“Vrinda, jaldi tayaar ho ja, class jana hai!” Sharvari called to her daughter.

“Haan, abhi ho jati hoon, Mummy,” Vrinda replied.

As she got ready and stood at the gate of the tuition center, she saw Akshat and Isha entering.

“Akshat, Isha!” Vrinda shouted, catching their attention.

“Hey Vrinda!” they said together.

Akshat and Isha were Vrinda’s best friends from her class.

As they proceeded to the class and took their seats, Vrinda sat beside Isha while Akshat joined his friends. The teacher entered and was about to start the class but first announced, “There is a new student in our tuition. Let him introduce himself to you all.”

A boy stood from his seat, about to speak. Vrinda, busy talking with Isha, was ignoring the introduction.

“Hi everyone, I am Anish,” said the new boy.

Vrinda’s eyes widened as she heard his name. She touched her necklace and whispered, “Kanha, yeh toh yaha bhi aa gaye. Ab hum kya karenge?” feeling a bit tense and nervous.

Isha heard Vrinda’s whisper. “Yeh tum kya bol rahi ho?” Isha questioned.

“Woh hamare school mein hai,” Vrinda answered.

“Toh? Isme konsi badi baat hai?” Isha questioned again.

The teacher began teaching the lesson.

“Woh, mai tumhe class khatam hone ke baad bataungi. Abhi lesson pe focus karte hai,” Vrinda said.

“Accha, thik hai,” Isha responded.

After the class ended, Vrinda spoke with Isha. “Woh… actually, woh hamare class mein hai aur…”

“Aur kya?” Isha asked.

“Jab bhi hum unki taraf dekhte hain, toh humari heartbeats fast ho jaati hain… Yeh hamne Vaidehi se kaha, toh woh keh rahi hai ki hame unse pyaar ho gaya hai,” Vrinda said, feeling nervous.

“Haan, toh sahi hi toh bol rahi hai,” Isha said, getting excited.

“Tum samajhte hi nahi ho. Aisa nahi hai,” Vrinda said, dampening Isha’s excitement.

“Par kyun?” Isha interrogated.

“Hum abhi apni feelings ko lekar sure nahi hain aur ek din mein pyaar thodi hota hai,” Vrinda said.

“Achha, thik hai, koi baat nahi,” Isha added.

Just then, Akshat arrived and introduced Anish to Vrinda and Isha. “He’s my new friend. Meet him, Anish,” Akshat said.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” Anish added.

“Hey, I’m Isha,” Isha said to Anish.

“Aur yeh Vrinda hai,” Akshat added.

“Haan, hum ek dusre ko jante hain,” Anish said, leaving Akshat surprised.

“Kaise?” Akshat interrogated.

“Arey, yeh dono ek hi school mein hain,” Isha said.

“Toh tumhe bhi pata tha? Yeh mai hi kyun nahi janta?” Akshat said, a bit disappointed.

“Ab jante ho na. Aur isme itna naraz hone wali konsi baat hai,” Isha added.

“Tum dono mujhe apna best friend mante hi nahi ho,” Akshat added dramatically.

“Nautanki band karo apni,” Isha said to Akshat.

The four of them started laughing together and then went home.

“Vrinda, sun, tujhe kuch batana hai,” Sharvari called out, searching for Vrinda.

“Haan, bolo na, Mummy,” Vrinda said, standing in front of her mother.

“Hame next week ek function ke liye jana hai. School mein leave letter de dena, yaad se dena. Bhulna mat,” Sharvari said.

“Kaisa function hai, Mummy?” Vrinda asked curiously.

“Tumhare cousin Sakshi ki marriage hai, toh hum 4-5 din ke liye jaa rahe hain Jaipur,” Sharvari answered.

“Arey, Mummy, mai toh bhul hi gayi thi,” Vrinda said, biting her tongue.

“Aise hi leave letter dena mat bhulna school mein,” Sharvari taunted Vrinda.

“Arey, Mummy, nahi bhulungi,” Vrinda said confidently. “Mummy, mujhe padhne jana hai, toh mai apne room mein ja rahi hoon.”

As she sat at her study table, she first prayed to the idol of RadhaKrishna and then started her studies. After finishing, she got up from her desk. “Aaj toh bahot thak gaye hain hum,” she said tiredly.

As she was about to fall on her bed, her mother called her for lunch. “Koi na, chalo khana khane ke baad so jayenge,” she murmured to herself.

At the dining table, Sharad asked, “Kaisa tha tumhara din?”

“Accha tha, Pappa,” Vrinda answered. “Aaj hum bahut thak gaye hain,” she added.

“Koi baat nahi beta, khana kha ke so jao,” Sharvari said.

“Haan, Mummy,” Vrinda said.

After dinner, Sharad said to Sharvari and Vrinda, “Tumhe agar Sakshi ke shaadi ke liye kuch lena hai toh le lo.”

“Papa, mujhe ek dress chahiye. Mere paas jyada dresses nahi hain,” Vrinda said.

“Itne kapde toh hain tumhare paas. Aur kyun chahiye? Unme se hi pehen lo,” Sharvari added.

“Use lena hai toh lene do. Koi baat nahi,” Sharad said to Sharvari.

“Accha thik hai,” Sharvari agreed.

“Kal Sunday hai, toh mai apne friends se puch leti hoon aur hum teeno shopping ke liye jate hain,” Vrinda said.

“Accha thik hai, beta,” Sharvari and Sharad said.

As they went to their respective rooms, Vrinda picked up her phone and messaged her group with Vaidehi and Isha.

“Hii,” Vrinda typed.

“Heyy,” Vaidehi replied.

“Kya kar rahi ho?” Vrinda typed.

“Kuch nahi… Tum?” Vaidehi replied.

“Kuch nahi…” Vrinda said.

Just then, Isha joined them. “Hey…” Isha typed.

“Kya kal tum dono free ho?” Vrinda asked.

“Mai toh free hoon,” Isha typed.

“Mai shaam ko free hoon. Morning mein family ke saath temple ja rahi hoon,” Vaidehi said.

“Toh kal shaam ko shopping ke liye chalte hain hum teeno,” Vrinda said.

“Haan,” Vaidehi said.

“Let’s go,” Isha typed.

“Toh tum mere ghar aa jao. Yaha se teeno milkar chalte hain,” Vrinda added.

“Okk,” Isha typed.

“Yes,” Vaidehi added.

“Humein bahot neend aa rahi hai. Hum sone ja rahe hain. Kal milte hain,” Vrinda said.

“Ok, good night 🌃🌃,” Isha typed.

“Good night,” Vaidehi said.

Vrinda prayed to the idol of RadhaKrishna and slept.