Third Week of July – Mock Test Week
The morning sky over Nandanpur was a quiet shade of steel blue. Rain had paused for a while, leaving dew on scooter seats and ripples in the mud. Alarms rang at 4:45 AM.
By 5:15, the eight children had packed their tiffins, fixed their uniforms, and were adjusting helmets. The air still carried the scent of wet neem and smoke from early cooking fires.
From behind cracked windows and half-drawn curtains, Sunita watched her children — Ishanvi tightening Raghav's shoelace, Vrinda struggling with her plait, Vivaan tugging his school bag across his shoulders.
"She's grown fast," Sunita murmured to Rajesh, holding her tea. "Sometimes I forget she's just a girl."
Rajesh smiled, sipping his own tea slowly. "She's more than a girl now. She's fire — always was."
Sunita chuckled softly. "And still skips her own breakfast to pack for the others."
Meanwhile, at the other side of the road, Neha was sealing Vaidehi's water bottle and checking Meera's fever.
"She's okay," said Vikram, glancing at the clock. "If she's strong enough to crack jokes, she's strong enough to attend class."
"I know," Neha said, looking toward the road. "Still, I feel like… we're running out of time. Like something's coming."
Vikram looked at her sharply. "Don't say that."
She shook her head, brushing it off. "Just a mother's feeling. Let's focus on today."
At School: The Mock Begins
By 6:00 AM, the children were at Devgarh High — yawning, shivering slightly, and slapping their cheeks awake. The extra classes had swelled into serious mock tests now — a full dry run of the upcoming scholarship exam.
Inside Room 14B, the desks were arranged strictly. Invigilators watched from every corner. Students scribbled furiously.
Abhay, sitting beside Ishanvi, glanced at her nervously, his pen tapping. She caught it mid-tap and smiled.
"You'll be fine," she mouthed.
Behind them, Aariv had already written the essay's title in capital letters: "Overcoming Fear". His brows furrowed as he tried to hide his shaking hands.
Vaidehi scribbled math formulas on the edge of her paper, whispering them like mantras.
Raghav kept one eye on the clock and the other on his little sister Vrinda, who seemed lost in thought.
Halfway through the test, Vivaan dropped his pen with a loud clink. Everyone jumped. He quickly picked it up, grinning awkwardly.
From the door, Simran — not taking this test but helping teachers — stifled a laugh and whispered to the supervising teacher, "The forest gang is shaking up Devgarh again."
After the Test: Conversations and Thoughts
The test ended at 8:00 AM. The usual school day resumed.
At recess, under the big gulmohar tree, Ishanvi tore a roti and gave half to Abhay. "For Ripple," she teased.
"Thanks, Firefly," he whispered, looking flushed.
From a few feet away, Vaidehi giggled with Simran, who now sat comfortably among them.
"You know," Simran said, nudging Meera, "I used to think you all were weird. Now I think you're just… you."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Meera smirked.
"Both," Simran winked.
Even the teachers were watching. One math teacher whispered to another, "These Nandanpur kids… they're different. Not just in class, in… something else."
Evening Reflections:
That evening, as the sun dipped behind misty hills, Neha lit an oil lamp before the tulsi plant. Vikram was fixing the scooter chains in the yard.
"She's quieter now," Neha said, glancing at Vaidehi inside, revising her notes by lamplight. "Focused. Too focused."
"Let them be," Vikram said, wiping his hands. "This chance… we never had it. Let them fight for it. We'll hold them up when they fall."
In the Ishanvi household, Rajesh was mending his old wristwatch while Sunita stitched a bag with red thread.
"I gave Ishanvi my wedding dupatta for this one," Sunita smiled. "She wanted something lucky."
"She doesn't need luck," Rajesh said, looking up proudly. "She's a storm with wings."
Nighttime: Firefly & Ripple
Under a velvet sky, the eight children returned late from school.
Raghav and Aariv were arguing about physics formulas. Meera and Vivaan were trading comic book facts. Simran stayed with them till the Devgarh temple, then waved goodbye, promising, "I'll bring sweets if any of you top the next mock!"
At the edge of the woods, Abhay and Ishanvi lagged behind. The wind played softly between the trees.
"I messed up the last question," Abhay said. "I just… blanked."
"You were overthinking," Ishanvi said gently.
He looked at her, face flushed in the golden haze of sunset. "You know what's weird? I feel like… when you're near, everything calms down. Like the river in my head quiets."
She smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And when I'm near you… it doesn't burn as much inside."
They stood still — just for a moment — two elements balancing each other quietly.
Behind them, Vaidehi yelled, "Oye Firefly! Ripple! Stop blushing and walk!"