Amish’s new book is children’s fiction : Rivals Dhruv and Tara represent their school in a quiz

The students are all in the room, but the class teacher, Mr Lobo, is yet to come. Some of the students are desperately finishing their pending homework, some are staring at the walls, lost in thought, and some are engaged in an intense pen-fight tournament. Dhruv is fidgeting with his stationery and staring at the wall clock. 7.55 am. Mr Lobo will arrive any moment. This is his chance. But should he, or should he not?

In a burst of determination, Dhruv gets to his feet and walks over to Tara. The class falls quiet. The pen-fighting stops. The kids who were staring at the walls now have something better to stare at.

Dhruv is awkward but he gets the words out, “Hey, I need to tell you something.”

Tara responds, “I need to tell you something too.”

“You first.”

“No, you first.”

Dhruv works up his courage. “Listen.” He drops his voice to a whisper. “It was me. It was my idea. I made the stink bomb and locked you in the bathroom yesterday.”

Tara stares at him. Something tells her Dhruv is lying. “Are you lying?”

Dhruv goes red in the face, which makes Tara even more certain that she is right.

“Absolutely not! I did it! Now go tell Principal Surya you...

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