Toxic air

Maya stood at the street corner with her ten‑year‑old son, Arjun, waiting for the school bus that would take him across the bridge.

She had left early to beat the worst of it, but the road already hummed.

The sky above the line of trees looked pale, like paper left too long against sunlight, and a faint brown veil softened the world’s edges.

and said his son to don't forget to wear mask.