A Story.

it's been a while since i started speculating on writing a story. There seem to be too many idea crowding my mind, but with a pen in my hand and a blank paper facing me , thoughts evade and ideas vanish ... This is something i penned down a long time back, as part of a bigger story (which remains incomplete!). But well, something to start with. Have a read. Comments are more than welcome. Forgive this amateur for the abstract style of writing.

The Daughter

The last five minutes of the exam were always the worst. you suddenly remembered everything that you were trying to, for the last three hours. All the answers were flooding her. She felt lost. How could one write at the speed of thought. One really must invent a device to write down everything one thinks. That would make exams easier. She would tell Sophie about it.  As she sat speculating all the possibilities of this unbelievable invention, the clock struck twelve and there was a deafening roar of the school bell. "pencils down!", shouted the invigilator. She woke up with a start, tears running down her face, perspiring. Her alarm clock had gone off and was wrecking havoc. She switched it off as she got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. She felt sick. Maybe it was the dream, or the fact that it wasn't and that she would get her grades today. She had ruined her exams thinking of the darned thought translator machine. But, then again she could continue to work on the idea and patent it, become famous and she would never need grades again. But the continuation of the great idea had eluded her ever since she had walked out of that exam hall. All she could think about was, her grim future. What would she tell mom and dad? Sophie would be so upset. She had sat up all night with her, just so that she wouldn't fall asleep while studying. Oh Sophie!

Noel was an ordinary child. And just like all children, she possessed a charm and radiance that accompanies innocence. If she were to hear me, she would be quite upset though. She was 10 after all. In her words, she was a lady who knew very well about this world. better than her parents if she might say so. Dark brown hair that fell in abundant curls and liquid amber eyes. She got dressed for school in her collared white shirt and her ash grey box-pleated skirt. She combed her hair into a neat braid and tied it with a red ribbon. She missed her mother doing this for her every morning. Doing it on your own was really a pain. Mother had been preoccupied with so many other things. She seemed in another world all together.

It was 6:45. She better have her breakfast or she had be late for school. She headed into the dining room. There was a bowl of cereal on the table. her father was sitting at the table reading the morning newspaper, her mother was sitting opposite him cutting vegetables. Sophie was sitting next to  her spot grinning at her.

Sophie was 4 years younger than Noel, but they were the best of friends. They could not have been more different as people, but it was this, that made them fit together perfectly. She had hair as black as ebony and a tinge of grey in her eyes. Noel thought she looked like an angel descended from the heavens. But she was her angel.

Noel placed her bag near the front door and made her way to the table. Sophie wasn't dressed for school. Maybe it was one of her days. She had been ill on and off for the past few months. It was probably why mum and dad were always worried. Dad and mum looked awfully dull today, maybe they had, had a fight early in the morning. This seemed to have become a ritual for the past one week. They hardly spoke. They were always quite. Sophie began to say something but Noel stopped her with a slight nod of her head, not knowing how they would react.

Once she was done she announced that she was ready and demanded that she be dropped to school. She waved at her mother and Sophie and left with her father. She loved these rides on the scooter. They Both did.  She loved the old thing. It was much older than her. but she had gotten used to all the rickety sounds that the old thing made. She and Sophie would keep their mouths open and say "aaah!", every time they went over a bump or a pothole, just so that they could hear the sound of their distorted voice. She especially loved to do this on rumble strips. Sophie thought, it made them  sound just like robots.

School was mundane up till the second period . And the clock struck 10:00. It was the history period, and that meant...papers! The horror! She really didn't know what she would do. Well, what was done, was done. If she didn't do well she would just drop out and become like one of those famous inventors, she decided.

Ms Upadhyay walked in with a big bundle of answer papers in her hand. Her big round spectacles perched on the bridge of her nose. She looked like a bee, thought Noel. funny she hadn't noticed before. Ms Upadhyay started to call out the names of each student. Those who had scored well were given their papers and those who hadn't were asked to stand on the left side of the classroom. Noel continued her examination of Ms Upadhyay's features. She really did look like a bee! She was  wearing a bright yellow saree with orange bangles and had done up her hair in a giant puff. "NOEL!, answer when you are being called. Come and stand on the left side of the classroom with the others." Noel was jolted out of her world and  reality came crashing down upon her. What a shame though, she wouldn't be able to get a good enough view of her from the left corner!

