"Aarohi bitiya!" I heard our school guard uncle call my name. "Han uncle." "Woh aapke papa ka call aya hai." He handed me his phone.

(Your dad is on the other side of the call.)

"Han papa boliye." I said when I heard a 'hello' from dad's side. "Aaj jaldi chutti hui tumhari?" He asked. "Han papa, woh na teachers aur bohot saare students absent thee toh chutti kardi humari." I replied and heard a low hum from his side.

(Did your school hour ended early today?

Yes dad, many teachers and students were absent today.)

"Is Choti there with you as well?" He inquired further. "No, they will have their classes as scheduled as some guest teachers have come this week. Koi tension?" My spidey senses tingle.

"Well yes, I was busy in a surgery and I got free just now. And I highly doubt if I'll be able to reach your school early." He uttered sadly as he had promised in the morning that he would take me to this one 'Book café' that I liked.

"It's okay papa, I'll manage. And we will go to that café some other day, okay? Now cheer up, young man!" I heard him chukle, he said he will be there when I reach home as his hospital was nearby and asked me to come home safely. I affirmed and passed the phone to the guard uncle, thanking him.

'Bol toh diya k aa jaungi, par Yuku toh aayi nahi. Abb ghar kaise jaun?'

(How will I go home now, even Yuku is absent today?)

I searched for cabs and tuk-tuk nearby but there was no sign of them.

Quote of the day: Waqt aane par koi bhi chiz time pe milti he nai.

'Radha rani kuch kariye, apni bachhi ko koi toh rasta dikhayiye.' I prayed with my eyes closed and hands joined.

(Radha Rani please help your child.)

-beep beep- a horn?

I opened my eyes only to find Akshit with a 'blessing hand' pose in a tuk-tuk.

'Mazak kar rahe ho na mere saath?' I thought to myself looking at the sky, unable to believe that Akshit was really infront of me.

(You are kidding with me right?)

-beep beep- again the horn goes off.

"All good Ms. Govind?" He asked. "Han! Han? Han. all- all good." I sttutered. 'Inke samne meri zuban kyun mera saath nahi deti.'

(Why do I always sttuter infront of him?)

[Shi: ahem -inke- ahem

Aaru: abb hone wale pati ko ijjat toh dena padega na. Hehe

Sushi: delulu is her sololu.]

"Doesn't seem so, kisika wait kar rahi hain aap?" "Umm, actually- aaj na papa lene aane wale thee but kuch kaam ki wajah se late ho jayega. And gharpe bhi koi nahi hain jo mujhe lene aa sake so I was looking for a tuk tuk." I stated.

(...are you waiting for someone?

...today dad had to pick me up but he got busy in some work so he will be late. And there's no one at home who can pick me so....)

"Waise main aapke ghar ki taraf he jaa raha tha as I have to visit one of my relative there. So if you don't mind, you may-" he moved aside to make enough space for me to sit which was an offer to hop in so that he could drop me home. I thought and thought and thought.

(I was actually going towards the direction of your home...)

"Zyada matt sochiye warna itna pyaara offer miss ho jayega." he added "please chaliye." This time with an innocent puppy face. 'Hayee, abb koi kaise he mana kare.' I squealed internally.

(Don't think much or else uou will miss such a lovely offer)

"Umm.. ok but I owe you this favour, so in return ask me whenever you need any help okay?" I took the seat beside him when I heard him reply "sure ma'am" and we head towards my home.

"Waise, black or purple?" "Huh?" I was puzzled at his question as we stopped at a red signal. "Just choose one, quickly." "Umm, ok, purple!" As soon as the word left my mouth I heard him calling a boy who was selling something. "Bhai, woh purple wala bracelet dena." he said but the kid handed him both black and purple bracelet saying it's a paired one.

"Ohh, thik hai." Akshit handed him money and also asked if he was studying well or not to which the boy replied "Han bhaiya, aapne jo books diye thee woh bohot kaam aate hain." He smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Yeh lijiye Ms. Govind." He handed me the packet of bracelet. "Iski kya zaroorat thi, tum already meri help kar rahe thee aur abb yeh!" I semi-shouted, almost sounding mad when uncle started the vehicle. In reply he just chuckled.

"Stop laughing okay. Waise, how long did you know that kid?" I questioned as they both seemed to know each other well. "Hmm, few days after I shifted here 2 years back I got to know him. He is the son of our house help and a very bright kid indeed. Aapko pata hai, he had came to my house one day and I taught him some math ka formula and next moment when I was solving a question he answered within a few seconds. And I was amazed to find that it was actually correct. So I decided to teach him there after." He said with a proud smile.

'1. He is good at academics.
2. He makes good food.
3. He respects everyone. (except some annoying birds like- nvm)
4. He helps other.
5. He is a gentleman.
Aur kya he chaheye? Hayee.' I shyed at my own thoughts as we reached my home.

"Ms. Govind, the gate is locked." He said as I got off the tuk-tuk. "Don't worry dad's hospital is nearby so I'll just walk there and get the keys. Anyways, thank you so much for the help." he reciprocated the smile and replied with a warm welcome.

"Here's the fare uncle." I passed the money when I heard my dad's voice from behind. "Sorry beta I'm a little late." He came over and handed me a box full of chocolate as an 'apology gift'. I chuckled at his behavior and introduced him to Akshit as he was still looking at our father-daughter cute banter.

"Dad, this is Akshit, my friend. He dropped me home as Yuku was absent today." I mentioned as Akshit was now out of tuk tuk standing by my side a foot or 2 apart.

