It was ‘1st April’ the first day of her coaching. Sun was above the head, shining brightly. Its blinding brightness made it difficult to see clearly. It was summer and heat was at its peak. All the trees seemed dry, with dry leaves fallen at their feet. Winds had been rather too harsh, carrying heat with them wherever they went. Birds were seen drinking water from earthen pots kept exclusively for them by some people in their balconies. One could see illusionary mirages playing on hot tar roads at a distance.
Shweta had just returned home from school. She was sweating profusely. She threw her school bag at one end of bed & sat on the other end.
”Maa, maa”, she called out to her mother.
“Yes Shweta, get ready fast. You have to go for coaching”, replied her mother from kitchen.
“Maa, I’m hungry. Give me something to eat fast”, said Shweta annoyingly.
Shweta’s mother came out of kitchen after 5 minutes. She served her with ‘Pohe’. Shweta ate her snacks quickly as she was hungry.
“Here, take this”, said Shweta’s mother to her, handling her a glass of lemon juice.
”Thank you maa, you are so caring”, said Shweta, with a big grin.
Shweta drank her lemon juice. Her mother had already ironed her clothes that she would wear for coaching class. Shweta quickly dressed up in her red and green suit. She adjusted her frizzy hair and got ready. Shweta was nervous about her first day at coaching. Her mother comforted her and told her everything will be fine.
Shweta climbed down the stairs of her building. Her heart was throbbing, each heartbeat sounded louder with her each step. She covered her head with her dupatta to protect herself from immense heat. As soon as she crossed her building, she saw her teachers going. Shweta slowed down to save herself from getting noticed. As she walked along the dusty road, she tried to comfort herself. The dust moved along with winds to greater heights. At the end of the road was a great neem tree, whose crown gave shelter to a wide area. Also at another end, there was a Jamun tree whose moving leaves made rattling sounds. Birds came in and went out of the giant neem tree, chirping merrily.
Shweta moved hastily behind her teachers, saving herself from their sight. Finally, she reached coaching class, where the game of shadows of trees ended.
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