THE UNBARRED CASEMENT

Mom, I didn’t lose interest in my studies

Keerthi felt bad for lying but she could not reveal anything without proof. Her mother too became normal as Keerthi said “Mom, I didn’t lose interest in my studies. I just wished to do my homework beforehand so I could spend some time with you rather than doing it at the last moment”. The next day when her parents went to work, she again inserted the chip into the laptop to see if anything was recorded. But that was empty nothing was recorded. Disappointed Keerthi left home on Monday, early in the morning but it became late. She reached school a bit late. “Excuse me ma’am”, asked Keerthi. “Yes, come in”, said her ma’am. Then came their attendance register. Ma’am started the roll call “Abinaya, Ananya, Arthi, Ashwini….” everybody was present.

“Bathma Priya… present ma’am”. Keerthi became sullen and numb on hearing that. “Keerthi, Keerthi, Keeerrrthhhiii…. hmm, sorry ma’am, present ma’am”. Keerthi turned back. She saw Bathu sitting at the last desk. “What?” asked Bathu with a nodded head. “Nothing” replied Keerthi. Then came interval after two hours of continuous lecture. Keerthi went to the restroom. She stood in a queue for using the washroom. She saw Amrin and waved at her. Amrin gave a strange look at her but smiled and went out. Keerthi became more and more confused. That evening after school hours when she returned hostel she got a strange sight. She saw herself. That is, she saw another Keerthi. Suddenly she hid inside a bush as Keerthi-copy was coming by her side. Keerthi saw her. She was going to the canteen and returned with mango juice. Suddenly Keerthi remembered that the incident has already happened in her life. She kept on thinking but couldn’t get any idea. Then she followed her. Even the night study hours were finished. The Keerthi-copy went to sleep. Suddenly she found Bathu missing in her cot. She went in search of her and found her, writing a letter. She was sitting in the staircase that leads to the terrace of their hostel. However, the terrace was closed, the staircase leading that was regarded “The Scariest” by all the students. But without fear Bathu was sitting there, writing. She stood up, folded the letter, and kept it in the last step that leads to the terrace, and then she came down. Keerthi hid downstairs. Bathu went to the room, started to study. She was reciting the Ohm’s Law. She then remembers that day. It was the day when Bathu jumped out of the unbarred casement.