Chapter 9

"Where's Meera, Anita? It's her first day of school, I prepared sweet curd for our princess" Amar asked.

"Meera is nervous for her school so Adi is calming her down. Since last week it's the 8th time she refused to go to school" Anita replied, taking the kids lunch boxes.

"She is not scared to go to school, she just doesn't want to go there without her Adi," Amar said smiling.

Both moved from the kitchen to the hall. Aditi was sitting on the floor between Radhika's legs and Radhika was braiding her hair. 

"Aditi, you are the oldest take care of your younger siblings, especially Meera. I know she is a brave girl but still don't let her feel alone in the school" Radhika said.

“Grandma, don't worry I will take care of them and do you really think we have to worry about our cutipie?" Aditi asked, sitting beside Radhika.

"Yes Mom, we don't have to worry about Meera, her Adi is more than enough" Amar chuckled.

"Look, our princess is here" Anita said and all looked towards the stairs.

Meera and Adi ran towards them hand in hand. Adi's bag on his shoulder and Meera's in his other free hand.

"Mom, where is Angel's lunch box? I need to pack it for her. We need to leave early for school today. I have to take Angel to her class."

Anita handed Meera's box to him. Adi also put her lunch box in her bag. Shaking her head Anita put Adi's lunch in his bag. 

"My little girl, I prepared sweet curd for you. Come here" Amar said kneeling to feed her.

After feeding her, Amar signaled her towards Radhika. Meera nodded, went to Radhika and took her blessing. Then Rajesh, their driver came to drive them to school.

~~~

At school,

"Adi, you sure you will take Meera to her new class without me" Aditi asked as they exited the car.

"Yes Di, don't worry I will take my Angel" Adi said holding Meera's hand.

"Okay then I need to go now. Bye Meera take care. Bye Adi." 

After they waved bye to Aditi, Adi took Meera’s hand and started walking towards her class.  

"This is your class, Angel. See, it's so beautiful, you like it?" Adi said, entering her class.

Meera just tightened her grip on Adi's hand and looked towards him with glistened eyes. She was now afraid for whole different reasons. She looked towards all the new faces in the class and shifted near to Adi

unconsciously. Adi squeezed her hand to comfort her and led her to a seat. 

Taking a seat beside her he held her hands.

“I’m always there for you, Angel. I know you are scared to see so many new faces but they all are like you. It's also their first day and they will study with you everyday. Make friends with them and enjoy your first day. If you have any problem or you want something then ask your teacher and obey what your teacher says" Adi said softly.

"But why will I ask the teacher. I always ask you when I want something then why teacher now? You don't want me to ask you?" Meera pouted.

Adi smiled and pinched her cheeks.

"No, my Angel. You can always ask me anything you want but when you are in your class teacher will take care of you. When I will come to eat lunch with you then you can share with me or if anyone teases you or says anything mean just come to me you remember the way to my class, right?"

Meera nodded. "Okay I will sit here, make friends and also obey teachers but promise me you will come to eat lunch with me" Meera said extending her pinky finger.

"Promise.” Adi intertwined his pinky finger with her to seal the promise.

“Now I have to go to my class. Take care, bye.”

Meera gave him a small smile and waved him bye.

~~~

Just as he exited the class he bumped into someone. 

"I'm sorry Mam, I wasn't paying attention" Adi said realising he bumped into his teacher.

"It's okay, Adi but what are you doing here? Why are you not in your class?" asked Mrs. Awasthi, a fine lady in her late thirties with spectacles on her nose.

"Mam my Ang- I mean Meera is in this class, it's her first day so I came to drop her" Adi said. 

"Meera as in your Angel who is a cutipie."

Adi smiled hearing her and nodded. "Yeah my Angel."

"That's a good thing, I'm the class teacher of this class. I hope she is smart and intelligent like you."

"She is. Please take care of her, mam. She is smart and intelligent but she is scared of new people so please go easy on her" Adi requested putting his puppy eyes on work.

The teacher looked at Adi amused.

"I've been teaching children for ten years, have seen parents saying to take care of their kids but never I would have imagined I would hear it from an 8 years old." 

"Don't worry Adi, your Angel is safe with me. I'll take care of her. Now go to your class or else you will be late" she said.

Adi nodded and left from there. 

