The first day of school.
For most students, it was something normal.
But for Mukesh…
it felt like stepping into fear itself.
---
Fear of punishment.
Fear of teachers.
Fear of making mistakes.
Fear of everything.
---
That fear had already changed him.
It had made him quieter than ever.
---
That morning, Mukesh entered the school silently.
He didn't look at anyone.
He didn't speak unless necessary.
After asking someone for directions, he found his classroom… and quietly sat down.
---
The entire day passed.
Classes happened.
Teachers explained lessons.
Students answered questions.
But Mukesh…
remembered nothing.
Not a single word.
Because his mind wasn't in the classroom.
It was trapped inside fear.
---
When the school day ended, students began leaving one by one.
Laughter returned.
Voices filled the corridors again.
But Mukesh…
didn't move.
---
He sat there.
Still.
Staring at the whiteboard.
---
His hand was moving.
Writing.
Completing homework.
But his eyes…
they looked empty.
As if he was lost somewhere far away.
---
Then suddenly—
A voice came from behind.
"Hey… it's time to go home. Are you planning to stay here forever?"
Mukesh didn't respond.
He didn't even turn.
---
A girl walked closer.
Her name was Smriti Lama.
She belonged to a community whose features often resembled people from East Asia—sharp eyes, soft expressions, and a calm presence. Her culture carried its own uniqueness, different yet familiar.
She looked at Mukesh carefully.
Then slowly sat down beside him.
"What is this…?" she muttered.
"Did he fall asleep while writing…?"
She leaned a little closer.
"Or… is he mentally disturbed or something?"
She paused.
"I've heard some schools give really harsh punishments… maybe he came from one of those."
---
Then she suddenly shook him.
"Hey! Wake up! It's time to go home!"
---
At that moment—
The classroom door opened.
The head sir entered.
He had come, as usual, to lock the classroom.
---
Mukesh immediately noticed him.
His body reacted instantly.
He stood up in fear.
"Sir… I— I was just leaving…"
His voice trembled.
His entire body was shaking.
---
The head sir looked at both of them.
"You two are still here?"
Mukesh lowered his head.
"I'm leaving now, sir…"
---
He quickly walked past him.
But as he passed the head sir…
his body trembled even more.
---
Behind him—
Smriti ran after him.
"Hey! When I was calling you, why didn't you respond?"
Mukesh stopped.
Slowly turned.
"…Who are you?"
---
Smriti let out a small sigh.
"Seriously?"
Then she straightened herself slightly.
"Fine. Let me introduce myself."
"My name is Smriti Lama."
She looked at him directly.
"What about you?"
---
Mukesh stayed silent for a moment.
Then softly—
"…Mukesh."
---
There was a short pause.
Then Smriti spoke again,
"Let's go somewhere and talk."
---
There wasn't really a park in that small town.
But there was a temple nearby.
Inside its compound, there were a few benches.
That's where they went.
---
Both of them sat down.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Smriti broke the silence.
"Your previous school… wasn't good, right?"
Mukesh looked down.
"I'm just… tired."
His voice was low.
"I spent my childhood in India… then I came here… and now I'm here."
He paused.
"My experience… hasn't been good."
---
Smriti listened quietly.
Then she said,
"I heard the teacher today."
"They said you can't even read properly…"
"And… you got beaten too, right?"
---
Mukesh's expression changed.
He looked at her directly.
"So what?"
"Did you come here to make fun of me too… like everyone else?"
---
Smriti immediately shook her head.
"No."
"I just saw you sitting alone…"
"And… I got curious."
She smiled slightly.
"Can we be friends?"
---
Mukesh looked away.
"I don't need your sympathy."
"Just leave me alone."
---
He stood up.
"I have to go."
"I need to cross the mountains to reach home."
---
He started walking.
But after a few steps…
he stopped.
Then turned slightly.
"…Fine."
"Do whatever you want."
"I don't really have anything to lose anyway."
---
And with that—
he walked away.
---
The path to his home wasn't easy.
He had to cross mountain roads every day.
Alone.
---
When he finally reached home,
he went straight to his room.
Sat down.
And started writing his homework.
---
"Today was… exhausting."
He whispered to himself.
---
Time passed.
8:00 PM…
9:00…
10:00…
---
He kept writing.
Without stopping.
---
Finally—
At 1:00 AM, he finished.
---
Because of that, he always slept late.
And every morning…
he was late for school.
---
And on top of that—
he still had to walk through the mountains.
---
A new school.
A new routine.
A new person in his life.
---
But the fear inside him…
was still the same.
---
And slowly…
something else was beginning too.
Something he didn't understand yet.