Word Count : 1654

August, 2006

KAVYA, with poise and grace, rose from her seat as the classroom bell resonated, marking the end of yet another enthralling lesson and the eagerly awaited recess. With her eyes scanning the room, she finally locked gaze with her best friend, Niti, who was approaching from the back of the class. Relief and excitement filled the air as they knew they could now escape the confinement of their desks and enjoy some moments of freedom together.

As they stepped out of the classroom, Kavya couldn't help but express her discontent. "It's rather unfortunate that they made us sit separately," she sighed, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Niti nodded in agreement, her face reflecting Kavya's sentiment. "Absolutely. It feels so unfair," she replied with a grunt.

Their footsteps echoed through the hallway as they continued their conversation, their voices a blend of frustration and amusement.

"Niti, Kavya, you both need to quiet down when somebody is teaching. Go sit on the last bench," Kavya mockingly imitated their teacher, exaggerating her gestures for comedic effect. The memory elicited a burst of laughter from both of them, temporarily lightening their spirits.

Seeking refuge from the scorching sun, they found shade under a majestic tree in the playground. Comfortably seated on the grass, they eagerly opened their lunch boxes, looking forward to savoring the treats prepared with love by their mothers.

Kavya's curious eyes peered over Niti's shoulder, spying the contents of her friend's lunchbox. "Aha! You brought Maggi!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. Without hesitation, she proposed a trade, offering her own egg sandwich in exchange for a taste of Niti's savory delight.

Observing Kavya's voracious appetite, Niti raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to eat all of that, right?" she inquired, concern evident in her voice.

Swallowing a mouthful of food, Kavya responded with a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on, Niti," she chuckled, "You know I hate eggs, but you don't, so you enjoy that." Her eyes sparkled playfully, resembling an adorable puppy seeking a morsel of kindness.

She knew Niti wouldn't say no to her, and as expected, her friend nodded and accepted the exchange.

Savoring the delight of Maggi on her tongue, Kavya soaked in the lively atmosphere of the playground. Her eyes wandered across the expanse of the open space, capturing glimpses of children engrossed in various games, their laughter and shouts intermingling in the air.

A group of girls caught her attention as they darted through a maze of zigzag movements, playing a spirited game of kho-kho. She glanced at Niti, who had her eyes fixated on them. Kavya watched in awe as she saw how her friend's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Suddenly, Niti turned her head towards her. "I also feel like playing kho-kho," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with enthusiasm.

"Mmm, it's too sunny today," Kavya replied, her voice laden with a hint of hesitation. Her attention remained fixated on her lunch as she continued, "I don't think we should play today. It's just too hot."

She watched as Niti's enthusiasm waned slightly. She looked up as if feeling the warmth of the sun's rays on her skin. With a hint of disappointment, she nodded in agreement.

"We can just watch them. It's interesting to see the kind of faces they make when they fall," Kavya exclaimed and giggled to herself. She expected Niti to join her, but instead, she just continued eating her sandwich.

By the time Kavya finished her Maggi, she was drenched in sweat and kept tugging at her collar.

"Why do you wear full sleeves even in this heat?" Niti asked, curiosity etched on her face.

Kavya didn't reply, not wanting to share the specifics of why she did that.

"You know, you could just borrow a temporary t-shirt from the Nurse's office," Niti suggested, concern evident in her voice.

"For what?" Kavya responded, her voice laced with a touch of exasperation.

"You look really hot," Niti explained.

"I am," Kavya admitted with a hint of irritation, "but my mom said that I can't wear clothes without sleeves because I'll get tanned."

"But she's not here," Niti pointed out, mischief twinkling in her eyes.

Kavya paused, momentarily contemplating the idea. However, after a brief internal debate, she shook her head. "No, it's not just my mom; my dad would also be angry if he found out."

With nothing else to say, she fell into a contemplative silence, her lunch box emptied of its contents. Kavya found herself lost in her own thoughts while observing Niti absentmindedly tracing random patterns in the sand using her finger.

Suddenly, Kavya's attention was captured by the sight of two familiar faces approaching them. It was a pair of their classmates, jogging towards them with beaming smiles.

"We're a few players short. Would you like to join us?" one girl asked, inviting them.

Kavya saw Niti's eyes sparkle with excitement. It had only been a few months since Niti started attending this new class, and aside from her, she had yet to make many friends.

