“How much more time to bring a pencil, Sarah?”, I cried out irritably. Seconds turned into minutes & still radio silence. Not a big fan of interruptions during our “homework-time”, got up & stormed to her room, all ready to rant. Finding her standing in the middle of the room, motionless like a mannequin, my heightened irritation, in a flash, gave way to concern. Thereafter only our eyes spoke.

Hers, raised an alarm seeing me still not taking the cue to turn absolute motionless. Transfixed, I too almost froze into a mannequin. Momentarily recovering from the spell, mine hesitantly asked hers for an explanation for both of us being in the state we were. In response, hers ordered mine to just comply & continue being a breathing statue. And I did, hypnotised by the determination in her eyes. Seconds turned into minutes & radio silence from our end.

Until the loudspeaker of a nearby school finished playing Jana Gana Mana.