Why has it become increasingly diffiicult to run even during early mornings?

Suddu was anxious. He tightly grabbed Papa’s hand to avoid getting lost in the crowd. This was the third medical store they had visited since morning to buy a mask. The first two in their locality had already run out.

“Papa, when will we go home? I am hungry,” said a visibly irritable Suddu. More than hunger it was the urge to get out of the crowded medical store. “As soon as we buy the mask, beta,” his father assured him. “But why is there such a long queue?”...

The girl would remember that winter fondly as the one when they made their last snowperson.

Her elder brother and sister and two girls and another boy from the neighbourhood had developed a ritual over the years. Every time it snowed substantially, they would leave all but one of their kãgers at home, put on their Duckback boots and homemade woollen gloves and head for the clearing between the walnut trees behind their mohalla.

Raghu is a sharp and witty school-going kid who lives in the suburbs of Delhi. He has a younger sister, Roshni, who has grown into her name because her young mind fills rooms and conversations with light. The kids have an uncle who lives in another state and brings a lot of gifts for them every year. Their mother always complains, half in jest, that he is spoiling the kids. He retorts by telling her that she is just jealous she did not have an uncle abroad when she was a little girl. The kids titter and resume opening their gifts.

One summer afternoon when Aman was sitting in a corner looking lost, Parth went up to him and said, “Hi, why are you sitting alone during recess?" Aman got up from his desk and walked out of the classroom. The recess ended and all the boys entered the class and made themselves comfortable in their respective seats. After the school got over, Parth walked up to Javed and asked him as to what is the matter with Aman, why does he stay gloomy and aloof.