Before she could answer, Kavya swiftly interjected. "We can't play today; it's just too hot," she declared, her voice tinged with resignation.

The two girls who had extended the invitation exchanged perplexed glances, taken aback by Kavya's response. "Uh, okay," they replied one after another, their disappointment clear as they turned to leave.

Niti looked at Kavya with a mixture of dismay and frustration. "But I wanted to play!" she protested, her voice laced with a tinge of sadness.

Kavya shrugged, attempting to justify their decision. "You just agreed that you didn't want to play either. It's too hot."

"No, you decided it was too hot," her friend retorted, sulking. "I'm going to play with them, Kavya. Please?"

Without waiting for a response, Niti swiftly darted off towards the departing girls, determined to seize the opportunity for some enjoyment.

"Friends stick together!" Kavya shouted after her, a tinge of annoyance and betrayal coloring her words. However, Niti was already out of earshot, her excitement propelling her forward without a second glance back.

Left behind under the shade of the tree, Kavya felt a mix of emotions swirling within her. She couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at Niti's seemingly quick abandonment.

Kavya could feel her blood boiling with anger as she dwelled on the circumstances. She had been the one to befriend Niti first, offering guidance and support in her new school. Without her, Niti would have surely struggled to navigate the challenges of the unfamiliar environment. How could Niti so effortlessly abandon their friendship and join the others in their play?

Surveying the playground, Kavya's eyes settled on the vacant monkey bars. Lost in her tumultuous thoughts, she began to entertain a risky idea—a plan to capture Niti's attention by taking a minor tumble that would undoubtedly bring her rushing back. A mere scrape or bruise might be sufficient to reclaim her best friend's focus.

With a mix of trepidation and determination, Kavya ascended the ladder leading to the top of the monkey bars. Her legs quivered with a potent blend of anticipation and fear, knowing that one wrong move could result in a painful fall. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, longing to catch Niti's eye and make her presence known. However, her heart sank when she realized that Niti was completely engrossed in the company of their peers, oblivious to Kavya's inner turmoil and desperate plea for attention.

Summoning her resolve, Kavya propelled herself higher, inching closer to the pinnacle of the monkey bars. Her pulse quickened, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she grappled with the mounting apprehension of the impending descent. But in her haste, her grip faltered, and she lost her balance.

Time seemed to slow as Kavya hurtled through the air, her body twisting and contorting in a desperate attempt to regain control. The ground rushed up to meet her with alarming speed. In those fleeting moments, her mind registered a distinct crack—the bone-rattling sound of her arms succumbing to the weight and force of the impact.

Agony exploded through her body as she crashed to the ground, her hands absorbing the brunt of the fall. A primal scream of pain escaped her lips, echoing through the air and reverberating with raw intensity. Tears welled up in her eyes, obscuring her vision as searing pain radiated from her fractured limbs.

The sudden commotion caught the attention of those in close proximity, but to Kavya's dismay, none of the children rushed to her aid. The harsh reality of her solitude hit her with crushing force, intensifying the anguish that consumed her. She continued to wail in anguish, trapped in a vortex of torment, until a vigilant guard finally noticed her distress and promptly called for a teacher's help.

When Niti was finally allowed to visit her after her arm had been encased in a plaster cast, Kavya couldn't contain her feelings of blame towards her best friend. The pain in her arms served as a constant reminder of that.

"If only you had played with me, I wouldn't have been left all alone there!" Kavya exclaimed, wincing as occasional twinges of pain shot through her injured limbs. "You should have stayed with me and played."

Niti couldn't reply. There were tears in her eyes.

Kavya, dressed in nothing but her undershirt, bore visible bruises from the fall, each marking a painful reminder of the consequences of her actions. She wanted Niti to feel the pain she was feeling. She wanted her to suffer like she was. Kavya truly believed that it was Niti's fault that she was in such a state.

"Will you not even apologize?" she spat at her friend, irritated by her crying face. "I am the one who broke a bone. Why are you crying?"

"I am sorry, Kavya," Niti finally apologized, her voice quivering.

"Good, now you have to take responsibility and never leave my side," Kavya stated before hopping off the bed and returning to the classroom.

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A/N

Hello kawaiis!  

Kavya and Niti's relationship is finally revealed! They were only 11, but what do you think happened?

Let me know in the comments!

Do leave a vote if you enjoyed this chapter.

Cheers~
Aeon