Hum Tum
Chapter 1
The evening bus was overcrowded as usual.
Sweaty shoulders bumped against each other while irritated voices filled the air. Outside the dusty windows, Mumbai slowly drowned under orange streetlights and endless traffic horns.
Srivi stood near the back door with her coaching bag pressed tightly against her chest, already exhausted after six straight hours of classes.
And the smell inside the bus felt criminal.
A Little girl nearby was crying while her mother tried calming her down.
The conductor yelled, “Move inside, bhai! This isn’t your personal car!”
Srivi adjusted the loose strands of hair falling over her face before checking the time on her old wristwatch.
If she reached home late again, her father would start another lecture about “discipline” and “girls roaming outside after dark.”
Because apparently preparing for medical entrance exams was acceptable.
But breathing freely wasn’t.
Her thoughts stopped when she noticed sudden movement near the women’s section.
A girl around her age stood frozen uncomfortably while a man behind her leaned closer than necessary.
Srivi’s eyes narrowed instantly.
His hand brushed against her waist deliberately.
The girl looked down silently.
Srivi’s voice cut sharply through the noise.
She stared directly at him.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Keep your hands to yourself. "
Man
*Scoffing* "Mind your own business."
Srivi laughed once in disbelief.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Oh, trust me. You touching women in a crowded bus just became my business.”
A few passengers exchanged awkward looks.
Indian public transport had one universal talent: pretending not to see things.
Man
*Stepping closer angrily* "Watch your tone, ladki."
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“And you should watch your disgusting behavior, uncle.”
A College boy near the window choked trying not to laugh.
The conductor sighed dramatically. “Madam, don’t create drama in the bus.”
Srivi turned toward him so fast even he looked nervous.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Drama? " *she repeated* “A girl is getting harassed and THAT’S your concern?”
The girl still hadn't spoken.
Not because she was weak.
Because girls were taught survival before confidence.
Man
*Clicking his tongue* "These modern girls..."
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Modern?" *snapping* "Basic decency became modern now? "
An older woman whispered softly, “Beta, leave it…”
Srivi looked at her for a second.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"No." *coldly* “People like him survive because everyone keeps saying leave it.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the man muttered curses under his breath and pushed his way toward the front of the bus.
Srivi exhaled slowly, anger still burning inside her chest.
The girl beside her whispered, “Thank you…”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
*Shrugging lightly* "Next time slap him yourself. "
The bus stopped near her lane.
She stepped down onto the crowded road as warm evening wind hit her face.
And suddenly reality returned.
Her expression faded slightly.
Because fighting strangers was easy.
Fighting the people inside her own house?
That was another battle entirely.
Author
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Author
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Chapter 2
The front gate creaked as Srivi pushed it open.
Even before she stepped inside, she could feel it.
The kind that meant someone had already decided the mood of the house for everyone else.
She slipped off her shoes quickly and straightened her bag strap.
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
"7:40"
The voice came from the Hall.
Cold. Controlled. Familiar.
Srivi froze for half a second, then walked in.
He was sitting on the sofa, newspaper folded neatly in his hands. His eyes didn’t even need to rise fully to judge her.
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“You were supposed to be home by 6:30,”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Coaching got extended.”*netural face*
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“Coaching doesn’t extend time. You extend your excuses.”
Her jaw tightened slightly.
But today wasn't one of those days.
Her father finally looked up.
His expression was sharp. Not angry yet. Worse.
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“You think this is a joke?” *he asked* “Every day you come late, every day new excuse.”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“I wasn’t—”
He raised a hand slightly.
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“Listen carefully, Srivi,” *said slowly* “NEET exam is not a game. If you fail this entrance exam, I will not waste more money on you.”
Even the ceiling fan felt louder.
Her fingers curled slightly around her bag strap.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"I'll get in." *said quietly*
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“That’s what every child says before failure.”
Then he added, more casually than it should’ve sounded:
Ashish Sharma (fl father)
“And if you fail, don’t think you’ll keep roaming around like this. I will get you married. Bas. Enough of this doctor dream.”
That line landed heavier than everything before it.
Because if she spoke now, she knew she wouldn’t stop.
So she simply nodded once.
The house behind her felt heavier with each step.
The moment she reached upstairs, everything changed.
Like the house had two different worlds stacked on top of each other.
From the room, noises echoed.
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“Misthi! Zidd mat karo. You can't go. Your father will never allow it.
Srivi leaned against the doorway, watching.
Her little sister was standing while grabbing her mother saree requesting her to please let her go.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"Please mamma, Please I'll be back before 6 pm. " *saying seriously*
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“This child will turn my life into an hell one day.” *sighing*
Srivi chuckled under her breath.
That sound broke the tension inside her a little.
