The following morning, the soft rays of dawn gently filtered through the curtains, awakening Rithanya from her slumber at the familiar hour of 5 am. She instinctively anticipated the piercing sound of the hostel alarms, often accompanied by the thunderous voice of the warden, that she had grown accustomed to. However, as her eyes fluttered open, she found herself surrounded by the comforting embrace of her auntie's house, enveloped by the warm presence of her loving family. A relieved sigh escaped her lips as the realization settled in—she was far from the confines of her school. Grinning at the thought, she shifted onto her side, succumbing to the allure of sleep once again.An hour drifted by, and the world of dreams reluctantly released its hold on Rithanya once more. This time, it was a tender kiss planted on her forehead that stirred her from her slumber. Blinking her eyes open, she was met with Dadda's affectionate smile as he leaned over her. "Come on, get up and get ready righ
The early morning hours painted the school campus in a serene calmness that was rarely witnessed during the bustling school days. Rithanya and her father arrived at the school fifteen minutes before five, greeted by the stillness that enveloped the surroundings. Their footsteps echoed softly as they made their way to the front desk of the hostel, where Dadda initiated the custodian drop-off formalities.Ms Roopa, the warden, welcomed them with a warm smile. "Hello, Sir. How are you? What does your daughter say? Did she enjoy the holidays?" Her questions carried a genuine interest as she engaged in small talk with Dadda."Hello, Ma'am! I am fine. Thanks for asking. Yeah, Rithu enjoyed her holidays. She says she likes her school," Dadda responded, conveying Rithanya's contentment. Intrigued about the upcoming academic schedule, he inquired about the commencement of the first cycle of exams."From Thursday, sir. The students will be notified in the classrooms today," Ms Roopa informed, he
The night enveloped the hostel room in a heavy silence, the weight of darkness matching the stillness of slumbering bodies. But for Rithanya, sleep remained elusive, as her mind was entangled in the clutches of her recent nightmare. The tormenting memories of that fateful night persisted, refusing to release their grip on her consciousness.Restlessness gnawed at her, each passing moment punctuating the minutes she could have spent studying. Every heartbeat echoed with the weight of the upcoming exam, a reminder of the challenges that loomed on the horizon. Her roommates seemed to have found refuge in the embrace of dreams, their rhythmic breathing contrasting sharply with her own persistent wakefulness.With a sigh, she shifted her gaze toward the window, where the moonlight poured in with an almost ethereal radiance. Tonight, the moon seemed to shine brighter, casting a silver glow that painted the room in subtle shades of gray. It was as if the moon itself was a
The pre-dawn hours painted the sky with a gentle hue of pink as the sun's first rays kissed the clouds. The tranquil beauty of the morning was juxtaposed against Rithanya's weary demeanor as she finally settled into bed. Her stifled yawn punctuated the quiet of the room, a testament to the long night she had spent wrestling with her thoughts.The weight of silence was both calming and unnerving. A maze of emotions coursed through Rithanya's veins, intertwining with the urgency of the upcoming exam. She couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly her roommates surrendered to slumber while she waged an internal battle against her own anxieties.With a quiet determination, she eased herself out of bed, her movements cautious as she navigated the creaky floorboards. The others were oblivious to her nocturnal endeavors, ensconced in dreams that seemed far from her grasp. The impending exam loomed large, a challenge that she was committed to conquering.
It was already Tuesday. The girls rushed to the restrooms before the warden‟s wake up call. There were long queues outside them.“I had put my dresses on the door. How could you get in by pushing my dress aside?” someone yelled at a girl bathing inside. There came a fierce reply, “The room was vacant and so I grabbed the chance to have my bath.”Rithanya did not know whether to laugh at these girls or get irritated by the way they behaved. Diva and Fowzia came in at the same time. They saw Rithanya with her bucket and clothes, standing without any clue about what to do. Fowzia asked, “What are you doing here, Rithu?”Rithanya replied, “Well, I am researching how to build a rocket and land on Mars.”“Relax. What Fowzia meant was, if you cannot find a bathroom, why are you standing here and wasting time. You should probably go to the study session.” Diva pacified Rithanya.So Rithanya went to the study room, found that already many other girls from her class and the neighbouring classe
It was Wednesday. The regular afternoon session of the day was suspended and instead, it was taken up by the physics teacher. He instructed the girls to study for the next day‟s exam. The four girls sat on the steps in the corridor and started preparations. It was again Rithanya‟s turn to clarify few Alternate Current circuits and Kirchhoff‟s law.The most awaited D day- Thursday finally arrived. The bell rang at 9 am sharp and the girls rushed out of the hostel. It was their first exam in the school and fear and tension were written on their faces. Everyone was walking with open books in hand and reading in final preparations. Rithanya and her classmates assembled in front of the classroom.“Roll number 1–32 please go through the first door. Roll Number 33–64, please go through the second door.” Naren announced.The two classrooms were merged into one big hall. The intermediate temporary wall had been removed. There were four teachers to monitor the whole room.
