Once upon a time, there lived a family consisting of a father, mother, grandmother, grandfather, and a 17-year-old boy named Koushik. They lived happily in a town. The father owned a supermarket and also dabbled in real estate, with 19 acres of land and six flats, each measuring 40 by 40 square feet. The family enjoyed a peaceful and contented life.
As April approached, so did Koushik’s birthday on the 19th. At midnight on his birthday, his friends arrived at his house and took him out for a surprise celebration. They brought a cake, and he cut it amidst cheers and laughter. Playful as they were, his friends held him down and gave him light-hearted birthday punches, causing a bit of pain but nothing serious. They partied until morning.
Meanwhile, his parents grew anxious at home as he hadn’t answered their calls, having left his phone behind. He finally returned around 10:00 a.m., and as he approached the house, a girl at the entrance greeted him with a handshake, wishing him a happy birthday and saying, “May your life be filled with prosperity.” Slightly puzzled, he thanked her, and she left.
Curious about the girl, Koushik asked his mother, “Who was she?” His mother, though more concerned about where he had been, explained that the girl’s family had recently moved into a flat on the first floor, and she had mentioned to them that it was his birthday. Relieved, he nodded, took a long shower, and got ready to meet his friends.
Koushik was in his second year of intermediate studies, attending school as a day scholar. Coincidentally, the girl, named Vani, was in her first year at the same college. His parents insisted that he accompany her to college since she didn’t have a bicycle. Though he initially resisted, he eventually agreed. Previously, he used to leave with his friends at 8:30 a.m., but now he had to leave by 8:00 a.m. to walk with her, and his friends stopped joining him due to his changed schedule.
For the next 18 days, they walked together to college. Vani often initiated conversation, while Koushik would reply with short answers. At college, seniors sometimes engaged in light-hearted teasing of the juniors. One day, as they arrived, a few seniors began teasing Vani. Observing this, Koushik joined in, playfully teasing her, which left her shocked. She laughed in surprise, saying, “You finally spoke to me like this!”
Their classmates, curious, asked Koushik about their relationship. He replied, “She’s a girl who just moved to the first floor of our house. We go to college together because of our parents.” When his friends asked why he was teasing her, he joked, “She talks non-stop, like a speaker.” Unbeknownst to him, Vani overheard this comment and quietly headed to class. After classes, she returned home without mentioning it.
The next morning, Vani walked silently beside him to college without saying a word. This continued for two days. Feeling guilty about his comment, he finally apologized. Though she initially brushed it off, refusing to accept, he kept apologizing, and eventually, she smiled and accepted. From then on, they resumed their friendly conversations.
A few days later, Koushik fell ill with typhoid and was confined to bed. Left to go to college alone, Vani walked each day until her father noticed. Concerned, he bought her a Ladybird bicycle.
One evening, Vani visited Koushik’s home with notes for him. She greeted his mother, saying, “Aunty, I brought his class notes.” His mother, touched by her thoughtfulness, replied, “Thank you, dear. He’s in his room. Could you please go in and talk to him? He’s been a bit down.”
Vani agreed, entered his room, and greeted him cheerfully. Surprised but happy, he invited her to sit. “What brings you here?” he asked.
She smiled and said, “Thank you,” which puzzled him.
“Thank you? For what?” he asked.
She laughed and explained, “Because of you, my father bought me a bicycle so I wouldn’t have to walk alone. So, thanks to you, I have my own ride now!” They both laughed, and the cheerful exchange lifted his spirits. His mother noticed them laughing, brought in a tray with dry fruits, a boost drink for him, and a milkshake for her.
Gradually, he recovered, and after a few days, he was back to his routine. They began riding to college together on their bicycles. One day, however, Vani fell off her bike at college and injured her hand and ankle. Koushik rushed to her side, asking, “Are you okay?” as he helped lift her bicycle. Then, supporting her wrist to help her walk, he looked into her eyes, which were filled with a mix of concern and kindness. She reassured him, “I’m okay.” He let go, but she stumbled again, saying, “Who said you could let go of my hand?”
Surprised, he replied, “You said you were fine!” She laughed, admitting she just didn’t want him to feel sorry for her. He helped her the rest of the way home, where she asked him not to tell her parents. However, later that day, he informed her mother, who scolded her for not telling about her injury. Seeing this, Koushik couldn’t help but laugh, which only earned him a playful chase from Vani the next day. As they ran, he slipped in the mud, and she laughed at his expense.
They returned home, and his mother, seeing him covered in mud, jokingly asked, “Did you go to bathe the buffaloes?” Everyone laughed, but he only saw Vani’s joyful eyes, filled with warmth and love. Later that night, unable to sleep, he went outside to the garden. Looking up, he saw her on the terrace. They spoke softly, sharing stories until 3 a.m., both feeling a deeper connection that neither had realized before.
The next morning, they left for college, and a few days later, they got Dusshera holidays. Vani went to her grandparents' house for the festival, something Koushik overheard from his mother. Though he tried to hide it, he felt downcast. When she left, he realized how much he missed her and couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness.
At her grandparents’ house, Vani too found herself missing him, even calling out to him by mistake. Realizing she couldn’t ignore her feelings, she returned as soon as the holidays were over, surprising him by arriving back at college sooner than expected.
Both of them, unsure of what they felt, continued their routine but with a new warmth. And over time, their bond deepened, unspoken but understood.
TO BE CONTINUED
