Geetha's new school

"Geetha, have you taken your lunchbox?" Mom shouted from the kitchen. Today was Geetha's first day at school after coming to Mumbai.

Geetha's dad served in the army and had recently been transferred to Mumbai. As usual for army kids, the school had to be of a CBSE board. It was always either Central School or Army School.

Geetha got admitted into Army School in Colaba, Mumbai. She was earlier studying in Third grade in Army School, Bangalore when her dad got transferred.

"Yes mom, I have taken the lunchbox. It's already late! I got to go.." Geetha answered.

"Wait, have some milk before you go" mom came out from the kitchen with a glass of milk in her hand.

Geetha looked at the glass. Why did a glass of milk always have to be so huge? "Mom ... please, not now ..." she moaned.

"You have to drink it my dear otherwise you will feel very hungry by lunch time" mom said affectionately placing her left hand behind Geetha's shoulder. "Come now, drink it" she said. 

Geetha knew there was no way out. She took the glass, closed her eyes and somehow finished it off in one gulp! "Not so fast Geetha!" her mom laughed.

"Okay, get ready. The school bus is waiting down." Mom said looking out from the balcony. "Bye mom!" Geetha shouted rushing outside closing the door behind her. 

Mom heaved a sigh of relief. She was so tired from the hectic schedule of getting Geetha ready for school. "How did my mother manage with so many of us?" She thought remembering her brothers and sisters.

Geetha got into the school bus. She knew that the school was not far from where they stayed. They stayed at Wodehouse building on Wodehouse Road and the school was at R.C.Church. It was a 10 minutes ride by bus.

The bus screeched to a halt outside the school. Geetha got out wondering how this school would be. Hope the teachers are not so strict as those in Bangalore, she thought. And the students. Will she be having the same kind of fun as with her friends in Bangalore?

There was still some time before the school would start. She walked towards her classroom. 

She saw a few students as she entered it. She searched for an empty chair, found one and kept her bag there.

A short chubby girl came towards her "hey, are you studying in 3rd standard?". "Yes, this is my first day here" Geetha replied. "Oh, I am Renuka. You can call me Renu" she smiled. "I am Geetha".

"You know what!" Renu said with a mischievious smile. 

"What?"

"Our maths teacher is on leave today! We can watch cartoons during the maths period!" she said beaming. "Wow! That's wonderful!" Geetha almost shouted. She hated maths.

She smiled. She was going to have the most wonderful time of her life in this school.