The Trouble String

As soon as January arrived, a different kind of sparkle settled over the neighbourhood.

- Ruchi Gontia

It felt as though the air itself carried the sweetness of sesame and jaggery, and the sky was painted with the bright colours of children's laughter.

Rohan and Jai looked forward to this time all year. For them, flying kites wasn't just a hobby. It was a festival, an art, and a tiny bit of mischief too.

Every day, as soon as they got home from school, they threw their bags aside as if they were a burden and rushed up to the roof, which felt like their true playground.

Catching the direction of the wind, steering the kite gently, loosening the string at just the right moment and then tightening it sharply. It all seemed to happen effortlessly in their hands.

Even the elders in the neighbourhood would shake their heads in amazement and say, "There's magic in the way these two fly their kites."

This year, the neighbourhood kite competition was going to be even bigger.

Rohan and Jai's team had come second last year, so they really wanted to win first place this time.

Every evening, they practised without fail, learning new techniques, sharpening their reflexes and understanding the slightest shift in the wind.

But this year, something strange began happening. Their kites kept getting cut! It happened so many times that Rohan became frustrated.

Jai explained, "Many of the other boys are using a sharp, coated thread. That's why our kites keep getting cut." Hearing this, Rohan remembered something from years ago. His grandfather had been cycling to the market when a kite string hanging loose in the air got tangled around his hand. It had cut him slightly.