Atasi

By Diya Amy Shayin

It’s been two days since the year started. Ma already left for work. It was much better during the holidays. I closed the door and left for school. While walking to the bus stop, I noticed that the neighbors had already left which means I’m late again.

Oh! That’s new. There’s a girl standing in the bus stop. She seems to be a little older than me. I went and stood beside her. Should I ask her something? Is she new here?

“Hello?” I asked, hoping to know more about her. She remained frozen, emotionless. I didn’t know what to do.

Well I should probably introduce myself to you. I’m Atasi Hema. I just turned fourteen this summer. I’m studying in our city’s only public school. I might seem very talkative to people around me but I don’t have any friends. That doesn’t make me silent. I talk way too much to everybody. As you predicted, I was trying to talk to that girl at the bus stop. Unfortunately, I don’t think she likes to talk with strangers. It was the weirdest eleven minutes until the bus arrived.

As usual I sat beside Ms.Nanthal, our school’s only botany teacher. I like the way she teaches us. Maybe it's because I love nature. Or maybe because I love my Ma, the famous botanist aka the psychologist of our city. Me and Ms.Nanthal started to talk about our last lesson about mosses. I explained how my Ma showed her collection of mosses and bryophytes and how she in her way connected moss with our life. As we talked I heard that the girl I met earlier today had taken a ticket to our school’s stop. 

“Is she studying in our school?” I asked Ms.Nanthal.

“Yes, she is Qnath. I met her on the admission day. She just moved into your neighbourhood. Don’t you know her?” That’s when I thought about the new tenants in Ms.Raina’s house.

“No, I’ve never met her until this morning at the bus stop. And when I said hello, she just froze right there.”

“Oh! Well, I think it’s because she doesn't know you. She is quite a wonderful kid. And her grades are pretty impressive.” 

“In which class is she?” I asked to get to know more about her. Turns out she’s my senior, probably sixteen or seventeen years old. 

We reached our stop. I went straight to my class right next to Qnath’s class. I am obsessed with those who don’t speak very much. And the reason is because they hold the truth. Just like those rusted leaves in Ms.Mitha’s garden. 

“Dear students, today we are going to study a poem written by William Wordsworth.” Ms.Tanisha started to recite the poem. I heard each word. I felt as if the poem was talking to me. I always have felt the poem talking to my soul. Every poem describes the emotion some explanations can’t define. My favourite class besides botany was English. I loved poems as much as I loved nature. I don’t know what to do without them both.

As the last bell rang, all the students ran to catch our version of golden snitch. It is actually just a cricket ball thrown by the captain. The story behind the ball catching is pretty interesting. Since the year our country won their first World Cup for cricket, this small tradition is done everyday after the last bell rings. The one who catches the ball gets extra marks in the next exam. I am not eager to catch the ball like others, I always avoid watching the same charades daily. As I reached the bus stop, I saw Qnath. I avoided her. Cause why should I put myself in an awkward situation again. The bus came earlier than usual.  

“Hello, myself Qnath Tuhina.” Why would she come and start talking to ME? 

“I didn’t mean to avoid you this morning. It's just that I was quite stuck with a new school, new neighbourhood and all the new things I’m forced to be. Like I don’t want to be here. It’s just that my mother got a promotion transfer, and we shifted into this area. The first day at school when I tried to talk to others, they all seemed to be avoiding me. That’s why I didn’t speak to you this morning. But Ms.Nanthal said you are not like others…Sorry, I’m talking way too much. Tell me something about yourself.” Really? Now I need to speak? Oh! This day is literally eating me up.

“Well, I’m Atasi Hema…” There was a long pause after that. I’m not usually someone who pauses. After a few minutes I asked her “Hey, are you the new tenants in Ms.Raina’s house?”

“Do you know her?” 

“Well, I live next door.”

“Yeah, that’s nice.” She seemed excited. “Maybe you could come to ours later if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure. That’s a wonderful idea.” I said with great hope. I got the feeling that she is going to be my first ever friend.

I rang the bell. It was Qnath’s mother who opened the door.

“Hello! Come, I’m preparing dinner. I’ll call Qnath. I met your mother this morning. She helped me to plant trees in our backyard.”

“Oh! That’s great. Well, what are you doing? I heard Qnath saying that you got promoted.”

“I’m working as a HR. I used to be an intern. When you go back home don’t forget to give this book to your Ma.” She gave me the book. It was about finance. Ma was struggling with her deposits last week. This book will surely help her.

I went to the kitchen. Since they just moved, the furniture is not placed yet. Qnath came to the kitchen shortly after the dinner was ready. Her mother made delicious food. And my favourite rasam was also included. After dinner Qnath showed me their backyard. Let me say that Ma truly did an amazing job in planting those trees. And there I saw the flower beds which were not filled yet.

“Your Ma said that she’ll help me fill those flowerbeds tomorrow.” Ithik, Qnath’s mother said from the kitchen.

“Make sure you say thank you to your Ma from me. It was so nice of her helping my mother.” Qnath said as we walked towards the swing. 

“Ma loves plants, I also got some of that from her. It is her pleasure to help one with their plants.”

“I heard your mother is also a psychologist.”

“Yeah, she did her masters in both botany and psychology. She often connects both those subjects in her daily life.”

“Oh! It must be nice to listen to her talking about mind and plants.”

“Not when she says ‘my little bamboo is growing too fast’ and when she says I’m a rafflesia when I don’t bathe.” We both laughed so hard. And that was the first laugh we shared together.

“I’m going back home. It was nice talking to you. It’s almost eight, I need to complete a little work for school tomorrow.” I said after a few minutes of sharing stories and laughter.

I really hope that we can be friends. My first ever real friend. I don’t know, but talking to her felt amazing. After the death of Yuthi, it is the first time I’m ever feeling this happy talking to someone. Talking to Qnath was as if talking to Yuthi.  

By Diya Amy Shayin