An arduous tale was there to present that unlucky day. She looked around. Some were busy sharpening their pencils while others were smiling looking at their own copies. She was in a state of blank mind as she looked straight towards the black board where the topic was highlighted well enough with colored chalks. A deep sigh escaped as she sat down finally to start it with no perfect word. A dilemma overcame her as she saw her best friend scribbling into her notebook. Almost a paragraph was over by the time she actually made the tip of the pencil kiss the blank paper filling it up with life. Her words seem to lose their existence this time yet she framed it all too well.
An hour passed by. Everyone was discussing on how they wrote on the surprise topic for the essay writing competition. The girls were excited on who will be selected from amidst them for the interschool essay competition. However though she knew Anindita was good with words yet they were quite sure that, this time it’s a loss for her side. Excited about the results they gathered around the notice board in the lunch break. Anindita took baby steps towards it knowing well that she won’t make it up to it anyhow. This wasn’t her genre though she scribbled those exact words that popped up in her mind at that very moment. She passed by the notice board when Prerna her bestfriend accompanied her.
“I know it must have been tough for you, but don’t worry let’s try this together next year mm?” she smiled. Prerna have always been the support system for her. She knew her since around 8 years now and they have been growing strong no matter how many times they faced those ups and downs in their sacred bind.
“You want to join me for an ice cream?” she asked trying to lighten up the moment.
“Sure…lets go”
They walked towards the street vendor this time. Knowing their exact flavors he handed them their cones as they sat by the old banyan tree. Their favorite spot for recess since the time they joined St. Holy child school. They were both silent savoring every bit of their ice creams as they heard someone shout at Anindita.
In a moment of shock the ice cream cone crushed to the ground as they turned back in unison and looked at the direction from where they heard someone take her name. They saw Nisha running up to them almost running out of breath. They assumed that maybe she won the contest or it’s some gossip about someone getting into yet another casual relationship.
“What now?” they asked as Nisha was already breathing hard by then,
She sat down for a moment as she spoke up pointing at the.
“You both…uff you both are selected. As usual Anindita came first” she said as she almost fell right there over the grassy lawn.
Prerna looked at Anindita who was left quite shocked this time. Never did she think in her wildest dreams that she could crack such a delicate topic in her life. To make it assure she rushed towards the notice board and checked it. She was right she actually made it to the top 3 and that too without any hopes from her side. She was neither confident nor did she think even for a tiny moment that she could actually win.
A drop of tear escaped her eye as Prerna smiled embracing her tighter rejoicing the moment they just received…..
It was early that day when she reached school. A wide smile embraced her lips as her essay was the highlight for the day. A quote from that excerpt was put on which read…
“I never had the share of love which others have it almost free of cost. Never did I see them in my life ever. But whatever it is…I know if they read this they will realize how I crave and how I will always crave for the love of my parents. I never had them, but I know they are near me, may be in this space or some other dimension. That’s all I could write if someone asks me to pen down 500 words on PARENTS”….
The smile remained, so did her happiness…