But dad was lost in his own thoughts. "What happened papa?" "He just looks very familiar." "What's your full name young man?" he added. "It's Akshit Choudhary, sir." He replied. "And may I assume your father's name is Dr. Sandeep Choudhary?" We both were taken aback.

"How do you know his father's name papa?" I asked. "For that, first you have to come inside." He said, opening the lock. Akshit hesitated a bit but had to go when papa put a hand around his shoulder leading him inside. And I was left alone.

'Yeh abhi abhi kya hua yahan?' I sighed and headed inside not before paying Akshit's fare to uncle as , closing the door behind.

He make Akshit sit on the sofa and headed towards his room. Minutes later he came with a blue box. I then headed to my room to get changed. "Aarohi, come and see how great our friendship was!" I heard dad's faint voice as I was getting fresh in my bathroom.

'Wait a minute- 'our friendship' does that mean...?' the thought clicked my mind as I weared a loose t-shirt and comfy sweatpants. Abb yeh matt kehna crush ghar pe hai aur jhalle kapde pehen rahi hai. Crush hai toh kya hua yarr! Pasand karna hoga toh comfy clothes mein bhi kar lega.

"Look, here we had our first surgical lesson on a cadaver and I kid you not beta Sandeep and I almost fainted when the scapel was handed to us." I heard my father's faith voice yet once again when I was combing my hair into a messy bun.

"Mujhe bhi dekhna hai!" I sat on the right of my father on the sofa as Akshit was sitting on his left.

"Here, it was our 1st fest and our friends had mixed alcohol in our soft drinks resulting us to dance, sing and yell like complete idiots." After a long time I heard my father laugh so heartily. It was not like he smiled or laughed less but these few days he always used to stay stressed all the time.

Dad continued with his great skill of storytelling and surprisingly Akshit was smiling and talking along too, but then I remembered that Akshit hadn't informed her mother about him being here. She must be worrying about him. "Akshit have you informed aunty that you are here?" I interrupted. "Oh right. Uncle may I make a call to my mother?" He asked dad politely. "Of course, you can beta." Papa handed him the phone.

"Maa, Akshit here! I'm at my friend's house right now." I spoke as I excused myself to have a conversation with my amma. "Achha, Manav k ghar par he hoga hai na?" Maa asked. "Nahi woh-"

(Oh you must be at Manav's home then?)

'Agar Ms. Govind ka naam liya toh fir taang khichengi amma.' Before I could make up an excuse, "Meri bahu k ghar par hai kya? Mhmm, baat toh karwade at least!" She uttered excitedly.

(Are you at my daughter-in-law's house? Mhmm, let me speak to her at least!)

"Bahu nahi hai yarr, kuch bhi bolte rehte ho aap." I explained everything to her and she quickly recognised when I mentioned Abhinav uncle's name.

(She's not your daughter-in-law)

Uncle came over and asked me if he could had a talk with maa. I handed him his phone and sat on the sofa quitely.

"Namaste bhabhi, it's Abhinav Govind this side ." "Dekhiye na bhabhi ji, itne barson baad bacho k zariye baat ho rahi hai." "Ji ji, aur Sandeep?" "Achha, han yeh job aisa he hai abb kya he kar sakte hain." "Thik hai bhabhi, namaste namaste." All these were uncle words while talking to maa. Before he could join me he received another call and he went out to attend it.

(.... How amusing it is that after so many years we are able to talk because of kids.
How is Sandeep doing?
Ok, yes the job demands so bhabhi, what can we do.
...)

'Where's Ms. Govind?' I searched for her with my gaze but she was nowhere to be seen. My eyes then landed on a picture book where her name was imprinted. 'Dekhu ya nahi? Dekh he leta hun.' I contemplated a little but ended up opening it.

(Should I see or not? Let's just see it.)

It was her birthday book I supposed as in the first few pictures her 1st birthday party decorations, cake and a small Ms. Govind was captured. I observed her chubby cheeks as she looked adorable while eating the cake frosting and then my focus drew to the date which was 07 April 2008.

But wait, if she turned 1 year old on that day that means her birthday is on 07 April 2007. 'Ms. Govind is older than me?'

"Hey there!" She peeped. "Oh yeh! This is my 1st birthday ka picture. You will only see pink and purple theme decor all over." She chuckled and handed me the glass of lemonade that she had just made. "Why have you gone so quit suddenly, is the lemonade that horrifying?" She asked as my mind was processing the new information.

"You are 2007 born?" I asked to which she replied with a nod saying yes. "When is your birthday?" She asked again. "Umm 27th August 2007." I replied.

"Aree, you are younger than me!?" She said amused. "It means in our group the oldie is Manav (16th Jan 2006) fir Yuku (03rd March 2007) fir main (07 April 2007) aur fir tum (27th Aug 2007) sabse chotte!" She concluded and I just nodded still digesting the fact that she is few months older than me.

'Whatever Akshit, why does it bothers you whether she is older or younger than you?'

No one's pov

"Main aaj ghar wapas aa raha hun." a voice said over phone.

(I'll return home today)

♡

Sushi's note: Hey readers, hope you liked and enjoyed this chapter! Also 2k reads purey hogye, yayyy~

'Aarohi Akshit se badi hai!?' Will this fact affect their new forming bond?

And yeh kon wapis aa raha hai?

To know that stay tuned and keep on voting and commenting. And don't forget to take care of yourself and drink loads of water. Stay protected from this hot hot garmi.

With love
《Radhe Radhe》