1 April, some may know this day as April Fool's Day, a day when you are allowed to do anything and get away with it by just saying "Happy April Fool". For some, it is a normal, simple day where they have to work, eat, and sleep, but for children, this day is like a nightmare.
A day of leaving their toys, TV, and enjoyment behind, a day of resuming the hell of 8-hour torments, a day of interacting with little uncivilized people, a day of starting the new session for school.
"Stop overreacting and get dressed, you will be late on your first day of your 8th class," said the mother while putting the school uniform beside the boy.
"I am not overreacting, I am just telling the truth," Parveen said in a low voice while putting on the uniform.
"What did you say?" Mother asked.
"Nothing," Parveen said.
"Peenu, speak up louder if you want to say something, or don't speak at all! Understood!" Mother shouted.
"Yes!" Parveen shouted.
SLAP
"How dare you shout at your mother? Be thankful that I am busy right now; otherwise, I would have taught you a lesson. Now get dressed," Mother said.
"Understood," Parveen said while rubbing the back of his head.
'Just the thing I needed to be reminded of the true nature of women.' Parveen thought to himself.
According to Parveen, women may look fragile, but they are the scariest, most dangerous, and vicious creatures who will eat anyone alive if they see an opening. Parveen has firsthand experience of how vicious they can be, not only from his selfness sister and his mother, who talks with her hands, but also from his peers. As a result, he has made a rule to beware of women.
Parveen Shokeen is a 13-year-old boy with a slim build, standing at about 5 feet tall. His hair is parted and combed in a simple style that reflects his cultural background. His youthful face still carries the softness of childhood, and his posture shows the energy of a boy stepping into his teenage years. Dressed in a tidy school uniform, he appears fresh and ready for the new class ahead.
Parveen packed up his bag with 5 subject books and 6 notebooks, a water bottle, 2 pencil boxes, and the lunch box, making the bag of 10 kg.
'Nice, it's lighter than last year, ' Parveen thought to himself, 'Let go!'.
...
Parveen pedaled his bicycle down the narrow lane toward school, the rhythmic squeak of the chain mixing with the distant chatter of other children heading the same way. The morning carried the fresh scent of April, with the sun already warm but softened by a light breeze.
"Lucky me, no one stole my sport," said Parveen.
Reaching the cycle stand, he slowed down, carefully slid his bicycle into place, and looped the number lock around the wheel with the quiet click of habit.
As he walked through the tall school gates, a wave of noise greeted him—the unmistakable buzz of the first day of a new session.
"Let's wait for others here."
"Let's go quickly, otherwise someone will sit in our seats."
"I want to go home."
"Me too"
"Oi! Dev here"
"Oi! Jatin, how are you?"
"Did you see the WWE last night?"
Students crowded the courtyard, their uniforms crisp and freshly ironed, their school bags bulging with unused notebooks and sharpened pencils. Some wore grim expressions, displeased at the thought of long classes beginning again after the break, while others looked delighted to be reunited with friends, laughing and shouting as they shared holiday stories.
"No!!! I don't want to go!"
"UWE UWE"
"No! Mummy!"
Near the entrance, a few younger children cried loudly, clutching their parents' hands as though hoping to be spared the first-day ordeal. Their wails cut through the chatter like tiny alarms, desperate and unrelenting.
Passing by, Parveen smirked and muttered under his breath, "If crying had worked, no one would have attended school in the first place."
"April Fool!"
"April Fool"
"Oi give me back my bottle or I will tell Varun Sir of this."
Further ahead, a group of boys were already fooling around, chasing each other and bursting into laughter. Every few seconds, one of them would shout, "April Fool!" at the top of his lungs, usually after tricking a classmate into checking their bag or tying a shoelace that wasn't really loose. The air was thick with mischief, the kind that only the first of April could bring.
Parveen rolled his eyes at their antics, but the corners of his lips twitched as if he secretly enjoyed the noise.
"Looks like my friends are late today. I should find my new classroom," Parveen said while moving through the crowd.
He moved on toward the main building, his shoes tapping softly against the floor as he climbed the staircase. The familiar scent of chalk dust and varnished wood filled the air, carrying with it the weight of a fresh academic year.
'Nice air'
On reaching the second floor, he paused briefly at the landing where a warm April breeze slipped in through the open windows. His new classroom stood at the far end, facing the basketball court. The court below lay empty for now, but it seemed to wait eagerly for the games and laughter that would soon mark the days of the new session.
'Well, I should go and wait for my friends inside the classroom. Should hide and scare them.'
Parveen entered the classroom absentmindedly, his thoughts still drifting on April Fool's Day. The room smelled faintly of fresh paint, the benches neatly arranged as if waiting for their new owners. Without paying much attention, he walked toward a desk near the middle, his eyes idly scanning the blackboard where "Class VIII" was written in clean white chalk.
"Huh..."
It was only then that something caught his attention. In the far corner, almost hidden by the angle of the last bench, a girl sat hunched over, her head lowered. A faint glow reflected on her face, and Parveen's eyes widened in disbelief. She was holding a phone. For a moment, he thought he was imagining it—after all, mobile phones were strictly prohibited in school. But the soft tapping of her fingers and the quick flicker of the screen left no doubt.
A jolt ran through him. What should I do? he thought, his mind racing. If a teacher saw her, she could be in big trouble—and if anyone thought he knew about it, maybe he would too. He stood frozen, unsure whether to turn away, speak up, or pretend he had seen nothing at all.
Before he could decide, the girl's eyes snapped up and locked onto his. Her expression was sharp, far too calm for someone caught breaking a rule. In a low, firm voice, she said, "If you tell anyone, I'll say you tried to attack me for my money."
Parveen's mouth went dry. He wasn't sure if she was joking, bluffing, or dead serious—but the way she spoke left no room for laughter.
'I knew it, women are the scariest and most vicious creatures,' thought Parveen, a chill running down his spine.