The new year had begun.
A new class.
A new semester.
A "new start," as every adult in the village liked to say.
But Arko…
Didn't care.
"Arkooo! Wake up! It's your first day of Class 2!" his mother shouted from the kitchen.
No response.
"ARKO!"
Still nothing.
Outside his grandfather's room, an old wooden chair creaked softly.
His grandfather sat there, straight-backed, serious as always, like a guard on duty.
This wasn't unusual. Sometimes he sat outside like this… and sometimes he fell asleep inside with the TV still running.
Arko's mother walked past… then suddenly stopped.
She looked at him.
Then at the slightly open door.
Then back at him again.
"…He's inside, isn't he?"
His grandfather replied calmly—
"Hm."
"And you're just sitting here?"
"I am observing."
"Observing what?"
"His future going in the wrong direction."
From inside—
"Boom! Pow! Run!"
Cartoon sounds echoed.
His mother closed her eyes slowly.
"…I knew it."
Inside the room, the TV flickered brightly.
Arko sat cross-legged, completely lost in the cartoon world, eyes wide, full focus.
"…Finish him! Finish him!" he whispered seriously.
The door suddenly opened.
"ARKO!"
Arko slowly turned his head.
"…Ma."
"What are you doing here?!"
"…Watching."
"I can SEE that! It's your first day of school!"
Arko frowned slightly.
"But Ma… I just gave exams."
There was silence.
His grandfather walked in behind her, hands behind his back like a strict headmaster.
"Exams are over," Arko continued confidently.
"So now… rest season has started."
His grandfather's eyebrow twitched.
"Rest season?" he repeated.
"Yes," Arko nodded. "Very important for brain recovery."
His mother pointed at him.
"You need to study!"
Before Arko could reply—
His grandfather stepped forward.
"And not just study," he said in a firm, strict voice.
"You need to study properly. Sit straight. Focus. No cartoons. No excuses."
Arko blinked.
"…After this episode?"
"NO."
"Half episode?"
"NO."
"Last 2 minutes?"
"Switch it off."
Arko sighed like a tired old man.
Slowly… painfully… he picked up the remote.
Click.
The TV went black.
His heart broke a little.
A few minutes later…
Arko walked toward school, dragging his feet, bag on his shoulder, hair messy, face annoyed.
"…New year is dangerous," he muttered.
From behind, his grandfather's voice echoed—
"Come back and show me what you learned!"
Arko shouted back—
"I will watch— I mean, I will study!"
As he entered the school gate, children ran around excitedly.
"New class!"
"New books!"
"New year!"
Arko looked around… then yawned.
"…Same problem."
But deep inside—
Something had changed.
A little pressure.
A little push.
A little… beginning.
Back at home, his grandfather sat quietly on the chair for a while.
Then he stood up, walked inside the room, and picked up the remote.
For a second…
He looked at the TV.
Then—
Click.
The channel changed.
News started playing.
"Today, onion prices have increased again—"
He adjusted his glasses and sat down seriously.
"Hm. This is important."
After a pause, he muttered—
"These children don't understand anything."