Hey,
Here's another update. I haven't written much further than this but thought I'd post a bit more.
Thank you all for the wonderful comments. Very encouraging. Hope you enjoy this part :)
IT LASTS A LIFE TIME - PART 3
"Pragya"
"Pragya, hmm, nice name. I like it" "It doesn't suit you."
She looked up at him defiantly "What do you mean? I like my name very much and it suits me perfectly fine"
"It's just Pragya sounds like a strong name and you look too shy. Anyways come sit closer, no one bites."
Saying that he moved back to the centre of the group, she quickly followed as he felt like a rock in the middle of the ocean, someone to lean onto, a safe haven in an otherwise confusing world. It's not that Pragya didn't like school, in fact she loved coming to school, learning new things getting to sit in the library and reading new books, but she was fed up, fed up of the same cycle, changing schools, getting bullied, making friends and then leaving them to start all over again. This time at least she knew she would be around for a while as her father's health wasn't improving and the best facilities were to be got here.
She quietly opened her lunch box, looked in and started quietly eating. Halfway through she was full and didn't know what to do with the rest. Her mother would be annoyed if her lunchbox wasn't empty but she was too shy to actually offer the food to anyone in the group. She left the tin slightly open, hoping that everyone would help themselves and she wouldn't have to explain why there was still food in the tin. It didn't feel right throwing it away which is what she would have done had she been sitting by herself.
She took out her book and started reading, keeping and ear out listening to the conversation around her, trying to figure out what everyone was talking about. She realised one thing, they all had different interests and of different ages but in spite of that they were obviously a great group of friends and comfortable with each other enough to have different conversations going and everyone managing to follow them. She looked at her watch and realised it was almost time to go back to class and she picked her tin to throw out the remaining food but there was nothing left.
Pragya was surprised as she didn't really expect anyone to share the "new" girl's lunch. She looked around wondering who'd had it. As everyone got ready to go back to class, she once again held onto Purab who was still guiding her around. Afternoon classes passed pretty much the same way with whispers and an ear out listening to what the teacher was teaching. Pragya was smart and had already covered some of the modules that were being taught but thought it was better to stay quiet instead of getting moved to a new class. She didn't want to leave the only real friend she'd made.
After their final class she walked out with Purab asking her how she was getting home and if she would be okay. When she mentioned that she was walking he asked her to wait while he went and spoke to Abhi.
"Bhai, Pragya di is walking home by herself so I might go with her to drop her off. She's new in town and I don't want her getting lost."
"I'd have come but you know I'll need to take Aliyah home, so why don't you drop Pragya and I'll meet you later?"
"Alright then I'll see you soon."
Purab left Abhi to wait for Aliyah and her friends and started walking out the school gates with Pragya. When they turned to go in the same direction that Purab took every day, he asked Pragya if she didn't mind waiting for Abhi and Aliyah. She was glad and took her book out and started reading again. Abhi was surprised to see them still at the gate and questioned Purab.
"Bhai, I think she lives near our Chawl. Let's see. I think it works out well. We can all walk together."
They all started walking with Aliyah right at the front, talking a mile a minute, thought Abhi to friends she was with the whole day. Abhi didn't really know what they talked about and thought it was better to keep out of it, he knew they were probably gossiping. Slightly behind them walked Pragya with her nose still stuck in the book, occasionally looking down to make sure she was still walking on the path and that there was nothing she would fall over. Abhi and Purab rounded the crowd at the back walking in silence.
Pragya suddenly looked up realising that she had reached her lane and told Purab that she would go home from there by herself.
"Di, we'll meet you here tomorrow morning at about 8.30 okay and we can all go to school together."
"That's okay Purab I'll make it to school by myself. Thank you for walking me till here but you don't have to worry. I will manage on my own."
"No di, we live just up the road from here and have to pass by so it isn't inconvenient or anything and anyways I wouldn't want my di walking to school by herself, so no arguments we'll see you here at the corner tomorrow morning. Have a good night!"
"I didn't realise you'd be so be so bossy. I am older even if it is by a few months." Pragya muttered as she walked away. "Good night!" she turned back and shouted to the group in general. She was excited that her first day had gone so well. It was usually harder when you joined halfway through the term because everyone had already made friends, but she was glad she had met Purab, Aliyah and Abhishek. It felt strange calling him Abhi. His friends called him that, but I'm not a friend am I? He was kind enough to help me but we didn't really speak after he asked me to join the group. He was the centre of attention in the group and he seemed to bask in it. Aliyah was quite nice as well. Slightly spoilt, she was definitely the apple of her brother's eye, but Pragya figured as she was quite young she'd get better once she grew up more. Purab was most like her in terms of personality; It felt like he was meant to be part of her family and she was glad that she found him.
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