Witty Whispers

It is just another day of online classes on Zoom, Geography being the first period. Our teacher is facing major connectivity issues. The students are of course on cloud nine, because nothing makes them happier than not having to study. Beaming faces can be seen on the screen.  Our teacher finally connects to another network and begins teaching. Hardly ten minutes into the lecture, and she gets disconnected from the meeting. The school observer who supervises the online classes is absent today. Kiara, my classmate, lands up becoming the host. All the boys unmute themselves and scream in a chorus "Enable the chat". She is in a complete dilemma now. Being the teacher's pet, she does not want to land herself in trouble. The constant pinging announces the arrival of messages on our WhatsApp group, and as I check my phone, I see that they force her so much,  that she finally gives in . The chat is enabled, and everyone starts cracking jokes about our teacher. The teacher's ...

When I learned that I would be shifting to another school, I was as pleased as punch.  You must be wondering why I was so untroubled. I'll tell you: My best friend, Anaya, who I had known since preschool, was going to be with me all the way. The first week in our new school went as normal as ever, with us keeping to ourselves, and not mingling too much with the other students. After about two weeks, I  made friends with a group of girls, who everyone considered to be the "most popular group" in school. There was an upcoming school event that we had to attend. I made plans for the event with my new friends, and Anaya was upset with me. She felt that I was neglecting her now that I had made new friends. I blew her off and told her that she was being over-possessive about our friendship. She tried her best to persuade me, but I ignored her. We never really spoke much after that episode. My friends kept telling me that she was not the right person to be my friend.  They made ...

“You are finding this funny? Here I am, in this sticky situation, wondering how to face the wrath of my mother, and you feel it’s a big joke! Your mother must be the 'cool as a cucumber' type, but not mine, okay?!” I threw my phone aside, furiously, wondering why all my friends were acting so chilled out about what had happened to me the previous night. I was neither frightened nor afraid. My feelings were beyond such words. I could imagine my mother gawking at me with a “Severus Snape” expression when I would tell her the truth. I took a deep breath, and put on a brave front before I went into my mother's room. “Mom, I need to have a word with you.” “About what?”- my mom said, raising her eyebrows. “Ummmm, I have a confession to make.”  The atmosphere was tense. I gulped, not knowing how to start. “Mom, I just need you to know that I realize what a grave mistake I have made. I need you to forgive me for this. I promise that I will not repeat this ever again.” – I was plead...