A ceiling fan noisily whirled overhead a middle-aged lady, who was occupying an armchair behind a large sturdy wooden desk. Dressed in a starched beige cotton saree and donning gold rimmed glasses, she made an striking picture as she scribbled away in a notebook. But to the girl aged four and the boy aged seven, seated on a wooden bench to one side of the room she appeared the equivalent of a dictator. And considering in their little world she did weld unlimited power, both watched her with apprehension.

The girl had a white handkerchief pinned near the left chest area of a dark grey pinafore worn over a white blouse. Her jet-black hair, tied in two pigtails, was well oiled. The right white sock had slipped a little lower than the other and the black shoes, which had been shining at the start of the day, now appeared a little scruffy. The boy was similarly attired but wore dark grey shorts instead of the pinafore. And of course, he was past the age where a handkerchief needed to be pinned to his shirt.

In contrast to her scared expression, a scowl graced his features. And the scowl deepened noticing her trembling lower lip. Scuttling a little closer, he put his left arm around her shoulders and whispered "Daro mat... Mummy-Papa jaldi aayenge." When her big brown eyes questioningly oscillated in his direction "Pukka??" he asserted "Ekdum pukka."

"Sameer, you have not come to a picnic in a park. Sit straight. And why are you sticking to Naina when there is a whole bench to sit on?!" Mrs Khanna sternly called out.

Naina stiffened, as reluctantly drawing his hand away, Sameer shuffled away to put a couple of inches between them. But as soon as Mrs Khanna looked away, he linked the little finger of his left hand with one of her fingers, which lay limpidly on the bench. Feeling reassured, she immediately tightened the finger-hold.

Few minutes passed by as Sameer watched a lizard playing hide and seek from behind the big frame of Gandhiji hanging behind Mrs Khanna and imagined - Kitna maza aayega agar yeh chipkali ma'am pe gir jaaye! Bechaari Nainu ko itna daraa diya... inhe bhi daraana chahiye!

Meanwhile, Naina's anxious gaze mostly oscillated between the door and Sameer, and occasionally towards the imposing figure behind the desk. She still wasn't sure why she and Sameer had been summoned to the principal's office. All she did was report to Sameer that Ajay had troubled her again. Bura toh Ajay hai... toh hume kyun punish karenge??

All eyes turned to the door when a tall man, dressed in smart dark trousers and a checkered blue shirt, spoke "Good Morning, Madamji. May we come in?".

Mrs Khanna immediately waved them in "Come in, come in... Mr and Mrs Maheshwari. Sorry I had to call you in... but after this morning's incident... the earliest I speak to you the better."

As Vivek and Vishakha Maheshwari exchanged an anxious look, pulling her hand away from Sameer's, Naina scrambled off the bench and rushed to the new arrivals. Vishakha instinctively opened her arms and picked up the little girl, who instantly buried her face into her neck and burst into tears, "Kaki, humne kuch nahi kiya... woh... Ajay ne mera naya tiffin liya... toh maine Sammy ko bataya... aur usne wapas laake diya. Sammy ko kyu punis kar rahe hai?"

"Koi baat nahi beta... hum madamji ko samjha denge. Chalo rona band kar do." Vishakha uttered in a soothing tone as she used the end of her pallu to wipe the tears.

"Maar peet ki tune school mein?!" Vivek raised an eyebrow at his son, who had now walked over.

Sameer muttered "Nainu theek keh rahi hai... aur Papa, maine Ajay ko mara bhi nahi, sirf warn kiya ke phir se isse pareshaan karega toh usske sath koi bhi khelega nahi."

"Madamji, then what is the problem??" Vivek was puzzled.

Noting the Maheshwari family's confusion, the principal sighed "Though the boys did have a scuffle, no one was hurt. So, I have not called you to discuss that. Please have a seat."

As the husband-wife settled in the chairs across the table from her, Sameer stood next to his father.

