Tied by Friendship

It was monsoon season.

- Kusum Agrawal

Raindrops tapped gently on the classroom windows. The Hindi period had begun, and the children had taken their seats.

“Children,” Miss Kavita’s kind voice filled the room, “today we'll read a very beautiful lesson: ‘Rakshabandhan.’ And how perfect because tomorrow itself is Rakshabandhan!”

She opened the textbook and began reading aloud. “Rakshabandhan is a festival where sisters tie rakhis on their brothers’ wrists and the brothers promise to protect them for life. It is a symbol of love, trust and protection.”

The students listened closely, but Reema, seated at the back of the class, looked down. Her eyes glistened as she quietly lowered her head.

Her friend Dhwani, who was sitting beside her, leaned in and asked, “Reema, is everything alright? Why are you so quiet?”

Reema replied in a whisper, “I don’t like Rakshabandhan. I don’t have a brother. So whom should I tie a rakhi to? Who will protect me?”

Dhwani looked surprised. “But you have your mom and dad, don’t you? They protect you, don’t they?”

Reema nodded. “Yes, they do at home. But at school? In the playground? Some boys and girls tease me a lot. I feel scared.”

Dhwani thought for a moment and then smiled. “So, can only brothers protect us? We can protect ourselves too, right? I'm not scared, and I don’t have a brother either!”

Reema shook her head. “That’s because no one troubles you. You’re very brave. Everyone’s scared of you. But I’m not as strong as you.”

Taking Reema’s hand in hers, Dhwani said, “To be strong, what you really need is confidence. And that's already inside you. You just have to find it."