The Next Morning
Siddharth Rana had already left for Shimla.An unusual hush hung over the cottage.
Aryaman came downstairs, brimming with authority and self‑confidence.He adjusted his collar, ran a hand through his hair, and called out loudly,"Govardhan bhaiyā!"
"Yes, bābā…"Govardhan appeared at once.
Aryaman's gaze slid straight to Nakshatra,who was sitting with her grandmother while the old lady tied her hair.In the morning sun, Nakshatra's blue eyes shone even more brightly.
"From now on, I'm the head of this cottage, understood?"he said to Govardhan, though the words were clearly aimed at Nakshatra.
Govardhan bowed slightly."Yes, sir. The master informed me."
"So today's breakfast will be ordered from outside."Aryaman's tone was pure command.
Govardhan hesitated."But bābā, it's nearly time for school. Delivery will take thirty minutes, and breakfast is already prepared…"
Aryaman's jaw tightened; a chance to humiliate Nakshatra was slipping away.
Nakshatra stayed expressionless.She didn't care for spicy, greasy food, preferring the cottage's simple meals — something Aryaman knew all too well, which was precisely why he wanted to order out.
"Fine… but starting tomorrow, it comes from outside,"he insisted, and strode to the dining table.
Govardhan nodded silently and headed for the kitchen.
Nakshatra placed her bag quietly on the sofa and began eating.Aryaman sat opposite her, watching her more than his own plate, chewing his toast while counting every bite she took.
"Your tiffin…"Govardhan set two lunch boxes on the table.
Without looking up, Aryaman raised a hand."I'll order something outside."
Govardhan paused, then nodded and removed his tiffin.
Aryaman finished, shoved his chair back, and stood.His eyes fell on Nakshatra's lunch box.Every day he confiscated it, forcing her to go hungry at school — then, in front of everyone, he'd sneer, "Look at her— her family doesn't even pack her lunch!"
He stepped forward, hand reaching for the box — then a thought struck:
"I'm the head of the house now… I'm responsible for everyone here. Such cheap tricks don't suit me anymore."
His hand froze.
A second thought countered:"But she's just a maid… why bother with fairness or respect?"
An inner tug‑of‑war ensued."No, Arya… do that and you'll prove you're still a child…"
After a moment of wrestling with himself, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair, turned, and left for school — without touching the tiffin.
Behind him, Nakshatra glanced at his retreating back.For her, that tiny moment was a monumental change: for the first time, Aryaman had not snatched her lunch.
At School
As always, Aryaman sat in the middle of the classroom like a king among his "subjects" — surrounded by buzzing admirers, every laugh directed at his jokes, every eye eager for his attention.
Nakshatra slipped to the last seat and stared out the window.
Aryaman cast her a sideways glance.A crooked smile crept over his lips — a hunter toying with prey.
He tore a page from his notebook, crumpled it into a ball, and without hesitation hurled it at her.
Thump!The ball smacked the back of Nakshatra's head.
Aryaman burst out laughing; the others followed suit.
"Direct hit, Captain!" someone jeered.
The classroom turned into a circus. Pages ripped, balled up, and flew through the air — every projectile aimed at one target: Nakshatra.
She neither lifted her head nor reacted.
Aryaman ground his teeth and strode toward her, about to say something when—
"What is happening here?"The teacher's stern voice sliced through the chaos.
Everyone scrambled.Books snapped open; paper balls disappeared into bags.Aryaman froze for a second, then slipped back to his seat.
The teacher's gaze swept the room.Nobody dared meet her eyes; every pair was suddenly glued to a textbook.
The teacher turned to the board and said —"Open page 42."
The class slowly returned to normal.Aryaman, back in his element, was sitting with his friends, laughing and chatting. One of the boys sitting beside him pointed at Nakshatra and joked —"Look, Aryaman! Even the beggar girl has lunch today."
The group burst into laughter.Another one added —"Wow, did her beggar parents get a donation or something?"
Aryaman glanced at Nakshatra for a second."Talking about her parents… means talking about my father…"His expression changed. He snapped —"Shut up."
"But Aryaman…" the boy tried to explain.
Aryaman shot him a glare, and everyone instantly went silent.
After lunch, Nakshatra went to the washroom. That's when a few girls laughingly locked her inside from outside.Nakshatra banged on the door in fear, shouting again and again — but the girls only mocked her, laughed, and walked back to class, leaving her locked in.
Time passed. Her voice faded from screaming too much.By evening, the school was empty.The girls had gone home — no one remembered the girl still trapped in the washroom.
Back home, Aryaman was, as usual, laughing and gaming with his friends.After his friends left, Govardhan quietly approached him, while Aryaman was still immersed in his game.
"Baba… Nakshatra hasn't come home yet."
Aryaman briefly glanced away from his screen and said dismissively —"What? She's not back yet? She's not a kid. She'll come. She'll be somewhere."
"Baba, you know she has no friends. And she never goes anywhere without informing. Plus… tonight is Purnima (full moon night)…"
"So what if it's Purnima?" Aryaman raised a brow.
Govardhan hesitated, then spoke softly —"Please do something… Master isn't home. The responsibility lies on you now…"
"Responsibility…"Aryaman repeated the word, like tasting a new flavor.He sat silently for a few moments, absorbing the weight of it. Then, with a faint smile, he stood up.
A new seriousness replaced his laziness."Alright… I'll go check."He raised his head and walked out.
Behind him, Govardhan peeked out the door.The cold was getting sharper… and so was the darkness.