The first official day of school dawned under a sky the color of cool ash, a quiet hush hanging in the air like the breath before a song. Vishakha woke before her alarm again. The nerves from orientation had settled slightly, replaced by a steadier excitement — the kind that comes from knowing something big has begun.
Her uniform was folded neatly at the foot of her bed, the maroon ribbon resting like a crown on top. She dressed slowly, carefully, the way someone might put on armor. Today, she wouldn't just walk the halls of St. Helina's — she'd claim her place in them.
In the kitchen, her mother was already stirring tea. The soft clink of the spoon in the steel cup was familiar music, grounding her.
"Eat well," her mother said, sliding a plate of buttered toast towards her. "The first day decides the mood for the rest of the year."
Vishakha smiled, taking small bites. Her little brother wandered in, still half-asleep, and placed the lucky pen from orientation beside her bag.
"You'll need it today," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
By 7:30 AM, they were at the school gates. This time, her father didn't linger. Just a simple, firm pat on the back. "Go make it yours," he said.
The school building loomed like a white palace. But today, it didn't feel as intimidating. It felt... possible.
Inside, the corridors buzzed with life. Girls moved in clusters, laughing, adjusting badges, comparing timetables. Vishakha scanned the crowd and recognized the girl from orientation — the one who'd complimented her school. Her name was Ananya.
"Hey!" Ananya called, waving her over. "We're in the same section — 11B!"
Relief bloomed in Vishakha's chest. They walked to class together, comparing their elective subjects. Ananya had taken Biology too. She wanted to be a veterinarian. Vishakha smiled when she said it. That kind of clarity, that confidence — it was contagious.
Room 11B had big windows and sunlight pouring in like hope. The walls had charts of chemical formulas, quotes by Marie Curie and Einstein, and an old blackboard already scribbled with "Welcome" in three languages.
Their class teacher, Mrs. Renu Awasthi, was a tall woman with silver-streaked hair tied into a low bun. Her voice had a melodic strictness — not harsh, but not to be taken lightly.
She began the day with introductions and handed out schedules. Vishakha's heart raced when she saw her name printed under "Class Representative Nominees." Apparently, names had been shortlisted based on academic records from their previous schools.
"Don't worry," Ananya whispered, seeing her expression. "That just means they noticed you."
As the day unfolded, subjects passed like chapters — Physics with Mr. Das, who scribbled equations like he was writing poetry. English with Mrs. Gill, who asked them to describe what ambition felt like instead of defining it. Every teacher brought their own kind of gravity.
At lunch, Vishakha sat under a mango tree in the courtyard with Ananya and two others — Sana, who loved robotics, and Juhi, who had a loud laugh and dreams of journalism.
They weren't fast friends yet — but something about that lunch felt warm. Like pages of a new book beginning to turn.
By the end of the day, Vishakha's bag was heavier — with books, forms, and a small sheet announcing a "Talent Round" scheduled for the coming Friday.
"You should sign up," Ananya said. "Do you sing or something?"
Vishakha hesitated. Back home, she used to sing to herself while studying — old Hindi songs and the occasional folk tune her nani had taught her. But here?
"I'll think about it," she said, tucking the form into her diary.
When the final bell rang, she lingered for a moment, staring at the emptying classroom. Her desk. Her chair. Her name on the roll call.
She was no longer just at St. Helina's.
She was St. Helina's.
That evening, back in her narrow street, Vishakha opened her new diary and wrote:
Day One:
The walls are taller here. The words are bigger. The people speak with confidence.
But I didn't shrink today.
I stood my ground.
Maybe I do belong.
Not just to the school —
but to the girl I'm becoming.
And as the moon climbed over rooftops and her family buzzed around her, Vishakha felt a quiet determination settle in.
This wasn't just a beginning anymore.