Haami

Bhutu studies at a prestigious Kolkata school and meets Chini, a new classmate from an upper-class background. They quickly strike a friendship despite their different upbringings. The school becomes the setting where their bond starts to grow.

Bhutu's antics lead to a scuffle with Ajatshotru, triggering a brawl between Bhutu's mother Mitali and Shyamoli, the wife of the local councillor. The incident fuels tensions between the two families and sets a charged tone for their interactions. The school becomes the arena where adult rivalries surface.

Bhutu gives Chini a peck on the cheek out of pure friendship. Chini tells the class teacher what happened, which puts the adults on alert. The incident becomes a flashpoint for misinterpretation and school intervention.

The school summons both Chini's and Bhutu's parents to discuss the incident and the growing tensions. The confrontation reveals underlying class prejudices and reputations that color their judgments. The adults start to shape the narrative more than the children did.

Driven by classist attitudes and Mitali's tarnished reputation, Chini is kept away from Bhutu and Bhutu is discouraged from speaking to her. The pair lose daily contact, and Chini feels the absence of their friendship. The school environment reflects adult biases more than the children's needs.

Following parental pressure, Bhutu and Chini's sections are rearranged, effectively ending their daily proximity. The division mirrors social prejudice more than personal dislike. This move deepens the sense of separation between the two families.

Inspired by a television wedding, Bhutu decides to marry Chini and places sindoor on her during playtime. The gesture is childish but charged with emotional significance for their bond. The moment triggers surprise and confusion among the onlookers.

Ajatshotru witnesses Bhutu's sindoor gesture and reports it to the class teacher. The teacher and principal reopen the discussion, bringing the parents back into the debate. The episode rekindles tensions about boundaries and innocence.

The school faces a backdrop of mistrust following a false alarm about a student being sexually assaulted by a non-teaching staff member, which colors the teachers' and parents' perceptions. Gossip fuels the misinterpretation of Bhutu's actions as harassment. The atmosphere sets the stage for a new round of accusations.

Chini's parents and the school principal demand Bhutu be expelled, while Mitali accuses Chini of seducing Bhutu. The confrontation centers on protecting reputations rather than understanding the children's friendship. The fault lines of class and fear of scandal dominate the debate.

The two families clash with the principal, who tries to mediate. The quarrel reveals adult biases and social prejudices rather than the children's innocence. The school becomes a battleground for adults' anxieties.

Eventually, the parents realize Bhutu and Chini's bond is innocent and pure. They understand they judged the children from an adult perspective and begin to reconcile. The children's friendship is restored as trust slowly returns.

With reconciliation, Bhutu and Chini are allowed back into each other's lives and the school environment regains balance. The story closes on the theme that children can blur social boundaries when adults choose empathy. Timeframe: end of term.