HAND IN HAND

I am shocked to see Aliza Bhabhi navigate towards me through the messy ground. She is waddling her way through the crowd of junior boys, passing on the ball between them. Her eyes are wandering around, scaling the height of the building. I can see her judge everyone around as she walks towards me. What is she doing here is my first thought as I see her. Where are my parents who are supposed to be here? Why didn’t they come to tear me down along with my teachers? I have no answers. So, I patiently wait for Aliza Bhabhi to arrive. 

“Bhabhi, what are you doing here?” I ask, and she looks at me confusedly, assessing me from head to toe to see if I have suffered any injury. She jiggles me around a few times and ensures I am safe. Then, her eyes land on Christy’s forehead. She gasps and stares back at me. 

“What have you done, Sara? What is all this?” 

“Bhabhi, I know. I lost control. But trust me. I have my reasons,” I try to convince her, but I know I am failing. “Where is Ma and Baba? Why didn’t they come? Did they disown me already? Are they embarrassed to call me their daughter? Tell me, Bhabhi.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Let me speak up," she says, and I stop panting momentarily. They might have sent her in their place because they were too embarrassed.

“I was the one who answered your principal’s phone call. I told Mami that there was a school meeting someone from the family needed to attend, and she asked me to do it. That’s why I am here,” she finishes in a single breath, and I feel my body loosen a bit. “They know nothing about this. Let’s first finish the meeting and later decide what happens.” 

“Thank you so much, Bhabhi. You saved me from getting banned from attending school.” I smile, holding her hand firmly. 

“There’s still time to decide on that. First, we will talk to your teacher. Let’s decide everything else later,” she says, and I don’t know why she feels like an entirely changed person now. She isn’t the timid, docile, and helpless Bhabhi I know at home. She looks more like a parent who is there to protect their kid at school but thrashes at home silently later. 

After an hour of conversing back and forth, it is decided Christy is innocent in all of this. I tried explaining my part, but nobody except Bhabhi would listen. They had already framed me as a liar in their minds. They have now made it look like I attacked Christy out of personal vengeance while she tried to remain within her boundaries. I feel deceived. This must all be a part of Christy’s play. To appear naive and innocent in front of everyone. But thank God my parents were left out of this. I must thank Bhabhi for it. 

She was initially furious, but when I explained, she sided with me. When she realised what would happen if Ma and Baba learned about this, she promised me she wouldn’t discuss this at home.

“No one should miss school. Not for any reason,” she said, pain hinting in her eyes. But my principal has suspended me for three days. I don’t know how to cover this up at home, but Bhabhi said it is her headache now, so I let it go. 

We walk back home hand-in-hand, like old-school friends, giggling and chatting. I am still contemplating becoming closer to her. And she goes, “I trust you because I have seen Salim around quite a few times. But I thought you were interested. If only I had known, I wouldn’t have that scoundrel come anywhere near,” she scoffs. That's when I decide that she is not the one to be doubted. She is a keeper. How did my brother get so lucky? Speaking of him, I have even forgotten that he once coexisted in this house with me. He used to be home every weekend but hasn't visited in the last two months. I wish he realised what he is missing at home. 

This is a part of  BlogchatterA2Z 2025

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