Mrs Khanna intently watched Naina, who was still clinging to Vishakha like a little monkey and now had part of her thumb stuck in her mouth. Sensing the direction of the principal's gaze, Vishakha gently pried the thumb out of Naina's mouth and remarked to the other lady "Jaldi dar jaati hain... abhi thoda time lagega..."

Nodding, Mrs Khanna cleared her throat "We understand it is a difficult time for all of you... especially her... but it is worrisome to hear what he has been saying." Looking at Vivek, she sternly continued "Mr Maheshwari, if there is any truth to it, we are legally obliged to report such things. Child marriages are a criminal offence! I don't know what practices you people follow in your villages... but it is completely unacceptable in this school. I have already received a few queries from the teachers. If the word spreads, what am I supposed to explain to the parents as to what sort of people we are admitting to this school?! Can you explain what is going on?"

"Madamji... I don't know what Sameer said but there must be some misunderstanding." Vivek muttered, looking very uncomfortable.

Scowling deeper, Mrs Khanna responded "I will tell you what he said! He, very loudly, told Ajay and everyone else who was on the playground - I will beat up anybody who troubles my wife. When the teacher tried to explain how silly it is to call her his wife, he claimed - I will call her what I want! I am her husband, and she is my wife. Mr Maheshwari, what is this nonsense?! He is seven and she is four."

Letting out what sounded like a forced chuckle, Vivek replied "Madamji... they are kids... and sometimes kids say silly things. Please ignore. We will explain to him never to say something like this."

"Mr Maheshwari, unless there is some truth to it, how can he even get such an idea in his head? I asked him if he understands what marriage means and why does he think they are married. And he clearly described to me the wedding ceremony that they performed. So, please explain what is going on!" Mrs Khanna almost bellowed.

As Vivek's struggled to conjure a reply, Vishakha exclaimed "Gudiya ki shaadi!"

When Mrs Khanna frowned "What??", Vishakha babbled "Madamji, woh kya hain na Naina bahut hi bujhi bujhi si thi. Toh, iska dil behelane ki liya gaav mein humare neighbours ke baachon ne iski gudiya hi shaadi rachayi thi."

"Dolls marriage... uska inn dono se kya lena dena?" the principal was confounded.

"Ab gudda guddi toh phere nahi le sakti na... toh bus Naina ke hath mein gudiya aur Sameer ke hath mein gudda diya tha." Turning to her husband, Vishakha nudged "Issiliye shayad Sameer ke maan mein yeh baat baith gayi hogi... hai na??"

Vigorously nodding Vivek agreed "Bilkul! Issiliye." Facing Sameer, he spoke "Aare beta... Gudda-Guddi ke shaadi ki baat school mein thodehi kissiko batate hai! Aaisi baate karoge toh sab hasenge tumhe, samjhe?"

Looking unconvinced, Sameer addressed his mother "Mummy, par mere hath mein toh gudda nahi tha... aur sab log keh rahe thay ke ab yeh meri Bindani hai."

"Gudda tha... Guddi thi... ya koi bandar... isse koi farak nahi padta! Woh sab bus ek khel tha, samjhe?" Vivek almost snapped at him.

As tears rushed to Sameer's eyes, Vishakha gestured her son to come around to her side. Kissing his head, she addressed him softly "Beta, woh toh bus sab log tumhe aaise hi ched rahe thay. Madamji ke kaha na... chotte bachon ki shaadi thodehi hoti hain. Aage se aaisa kuch maat kehena." As he nodded, Vishakha rushed to address the lady behind the desk "Madamji... bachon ne ache kapde pehene thay... aur bahoot pyaare lag rahe thay... toh bus aaise hi hasee mazak mein kissine kaha ke dono bilkul dulha-dulhan lag rahe hain aur inki hi shaadi kara dete hain. Bus... issilye shayad Sameer ke maan mein yeh baat aa gayi. Aap chinta mat kijiye, hum samjha denge dono ko."

