"Arnav. Arnav, stop," Khushi ran behind him, with a heavy bag on her back leaving Aman, Payal, and the other friend of Aman behind. Khushi's voice echoed through the open ground, her breaths ragged as she chased after him. The weight of the heavy bag on her back tugged at her spine, but she pushed forward, fueled by determination.

"Arrey, Khushi, stop," Payal screamed at her sister jogging towards her, her breaths ragged as she chased after her sister.

Khushi, even if she heard her sister, ignored her and ran behind Arnav. Her polished shoes shined in the sunlight and echoed the hurried steps.

Aman was following these three with his other friend, not really in any hurry to catch on any of them. Like Khushi and Payal were.

"This girl wouldn't leave me," he muttered, his breath escaping in a frustrated huff. He increased his pace. His strides were long and purposeful. In a desperate bid to escape from the tiny girl following him.

But he was unsuccessful, as Khushi had almost run towards him and clutched his bag, halting him at the place, panting hard. She wondered how he could move so swiftly as if the world hadn't just crumbled around them.

Arnav's patience was wearing thin as Khushi clung to his bag, her breaths ragged.

He turned around and loosened her hold on his bag and muttered under his breath, "Leave my bag, you, Ms. Tree Climber."

But Khushi wasn't one to back down easily. She released his bag and instead latched onto his hand. "Did you forget about my promise? Huh?" she glared at him.

Arnav raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "What promise? Which promise?" he inquired, his voice laced with irritation.

Khushi's eyes widened dramatically as she exclaimed, "Hawww! How can you forget my promise?" Ignoring the tone of his voice, she focused on the subject at hand.

"Look, I am getting late for class-" he muttered, his glare fixed on her. He yearned to escape from the persistent tiny girl at any cost. But before he could continue, Khushi interjected, her words slicing through his urgency.

"But classes will start only after assembly and assembly has 30 more minutes to go," she retorted, her tiny eyes gazing at the the clock with a mix of confusion and determination. The oversized clock that adorned their school wall, confirmed that there were still 30 precious minutes until the bell would signal the start of the assembly.

"I remember that, okay? You don't need to tell me that," Arnav clenched his jaw. He was only trying to escape from her, and even if he told her to her face, she wasn't leaving — running behind him like a persistent shadow.

"Haww! You only said you are getting late to classes, and now you are denying it?" Her hazel eyes gazed at him in wonder, pondering why he was contradicting himself. Then, it dawned on her as her eyes lit up like a star — he had the same problem as she did.

She didn't stay behind in letting him know the same.

"I know what your problem is," she declared, her voice confident and matter-of-fact. "This short-term memory loss will be fine soon. Just eat three or four soaked almonds every morning before breakfast. It increases our memory strength. My mumma, papa, and teachers told me that. I eat them every day. You should start eating them too. Then you won't forget anything. " She finished giving a class on how to improve memory.

Aman, who had been following them, struggled to contain his laughter. Arnav shot him an annoyed look. Did this tiny girl just imply his memory was weak?

"In fact, you know what," she grinned getting a brilliant idea, "I will tell this to Ratna Aunty. She will make you eat them. You'll be fine like me soon." She planted her hands on her waist, boasting herself, lifting her face to his level as if imparting the wisdom of generations.

Arnav's patience wavered, but he managed to control his fury. "Where's your class?" he asked, redirecting the conversation, desperate for an escape from her relentless rants.

"But why?" she frowned at him. Why would he need her classroom? She was the one who has to take him to his class and drop him off, not the other way around. She was about to voice her thoughts when she noticed his own frown in response.

And suddenly, his hands were on her ID card, revealing her class standard and section. She gasped, taken aback by his sudden action in taking her ID without even asking. Before she could protest, he dragged her along the familiar corridors and deposited her in her classroom, leaving her speechless, three Os forming on her face.

Payal sighed at their silent fight and walked away to her class and Aman followed behind Arnav as soon as he started walking away from Khushi's classroom. He couldn't help but think that Khushi's memory advice was more absurd than anything else that day.

He and having memory problems? He wasn't a school topper for nothing! His pride swelled within him. As he strode purposefully toward his classroom, Aman's voice trailed after him. "Arrey, yaar, Arnav. Why don't you like Khushi? She's just being sweet and cute."

Arnav dismissed Aman's words as if he'd suddenly lost the ability to hear. His focus remained unwavering, and he continued on his path. Aman, however, persisted, muttering curses under his breath. Arnav paid little attention, but one phrase stood out, "Iska kuch nahi ho sakta." It was quintessentially Aman — a blend of exasperation and affection that bore his unmistakable trademark.

