The approval did not come immediately.

There were meetings, written requests and legal formalities. One document had to be corrected, and another required approval from the education board.

Whenever the process became difficult, Mrs. Patwardhan helped Mother understand the next step. She spoke to the school management, explained Aaradhya's successful temporary term and made sure the application was not treated as an ordinary uniform request.

After several difficult weeks, the board accepted the arrangement.

12.1 The Long Night

Mother barely slept that night.

Whenever she closed her eyes, another part of the past year returned to her.

The forgotten nail-paint. Aarav's red eyes after school. The small bindi that had finally made him confess the bullying. His poor monthly-test marks. The boys avoiding him after the suspensions.

Then she remembered the girls' building.

She had seen Aarav become less frightened there. His marks had improved. He had made friends and become someone his classmates approached for help.

Outside the lift, Anaya and Kavya were waiting.

Both girls became quiet when they saw Aarav. Their surprise was clear, but neither of them laughed or made a large reaction.

Anaya looked first at his arranged hair.

"The clips match the kurta."

Kavya noticed the painted nails and the two bangles.

"You came fully prepared."

Aarav looked down at himself.

"Only for today," he said quickly.

"Okay," Kavya replied.

Once the first surprise had passed, she asked, "What should we call you today?"

9.1 The Appointment

By the time lunch was nearly over, the result-day excitement had settled into a quieter happiness.

"School will reopen in ten days," she said. "I have booked your usual salon appointment for Saturday. Your hair has become too long for school."

Aarav's spoon stopped above his bowl. The happiness from his result disappeared almost immediately.

He looked down and said, "Okay."

Mother heard only agreement. Riya heard the sadness beneath it.

9.2 Today Is Yours

By the final term, Aarav's classmates knew him for more than the transfer.

Girls brought notebooks to his desk when they needed help with maths, geography, or project work.

"Why did the sign change here?"

"Can you check the spelling of plateau?"

"Show me the map once before the test."

Aarav liked being asked. He could open a notebook, explain one step, and see someone understand. He no longer felt that every person approaching his desk was coming to embarrass him.

4.1 The Empty Building

The girls' building stood on the far side of the same campus. It had the same cream paint and morning bell as the boys' building, but Aarav stopped at its gate as if he had reached a different school.

Mother brought him there after school, when most students had left. Riya waited near the staircase after her extra period. Anaya and Kavya had also stayed so Aarav could see the classroom he might join.

For the next two days, Aarav rubbed the nail-paint so hard that the skin around it became red.

The pink colour vanished completely.

The teasing did not.

At first, the boys still talked about the nail-paint. Then they began noticing other things, as if the pink nail had taught them where to look.

Aarav did not shout during games. He did not enjoy pushing and fighting. He kept his notebook neat. He sat with his knees together because that was how Riya and her friends sat during indoor games. He said "sorry" quickly. He used words the society girls used.