A girl was sitting on the beach. It was sunset in the afternoon when the whole beach was empty. The blue sea mixed with the colour of the sun. She was thinking how the deep sea is engulfing the Sun, just like her whole life engulfed her happiness in one strike. Does that mean she can find her happiness there?

"Yes my happiness is there."

She walked towards the sea little by little. Just when she sunk herself half into the water a voice came from behind.

"Pujaaa ,pujaa" her grandma called her.

"Puja!!!" This voice was a little harsh and she lifted her head from the bench where she fell asleep. The maths teacher was taking the class when she fell asleep as usual.

"What were you doing. That's why I always see silly mistakes in your paper and........"

The rest was the same typical bickering from everyday. She didn't listen to the rest. Puja is an ordinary high school student with a shy nature, and doesn't talk to anyone until she has to. This 16 year old girl has short hair average looks and is about to give board exams. But her life is not in the mood to give her a break.

"Go stand there and raise both your hands up."

She robotically did what she is told to. This is not a new thing to her so she never felt uneasy doing that. She has so many more important concerns than that. The class ended when the bell rang. "Take these papers captain. These are the mid term exam results."

Puja reached her bench and folded the paper. She was worried if she would score less than usual in maths. No that's the damn 60. The definition of an ordinary student. She sighed  hardly after all there would be nothing better than this in her life.

Meanwhile in the staffroom a man was sitting before the desk leaning against the chair. His desk is a mess as well as his hair.  He was checking the English papers of the students.

"These kids are all the same vomiting the answers of note books. They didn't even consider languages as hard subjects."

"You are new right, in the place of Ghosh. You might not know that nowadays students don't have that much interest in literature. That's why they are compromising with a para teacher."

He understood the poking in his speech. So he just remained silent.

While doing that his eyes got stuck into an answer. That was the explanation of friendship according to you.

"Hmm."

So in summary, according to Merry lamp's

Summer friends, the  swallow which comes only in the summer symbolises the so called friends which only  stays on our side in our good times. The sparrow which comes in winter and stays at our houses is the symbol of true friendship. But according to my experience rather than hoping for a friend to accompany us people should know how to be their own friends. Because in tough times there is no one to accompany us in real life

"Intersting! Puja Mitra. Okey"

He marked the answer as 9/10 and smiled a little. In the next class when Puja received her papers she was so surprised that she stood up and yelled.

"How is this possible? I got 70"

The whole class was looking at her with shock and the young teacher gave her a mysterious look.

Let's get to a few hours back. The teacher came to the class in the next period. Whispering started as soon as he entered. He joined the school a few weeks back but no one knew what subject he was going to take. For the entire week he was the center of gossip because of his looks. He is so handsome that every girl wished he took their class.  He has a yellow complexion bluffy hair, and he was very tall.

"Guys! He is in our class. Uff I must have done something novel in the past to deserve this class."

All the girls were thrilled. Some of the jealous boys gave an opposite reaction.

"He is too skinny to be a man. You girls like these types of men now!

"Shut up dumbass you are boiling yourself right now."

"Attention, I am Ariyan Prakash your English teacher from today in the place of Ghosh sir."

All the students made some thrilling noises. Ariyan is a 25 year old para teacher who just got appointed in school. He is  pretty cool minded so most of the people like to be with him.

"Tell me something about the story of Happy prince. Close the books now."

The class wasn't expecting this . But emong all these events Puja was nutral as usual and was going to fall asleep again. The teacher was walking between the gaps of bench rows when someone answered

"It describes the friendship of the the swallow and the happy prince."

"Anything else?"

No one answered cause it was the only short answer they knew about the story.

"You, sleeping Beauty wake up." He taped in the bench.

"Yes sir. She already told."

"Tell me something that you think about the story"

She thought for a brief moment and answered

"Sir the story revolves around the friendship theme. The happy prince Symbolises the Human body and the swallow symbolises the soul. It delivers the message that if you don't have a true friend the let your soul be your best friend forever"

"Bravo, Puja Mitra right."

"Yes sir. But how did you......

He came back to the table and started to unfold the bundle of answer sheets.

"Now let me tell you the main reason I asked you the question. I was checking the answer and I found none of have written your own thoughts. So I don't know about others but if don't get the essence of the text from the answer you will get the same score from me."

Everyone was stunned after getting the answer sheets. Al of them got 9-10 marks less than they expected. I have already told what the most excited one did.

"But sir according to Roy&Martin this is the correct answer of 'Summer Friends."

"Yes I never said that's wong, but that's not your words. Also you did plenty of spelling and verbal mistakes in the words."

"But sir she didn't even uses a reference book how could she get 70."

"Because she wrote what she thought. In the question you were asked to give your opinion and I can't reject anyone's opinion in that. Litterateur is not history mind it."

He smiled a little towards the class and goes out when the bell rang. That was the first time something different happened in puja's life.

In the afternoon when the classes were finished the captain told Puja that today is her turn in doing the after class works. So that she doesn't leave the classroom.

"But, I have to go home early today please make up for me this once."

"I don't know, you can leave just don't mind when your name goes to the reporting list."

She doesn't argue much after that. She doesn't have any friends who could cover up for her. After  everyone left the classroom she started to clean the board quickly. She was closing the windows when a lock sound came from behind. She rushed there and yelled.

"Hey, Rima I am here why are you locking the door."

"You think you are so smart right after getting attention in the class ? So be locked and think a little harder.......

"Are you out of your mind I don't have any time for this nonsense. My grandmother is sick I have taken medicines for her. Please..."

But they were already left and there was no one to hear her. Puja broke down on the floor and started to process the events in her mind. She was a normal and happy child until she was five. That's when everything started to go wrong. Her father faced a great loos in his business and committed suicide. Her mother passed after a year of lung cancer. After that she shifted into her grandma's house. She gave her everything she could in the pension money. But things got bitter when her asthma got worse.

"What should I do now?" Puja was thinking about her situation . Suddenly around 5.30 she heard a guard's whistle  sound.

"Yes it's time when they take a stroll of the school

everyday."

She screamed as loudly as she could and hopefully they heard her and unlocked the door. She didn't bother to answer their questions she ran towards the medicine Store.

"The next bus is at 6pm if I can catch it then maybe I could go home before 7pm. (It's the time when her grandma takes it)."

After buying the medicine she ran towards the bus stand. It was almost but she tripped in the road at the time of rushing towards the bus. Her socks were torned from the sides but she took the bus in a hurry. After that she was a little relaxed cause she could go home in time now.

But troubles never come with a prior notice. As soon as she boarded down from the bus and walked a few steps it started raining. She didn't bring any umbrella and there were no shops or waiting platforms around. Cause it was scotchy hot till yesterday. Puja started running as fast as she could .

"No, I can't get  lost here. I have to go home soon. No no."

In the meantime it really started raining heavily now. She sat on the road in her road and finally started crying after all that happened to her.

" what do I do, sniff, mom dad are you there? Can you hear me? Can't you just take me with you I don't know what to do with this damn life anymore. Grandma must be suffering badly right now. What do I do now?"

She noticed that  the rain drops are not falling around her side.

"Did someone took me in an umbrella?"

She looked up.

"Puja!"

"Sir?"