The Eternal Bond of Friendship

She focused only on her studies. She worked hard and soon tasted the sweet fruit of her efforts.
She secured the first rank in Grade 9! What seemed like a happy ending had a problem. Her classmates misunderstood her shyness and assumed that she was arrogant.
Veerajba Dodiya
I t was the first day of Grade 10. The classroom was brimming with laughter and joy as classmates greeted each other after their long summer vacation. Suddenly, a girl entered the classroom. Some heads turned in her direction, but as soon as they recognized her, they frowned and started whispering among themselves. The girl felt unsure about how to start a conversation with anyone. Everybody was busy talking about her rather than talking to her.
But wait! Who is this girl? And why is everybody ignoring her? Let's take a look at the past.
The girl's name was Vanshika. Her father had been transferred to another city, so she had to change her school after Grade 9. Here, she worked diligently in her studies, yet she rarely spoke to her classmates. Even during those rare conversations, she was often asked about abbreviations, trends, memes, and other popular topics. When she admitted that she did not know much about them, her classmates would snigger and call her an old-fashioned teenager.
However, none of this really bothered her. She focused only on her studies. She worked hard and soon tasted the sweet fruit of her efforts. She secured the first rank in Grade 9!
What seemed like a happy ending had a problem. Her classmates misunderstood her shyness and assumed that she was arrogant. Nobody wanted to befriend her. That was how Vanshika entered Grade 10 without a single friend.
One day, the class teacher noticed Vanshika's situation and came up with a plan.
The next day, she announced, "Class, we are organizing a science exhibition based on what you have learned so far. Students of Grade 10 have to prepare models or experiments in groups of three. Submit your group lists by the last period."
When the teacher collected the lists, she noticed that Vanshika had been left out. So, she placed her in a group with Chinu and Himadri after they reluctantly agreed.
As they sat together, Chinu and Himadri started discussing which topic they should choose, while Vanshika remained silent for a while.
Suddenly, she came up with an idea.
"Can we do an experiment related to acids, bases, and salts?" she asked.
"Do you mean the boring litmus paper experiment?" Chinu questioned.
"I've heard toppers follow textbooks blindly," Himadri added playfully.
Vanshika smiled and replied, "No, this isn't the common experiment we learned in class. It's a fun, creative, and easy way to understand the concept of pH indicators. Would you please listen to me?"
Chinu and Himadri looked at each other and nodded.
Vanshika explained her idea. They were amazed.
"I thought toppers couldn't think outside the box!" exclaimed Himadri.
"So, do you like the idea?" asked Vanshika.
"Of course!" they replied.
"I knew you would," Vanshika said with a smile.
Soon, they started preparing the project. Chinu and Himadri noticed something unusual about Vanshika. They had never seen dark circles under her eyes, nor had they ever seen her procrastinate.
One day, Chinu asked, "Hey, Vanshika, don't you get tired of working so much? Did you feel stressed during exams?"
Himadri joined in and said, "Despite being so busy, you always look fresh as a daisy. How do you manage that?"
Vanshika smiled shyly and replied, "Well, I am not the kind of person who gets tired of working. And there is no student who has never felt exam stress. We should face stress and continue working hard. As for staying fresh, I make sure to sleep for eight to ten hours every night."
Chinu and Himadri exchanged glances and then asked Vanshika to share her daily routine with them.
Finally, they extended their hands and said, "Sorry for misunderstanding you. Now we know how much hard work it takes to earn excellent marks. Will you be our best friend?"
"Forever?" Vanshika asked.
"Forever!" they replied.
Vanshika hugged them warmly, and their project received full marks.
Now, dear JingleJingle Cutie Champs, it is up to you to imagine which experiment they performed!
Moral
Friendship is more precious than gold because true friends fill our lives with happiness and cherished memories.