A few hours later,

Khushi's lunchtime escapade was a whirlwind of social interactions. First, she was busy with a couple of her friends. Payal couldn't join them because she was forced by her new classmates to eat with them and she complied. So, Khushi, when she finished went to check on her sister, Payal, chatted with a couple of girls there, and made her way to Arnav, only to find him and Aman huddled over their notes, diligently writing something.

Not wanting to disturb them remembering the words Arnav had said in the morning about the test, she went back to her class. Not before playfully peeping in and screaming a quick hello and goodbye to Arnav and Aman, leaving them momentarily stunned. Arnav, ever the stoic, muttered under his breath, "Pagal ladki" (crazy girl) and concentrated on his book again.

"Why did she come and why did she go?" Aman pondered aloud, earning a poke from Arnav's pen on his arm. Shaking off the distraction, they focused on a challenging math problem assigned by their teacher just an hour for today's homework. While other boys roamed the corridors, Aman here is stuck with Arnav on Math's homework. Not that they didn't want to relax in their break but to Aman, Math's problem was tough, so, he sought Arnav's help and they were here, sitting together, determined to crack the problem.

And so, the day unfolded—dramatic moments tucked away

It was the evening Arnav dreaded and it unfolded as anticipated.

Exiting the classroom, he and Aman scanned the surroundings, surprised not to find Khushi as they did before. They were puzzled by Khushi's absence. While Aman wondered why she hadn't arrived, Arnav felt a wave of relief after a second of puzzlement. Descending the stairs, they encountered Khushi and Payal, perched on a scooter with their mother. Khushi's grin widened as she called out to Arnav and Aman. She had thought she wouldn't meet Arnav and would break her promise when they saw their mother taking them to a shopping mall as she promised a day before. But now that she saw them, she bid them farewell, grinning.

"Bye-bye, Arnav, Aman Bhai," Khushi's voice echoed before she climbed onto the Scooty, which whisked her away to a nearby shopping mall. Aman waved back grinning, while Arnav exhaled, grateful for the temporary respite.

"Uff, thank god," Arnav muttered under his breath and started walking to the parking area to get into his school bus.

"Arrey, yaar, Arnav, tell me the truth? Do you fear Khushi? But she is such a sweet girl and you are running away from her?" Aman playfully prodded Arnav, questioning his apparent fear of Khushi, because he had always seen him running away from Khushi. He chuckled under his breath at the thought that a tiny girl has managed to make Arnav lose his screws.

"Yeah, true she is very sweet," Arnav's response was succinct.

Aman smiled thinking Arnav finally understood how cute Khushi was. But how could he underestimate his friend?

"But I really don't want to get Diabetes, you see!" he continued, his sarcastic demeanor coming out in full force.

"Arrey yaar. I was just flying in the sky thinking you finally admitted her true value, but tumne mere wings hi cut kardi ye bolke," he pouted, his expression a mix of mock hurt and genuine amusement.

(I was just flying in the sky thinking you finally admitted her true value but you cut my wings.)

"Why didn't you tell me you are a bird, Aman? You look absolutely like human to me," Arnav's sarcasm cut through.

"Shut up," Aman glared at him.

Aman's glare was met with Arnav's retort. "You too shut up and stop talking about that tiny girl."

Talking about Ms. Tree Climber irritates him, god, how much can one talk? Not that he is judging her for talking too much, he just likes silence and so when a tiny girl from whose mouth words tumble down like a waterfall and the waterfall chased him relentlessly, leaving him exasperated, he gets irritated.

"Oh, okay. If you say so," he agreed.

Unbeknownst to Arnav, mischief danced in Aman's eyes. As Arnav walked forward, Aman trailed behind, couldn't resist teasing him as he chanted in his ears, "Khushi. Khushi. Khushi. Khushi."

And with that, Aman fled and Arnav ran behind him with the bag to beat the shit out of him.

Sheesh Mahal,

Arnav had completed the remainder of his homework, and now, in the expansive courtyard of his grand mansion, he and his sister engaged in a spirited game of badminton. The sun cast long shadows, and the rhythmic thwack of the shuttlecock echoed through the air.

After a few games, Anjali went inside the house, thumping the badminton bats into her brother's hand. Arnav, now armed with the bats, wandered aimlessly, playing solo amidst the vast expanse of the courtyard. The sun cast long shadows, and the rhythmic thwack of the shuttlecock echoed through the air.

And then, like a burst of sunlight breaking through the clouds, a familiar voice cut through the stillness.