Rithanya was so mad that afternoon. She sat in the tree shade, aloof for a long time trying to relax her nerves. The timetable indicated that the next day's exam was Chemistry. She rushed to the hostel and got her chemistry notes. “I would like to study on my own,” she requested her chemistry teacher. “Okay, but you must be in the school building and should not go to the hostel,’ the teacher permitted. Rithanya pointed out the tree near the entrance. "Okay, I will be under the tree in the shade. I might go to the hostel to only get water if I need it." “What about your lunch?” the teacher asked. “No ma’am, I am not hungry. I will have some biscuits.” Rithanya showed her a pack of Britannia Milk Bikis. Rithanya rushed to her classroom. Aditi had kept her bag there and she opened it. Aditi had brought her lunch. Rithanya ate it very quickly. She took one idly, laced it with the sambar and wrapped in the food wrap. She put the wrapped piece in her dress pocket and walked down to the
Rithanya's life took a sharp turn one fateful day when the school announced the results of the recent exams. It was a day that would push her to her limits and force her to confront the expectations and pressures placed upon her. In the days following the exams, Rithanya had appeared to be returning to her usual self. Her smile had returned, she seemed brighter, and her interactions with her roommates were filled with happiness. She greeted the warden and teachers with warmth, seemingly on the path to recovery from some unseen emotional turmoil. However, the announcement of the exam results would prove to be a tipping point for Rithanya. **Title: Breaking Point: Rithanya's Struggle Unveiled** Rithanya's life had been shrouded in a gloomy cloud for weeks. Her classmates noticed the change. Once a vibrant, cheerful girl, she had become withdrawn and distant. But when the regular school sessions resumed after the exams, Rithanya seemed almost back to her o
The instant their car hit a speed breaker and she experienced a bumpy ride because of the pits and falls in the road, Rithanya knew that they have neared their house. It was dusk. The evening diyas, the clay lamps lit up the entrance of every house. The car took a sharp left turn and halted.Hearing the car, Dadda and Satvik rushed to the doorstep. “Hello, little one! Welcome home!” Dadda greeted Rithanya with open arms.Rithanya tried to get down. But she limped and lost her balance. The poor girl could not reach the shelter of her daddy's arms. She was caught by Satvik before she fell.Dadda and Satvik carried Rithanya home while the driver helped Amma to carry things inside from the car. The driver waved a bye to Rithanya saying, “Sleep well, Papa. Take rest and you will be fine soon. You won’t need me to take you back to school. You will commute by bus, you will see that! Now, good night ma!”Dadda ca
The road stretched out ahead, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through the countryside. Inside the car, a scene of turmoil unfolded. Rithanya's condition was again deteriorating rapidly from her peaceful slumber. Her breathing had turned shallow, and panic was evident in her eyes. It was as if an invisible vice was tightening around her throat, constricting her airways. Her hands, once steady, were now trembling uncontrollably, and the sensation was draining from her fingers, leaving them numb. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, glistening like dewdrops in the early morning sun. Yet, despite the heat that was coursing through her body, she was overcome by chills that racked her form.Amma stood by helplessly, her heart aching as she witnessed her daughter's suffering. Tears welled up in her eyes, a mixture of fear and despair. She wanted to soothe Rithanya, to make the pain go away, but she felt utterly powerless. All she could do was hold onto Rithanya's hand, a silent
Rithanya’s parents received a distressing call, urging them to rush to their daughter's hostel. The voice on the other end informed them that Rithanya had suffered a fall and was now under a doctor's care, advised to take a significant amount of rest. Concern gripped Rithanya's parents as they immediately made arrangements to journey to her side. It was a Tuesday morning when they set out, the sun casting a warm glow over the city streets. Rithanya's mother, Geetha, was particularly anxious. The two-day interval between the incident and their arrival seemed like an eternity. Thoughts raced through her mind as she recalled all the instances of her daughter's boundless energy, the laughter that once resonated through their home, and the dreams Rithanya held close to her heart. Her daughter had always been a spirited soul, taking on challenges with a fierce determination. This hospitalization was an unexpected twist, and Geetha's heart clenched at the thought of Rithanya in pain. Finall
The van screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, and Ms. Roopa, the teacher accompanying Rithanya, hurriedly called out, "Sister, please get a wheelchair for this girl." The sterile atmosphere of the school had given way to the chaotic and unfamiliar setting of the hospital. Cries of pain and distress reverberated through the corridors, creating an atmosphere of fear and unease. Somewhere in the distance, a child wailed at the top of her voice. As another girl emerged from the hospital, tears streaming down her face, Rithanya's anxiety intensified.The hospital was crowded and in a state of utter disorder, which only heightened Rithanya's discomfort. Her palms grew clammy, and her heart raced as she took in the overwhelming sights and sounds. She felt a sheen of sweat break out on her forehead, and her entire body seemed to palpitate with anxiety.The nurse, a tall and stout woman in a faded blue sari, dragged a screeching, rusted wheelchair toward Rithanya. Her v
