Week nine of ninth grade crashed down suddenly. Due now, the science work by Adithya, Bharat - and him. All while things with Vikram turned sharp, tight, near breaking.

  Vikram cornered me near the library - the very place my "school love" stories had begun. "No more phone calls, Dhanya? I guess the South got tired of you. Or maybe they found out you're just a little girl playing adult."

  Feet stayed off the ground’s view. Rescue never crossed my mind, not from Rishi anyway. Into Vikram’s world I moved, pulse thudding as if beating out a battle chant.

  "The only person playing here is you, Vikram," I said, my voice clear and loud. "You spend your days bullying juniors because you're terrified of failing your 10th-grade boards for the second time. If you mention my family or my sister one more time, I won't go to the Principal. I’ll go to your uncle's house. I’ll tell your aunt exactly what you do behind the bike shed."

  Vikram turned ghostly white. The "Obedient Kid" showing defiance? That never crossed his mind.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  A soft whistle came from behind. There stood Bharat, holding a model of a volcano. He smiled, saying, “Tom actually went ahead and bit the cat.”.

  When the bell sounded, I stepped into the room for the last test. Fourteen years old then. A crush slipped away, yet closeness with my sister grew stronger. Somewhere in between, I learned how loud I could really speak.

  Papa stood by the gate that day, hands in his pockets. A glance passed between us - something shifted then. Not words, just silence thick with change. His eyes held mine longer than before. Protection slipped away from his gaze. What stayed behind was recognition. A daughter grown tall, steady on her feet. The world had touched her already, maybe even tested her. He saw it now - the shape of someone ready.

  "Dhanya," he said as I got into the car. "I’ve been thinking. This city... it’s served its purpose. But there’s a bigger world out there. Have you ever heard of a place called Dubai?"

  Breath caught in my throat. Though the battles at school faded, what came next - a path toward my twenties - started drifting across the water.