It was the middle of the 8th grade when a new student joined our class: Varneeka Rastogi. Her arrival was quiet but impactful. At first, she bonded with Kolina, a friendly girl who was quick to welcome newcomers. Soon after, Varneeka started approaching me and Binita for our homework copies to catch up on her previous work. We didn't mind helping her out, and before long, the three of us became fast friends.
During lunch breaks, our favorite pastime was playing hide and seek. The school corridors offered countless hiding spots, and we took full advantage of them. One particularly memorable day, we were in the middle of an intense game. Binita was "it" and was determined to find us.
"I'll check the washroom!" Binita declared, her voice echoing through the corridor.
Unbeknownst to her, Varneeka and I were watching her from a safe distance, our giggles suppressed by the thrill of the game.
An idea suddenly sparked in my mind. "Varneeka, follow me," I whispered, a mischievous glint in my eye.
We sneaked into the washroom, and as soon as Binita entered, we slipped out and quickly locked the door from the outside. Giggling uncontrollably, we waited just outside, our initial plan being to release her after a few minutes.
But then, disaster struck. From around the corner, we saw our PT teacher, Manikant Sir, approaching.
Shit.
"Shit," I muttered, panic creeping into my voice.
"What do we do?" Varneeka asked, her eyes wide with fear.
"I don't know," I admitted, our initial bravado rapidly dissipating. We could have easily unlocked the door, but fear got the better of us. Instead, we fled the scene, hiding behind a corridor from where we could still see the washroom door.
We watched as Binita started pounding on the door, her cries for help muffled but frantic. At first, we couldn't help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation too much to handle. But our amusement quickly turned to dread as Manikant Sir heard the commotion and approached the door.
"What's going on in there?" he called out, hesitating before unlocking it.
Binita stumbled out, looking both relieved and furious. "I don't know who locked me in," she explained, avoiding eye contact with Manikant Sir.
He gave her a skeptical look but didn't press further. As soon as Binita headed back to class, Varneeka and I knew we had to come up with a plan. We waited until the recess was over, hoping she wouldn't suspect us.
Back in class, we approached her nonchalantly. "Why didn't you find us? We were hiding," I said, feigning innocence.
Binita recounted the entire ordeal, her voice still tinged with annoyance. We pretended to be surprised, acting as if we had no idea what had happened.
"That's so weird! I wonder who did it," Varneeka added, playing along.
Despite the close call, the incident became one of those unforgettable memories that we laughed about for years to come. It was a time of carefree fun and innocent mischief, a testament to the simple joys and the occasional foolishness of youth.
Those days were filled with laughter and adventures, each moment a precious gem in the treasure chest of our memories. As we navigated through the challenges and excitement of growing up, our bond only grew stronger, forged in the fires of shared experiences and countless pranks. And although our actions might have been foolish, they were also a reflection of the unbridled spirit that defined our childhood.