Bitten by Vampire

             “What happened to you?” inquired Shaivi’s friend.

“I got bitten by a vampire,” she replied.

The truth was much less romantic, though.

The girls had got ready for school in time, but the van was a little late. Aadya, Shaivi and I decided to take a walk in the morning air, talking of school, peacocks, cats, rain, creepers that were growing at an almost visible rate during monsoon, and similar important matters. The panel discussion was interrupted by the sound of the school van arriving, and both the girls ran to get their school bags. Shaivi slipped, and scrapped her knees and palms.

There was a resultant delay during which we brought her inside the house, cleaned and bandaged her wounds, and consoled her as she got ready to burst in tears – the efforts succeeded and she did not actually cry. Five minutes later, she limped inside the van, carrying a face which announced to the world that she had just been through some great danger and has walked out of it alive and visibly shaken.

Miraculously, they were not late for school. They rushed from assembly to their classes, and serious conversations like the one above between Shaivi and her friend had to wait for the break.

During the rest of the day, she managed to study, play basketball, and recite the story to one of Aadya’s friends, before heading to the van where all others had witnessed the fall and were resultantly incredulous of the vampire attack theory. As they alighted from the van, the reporting of the above conversation was the first thing that Shaivi chirped about.

That happened three days ago. The wound was very superficial, and did not require any further special attention beyond regular washing, and is presently healing well.

This morning, Shaivi spilled her milk on her school uniform, and was dancing while her sister and I simultaneously fussed over her unruly hair and her non – cooperating shoes.

Can anyone tell me how long after a vampire bite does a girl turn into a devilish angel?