After grumbling for a few minutes about how adults shouldn't be planting such ridiculous ideas in children's heads, Mrs Khanna let them leave her office.

Since it was almost the end of the school day, after collecting the bags from their classrooms and their eldest son, Rohan, from his class, the Maheshwari family drove to a park nearby.

As the three kids happily sampled all the play equipment, Vivek and Vishakha discussed, at length, the conversation with Mrs Khanna and the possible repercussions had the principal acted without speaking to them.

Before heading home, they bought the kids kulfis. As everyone enjoyed the unexpected almost-picnic, Vivek gently asked Sameer "Phir se aaisi koi baat nahi karoge na?"

Though he shook his head, Sameer sounded anxious "Par agar yeh meri bindani nahi hain toh phir kya hain? School mein sab poochte hain na... ke yeh nahi ladki jo humesha tumhare sath hoti hai yeh kaun hain."

Vivek smiled "Iss mein kya hain, keh dena yeh tumhari friend hai. Hain na tumhari friend?? Dono mil ke pura ghar saar pe uthate ho!"

Face scrunched, Sameer asked "Friend matlab...Munna jaisi? Par friends ek ghar mein kaha rehte hai?"

Brushing back the silky hair falling on his forehead, Vishakha tenderly kissed his forehead, "Munna jaisi nahi... khena yeh tumhari ekdum special friend kyu ki yeh ab humari family ka ki hissa hain aur issiliye humare sath rehti hai. Aur yaad rakhna special friend ka special khayal rakhna hota hai. Kabhi bhi koi isse pareshaan kare toh-"

Rolling his eyes, Sameer interrupted her "Mummy! Mujhe pata hai - main kissi ko bhi Nainu ko pareshaan nahi karne dunga."

Naina, who so far had been a silent observer, asked "Toh agar Ajay ne phir se mera tiffin liya toh mein Sammy ko bol sakti hu na??"

Rohan scowled "Tu mujhe bolne kyu nahi aayi?? Dekhna kal main usse aaisa dose dunga ke phir se teri taraf dekhega bhi nahi!"

Angelically smiling back at him, she replied "Roaan bhaiya, aap toh playground pe thay hi nahi! Issilye maine Sammy ko bataya."

Irritated, Sameer asked "Mummy, jaise yeh meri special friend hain, waise main bhi isska special friend hu na?" When his mother nodded "Bilkul beta..." he addressed Naina "Suna... main tumhara special friend hu... koi bhi idiot tumhe pareshaan kare toh pehele mujhe hi batana, samjhi?"

Rohan smirked "Naina, aaisa kuch nahi hain... tu mujhe bhi bol sakti hain. Main tera Rohan bhaiya hu na. Aur main toh Sammy se bhi three years bada hu... aur taller bhi. Isske saare friends bhi mujhse darte hain!"

As Naina pondered on this new problem of who she should be approaching with her problems, not wanting the argument to escalate, Vivek announced "Chalo ab nikalte hain. Tum sab ko ghar drop karke mujhe ek client se milne jaana hain. Naina, Rohan ya Sameer, jo paas mein ho usse batana, okay?"

Pleased with this resolution, Naina nodded, swaying her pigtails "Ji Kaka-baba."

Sitting between the two boys in the back of the car, who were bickering about who was better at cricket amongst them, Naina felt the shadow of the cold, dark past slipping away and instead like she was being wrapped in an invisible warm blanket.

Halfway through the journey, Sameer whispered in her ear "Rohan bhaiya chahe jitne bhi tall ho... tum pehele mere pass hi ayogi, okay?" She smiled back "Okay!"

* * *

(Hi Dearies,

Belated Happy Valentine's Day!! In the spirit of this time of the year dedicated to romance , I have shared the first part of a new Samaina story. This story will be in Hindi + English similar to RGAB. I will share weekly-fortnightly updates depending on how much time I am able to find.

Hope you all enjoy it and shower it with your love as in the past. Do share your thoughts!

Lots of love, May)