After she was done distributing the papers, Ms Upadhyay made way to each of these banished students asking them why they had done so poorly and why they deserved more, if they felt she had been unfair. As she made her way to Noel, she caught her smiling. That child! she was always up to something. "What is it child? What is it this time?", she asked. Noel summoned all her will and prayed to all her gods, so that she wouldn't laugh. "Nothing miss. I think I do deserve more. You see, I'm going to be a scientist one day. And a scientist has no use of a subject such as history. But seeing that you have failed me, I must ask you to pass me or let me write it once more, as it is a must that I graduate, or else it would take me forever to be a scientist, as drop-outs are frowned upon! Though I would still do as I intend to and become quite famous, it would take me an awfully long time and I really do lack the patience miss. Besides, I did promise Sophie that I had do well on this one. In fact,  I told her just this morning that I would definitely pass. And I never a break promise to her. You wouldn't want this to be my first, would you miss? "

Ms Upadhyay was shocked out of words. She didn't know quite what to say. The whole room fell silent. Ms Upadhyay walked to her desk, took out a piece of paper, wrote something on it and gave it to Noel and said "Give this to your parents." Great, a summon for her parents. This was just great, they were probably already in a bad mood after their fight and now this. Great going Noel, she silently cursed herself.  But she was a bit proud, her frank extempore had earned her day off tomorrow, at least that's what it said on the note. All the other children behaved strangely around her for the rest of the day. Aiding a criminal. Guilty as charged. That was probably what was going on in their heads thought Noel. It was understandable. She forgave them. She sure did miss Sophie. She would never have abandoned her. If she would just get better soon.

It had been a long day and she was glad when the clock struck 4:00. She was going home. At dinner, no one spoke much. So she took it upon herself to break ice. "So, I had a bit of a situation today, but I think I handled it quite well. I got my history paper today. I failed. Now I know that this may disturb you a bit, but like I said I've handled it beautifully and I think miss was quite impressed and will consider my request. And as a reward she has given me the day off tomorrow. Oh, by the way, she did ask you people to meet her tomorrow. " Both her parents looked at her, and asked her in unison "You FAILED?! Day off?! What did you SAY to her?"  Noel was exasperated, did they not listen to anything that she had ranted on about? "Well, nothing really, you really should meet her though. Like I said I was quite convincing and I know Sophie is proud of me whether you are or not" , she said with a finality in her nod. Sophie was all smiles as she winked at her sister. That was all that Noel needed. The grim look on her parents' faces meant nothing to her. They would come around, they always did. They couldn't be mad at her forever and besides she was quite exhilarated Sophie wasn't upset, she had kept her promise after all.

The next day came and she was as glad as she could be. Sophie wasn't going to school today as well, so they could spend the whole day together. Their parents left for their respective offices and would stop at the school before they came home in the evening. Noel and Sophie watched TV all day long. It was the most fun she had, had in the last 2 weeks. Sophie must be feeling better. That little liar, she must have been faking the whole time! She was an angel, but quite the mischievous one. That was the things that Noel loved most about her. By 6:00 they both were exhausted from the day's activities. It was then that Noel started to think about her parents' meeting about her history paper. They would be back soon. They walked in just as this thought entered her mind. They looked upset. She could make out from mum's face that she had been crying. It couldn't have gone that bad. She couldn't understand what could have possibly happened in a day's time. what if Ms Upadhyay had changed her mind? Her mother walked towards her and hugged her while her father hung the helmet in its place. He walked towards them and placed his hand on her mother's shoulder and said, "Noel we need to talk." Her mother was crying. Sophie looked at Noel with sad eyes, and she walked out of the room.

Noel was sitting on the scooter. She hadn't gone through her usual "robot"routine today. Her uniform was a mess, her ribbons astray. She hadn't had the strength to tie her hair properly. The conversation from last night kept playing in her head. "Noel we need to talk. We have talked about this  before. Do you remember where we went last Sunday? You have to let her go sweetheart. Do you understand me? Sophie is no longer with us. Noel, do you understand?"