Today is Rati's first day of school.
Ever since she came home after getting enrolled, it feels like sleep has left her completely. She keeps getting busy again and again with her new bag, her new dress, and her notebooks and books.
"Rati, won't you get ready? Don't you have to go to school?"
"Yes, I have to go. Let me wear my dress."
"Come, I'll help you."
"No, I will wear it myself."
"Alright."
Rati gets ready nicely and comes downstairs after putting a lot of powder on her face.
Seeing her like this, everyone starts laughing loudly. But Rati doesn't understand why they are laughing and thinks they must be laughing about something among themselves.
Rama tries to wipe off the extra powder from her face, but Rati doesn't let her.
It is time for the bus. Both of them stand outside waiting.
Soon, they hear the bus horn.
As the bus arrives and stops in front of them, Rati's heart starts beating fast.
They are just about to climb the bus when the conductor lifts Rati and makes her sit on the lap of a woman already sitting inside. Rama stands beside that seat.
This makes Rati very angry at the conductor, but she feels helpless and can't do anything. So she swallows her anger and sits quietly.
After some distance, the woman gets down from the bus, and Rama comes and sits beside Rati.
But after a while, Rati starts feeling dizzy and suddenly vomits on Rama.
Because of this, everyone in the bus moves away from them.
Rati feels very bad.
Her own dress is still clean, but Rama's uniform is completely ruined.
When they reach school, a helper takes Rati's hand and leads her into a classroom, making her sit on a small chair.
Some children from her class had seen her vomiting in the bus. They start whispering and telling each other about it in a mocking way.
"Eww, she vomited!"
"Don't sit near her."
"Yes, I won't sit near her either."
All these whispering hurt Rati deeply.
She quietly sits with her head down on the bench.
After some time, the bell rings and the prayer begins.
After prayer, the first class starts.
The teacher asks the students to sit near Rati, but no one agrees.
Finally, the teacher scolds two students and makes them sit beside her. But neither of them talks to Rati, and Rati also doesn't try to talk to them.
At the end of the day, the teacher gives her homework.
After school, Rati silently goes and sits in the bus.
Again, no one sits near her or talks to her.
Because of all this, her heart fills with sadness, and tears begin to shimmer in her eyes.
After some time, Rama comes into the bus and asks,
"Rati, what happened? Did you study in class?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
The bus starts moving.
Warm wind blows on Rati's face, drying her tears, but the hurt in her heart stays with her the whole way.
The next day, she is not at all excited to go to school. Still, she gets ready and comes outside first to wait for the bus.
Today again, the conductor tries to pick her up and make her sit on that woman's lap.
But this time, Rati cannot control her anger. To take revenge, she bites the conductor's hand hard with her sharp teeth.
The conductor immediately makes her stand beside the seat and keeps staring angrily at her.
But Rati is not scared. She doesn't lower her eyes and completely stands her ground.
Now she reaches her class.
Again, all the girls sit far away from her. But this time, instead of feeling bad, Rati quietly sits on her seat.
The teacher again forces two students to sit beside her.
But this time, Rati gets up and goes to sit on the last bench.
The teacher says,
"Rati, why are you sitting so far back? Come forward and sit with everyone."
But Rati ignores her.
The teacher feels offended and thinks Rati is disrespecting her. She grabs Rati's ear to bring her forward.
But Rati doesn't tolerate it. She bites the teacher's hand with her sharp teeth.
Even when the teacher slaps her repeatedly, Rati doesn't let go.
The mark of Rati's teeth is clearly visible on the teacher's hand.
After a lot of effort, the teacher somehow frees her hand.
Now, no one in the class dares to mess with Rati.
All the children start respecting her and even want to be friends with her.
But now Rati has no interest in making friends.
A few days pass like this.
Rati keeps sitting alone.
But one day, a new girl joins the class.
Instead of going to anyone else, she comes directly to Rati and sits beside her.
Her name is Shruti.
By the time the final bell rings, Shruti and Rati become good friends.