"Heyyy, Arnav!" Khushi's exuberant greeting reached his ears, and he couldn't help but sigh. Rolling his eyes, he missed the next hit, utterly distracted by her unexpected appearance.

Khushi — the girl with the waterfall of words and the constant whirlwind in his life — had a way of disrupting him every now and then somehow. She bounded toward him with her infectious smile intact on her face.

"Why are you playing alone?" Khushi's curiosity danced in her eyes. "Can I join in?" Her request hung in the air, a simple plea that held the hope to play with someone.

Khushi's words tumbled forth like a lively stream, her enthusiasm undeterred by Arnav's silence, "See," she continued, her hazel eyes wide with earnestness, "even I don't have a partner to play with. My sister is busy with her homework as if she'd not be able to do it after playing with me. But I am not like that. I'd play and then go, and complete my homework. But the puppies were sleeping too to play with me, even Max. So I was playing alone when that crazy ball of mine fell here. That's why I am here. But now since you're also playing alone, why don't we play together, please?" she requested once more, looking at him with her hopeful eyes.

Her sister, Payal was doing her homework and she had no one to play with. Puppies in their street were sleeping and so was Max. So she was playing throw with a ball on the wall when it, by mistake, fell into Sheesh Mahal Courtyard and she is here, after asking permission from the watchman, ready to search for her ball and take it when her gaze fell on Arnav who's playing all alone like her and her eyes lip up excitement as she called out for him.

"No!" he heard her words of waterfall again and his response was instinctive making Khushi pout sadly, but she wasn't one to give up easily.

"Please..." she pleaded, her voice a melodic refrain.

Arnav didn't budge.

"Please. Please. Please." Khushi's persistence was relentless, and Arnav's resolve wavered, it was better he played with her than listen to her talks. Who knows she just might be silent during the game.

And so, he relented. "Okay, fine," he conceded, and together, they stepped onto the makeshift badminton court. All ready to play.

And amidst the game, he got to know how wrong he was. This girl never stopped talking. He sighed and at the call of his sister, went inside leaving Khushi alone.

A few minutes later,

Khushi sat on the ground plucking the grass, talking to it, and waiting for Arnav when she heard a stern voice from behind her.

"Hey, girl. Who are you? What the hell are you doing here?" Subadhra's words were like icicles, sharp and unforgiving.

It was Subadhra Mallik, the matriarch of the illustrious Royal Mallik Family, was a force to be reckoned with. Her regal demeanor and piercing eyes left no room for ambiguity. She had just arrived from the temple when she saw an unknown girl sitting in their courtyard.

Khushi stood up with the bats at the questions hurled at her. Her eyes widened as she took in the imposing figure before her. She was just about to tell her name when she was cut off by the woman in front of her.

"Are you stealing these bats?" Subadhra guessed looking at the bats in her hands, her accusation hung in the air, slicing through Khushi's resolve to explain herself, but now her anger flared. She was no thief. Her mother always told her it was wrong.

"I am no thief," Khushi ground out, her teeth clenched. "These are my friend's badminton bats. We are playing." Her tiny eyes blazed with fury and determination not to disrespect her elders. But again, she would not be cowed by this woman or anyone if they tried hurting her, no matter what.

Subadhra's skepticism dripped from her voice. "Is it?" she questioned, a mock grin on her face. "Then where is your friend? Is this what your parents taught you — to lie?" The disdain in her tone was unmistakable. To Subadhra, Khushi was just another low-class opportunist. She knew this girl was lying. The low-class people are always like that. Cheap and opportunists.

"I don't lie, okay?" She shot back, her tone wavered between fury and defiance. "My parents never taught me to lie." She proudly stated, her little chest puffing in.

But Subadhra wasn't done. "Really?" Her gaze bore into Khushi. "Didn't your parents also teach you not to back-answer elders?" The matriarch's disapproval intensified, and Khushi shook her head as she glared at the woman, ready to defy again.

"How else should I answer your questions, then?" Khushi retorted, her spirit unyielding. Even if she was a child, her words struck at Subadhra's ego.

Khushi continued while Subadhra fumed more at the girl's audacity, "I already told you I am not stealing them; they belong to my friend," Her resolve held firm. She explained in clear terms.

Someone hit on Subadhra's ego land she wouldn't show them their place? Impossible. Subadhra's final verdict was sharp and hurtful. "You, disrespectful girl!" She clutched the girl's hand tight and Khushi, who was brave till the moment, became afraid of the woman, fear surged through her heart. The woman's strength hurt her little delicate wrists.

