The Ties That Bind

  Read The Previous Part Here! ARJUN When I wake up, I check the spot beside me on my bed and suddenly sit up, all sleep vanishing when I realise that Abhimanyu is not beside me. Then I hear voices from the kitchen – Mom scolding Dad for something and Abhimanyu laughing. It stirs something in my heart to hear the child laugh for the very first time. I sit back and close my eyes, savoring the delightful sounds of a child’s laughter in the home. For a while, I am lost in blissful happiness until I am reminded about something that bursts my happy bubble. Kiddo is leaving. I won’t be seeing her for six long months. She is the only friend I have, if I may refer to her as a friend. I have always viewed her as a kid whom I adored (still do). But then Mrs. Sharma had to spoil my relationship with her that particular Holi, when I hugged Kiddo and Mrs. Sharma told me it was wrong of me to do that. I have never thought about Kiddo in any other way except as a child. Distancing myself ph...

  Read The Previous Part Here! ABHIMANYU I wake up and find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. I take a moment to remember where I am and then it strikes me. It is my first morning in my new home. I look to my side and see Arjun sleeping peacefully. Yesterday night when he returned from the walk, he seemed to be a bit upset. Although he was very gentle with me, I felt he was disturbed. I cannot help thinking that probably it has something to do with me. Is he already regretting his decision to adopt me? I look at the clock. It is 7 in the morning. I think about what must be happening at the orphanage now. The Ayamma-s would be awake now and they would start sweeping and mopping the floors. I feel sad thinking about the place. I never thought I would get used to it. But this is my new life, and I better make myself useful, else I will find myself back at the orphanage for good. I do not want to part from Arjun. In a very short period of time, he has come to mean a lot to me....

  Read The Previous Part Here! SHREYA “So buddy, you have come home finally!” I exclaim when Abhimanyu opens the door of Arjun’s flat. I could not wait to meet him, so the moment I came home, I freshened up and rushed to see him. I knew I should have probably given him some time to settle now, since he just moved in today. But I could not wait for one more day. “Hi Didi!” He says. There is something different about him already. He looks composed and settled. Last time, when I had met him at the orphanage, there was a restless energy in him. “Liked your new home?” I ask him and he beams in happiness. “I love it! I have already made many new friends and played with them in the evening for some time.” A sad look crosses over his face and I think he is thinking about his friends at the orphanage. I have the perfect distraction for him. “Here, this is a welcome-home gift for you.” I offer him the gift I had brought for him. His eyes widen as he removes the wrapping and sees th...

  Read The Previous Chapter Here! ARJUN I am nervous about bringing Abhimanyu home. I want him to like it. I want him to like my parents and mostly, I want him to feel as if he has returned to his home. It broke my heart to see his grief of parting from a place and from people with whom he has lived all these years. He looks composed now but every now and then I see a cloud of grief appear on his face. I cannot imagine what he must be going through. To go to a new place, to live with strange and unfamiliar people and hoping that they turn out all right, to learn to trust them – this is so difficult.  I have planned a little surprise for Abhimanyu. I only hope that he feels welcome. We finally reach the complex. I smile at Abhimanyu and pat his back. “Come, your home has been waiting for you since a long time.” He smiles slightly at me and gets down from the car. He looks at the complex and his eyes widen. “Is this where you live?!” He asks in awe. I shake my head. ...

  Read The Previous Part Here! ABHIMANYU I expected to feel something familiar to me on my last day at the orphanage. After all, I have left this place once. But I do not remember how I felt then. Today, I woke up earlier than usual, wanting to spend some more time here. It is strange. I have often dreamt of living in a forever-kind of home with parents and siblings. Now that I am moving, I feel sad. I sit on the bed that I have slept in since so many years and look around the place that used to be my room. I guess, for some more time, it is still my room. I take in the walls, paint peeling off them, feeling deeply nostalgic. I think about my friends who got adopted and with whom I had lot of fun. I never got to see them again as they did not come here once they got adopted. Today, I miss them even more. I hope they are having a good life. Ayamma has taught me to prepare tea and coffee. I also know how to dice vegetables and can prepare basic curries. I head towards the kitch...

Read The Previous Part Here   ARJUN Time has a crazy way of catching up with you when you least expect it. It feels like just yesterday, I was standing outside the orphanage, hesitating and having second-thoughts about my decision. Somehow, the days flew by and here I am, two months later, signing off some papers at the orphanage. The process has been approved and finalized and tomorrow, Abhimanyu will be at his home. I wanted to take him home today itself but he says he wants to stay there for one more day. I can’t help feeling emotional. I can imagine what the child must be going through. I would do everything in my power to give him a happy and peaceful life. “There you go… any more papers to sign?” I ask the supervisor. She shakes her head and smiles. “Nothing more, Sir. But I do want to bring some important things to your notice. Tinu needs a proper birth certificate. I think the people who had previously adopted him had prepared some kind of a gazette as proof of his bi...