He laughed at me and mom got up to prepare the dinner. Dad went in the kitchen to help her and I left for my room.
I started covering my notebooks with brown and orange paper. It's so time consuming. I took out the name stickers and put them on my books.
Perfect! I admired my workmanship. If there was a competition for applying covers on books, I will get the first prize for sure.
I put the notebooks in my bag as per tomorrow's time table and picked up the trash. After cleaning my room, I went down to have dinner.
"Sandhu want to go for the fair tomorrow?" Dad asked.
"Fair?" My eyes lit up. I love fairs. Of course I would go.
I nodded my head enthusiastically and mom scolded dad for spoiling me too much. He told her he got extra income this month, so he would treat us.
Yay! I love my dad. He is the best.
Ã~Ã
"Don't run so fast, kiddo. You will hurt yourself," Dad shouted and I stopped.
I waited for him as I licked my ice-cream. Mom looked exhausted. We have been here for just one hour and she was already tired? She needs to exercise.
"Ferris wheel!" I pulled my dad and mom.
"Breakdance!"
"Rollercoaster!"
"That's enough now," Mom scolded and I turned to dad. I gave him my best puppy eyes and he melted right away. I looked at mom and she shook her head.
Dad always let me do what I wanted but mom was really strict. In the end, we would always convince her to go according to our plans.
I hugged her and she wrapped her arms around me. Dad smiled at the scene and bought us some cotton candies. Yummy!
I continued running here and there and after one more hour, we decided to leave. On our way, dad asked me if I wanted to buy a toy.
I searched the shop and pointed at a small giraffe. Dad paid the money and we started leaving. Suddenly, I stopped.
"What happened, Sandhya?" Mom asked and I went back to that toy shop.
Mom grabbed my arm and I dug my heels in the ground. I pointed at a doll which was lying in a corner.
"That's quite expensive beta," Mom said and I asked dad.
He sighed and mom gave him a glare. He asked the price of the doll and scratched his head. I looked at him hopefully.
"What is the price dad? Is it really that expensive?" I aksed and dad glanced at mom.
"We will buy you another doll, Sandhu. You already have that giraffe right?" Mom tried to convince me.
Think Sandhya. Think. I wanted that doll at any cost. I have been searching for it in shops near my house for a month. Now that I found it, I won't let it go.
"Dad, I don't want this toy. Can we exchange it?" I asked and dad looked at me in confusion.
"I don't want it but I really need that doll. Please. I won't ask for anything else. Promise," I pleaded.
The shopkeeper was kind enough to exchange the toys and give us that doll for a lower price. It was still expensive but I told mom, she doesn't need to give me pocket money for now.
My parents laughed and I asked them what was the matter. They ignored my question and asked me why I wanted that doll so much.
"I want to give it to a friend," I said.
"Who is this lucky friend?" Dad asked.
"Ayush. Its his birthday next week."
"Good girl." Dad patted my head and mom smiled at me.
"I just hope he invites me to his birthday party," I mumbled.
"What did you say?" Mom asked.
"Nothing."
Ã~Ã
"Sandhya, please monitor the class till I return," Our maths teacher said and went out of the classroom.
"Silence everyone!" I shouted at my classmates who began causing chaos as soon as teacher left.
They all looked at me and groaned. I threatened them that I will tell their names to her if they didn't listen to me. It was rare to see them oblige so easily but they knew our Maths teacher was one level up than the devil.
Everyone got back on their seats and I smiled at the scene. I went to the door and peaked outside. No one in sight. I closed the door partially and went back behind teacher's desk.
Utter silence. Ved glared at me and I gave him a tight lipped smile. I picked up the chalk and threw at him. It hit him on the forehead and he winced. Everyone looked at me and I laughed at Ved's reaction.
"Chalk fight!" I shouted and everyone burst out shouting the same. They all took pieces of chalk from the box and began throwing them at each other.
Teacher told me to monitor the class and I was going to do it my way. This was so much fun!
"We will all get in trouble," Ayush whined and I told him to relax. He was the only one who wasn't involved in the fun. Scaredy cat.
"Stop acting like a kid," I said and threw a chalk at him. It hit him on the arm and he glared at me. Ved pushed me and I landed on the floor.
"Why are you always acting like his bodyguard?" I asked and dusted myself.
"Stop bullying him," Ved said and I glanced at Ayush.
"I am not bullying him! We are having fun," I explained.
Ved rolled his eyes and pushed me again when I tried to get up. He was the one bullying me.
"Teacher is coming!" Someone shouted and we all hurriedly got back to our seats.
I tripped and everyone laughed. Teacher came and looked at all of us suspiciously. She saw the bits and pieces of chalks lying around the classroom and called me up.
"Tell me Sandhya who did this," she ordered and narrowed her eyes at the students. Everyone stiffened and I saw Ved relax in his seat.
"I am asking you something," she said and I looked down. Why did she arrive so early?
