The guys were still there when I saw her running towards us. She came near the gate and walked toward the place where I and Ajay were standing. Obviously an awkward situation as Ajay is thinking I am tired and she thinks that I am ready to go to the pool and the offer for the pool I had already rejected. I wished I had the power to vanish but I had none so I was just on mercy of my luck. Ajay was looking at her and me in succession and was expecting anyone of us to answer him. I would dare not say anything and let her lead the scene.
She: “What?” (And she did that in style and attitude.)
Ajay: “Where are you going with that bag and all dressed up?” (I hate Ajay now for creating a situation where my intervention is a must. But I will take one more chance, as he was not looking that aggressive. It might be just a brotherly question.)
She: “I am not going anywhere. Are you? You can go, any far place also where mom has told us not to go. I will not tell mamma about anything. You can trust me on this.”
A very smart answer which brought Ajay into back foot for which he was not all prepared for. Anyway it didn’t look like he was going to create any problem and what Twinkle said now; she might have saved for future threat.
Ajay: “Thanks baby, I am not going that far though. Hey I forgot my cap. It’s on my bed. Can you bring it to me?”
I can smell something here as I have never seen him wearing a cap though he played all day under Sun. Twinkle left for the house and she might take two-three minutes to come back either empty handed or with some cap. The other guys were busy watching the tadpoles in the village drain at end of road. There was complete silence between me and Ajay. While he was looking at me with a strange kind of look, which I can’t term as furious, I was just moving my head in random fashion as if I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of my village. Finally Ajay’s patience made its call and he broke the silence.
Ajay: “So you want to add something to it?” (Clearly it was not the perfect time to joke.)
Me: “Hmmm… yeah… Ummm... I seriously thought about it when you said I should go and talk to your sister. So we planned to go the temple to pray to God and talk a little bit. I was unnecessarily angry with her.”
Ajay: “Why were you angry?”
Me: “She told me a coward.”
Ajay: “Yeah, she said that to me many a times too. What does she thinks of herself. She is good in studies and that doesn’t mean she will say anything to us. We will not talk to her.” (At last Ajay found out the shoulder where he can keep his head and abuse his sister. But he got that all wrong.)
Me: Nope! We will give her some more time to improve and she is a girl yaar. Give her some benefit for being that. (After I gave him that guy talk he looked convinced though still angry.)
By that time Twinkle came running again and as I guessed empty handed.
Twinkle: “There was no cap. Go and look for it yourself.”
Ajay: “I think I can do without it today. You guys go to the temple.”
She: “Temple!!” (I had to interrupt now.)
Me: “But you guys are also coming there.”
Ajay: “No, they are busy catching tadpole and I am also planning to join them.” (It was not a pleasant idea to watch anyone catch tadpole but never mind; it was working my way.)
Ajay: “Bye and take care of my baby sister.”
She: “I alone can take care of myself and no need for you irresponsible guys to worry about me.”
Ajay was about to say something but he stopped and left to join the gang of boys near the well. We also walked towards the temple which was ten minutes walk from my house. There was a small bag on her back, a pink one with shape resembling to mini mouse. A little bit of nervousness was gripping me. I guess she was also in similar situation as we both were walking unusually fast.
She: “Where are the chocolates I gave you?” (I didn’t say anything but pointed my fingers towards my tummy giving her the most satisfying smile.)
We reached the pond in a few minutes. Village women were already marked their areas where they were busy washing clothes and few of them just gossiping and walking around. Some buffalos were swimming in the mid of the pond. Though I can swim comfortable in the swimming pool but was not sure about the same about Twinkle. We were in search for some location where we can settle down and plan for the next few hours.
The other side of the pond though not being stepped was not that crowded. There was a huge tree whose branches were quite low on that side of the pool. The bank was usually clean as the ladies use the area to spread the cloth for drying. We decided that tree’s shade to rest ourselves.
After we had placed our selves near the tree, I had no ideas to spend the rest of the time.
After we had placed our selves near the tree, I had no ideas to spend the rest of the time.
She: “Let’s climb that branch.” (She was pointing to a branch which I doubt will sustain the weight of two kids. But I agreed.)
Me: “Yeah let’s go. But be careful, follow me and hold the branch tightly. Don’t slip because if you will fall, you are going to land directly in the pond. “(Though the pond’s bank under the branch was not deep enough but still why take the chance.)
She: “What we are going to do there?”
Me: “I will show you how to swing upside down with the help of legs.”
With that I started my adventure to climb that tree. The branch was very low and I was able to catch it without even jumping. As I proceeded with ease, I looked back and saw to my amazement that she is also doing the same with equal comfort. Now I was just above the bank of the pond and the branch being thinner than at start was swinging a little bit making my life less easier than before. I looked back to see if she was doing ok but she looked scared. In a few minutes we both were seated on that branch enjoying our new found friendship.
She: “Show me how you are going to swing.”
I have done that before many times so without any hesitation I used my knee joint as a hook and started swinging just like a bat.
Me: “eee…. Uuu…. Hhh……. It’s easy.”
She: “Yeah.”
But before she could try anything, God had some other plans for me. While I was trying to get back to my original position, somehow my hands slipped and my knee joint became straight and with a great splash of water I fell in the pond. I was shocked. As I have told earlier the bank was very shallow and I came out within minutes, completely drenched in water. I looked at her. She was not laughing this time.
She: “I told you to be careful. I am not going to try it anymore.”
Me: “Yeah, I am fine. Get down. We will walk in sun and that might dry me soon. Don’t tell my mom!! Ok?”
