Creative Writing: My Heart Beats for Nothing

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Rachna Shah my heart beats for nothing It ends with the rain. Pouring droplets, beautiful in their ephemeral state of being, cloud their vision; two students trudge up the grimy hill, dirt coating polished Mary Jane shoes, leather fraying at the edges. They are of House Honor, the most valorous house of St. Joseph’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, though an unbiased view is yet to be ascertained. Maroon collared shirts and white pleated skirts are a murky color, something of a mix of splashing mud from running to catch the bus, the only means of transportation, and the downpour from the monsoon season. The tallest of the girls, Ashika, stands hesitantly outside the polished mahogany doors. “Well, go on then,” Pushpa says in a tone terrified, though it is with good reason. “We’re tardy,” Ashika disagrees. “And,” she continues, staring down at the state of her knuckles, blackened in colors, red welts forming on the sides, “You do know what that means.” Pushpa takes a deep breath. “Professor Palvali adores you, or at least she adores your grandmother’s donations —you go first, and perhaps the rest of us will escape any sort of extreme punishment.” With an aura of reluctance, Ashika enters, something of force in her lethargic step; Moral Sciences is neither a class of prestige nor honor, but more of a class of duty. “Do you have any excuse for being late?” The professor announces, clear and distinct voice shrill, ringing across the classroom. Ashika stands at the corner of the room, unsure of whether to run towards her seat, unfortunately located near the front of the classroom, or wait there for her accorded punishment—perhaps being hit with a ruler or rod, yet physical pain is something of simplicity to deal with... ... middle of paper ... ...ion in vain that her oblivious guardians (she wouldn’t exactly call them guardians, but what else is there to call them?) won’t know of her disappearance during the Opening House barbeque event to anywhere but the Mehta mansion. Though the Mehtas have supposedly resided in the house for generations, there is still the faintest reek of cobwebs and death hanging in the air, and Chaaya’s father has finally decided that selling the house might be for the best. Who has a barbeque in the winter, anyways? Ashika thinks, flicking ebony-flecked hair, stepping outside in the frigid air (frigid compared to the rather arid Indian climate), a chill running down a slender spine as she wraps herself up within a hand-knit shawl, colors weaving together in threads like music blending to create a symphony, except music doesn't cause pricked fingers, blood fading into white cotton.

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