Shavya Chaturved ,an 11th grader,a walking talking dose of sunshine.A master of subtle distraction and a specialist in forgotten homework.
A hopeless romantic.
An open book on the outside, always smiling, always laughing but her most interesting cha...
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It was another day in the classroom. Shavya and Swapnil were seated together on the middle bench, maintaining their new, volatile seating arrangement. Behind them, on the last bench, sat Roop and Ishaya.
A boy from the junior class hurried in. "Excuse me, whoever has participated for the Rangoli competition, Ruchi Ma'am is asking them to be present in the activity room for a discussion."
Ishaya immediately sprang up. "Mai jaa rahi hoon, Roop! Tum notes bhej dena, okay?" (I'm leaving, Roop! You send the notes, okay?)
Roop stared at her, dumbfounded. "Tune kab participate kiya?" (When did you participate?)
Ishaya: "Kal last bell mein gayi thi na Ma'am ke paas, issi wajah se toh!" (I went to Ma'am during the last bell yesterday, that was the reason!) And with a triumphant grin, she dashed out.
Shaavya and Roop watched their friend's back with matching betrayed expressions. Shavya: (Hissing under her breath) "Hamein bol diya hota toh kharcha ghat jaata!" (She could have told us, and we could have saved some money!)
Roop: "Nahi, khud akele kutti ko class miss karna tha!" (No, the bitch wanted to miss class alone!)
Shavya: "Wahi na! Hum bhi saath chal chalte!" (Exactly! We would have gone with her!)
Swapnil, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange, couldn't resist entering the fray, directing his words entirely at Shavya.
Swapnil: "Uske liye Rangoli banana aana bhi chahiye." (For that, you should know how to make Rangoli.)
Roop immediately jumped in, delighted by the opportunity to rally against Swapnil. "Haww, Swapnil! Matlab tum kehna chahte ho ki Shavya ko Rangoli banana nahin aata?" (Haww, Swapnil! So you mean to say Shavya doesn't know how to make Rangoli?)
Shavya's nose flared up in anger and annoyance. "Aata hai mujhe!"(I know ) she insisted, and stomped her foot down hard on his foot under the table.
Swapnil hissed, clutching his ankle. "Waah, Chaturvedi! Ab tum violence pe utar aayi?" (Wow, Chaturvedi! Now you've resorted to violence?)
Shavya mocked him, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ab tumhare jaise Mahaan Manushya ke liye utarna hi padta hai!" (Well, one has to resort to this for a Great Human like you!)
Roop: (From the back) "Arey yaar, ab apni kutte-billiyon wali ladai mat start karo!" (Oh man, don't start your cat-and-dog fight now!)
Shaavya: (Turning towards Roop, a look of promise in her eyes) "Tujhse toh main baad mein niptungi! Aur aane do uss Ishaya ko, batati hoon main!" (I'll deal with you later! And let that Ishaya come back, I'll show her!)
The Contentment of the Sandwich Swapnil saw her frustration, and a quiet, playful thought crossed his mind. He leaned closer to her, lowering his voice into a soft whisper meant only for her.