She came down in a few minutes and we walked towards the temple. It was not at all comfortable walking all wet.
Me: “Do you play video game?”
She: “No, but Ajay like it very much. Hey, I have brought some more chocolates. Do you want to have it?”
And before I can respond she handed me one. I saw her bony fingers and nails longer than what was permitted in our school. In my school we get canned if we sport longer nails and girls usually complain against such rules. Anyway, we reached the temple and prayed for a little while. I feel she was closer to God as she had a long talk with the almighty. After that we sat on steps and talked for a while. In mid of our conversation I stared unusually long in her eyes.
She: “What?” (I guess I over did something?)
I simply walked to ward the same tree I climbed and fell. I was in no mood to converse in any uncomfortable zone. She followed me. We reached the last step together when I spoke again.
Me: “Do you run?”
She: “Not unless I am chased by anyone.”
Me: “Lets race to that tree. Whoever wins will get your chocolate.”
She: “But that’s not fair. They are already mine.”
Me: “Ok fine, but I am not going to lose you see. So they are going to be mine. Right?”
She: “Let’s decide that after we finished the race.”
Me: “One…. Two….. Three… Go…..”
And I started not very fast. She was just few steps ahead of me I guess. The tree was still some distance from us and I can catch her anytime. She was running as if she was a born athlete. I started to catch up by running fast now. But what amazed me is that the distance between us remained constant. Now I panicked. I was running at my top speed but still behind her. She reached the tree and had enough time to see me running towards her. I was embarrassed.
She: “So Rahul, What do I win?”
Me: “You win nothing, I let you win.”
What she did next I was totally unprepared for. She jumped at me, caught me off guard for such a move and pushed me on the ground. I was lying on back the next second and she was giggling. I laughed too and acknowledged her win. God! She is strong. Better I should watch what I say to her as she is not going to wait for Ajay to muscle me down.
After that we played some game, ate some bananas and mangoes she had brought in her bag and simply lied down on the grass for a long time. It was time to leave for home now. We started our journey for home and none of us spoke a thing in between. I am a bit choosy in making friend and that day I knew I have found someone with whom I can be friend my whole life. She was smart, beautiful and intelligent. If she can hide the fact that she runs faster than me and can pin me down in less than five seconds she can be my friend. We were at our gate from where we started. I was completely lost in her thought.
She: “What are you thinking? About me.”
Me: “Naah....” (She didn’t look disappointed.)
Me: “So what are we doing tomorrow?”
She: “I don’t know about you but I am going to the pond again tomorrow.”
Me: I hesitated to ask “Umm…. Can I come with you?”
She: “Of Course! Stupid.”
And she left for her house. That was the best day I had in my life.
After that, it became a normal routine for us to spend the day time together near the pond. Friday came and it was her last day with me. I was sad, unusually sad and it didn’t took her long to read my face.
She: “We are going to meet next year also. I promise.”
I just smiled.
I just smiled.
She: “Do you want to say something?”
She looked straight in my eyes and that sent a chill in my spine. Tell her all you want to say. No I should not. We are just friends. But she might already know about your feelings so you can speak. No I should not.
Me: “Nothing. But here’s my home number. Give me a call and tell me your number then.” (I was already having my number on a piece of paper and I handed it to her.)
She: “So I should call you and tell my number to you then.”
Me: “Yeah.. You got it right.”
She: “Why can’t I give you my number now?”
Me: “Yeah you can do that too.” (Mission accomplished. Within myself I gave a big sigh of relief.)
She was smiling and writing her number on another piece of paper and handed it to me. We looked at each other for another few minutes saying nothing. She broke the silence finally.
She was smiling and writing her number on another piece of paper and handed it to me. We looked at each other for another few minutes saying nothing. She broke the silence finally.
She: “So that’s it then.”
Me: “I guess so.”
We returned home. Why didn’t we have one more month to spend in village? Why did I waste lots of time not talking to her and taking care of my ego? Lots of unanswered questions were coming now and again. We reached the gate again like everyday but today it was not deserted. Her parents, Ajay, Grand pa, my dad and mom were already present. I guess she had already told her parents about her plans of the day so they didn’t panic on seeing me with her. Her mother came to me and kissed on my forehead and said.
“Take care of yourself beta. Study well”
I looked at Twinkle. We didn’t speak that time but my heart bid her goodbye. It seems that the message reached her. I stood there watching as the dust settled by the car on which her parents left to the station. I was not crying but a single drop of tear volunteered to flow down from my right eye. That was painful.
Next we also left for our home. The day I reached, I gave her a call but could not reach her. I tried many times that day, the day after that and next week. But my call was not getting connected. Disappointment started to grow within me.
“Maybe her number has changed.” But how can it change at once.
My life continued as it had for last eight years. One afternoon when we were having lunch our phone started ringing. It wasn’t usual as mu dad usually get bugged from the maintenance guys under him. My father answered the call and returned in few seconds and said the caller wanted to talk to me.
“Who can it be?”
Me: “hullo...”
She: “Hi Rahul, Twinkle here.” (My heart stopped completely this time.)
She: “Are you there? (Few more seconds passed by) Ok take your time.”
She: “My phone was dead for last 2 weeks so was not able to call you. Dad got it fixed today.”
Few more second of silence passed away.
She: “Okay! I have to tell you something.”
At last I cleared my throat and said.
Me: “What?”
She: “That I like Ballu more than the Mogli.”
A smile came spontaneously that time on my face. I knew that finally our story has begun.
(The End)
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