"Tell me!" she shouted and I flinched.
"It was me mam," I said and her eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't believe I could be behind this.
"You are the monitor, Sandhya. I am really disappointed in you," she sighed and shook her head.
What could I do? It wasn't like I was taking the blame for someone else. I was tired of being the monitor. It's such a boring job.
"You will have to stay after school and clean the classroom. That's your punishment. I will inform your parents," she said and told me to go back to my seat.
She was going to tell my parents? Shit. I got in big trouble. I couldn't do anything now. I sadly sat down on my seat and heard my classmates snickering. Why did I only got the punishment? They were playing too.
The bell rang and after two more classes, everyone left for their homes. I stayed behind for my punishment. Mom will kill me today. I said a silent prayer for myself.
I went in the classroom and took the broom from the janitor. He gave me a small smile and left. I have to do this alone?! Why do I have such a bad luck? I whined and stomped my foot on the floor.
I brought this upon myself. I sighed and began cleaning. After few minutes, my back started aching. This was pure torture!
"Looking good there Sandy Pandy." I heard Ved's voice.
I looked up and saw him leaning on the door with Ayush standing beside him. I pursed my lips. If I hit him with the broom, will he die? I shook my head and continued with my work.
"That works suits you. You can make it your career. I will talk to principal to give you a job here," he teased and began laughing at his own joke.
Seriously? That was so lame. Ayush glanced at me, confused what to say. I told them to go but they ignored me.
"Why are you still here?" I asked Ayush and he fidgeted in his spot.
"Ved's dad hasn't come up to pick him yet. So I am waiting with him," Ayush replied and I glanced at Ved.
"Okay," I said and started brooming again.
"Sandhya I had to tell you something," Ayush said and I sighed.
If they kept disturbing me like this, I won't be able to complete my work and go home. I nodded at him to continue.
"Actually..... You see that my birthday is next week. So... I thought...." He stopped and glanced at Ved who was glaring at him.
"What is it?" I asked and Ayush scooted a little away from Ved.
"Do you want to come to my birthday party?" he asked and my eyes sparked up in joy. He finally asked me.
"Of course I will," I said and gave him a huge smile. He chuckled and Ved pursed his lips.
"You had to invite her, didn't you?" He said and I rolled my eyes.
"Deal with it Ved," I said and he started moving towards me.
"Try anything and I will hit you with the broom. Don't blame me if you die," I waved the broom in front of me and Ayush grabbed his arm.
Ved turned towards him and Ayush motioned for him to look on his right. His face hardened and he fisted his hands.
"What are you doing here?!" he shouted.
That was too loud. Who was he shouting at? A woman appeared and stood a few metres away from him. I knolew her. That was Ved's stepmom. Why does he act like that towards her? She wass such a kind lady.
"Ved beta. Please calm down. I am here to pick you up since your dad couldn't make it. He has some business meeting to attend. Let's go," she said politely and took Ved's hand.
He yanked it away and continued staring at her furiously. Can anyone tell me what's going on? I looked at Ayush and he tried to calm down Ved.
"You should not talk to your mother like that," I said and everyone turned towards me.
"Mind your own business!" Ved shouted and I flinched. That was scary.
"Sandhya beta. How are you? Please don't mind him," his stepmom said and I smiled at her. She remembered my name?
"Hi aunty. I am good. How are you?" I replied and she gave me a sweet smile.
"This is ridiculous," Ved said and stomped off.
"It was nice seeing you again. I will have to leave. Bye Sandhya," she said and ran after Ved.
Ayush was already ahead of her and I was left alone in the room. I forgot all about the punishment as I kept wondering about Ved and his stepmom. What was his problem exactly?
"Still not done?" I snapped my head at the teacher and glanced around the classroom.
"I will finish it as soon as I can," I said.
"Don't bother. I will tell the janitor to get here. I hope you have learned your lesson. When you are given a responsibility, you should not misuse it," She said and I nodded my head.
"Remember the saying? With great power, comes great responsibility," she added and winked.
I giggled and repeated what she said. She told me my dad had come to pick me up. I sighed in relief. If mom was here, she would beat me into a pulp.
I picked up my backpack and went towards the school gates. Dad was waiting beside his scooter humming to himself. When he saw me, he spread his arms open and I jumped in his embrace.
"How is my princess?" he asked and sat me on the pillion seat.
"Got in trouble," I said and waited for him to scold me.
"You have to get in trouble when you are in school. Where's the fun if you don't?" he said and I looked up at him.
We began laughing and he told me to be careful next time. I hugged him and he patted my head.
"Just don't get in too much trouble. If you do, then I do too. You get what I mean?"
"Yes Pa. Mom is scary right?"
"You don't know."
I giggled and he told me that he will handle the situation when we got home. I nodded my head and he started the scooter. The ride to home was awesome but what waited for both of us was a lot scarier than the maths teacher.