the final suitcase was zipped shut, as a 16 year old ishita looked in sorrow at a 14 year old purvi, who sat quietly by the many bags and suitcase on the bed, as ishita went over to sit near her, placing her hand onto hers. 

"don't worry, it'll be fine....aur waise bhi, ek hi toh mahina hai winter break mein, tumhe pata bhi nahi chalega kab woh beet jayega, aur phir tum ghar aaogi, main tumhare liye tumhara favourite dohi maach banaungi...khoob mazein karenge.." attempted ishita to cheer purvi up, no need to mention how inconsequential it was, as purvi looked at her, completely disheartened. 

"phir chutiyan khatam bhi toh ho jayengi, phir jaana padega waapas, boarding school..." replied purvi with gloominess in her voice, as ishita knew she couldn't counter the point and chose to remain silent in return. 

they both sat quietly together, as purvi squeezed ishita's hand tightly, her overwhelming fears and sweating from the nervousness, was all felt by ishita, who couldn't help but break down in tears too, as it dawned on her, that soon she won't have anything to do with purvi except for missing her. 

"purvi! aa jao! cab aa gayi!" yelled their mother from outside, as ishita quickly wiped her tears, and got up, turning to purvi with a fake smile. 

"chalo, ab aise udaas hoke thodi jaana hai, milenge bhi toh itne time baad phir, tab yeh yaad karenge?" attempted ishita to lighten the situation, but purvi was feeling to heavy, to not cry. 

"di, aap mumma se bolo na please, main dobara waisa kuch nahi karungi....please, mujhe boarding school mat bhejo..." pleaded purvi helplessly, as ishita knew all too well she would have to decline the request. 

"purvi..." attempted ishita to offer a consolation, but purvi intervened. 

"aap toh jaante ho na, mujhe gussa aa gaya tha, papa ko uss aurat ke saath dekh kar...par main dobara kabhi aisi galti nahi karungi...di please...bolo na mummy ko..." purvi only cried more with her begging getting more and more as each second passed by, while ishita had no choice but to walk her out with her stuff. 

that's when purvi had to know, this was it. 

                                                                     ***

purvi entered a room with multiple bungee beds, made of hard, old wood, with white, gloomy walls surrounding them. girls of her age had occupied the different beds, but it seemed like no one was even remotely interested in talking to the other, everyone had a judgemental glare on their faces, as she walked past them, to finally be allowed to sit on a bed, where she put her suitcases to rest. 

no one bothered introducing themselves, or even the staff lady that brought here couldn't care less, as she just left after purvi placed her bag on the bed, not even ready to offer  a helping hand. 

she sighed in distress, sitting on the bed, as she looked out the window in front of her. nothing but a dead end forest, with no escape out, it seemed like a permanent imprisonment. 

                                                                ***

purvi looked at the food of plate in front of her, watery daal with hard and rock-heavy rice, that too ridden with stones and pebbles. she couldn't help but close her eyes, recounting how her homemade daal smelt, tasted, something she cherished so badly in the moment, it brought her some humility, maybe that aided in the acceptance that this was her life now. 

                                                               ***

a few months later....

purvi, anxiously waited in a long queue by the telephone, as she was finally standing behind only one girl, she couldn't wait for her to finish, so she could finally call home. thankfully, the girl hung up soon, only exchanging a few polite pleasantries with her parents, before leaving, as purvi jumped in up giddy, to get a chance to talk to her sister. she quickly dialed her landline, a number she had been memorizing well for so long, as this was the once-in-a-month phone call home allowed, she had to make it count. 

"hello di..." jumped up purvi excitedly to talk to ishita, only for the reply to bring utter disappointment. 

"padh rahi hai woh! disturb mat karo usse...aur tum bhi thoda padhai mein dhayaan delo, report card shaayad ghar aane laayak hojaye tumhara.." scolded her mother, as purvi was utterly heartbroken. 

"arre, par maa.." attempted purvi to argue, only for more hurt to be brought her way. 

"beta, ek toh bacha chod do jisse main kuch umeed karsakon..." responded her mother, shutting down any other exchange of words possible, as the call was disconnected by her, leaving purvi flaming inside, deeply hurt. 

                                                                           ***

purvi was crying in the bathroom, recounting the conversation she just had with her mother on the telephone, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. a girl, who was a complete stranger to her, had nothing but a kind smile on her face, making her look like an angel of sorts. purvi, was confused by her prescence, and couldn't wait to know who she was. 

"aap?" asked purvi, as the girl put forward her hand for a handshake. 

"akansha..."  introduced the girl, as purvi shook her hand too with a smile, not knowing she had found a friend that day. 

                                                                ***

2 moths later...

akansha and purvi, had become thick as thieves, something refreshing for both of them in what appeared to be a dull and dreary prison. they both were chuckling over a joke, holding onto each other, as they were made helpless by their laughter. 

"purvi..." called one of the office staff ladies, as purvi got up from her seat. 

"principal room mein bulaya hai tumhe..."  informed the lady before leaving, as purvi was left perplexed. 

"ab kya kar diya tune?" questioned akansha, as purvi shrugged her shoulders. 

"lagta hai usko tere darshan karne ka mann kar raha hoga bas.." joked akansha, as they both shared a laughter, before purvi composed herself and started walking to the principal room. 

                                                             ***

purvi entered the principal's room, only to find ishita and her mother sitting there, as ishita let out a small, 'hi', while waving her hand when she turned to her. purvi, was completely baffled at this sight. 

"purvi, go hurry up and pack your bags, you are going to be leaving soon...."  informed the principal, not realising how harsh those simple words' impact was on her. 

                                                                                   ***

"i hate you!" yelled purvi at her mother, as she angrily unpacked from her suitcase.

"gussa aaya toh mujhe wahan bhej diya, akela chod diya, sabse alag kardiya...haal bhi nahi puchne aate the aap! jab main wahan raaton ko roti thi, aapko roz phone pe request karti thi ki mujhe le jao tab nahi maane! aur ab, jab main wahan khush thi, tab woh bhi cheen liya mujhse....aap mujhe khush kyun nahi rehne dena chahti!" yelled purvi, extremely angry, as her mother couldn't bother to react to her. 

"tumhare papa iss mahine pura kharacha nahi bhej payenge, divorce ki formalities ka kharcha kaafi hogaya hai, woh niptana hai....jahan kharcha kam karsakte the wahan kar rahe hain isliye..." she replied bluntly, not even bothering to wait for her reaction before leaving, as purvi in rage threw a vase nearby on the family photo that hung on the wall. 

                                                                         ***