Author's POV:

Shruthi waited outside the school gates, her eyes scanning the steady flow of children pouring out with laughter, chatter, and the rustling of school bags. The late afternoon sun painted everything in a mellow golden hue, and a slight breeze carried the faint smell of chalk dust and freshly watered plants from the school garden. Her mind, however, wasn’t on the scenery—it was circling around the conversation she had had with Shakthi. His words about her resuming her practice as an advocate had struck a chord. The thought scared her, excited her, and tugged at something deep inside her. But she didn’t want to take that step alone.