The Aprateem Spider-Man

(1st April, 2007)

(Mumbai)

"Hey move it!"

"Do you have button for your eyes!?"

Inside an apartment by the street, a young boy's eyes fluttered open, and he woke up with a grumble.

"This damn traffic!"

Pavitr sighed as he took a look at the clock.

4:47 am.

He sighed and looked out of the window, and saw two people arguing on the street, having their cars smashed into each other.

He looked at the scene with dead-fish eyes, and went back to sleep.

But just as he fell asleep again, a mosquito bit him.

Another one bit him again.

And another.

"Not again..."

He opened his eyes, and sure enough, the mosquito net was removed from his bed.

He sighed, and got up from the bed.

"Oh Pavitr beta, you woke up!?"

Pavitr's Aunt, Maya shouted from the kitchen.

"Chachi, why did you remove the mosquito net? Look, they bit me."

"It's 5am! You are in 10th standard now. Today is the first day of school, so you have to go early to take the first seat, right? You do that every year."

Her reasoning was perfectly correct, but knowing who his teachers in 10th standard will be, he wasn't a least bit interested in sitting in the front.

Still, since he woke up early anyway, he might as well occupy the last seat near window.

He quickly freshened up, fixed his hair, and stared at the mirror for several minutes. Adjusting his perfect hair.

And did he mention that he has really good hair?

"Breakfast's ready!"

He took one last look in the mirror, and went to the dining room, where his uncle Bhim was busy watching news on the TV.

"Pakistan again broke ceasefire yesterday. After two hours of firing, 3 soldiers were martyred."

"18 people killed in a suicide bombing in Hyderabad."

"Naxals attacked a coal freight train, setting it on fire."

"West Bengal's schools and colleges are closed today due to union violence-"

Pavitr was used to these kinds of news. he has been hearing these kind of news since birth. It has become too repetitive for anyone to care about. 

"Chachu, can you give me the remote-"

"No."

Pavitr was instantly refused. So, he had to endure eating breakfast while listening to the negative news channel, and even asking his aunt to ask for remote from his uncle didn't help.

He just sighed and finished his breakfast, and got up from the table.

It's still 6:15am. 

"Pavitr, bring my bike's keys. I will drop you off."

"Chachu, I will just take the bus-"

"Nah. Today is your first day of new session. Let me drop you off."

Pavitr sighed helplessly, and brought the helmets and keys.

"Maya, we are off!"

"Bye, Chachi."

Bhim and Pavitr left for the school. Due to the traffic in the morning, it takes half an hour to reach the school.

"Pavitr beta, you are now in 10th class. You will be giving board exams this year. Make sure to study well."

"Yeah yeah. I know." 

It is the same thing over and over again. Everyone acts like 10th is a difficult class, especially the final exams where the answer-sheets will be checked outside, and the same question paper will be given to everyone in the country.

But to him, it doesn't really matter. He is smart, scores the best in school, and no one really has failed in 10th board exams in the 20 years of school history.

"Pavitr, I know that you are smart. Since you were a kid, you have been constantly coming at the first place. But don't ever get lazy because of it-"

Pavitr continued nodding, not really paying attention to the lecture. Instead, he was thinking about how to interact with Gayatri. Afterall, they haven't met for around a month since they were given a long break after the last session ended.

As he was lost in thoughts, imagining various scenarios and conversations, even though he knew that he wouldn't be able to act upon them, they reached the school.

DAV Public School. The best school in Mumbai West.

It was still only 6:45 am. An hour before school the school starts.

Only the security guard was present, sleeping on his duty.

"Oe! Why are you sleeping on duty!?"

Bhim shouted at the guard, and Pavitr got embarrassed with his uncle's behavior.

So he quickly got off the bike, waved his uncle bye, and entered the school.

Watching the resentful gaze of the guard who was getting scolded, he scurried away hastily.

He went to the second floor, and entered his class, 10-C. Located in the corner of the building, close to the washroom.

He entered the class, and went to the best seat. Last row, last corner, near the window. Moreover, there is a large Banyan tree outside, giving shade, and fresh oxygen.

As he put down his bag, he didn't notice that a portal opened above him, and a magical spider appeared from it. 

It dropped on his neck, and traumatized by mosquitoes, Pavitr was quickly slapped his neck. But, the spider had already bit him.

He felt the pain, a lot more than when mosquitoes bite. He looked at his hand, and instead of a dead mosquito, he saw a strange spider, with red and blue color, along with shades of white and gold.

Just as he was about to scream and throw the spider away, the spider sunk into his hand, and suddenly, Pavitr was in a strange costume, with a spider symbol on his chest.

"Am I some sort of superhero? Like Power Ranger!?"

He exclaimed, surprised by this transformation.

But just then, Gayatri entered the class, and their eyes met.

'Shit!'