Her mother noticed her then.
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“Oh, you’re back, and already looking like you’ve fought a war.”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Same old battlefield,” *muttering, dropping her bag*
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"What's going on here?"
Her mother exchanged a look with her.
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“She wants to go on the school trip, but you know your father. He won’t allow it.”
Misthi looked up immediately.
Her hands clutched her notebook tighter as she looked at Srivi instead of their mother.
As if Srivi held the final answer to everything.
It hit something inside her,
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“You’re looking at me like I run the government,” *said while walking over and nudging Misthi’s forehead gently.* “What, you think I can pass budget proposals at home?”
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“Don’t give her hope, Srivi.” *while shaking her head*
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“I’m not giving hope,” *said while smiling* “I’m giving confidence.”
She turned slightly toward her mother.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"I'll handle it."
Savita Sharma (FL mom)
“Handle what? Your father?” *raising an eye brow*
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Obviously. "
Misthi gasped like it was a heroic announcement.
Srivi flicked her sister’s forehead lightly.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Pack your bag, traveller. I’ll deal with the great emperor of this house.”
Misthi laughed loudly now, bouncing slightly with excitement.
For a moment, the house didn’t feel suffocating.
Srivi looked at her sister’s happy face and smiled a little softer this time.
Then her gaze drifted toward the stairs behind her.
And somehow, she lived both.
Chapter 3
The room was quiet except for the scratching sound of pen against paper.
A small study lamp glowed dimly near Srivi’s bed while the rest of the room remained drowned in darkness.
Misthi was asleep on the other side of the room, one leg hanging off the bed dramatically as if gravity personally offended her.
Srivi glanced at her once before returning to the thick biology module lying open in front of her.
Two weeks until her entire life decided whether it belonged to her or someone else.
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
She rubbed her tired eyes before highlighting another line mechanically.
Even blinking felt like extra effort now.
The yellow lamp light fell softly across scattered notes, coffee stains, rough papers, and open NCERT books stacked around her mattress.
This room had stopped looking like a bedroom months ago.
Now it looked like survival.
A sudden rustling sound came from behind.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"Dii..."
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"Are you still studying?"
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"No, I'm dancing. "
Srivi smiled faintly despite herself.
Misthi pushed herself up lazily, her hair looking like it had fought a war in sleep.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“What time is it?”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Late enough for children to sleep.”
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"I'm not a child"
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"You're in ninth grade"
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"And? "
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“And your biggest responsibility is probably choosing glitter pens.”
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“Excuse me, I’m emotionally mature.” *gasping dramatically*
Misthi squinted toward the books around her sister before making a face.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“You’ve been studying since evening.”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Because unlike some people, I enjoy suffering.”
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
*flopping back against the pillow* “You need help.”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"That's obvious."
For a few seconds, silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Misthi spoke again, quieter this time.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“Papa was serious, na? "
Srivi’s pen stopped moving for half a second.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"He's always serious. "
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“No…” *hesitately* “About marriage.”
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Srivi looked down at the page again.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Sleep, Misthi. "
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"But what if—"
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Sleep."
Misthi went quiet instantly.
Hated how quickly everyone in the house learned silence.
A few minutes passed before Misthi spoke again carefully.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“Will he stop my studies too if I fail someday?”
That question hit harder than expected.
Misthi was staring at the ceiling now, voice small in the darkness.
Like she already knew the answer.
Something twisted painfully inside Srivi’s chest.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"No." *said firmly*
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"But—"
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"He won't."
Misthi looked at her uncertainly.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
"How do you know? "
Srivi leaned back slowly in her chair.
The lamp light reflected softly in her tired eyes.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
"Because I won't let him."
Like a promise she made without thinking.
Misthi stared at her for a second before smiling faintly.
Misthi Sharma (fl sister)
“You sound like a movie hero sometimes.”
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“And you sound annoying all the time.”
Misthi threw a pillow at her immediately.
Srivi caught it with one hand without even looking properly.
Srivi Sharma (fl)
“Go to sleep, idiot.”
Misthi giggled softly before finally lying down again.
Within minutes, her breathing slowed.
Srivi watched her quietly for a moment.
Then her eyes shifted toward the study table again.
She reached for the folded paper slowly.
AIR Rank Prediction: Not Good Enough.
Her jaw clenched instantly.
The numbers blurred slightly as exhaustion crawled deeper into her body.
Downstairs, the old clock struck 2 a.m.
Somewhere outside, stray dogs barked into the silent night while warm summer wind brushed softly against the curtains.
The whole city was asleep.
But Srivi Sharma sat under a dim lamp with fear pressed tightly inside her chest and biology notes spread across trembling fingers.
Because failure in her house did not mean disappointment.
Failure meant the end of freedom.
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