Achoo!

At school, the students teased Bani, calling her 'Achooro' because she sneezed throughout the day. The moment Bani entered her class, someone whispered, "Achooro has arrived."

- Asha Sharma

Bani heard the comment and looked down. She then hesitantly raised her eyes and felt as if every child in the class was looking and laughing only at her.

She got nervous and took out her handkerchief from her skirt pocket, clutched it tightly, rolling it in her hand.

Walking slowly, she sat on her chair. As soon as she sat, Vinay, who was seated next to her, slid further away.

Bani was feeling horrible. She looked at Vinay from the corner of her eyes, quietly opened her book and started reading it.

Then suddenly her nose started twitching and before she could even take out her handkerchief and place it on her nose, "Achoo!" she sneezed loudly, spreading the droplets all around. Vinay frowned and whispered, "Achooro."

He then changed his seat just before Miss Soumya, their science teacher, entered the class.

"Vinay, aren't you supposed to sit next to Bani? Why have you changed seats without permission? Go back to your seat," instructed Miss Soumya.

"Sorry ma'am, but Bani has again caught a cold and is sneezing all the time. I don't want to catch an infection from her," explained Vinay, staring hard at Bani.

Bani wiped her nose with her handkerchief and started turning the pages of her book.

Miss Soumya glanced at Bani who was looking very sad.