sublimeenthusiastrebel

[sublimeenthusiastrebel]

Monday Morning

Oh, the unhealthy amount of hate Niharika had for Monday mornings. If Monday had a face, she would have punched it every single time it appeared. After two days of absolute freedom, the dreaded cycle resumed—college. Again.

It wasn’t that she despised college itself. In fact, it had only been a few months since she had started her B.Com course—an obvious choice after completing her Plus Two in commerce. But Mondays? Mondays were cruel. They arrived too soon, snatching away the comfort of late mornings, lazy breakfasts, and uninterrupted hours of doing absolutely nothing. Mondays demanded energy she didn’t have.

The transition to college had been quite an experience. Having spent her entire school life in a girls-only convent, she had been skeptical about joining a co-ed institution. The idea of studying alongside boys, something she had never experienced before, had made her nervous. But despite the occasional teasing she faced for her convent-school background, she found that she liked it in ways she hadn’t expected. Convent school had been peaceful—no distractions, no unnecessary drama, just books, marks, and time for her favorite hobby: illustrations.

She lay in bed, debating whether she should wake up now or wait for the inevitable—her mother’s morning yell. She could already predict it. Any moment now, Amma would shout from the kitchen, “Ammu! Are you going to college or not?” The same question, the same urgency, the same volume. Every morning. Without fail.

But then, a sudden thought jolted her out of her lazy half-sleep.

The commerce fest.

She had almost forgotten about it!

Today was supposed to be one of the most awaited events of the academic year—the annual commerce fest organized by her department. A day filled with competitions, programs, and general chaos. Spot photography, quiz contests, business idea presentations, and a whole range of activities would keep the department buzzing with excitement.

For most students, it was a chance to showcase their talents or win prizes. For others, especially students from nearby colleges who would be participating, it was an opportunity to explore the campus and take in the atmosphere of a new place. But for Niharika, it meant only one thing—freedom.

No classes.

Every teacher and most of the students would be too preoccupied with managing the event, making it a rare, stress-free Monday. She had no responsibilities, no events to participate in, and absolutely no interest in socializing. She had already planned her day. She would attend the commerce quiz as a spectator and, more importantly, finish reading her book—Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

The Amazon delivery had arrived just yesterday after what felt like an eternity of waiting, and she was already hooked. She had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to complete it, and today was that day. A whole day at college without actual studies—what could be better?

Just as she was about to savor this small joy a little longer, reality interrupted.

“Ammu!”

Yup. Amma.

She had been so lost in her thoughts that she had forgotten about her grand plan of avoiding the morning yelling session. She jumped out of bed before her mother could storm into the room.

“I’m coming, Amma!” she shouted as she ran to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her just in time.

A quick shower later, she sat in front of the mirror, evaluating her reflection. Her long, wavy hair was being particularly uncooperative this morning. Not that it ever truly behaved. It had a mind of its own, much like her.

She wasn’t someone who obsessed over her looks, but she also wasn’t unaware of them. Her oval face, framed by her wild waves, had soft, delicate features that people often complimented. But what she loved most about herself were her eyes—expressive, dark, and full of unspoken thoughts.

Her lips were another feature she secretly adored. Naturally pinkish, thanks to her grandmother’s traditional beauty tips, they saved her the trouble of applying lipstick every day. Her sister, Ananya, envied them, constantly complaining about how unfair it was that Niharika looked like she had tinted lips without any effort.

But the one thing she cherished the most was her birthmark—a tiny, pea-sized blue mark on the left side of her cheek. It wasn’t obvious at first glance, but those who noticed it often found it fascinating. Her Ammamma, her grandmother, called it her “beauty spot.” And Niharika had no reason to doubt it.

She didn’t have much time to get ready, so she settled for moisturizer and a simple winged eyeliner. Not that she had much of a choice. Amma had strong opinions about makeup.

“You are not going for a fashion show,” she would often say whenever she caught Niharika applying even the slightest bit of foundation or lipstick before college.

If only she knew how some girls showed up at college.

Satisfied with her minimal effort, she hurried downstairs for breakfast.

Ananya was already at the dining table, munching on her dosa, her thick eyebrows slightly furrowed in concentration—probably scrolling through something on her phone. At fifteen, she bore a striking resemblance to Niharika, but her most noticeable feature was her eyebrows. Thick, dark, and well-shaped, she had inherited them from their father. Niharika’s were good, but Ananya’s were perfection.

Niharika looked at the table and sighed.

Dosa and sambar. Again.

“Amma, why don’t you make something else for a change?” she asked, knowing fully well what the response would be.

“If you want something else, you can make it yourself,” Amma replied without looking up. “Nobody has banned you from the kitchen.”

Well, that didn’t go as planned. Maybe she could accommodate dosa for today.

As she reached for her plate, Amma’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Why is your bag so light? Are you bunking class?”

“No classes today. Commerce fest. Only programs.”

Amma’s expression softened slightly, though she still seemed unconvinced.

Ananya, who had been silently listening, perked up. “Ohh! I can’t wait to be in college! You guys have programs almost every day.”

“Yeah. Real fun,” Niharika said dryly, sure that Ananya hadn’t caught the sarcasm.

Sure, events meant free time. But free time in college also meant something else—seniors. And seniors, especially the boys, often took these opportunities to engage in what they considered “harmless fun.” Flirting, teasing, and occasionally singing flirty songs when a group of girls walked by. It was something she hated about college. The constant need to ignore stares, avoid unnecessary attention, and act as if the subtle harassment didn’t exist.

The only thing that made it bearable was her best friends, Reshma and Sowmya. Together, they turned these annoying moments into inside jokes. They mocked the flirty boys, judged campus couples, and spent hours gossiping about the most random things.

Finishing her breakfast quickly, she grabbed her bag and hurried to the bus stop, where Reshma was already waiting.

Reshma was shorter than Niharika, with a round face and traditional Malayali girl features. Her dressing style reflected that persona—today, she was in a neatly pleated churidar, while Niharika had opted for a loose pair of jeans and a long pink top.

“Happy Monday for a change,” Reshma greeted her, smirking.

“Yeah… Hopefully, we don’t get assigned any duties. I need to finish my book.”

Reshma grinned. “I brought the mehendi. Sowmya threatened me—‘No mehendi, and you die.’”

Reshma was incredibly skilled at mehendi designs, as was Niharika. Their shared love for art was one of the things that had cemented their friendship.

“Don’t expect any help from me,” Niharika warned.

“Oh, I won’t. You won’t even know if you got kidnapped while reading. I’m not wasting my time asking you.”

“You’re too smart,” Niharika replied sarcastically.

“And you’re a bookworm.”

“I take that as a compliment.”

“Whatever… The bus is coming.”

As they saw the already overflowing bus approaching, they exchanged a knowing look.

Holding onto the steel rods, they braced themselves for yet another chaotic Monday.