17

June 28, 2023

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 physically from her has been difficult. After that incident, many times, Kiddo would try to hold my hand while walking, like she always used to do. I would gently let go of her hand within few seconds of her holding it. She never questioned me about it but it was painful for me to do that.

I get up from the bed with a sigh. There is no point in getting all melancholic about Kiddo leaving for another country. I have lot of work to do with regards to Abhimanyu. To start with, I need to check whether he can get admission in a school, given his very basic knowledge. If not in any physical school, I am planning to get him homeschooled either online or by arranging for some teacher to come home to teach him. At least till he catches up with the knowledge of the first five years of schooling.

I take a bath and when I come out of the bathroom, I see Abhimanyu sitting on the bed with one of the drawing books that Kiddo gave him.

“Good morning, Abhimanyu.” I smile at him, feeling excited about the prospect of spending an entire day with him. Already he looks like a different kid in the new clothes that he is wearing.

“Good morning. I had breakfast. Daadi gave me parathas.” He displays four fingers with his right hand while he lightly rubs his stomach with the left. I can’t help laughing.

“You are okay today.” Abhimanyu says, looking at me seriously. “You were sad last night. I thought maybe you are already regretting bringing me here.”

It takes me only four large steps to be with him. I mentally slap myself for letting my emotions take over on the very day that Abhimanyu came home. It is totally my fault the child feels this way.

“No way, Champ.” I hold his shoulders and look at him, hoping he can see that I am being honest. “You are the best thing that has happened to me. I promise you that I will never let go of you.”

He nods his head but there is something very defeated about his gesture, as if he cannot completely trust that he would not be returned to the orphanage.

“Actually I was sad because Shreya will be leaving the country soon. She has got some work abroad. She would not be here for six months. This will be the longest time that I would not be seeing her. The news was unexpected and it made me sad.” I tell him.

He looks at me thoughtfully. “Is she your girlfriend?”

I chuckle. Oh to be so young, innocent and so frank! “She is the only friend I am in touch with. We both sort of grew up together. I was your age when she was born.” I look around the room, feeling nostalgic. “She grew up here, you know. She spent most of her days in this house with all of us. She is a member of this family.” I ruffle his hair. “She is not my girlfriend.”

He tilts his head in confusion. “Could have fooled me. When you are both together, it looks like you are boyfriend-girlfriend.”

I shake my head and laugh at his response. As I comb my hair, I think about what Abhimanyu said. Whatever gave him the idea that I and Kiddo look like 'boyfriend-girlfriend'!?

Read The Next Part Here!