Arnav who had watched Subadhra clutching Khushi's hand ran to the courtyard and saw a trembling Khushi and her hand tight in his Dadi's grip.

"Dadi, what are you doing to her? Leave her," Arnav widened his eyes and ordered Dadi to leave her in an instant, and when she didn't yet, he went between them and took Khushi's hands out of Subadhra's grip, making Subahdra shocked at his actions for a low-status little girl.

"Why did you leave your badminton bats outside, Chotte? She was stealing them," Subadhra attempted to explain the girl's presence in the courtyard.

Khushi hid behind him at her accusation again and clutched his back still trembling. His stern gaze conveyed the truth, "I gave those badminton bats to her. We are playing, Dadi. She wasn't stealing."

Subadhra's shock deepened. Arnav rarely had friends, and Aman, another low-class acquaintance, was the exception. Once again, Arnav had chosen a friend regardless of social status. She scolded him, her disapproval clear like always, "How many times did I tell you not to bond with anyone whose class is lower than us, Chotte?"

"You said it doesn't mean I'd follow, Dadi. She's my friend irrespective of her class," Arnav gritted his teeth in anger standing up for Khushi. He despised the status divisions Subadhra perpetuated.

"You, little brat! Didn't your mom and dad teach you not to make friends with boys, especially those who are above your status?" Subadhra turned her wrath on Khushi, accusing her tearfully, who by then had little tears in her eyes. Harshly, she pushed Khushi away from Arnav before Arnav could react.

His voice hardened, "Dadi."

Khushi stumbled, but Arnav caught her before she fell. Yet, a stone pricked her ankle, scratching her skin painfully, it even started bleeding off, tears rolled down her eyes in pain, and a few painful moans escaped her throat.

He glared at Subadhra for hurting Khushi, while she walked away, satisfied to see the girl suffer. She knew she'd deal with her grandson later.

Arnav helped her walk and made her sit on the swing in the courtyard a little away from where they stood previously. She had hurt her ankle and was limping in pain. Making sure she sat comfortably, Arnav ran inside his home and returned with a first aid box and a water bottle in a few minutes.

He didn't delay in aiding her wound.

"Don't cry," he murmured, his touch gentle as he patted her small hands. Arnav blew on her scraped ankle, the antiseptic sting of Dettol making her wince. Khushi's tears flowed freely, pain etched across her small face and she sniffed in a couple of times.

"I thought you said you were strong," he tried teasing in an attempt to make the situation lighter but his amusement faded when Khushi's sobs intensified. Her tiny hazel eyes, usually bright with mischief, were now red and swollen. Tears traced down her sore cheek, leaving marks of hurt.

"Achha, okay, okay. Mat Rona," Arnav's voice softened some more. He wasn't accustomed to consoling anyone, let alone a crying child. Yet, here he was, trying to soothe this tiny girl's hurt.

(Okay, okay. Don't cry.)

But Khushi persisted, her cries unabated. Arnav's frustration mingled with concern and awkwardness. "Don't cry," he repeated, his own discomfort evident.

She continued sniffing. He gave her the water bottle, gesturing for her to drink. But she shook her head in no, her teary eyes spilling some more water.

"Friends?" he offered, hoping it would distract her. He didn't know what else to do. He is helpless and he just couldn't see her crying like that.

Khushi's eyes widened, and his words slowed her tears, hope sparkling within them as she gazed at him with her tear-filled gaze.

"Really?" she whispered through a hoarse voice, not believing what her ears heard.

Arnav nodded in eagerness. If this could stop her tears, why not?

"Yayy! Friends. I am your friend from now on," Khushi declared, smiling and wiping her fresh tears, sealing their newfound bond.

But he couldn't resist adding a condition. "But you won't call me Gardener?" The future businessman in him couldn't help but make a deal.

She isn't less. She asked for a return deal. "You also won't call me Tree Climber?" Her negotiation skills were impressive — even at this tender age, she knew how to strike a fair bargain. Who knew she'd be a businesswoman too in the future?

"Deal," Arnav sealed the deal.

"Deal," Khushi whispered, shaking his hands with a small smile. She wiped her tear-streaked face, accepting the water bottle he'd offered before. The cool liquid eased her parched throat, and Arnav observed as her tears subsided, relief washing over him.

He was finally able to stop her tears.

And so, amidst scraped ankles, tears, and a shared promise, Arnav and Khushi shook hands, sealing their fate as friends.

Friends they are, finally!

To be continued..,

Regards,

Poly,

05/04/2024

Let me know how was the update. 

Any reviews are welcome.