Three months had passed since the classes had begun at the school. The girls had gradually acclimated to the regimented life they led within the school's walls. Their Sunday afternoons became their sanctuary amidst the mechanical routines of the week. Those precious hours of extra sleep on Sunday mornings were their lifeline, revitalizing them for the forthcoming six and a half days of relentless work. In this institution, there were no holidays for national events, regional festivals, or religious celebrations.Mid-September had arrived, and the vibrancy of Dussehra celebrations swept across India. In North India, the rhythmic beats of the dandiya dance and the grandeur of Durga Puja captivated the hearts of the people for ten days. Central India was preparing for the dramatic immolation of the ten-headed, hundred-armed effigy of Ravana on the festival's final day. Meanwhile, in the southern regions, devotion reigned as people worshipped the Golu doll exhibits during the nin
The doctor, Dr. Sharma, emerged from the physician's room with an air of professional concern. His eyes, usually sharp and analytical, now held a mixture of empathy and detachment as he approached Ms. Roopa, the hostel warden, who was anxiously waiting for his assessment of Rithanya's condition.Dr. Sharma cleared his throat before speaking, choosing his words carefully. "Her blood pressure is fluctuating," he began, his voice measured. "I've administered some injections to help her relax. She appears exceedingly weak, as if she hasn't had a proper rest in a long time. Her body is utterly drained, saturated, you might say. We'll keep her on the IV for a few hours, and she should gradually start recovering."Ms. Roopa nodded, a mixture of relief and gratitude washing over her. She appreciated the doctor's competence and the reassurance he provided in this trying situation. The sight of Rithanya unconscious had filled her with dread, and now she was relieved to hear that
Rithanya's life took a sharp turn one fateful day when the school announced the results of the recent exams. It was a day that would push her to her limits and force her to confront the expectations and pressures placed upon her. In the days following the exams, Rithanya had appeared to be returning to her usual self. Her smile had returned, she seemed brighter, and her interactions with her roommates were filled with happiness. She greeted the warden and teachers with warmth, seemingly on the path to recovery from some unseen emotional turmoil. However, the announcement of the exam results would prove to be a tipping point for Rithanya. **Title: Breaking Point: Rithanya's Struggle Unveiled** Rithanya's life had been shrouded in a gloomy cloud for weeks. Her classmates noticed the change. Once a vibrant, cheerful girl, she had become withdrawn and distant. But when the regular school sessions resumed after the exams, Rithanya seemed almost back to her o
Rithanya was so mad that afternoon. She sat in the tree shade, aloof for a long time trying to relax her nerves. The timetable indicated that the next day's exam was Chemistry. She rushed to the hostel and got her chemistry notes. “I would like to study on my own,” she requested her chemistry teacher. “Okay, but you must be in the school building and should not go to the hostel,’ the teacher permitted. Rithanya pointed out the tree near the entrance. "Okay, I will be under the tree in the shade. I might go to the hostel to only get water if I need it." “What about your lunch?” the teacher asked. “No ma’am, I am not hungry. I will have some biscuits.” Rithanya showed her a pack of Britannia Milk Bikis. Rithanya rushed to her classroom. Aditi had kept her bag there and she opened it. Aditi had brought her lunch. Rithanya ate it very quickly. She took one idly, laced it with the sambar and wrapped in the food wrap. She put the wrapped piece in her dress pocket and walked down to the
It was Wednesday. The regular afternoon session of the day was suspended and instead, it was taken up by the physics teacher. He instructed the girls to study for the next day‟s exam. The four girls sat on the steps in the corridor and started preparations. It was again Rithanya‟s turn to clarify few Alternate Current circuits and Kirchhoff‟s law.The most awaited D day- Thursday finally arrived. The bell rang at 9 am sharp and the girls rushed out of the hostel. It was their first exam in the school and fear and tension were written on their faces. Everyone was walking with open books in hand and reading in final preparations. Rithanya and her classmates assembled in front of the classroom.“Roll number 1–32 please go through the first door. Roll Number 33–64, please go through the second door.” Naren announced.The two classrooms were merged into one big hall. The intermediate temporary wall had been removed. There were four teachers to monitor the whole room.