The sound of the school bell rang, announcing the end of the last period and school day. Akshaya got up from the floor, picking up her bag and lunch basket. Fall had arrived, as the leaves crunched beneath her feet. It was a pleasant day, the air accompanied by a slight chill unlike the sticky humidity from the last few months. Akshaya and her sister Abinaya had recently transferred from a local government school to the all-girls convent. Walking down the corridor towards the main gate, Akshaya already felt wary of walking home alone. Abi had not come to school that day, and all the other girls in class had their parents or drivers to pick them up. She released a resigned sigh and started walking down the usual route. Tall coconut trees flanking her path on both sides, she slowly walked, her thoughts turning to her English teacher Ms. Ross. The woman was always at her case, making her sit separately from other girls, asking the school nurse to check for lice in her hair a...
An old school yellow crayon, in the midst of neon highlighters, Veni Ethiraj writes fiction, narrative non-fiction, and short stories. Most of her work is characterised by a strong espousal of the cause of women, and exploration of her native Tamil culture.