Shivani and Shriya were good friends in the first grade IB Program at St. Joseph School. Shivani was soft-spoken and thoughtful-a gentle presence who valued friendship deeply. Shriya was lively and talkative, always quick with a joke and full of energy.
When Shivani finished preschool, her mom, Madhura, considered enrolling her in the ICSE syllabus, which was well-known in India. After listening to teachers talk about the newly launched IB Program, she changed her mind. The program focused on creativity, critical thinking, and cultural understanding. Inspired by their explanation, Madhura chose IB for Shivani.
At that time, not many parents knew about the IB Program. The fees were higher, and the concept was still new. So naturally, the class had fewer students than traditional programs like ICSE—and even fewer girls than boys.
Madhura arranged for Shivani to take the school bus since the school was a bit far. On her first day, Shivani was buzzing with excitement. Madhura woke up at 6 AM. She prepared breakfast and packed her lunch and snack box. Then, she tucked a few books into her daughter’s brand-new school bag and helped her get ready.
Shivani chose a new pink dress with matching shoes and a pink hairband. “First impression is the best impression,” she said proudly. It’s funny how kids can be so confident. We used to cry on our first day. At exactly 8:00 AM, the school bus arrived. Shivani climbed aboard, sat in the first seat, and waved through the window with a smile and sparkly eyes. After a short ride, she stepped into her classroom—and saw a familiar girl from the bus. They exchanged smiles and sat down together.
The girl said softly, “My name is Shriya.” That simple hello marked the beginning of a special friendship.
As days passed, Shivani and Shriya grew close. Shivani was bright and disciplined, while Shriya often asked her for help. She was charming, playful, and very social—but not always focused on homework. Shriya would often copy Shivani’s work and make jokes to lighten the mood.
One day, Shriya said, “My parents never help me with homework. They say, ‘We pay high fees—your teachers will do everything.’ They don’t care how I’m doing in class.”
Her mom Leena and dad Nitin were busy running their business. Leena thought that putting their child in a fancy school was enough. They provided her with everything—except their attention.
Meanwhile, Madhura, a physics professor, spent at least two hours every evening guiding Shivani through her lessons and homework. She made sure Shivani understood her subjects, stayed organized, and finished everything on time.
Later on, both girls joined the badminton team, attending practice after school. They had separate uniforms and shoes for sports, which added to the excitement. But Shriya often forgot her sportswear and instead pressured Shivani. “If you don’t give me your uniform and shoes, I won’t be your friend anymore,” she’d say. Shivani, scared to lose her only close friend, gave in. One day she let Shriya take her sportswear and missed practice to sit alone in the classroom.
That evening, Madhura noticed her daughter hadn’t changed into her sports clothes. When asked, Shivani lied: “I changed and packed them already.”
Something didn’t add up. So Madhura called the PE teacher, who confirmed that only Shriya had attended practice. Shivani hadn’t joined.
More firmly now, Madhura asked again. Shivani quietly admitted: “Shriya keeps telling me she won’t be my friend unless I give her my uniform and shoes. She says my clothes are cute and she wants to wear them.”
Concerned, Madhura called Leena. But Leena had no idea what was going on. She hadn’t checked if Shriya packed her sportswear or asked about her homework. She thought the school would take care of everything because they paid higher fees.
So, she called Shivani and Shriya’s teacher, Ms. Jyothi, to understand better. Jyothi gently explained: “We can teach them during school hours, but support at home is just as important. Helping with homework, teaching manners and behavior—that begins at home.”
That moment opened Leena’s eyes. She realized that enrolling kids in top schools isn’t enough. Children need their parents to be involved-to show up, listen, guide, and care.
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