Today... The day of Aarohi's exam wasn't supposed to feel like this. It should have been normal. A little rushed. A little stressful, as it was Aarohi's exam after all. But normal it was not—it was just like an ordinary day.
"Maa?"
I stood at the doorway, watching her. She was lying down, one hand pressed tightly against her forehead, her eyes shut like even a tiny flicker of light would hurt. Maa never rushed. And this was the first time she was not overthinking about Aarohi's exam. But today she hadn't gotten out of bed.
"Didi" "Didi"
"I revised everything," says [Aarohi] with a smile tugged in her face, unaware of reality.
"So tell me the spelling of 'Orbit'," I asked her with a smirk.
"Umnnn, I told you Didi I revised Didi," she pouts.
"Just tell me the spelling and prove it—"
"O-R-B-I-T," says Aarohi, half confused.
"NGL Dumbo, but I can see a big rasgulla in your answersheet—"
"What's wrong with Maa, Didi? She didn't even ask me what exam is today and didn't even help me to wear clothes?"
"She's not feeling well, Dumbo. Maa, Bonu is going to school..."
"Hmm, Mumma write carefully and be safe, okay?" she whispered and kisses her cheek gently, says Maa.
Maa called Aarohi "Mumma"—it was her nickname—and I called Bonu "dumb" and "teddy bear."
"C'mon Aarohi, go with Baba and best of luck." I hugged her and before leaving, I checked her pencil box and admit card just to make sure she didn't forget.
She left for school ~