Mrs. Awasthi was Adi and Aditi’s teacher. She’s been to their birthday parties and has seen Meera with Adi.

~~~

Meera looked around the classroom seeing children playing and chatting. Someone patted her shoulder. Meera turned back to the person.

"Hi, I'm Tanisha. You can call me Tannu."

Meera furrowed her brows and looked unsure what to do.

"Okay."

"Ok...what ok...you don't say ok when someone introduces themselves to you" Tanisha muttered amused.

"....."

"Oh you are probably shy. It's ok I can understand. I was also scared when I came here but I'm sitting here and watching you looking sad so I thought to talk to you. You know we can be friends. I love making friends and…”

"But I don't" Meera interrupted her monologue.

Tanisha’s smile faded instantly. "I'm sorry I didn't know you don't like me. Sorry."

Meera looked at her sad face and felt guilty.

"If you want you can sit with me. I'm sitting alone and we can also talk."

"Are you sure?" Tannu asked beaming with happiness.

Meera nodded. Tanisha happily stood from her place and sat beside her.

"I'm Meera." And then both started talking.

Mrs. Awasthi entered the class and all the students stood up to greet her.

"Goood Mooooooorniiiiiiiing Maaaaaaam" 

"Good morning students, sit down. I'm your class teacher and as its your first day we will introduce ourselves today and I also have chocolates for you all. You all want chocolates, right?"

"Yes Maaaaaaaaam"

"So we will start with me then from left row one by one students will come here and say their name and take chocolates. Understood?" 

"Yes Maaaaam"

"My name is Mrs. Roshni Awasthi and I'm your class teacher. If you have any problem or want anything come to me. Now come one by one and say your name here."

One by one all students introduce themselves. Then Tanisha's turn came.

"Hi everyone, my name is Tanisha Sharma and Meera is my best friend."

Everyone looked towards Meera and she became shy. Mrs. Awasthi smiled and said "you made friends already. Impressive."

Then Meera came and introduced herself.

"Hi m-my name is Meera Ahuja."

"It's ok dear. You did good." Mrs. Awasthi handed her a chocolate.

Meera thanked her and sat on her seat.

~~~

"I was so hungry, Meera. Let's start eating" Tanisha said as soon as the bell rang for lunch break.

"You start Tannu, I'm waiting for my Adi," Meera replied.

"Waiting for who?" Tanisha asked confused.

Suddenly Meera stood up excitedly and ran towards the person entering the class.

“ADIII”

Adi hugged her smiling.

"I missed you so much, Adi."

"I missed you too, Angel," Adi said smiling.

Tanisha looked at her friend as if she was an alien. 

"I thought Meera is shy and doesn't like to talk much. But here she is talking to this boy non-stop."

"Me-Meera" Tannu called her friend hesitatingly.

Meera turned towards her and widened her eyes like she just realised she is also here. Meera held Adi's hand and took him to her seat.

"Adi, she is Tanisha, my new friend."

"My Angel already started making friends," Adi said, patting her head.

"Hi I'm Adarsh Khanna. I’m her...”

"He is my Adi and I'm his Angel" Meera interrupted smiling.

"Yeah, I'm her Adi." 

Tanisha looked at them in awe. 

"Hi, I'm Tanisha Sharma."

Adi shaked her hand nodding. Then turned towards Meera.

"Let's go, Di is waiting for you on the ground. We will eat together."

Meera nodded then looked towards Tanisha and then towards Adi. 

"Angel, she is your friend invite her if you want her to join."

"Tannu, come, we will eat together. I want you to meet our elder sister."

Adi took Meera's lunch and started walking holding her hand. Tanisha followed them watching Meera talking animatedly to Adi.

~~~

"Aditi Di." Meera ran towards Aditi and hugged her.

"Di, she is my new friend Tannu...Tanisha Sharma."

Aditi smiled and introduced herself to her. Then Meera went to Adi and sat beside him on the bench. Adi opened her lunch and fed her first bite then Meera started eating on her own and Adi opened his own lunch to eat.

After finishing their lunch. Adi stood up and moved towards Meera who was busy playing with Aditi and Tanisha. 

"Angel, come I will walk you to your class. Lunch time is going to be over soon."

"I'm going to my class now, take care of yourself” Adi said, reaching her class. 

Meera’s smile dimmed hearing it. She held his hand tightly, silently asking him to not leave her.

"Hey, don't be upset. Just a few hours more then we will go home together and now you also have Tannu with you."

Meera nodded but didn’t lose her hold on his hand.

"Ok but come soon to take me. I'll wait for you here."

"Don't worry Angel. I'll not make you wait. Now give me a smile."

Meera smiled and said bye to him.

Tanisha and Meera sat on their seats just as the bell rang indicating lunch time over.

"Meera, Adi is so good. I also want to be friends with Adi."

"He is only my Adi," Meera snapped.

“Yes he is yours. I’m sorry.” Tanisha was stunned to see Meera's outburst.

"It's ok," Meera said. Then the teacher came and they stopped talking.

~~~

Meera was waiting for Adi and Tanisha didn't want to leave her alone so she was also waiting with her. Adi came just a few minutes later. Meera stood up, her eyes twinkling, seeing Adi.

"Lets get you home, Angel."

Meera smilingly hugged him. Adi took her school bag for her and held her hand.

"Tannu, let's go, we will drop you to your school bus," Adi said, looking at her.

"Okay" 

Saying bye to Tanisha, Meera held Adi's hand and moved towards the car waiting for them. Aditi was already in the car. Checking everyone once the driver started the car.