Note: Bani is human in this story while Veeranshu is a Cheel.

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A young girl aged five was running to her terrace. Her house was flooded with people and there were tears streaming down her eyes. She climbed up the flights of stairs with a helium balloon in her hands and her purple princess bag in another.

Reaching the terrace, she put a brick on the rope of the helium balloon. She wrote something on a piece of paper using her crayons and tied the letter to the balloon and released it into the air. Her small eyes kept following the balloon till it finally disappeared out of her vision. Wiping a tears and her head hung low, she went back downstairs.

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Outskirts of the city, a boy aged six was riding his bicycle. He parked it at his usual spot and made his way to the clearing. It was Veeranshu Singhania, the prince of the Cheels. It had been two years since he turned at the age four and came to that spot often to practise his flight. He turned into his Cheel roop with ease and began flying. He saw a red balloon stuck in a tree. He also noticed a small note attached to its rope.

This made him curious. He went and sat on the tree and turned human.

He opened the letter. It was written in colorful crayons and was neat.

It read-

'Dear Papa,

There are so many people in the house. You are not here. Aunt said you went to God. Are you there?

- Your Bani'

Veeranshu felt sad for this stranger. He himself had lost his mother last year and knew the pain too well. He wished he could meet this person. Maybe she needed a friend but he knew nothing about her. He stuffed the letter into his pocket and left, suddenly not feeling the desire to fly anymore.

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The next day, Veeranshu flew to his spot earlier than usual and began flying. He had studied the direction of the wind and it was the same today as well. It meant the direction the letter came in would be the same too. He started to fly in that direction and soon he saw the letter coming in. He looked down to spot who was the one who released the letter but the person probably lived further into the city as he couldn't see anyone there. He caught the string in his claws and went back to his clearing and opened the letter.

It read-

'Dear Papa,

Why have you not replied? Mumma also said you are with God. Why did you leave us? I miss you.

- Bani'

Veer stuffed the letter into his pocket and went back home, deep in thought.

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The third day Veeranshu went to the cleaning even earlier, in fact he was still in his school uniform. He was sure his dad will scold him once he goes back home for not having lunch and not changing but he didn't care. He will find this Bani today. He again flew towards the location where he had spotted the balloon before and started flying further into the city. Soon enough he saw a girl almost his age tying something to a bottom of the balloon of blue color and releasing it into the air. She lifted her head up and her bouncy waves rubbed against her soft cheeks. She tucked them behind her ears and her eyes began to follow the balloon.

Veer was mesmerized by how cute the girl was. He studied her while the girl looked towards the balloon. It disappeared out of her vision and she began to go downstairs. Veer then turned to find the balloon.

Veer was flying went he saw that the balloon was stuck on the terrace of a tall building. He was going towards it when he realized a young boy was trying to reach it with a stick. Veer felt possessive over the balloon and the letter attached to it. He went to the boy and started to scare him with his hoot. The boy started crying and ran away. Veer became happy and burst the balloon. He picked the letter up and flew back into his home. He opened the letter.

It read-

'Dear Papa,

Why are you not replying? Did you forget me and mumma? Do you love us no more? I won't write to you if you don't want but why do you not love me anymore papa? What did I do?

- Bani

Veer took a piece of paper and took out his pencil box.

V: (Thinks) Nahi, pencil se thodi likh skta hoon. Usse shaq hoga. Crayon se bhi nahi likh skta..

He sneaked into his father's study and took one of his pens and wrote a letter. He flew back to the girl's terrace and tucked it under the brick.

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The next day, Bani again reached the stairs with a yellow balloon. This was going to be her last letter but she had to say goodbye. She sat down and wrote the letter when she found something tucked under a brick. It was letter, addressed to her!

It read-

'Dear Bani,

Sorry, I had not reached God when your letter came. I got all yesterday. How are you? Take care of mom and yourself. Papa loves you.

Papa'

Bani was too overwhelmed. She started to cry and dance with joy. She rushed down to show it to her mother.

B: Maa! Mumma!! Dekho

Her mother was already busy and upset with the death of her husband and was worried what she will do now. She saw the letter and thought some relative must have done this to calm Bani's tears. However, she also saw it as false hope. She snatched the letter and tore it.

M: Koi letter nahi likha hai papa ne. Aur kl se koi balloon nahi milega. Roz panch rupay lekr bhaag jaati hai balloon lane...kl se koi balloon nahi dungi mai...ab jaa isse pehle mera haath uth jaye..

Bani started to cry and went back. She saw the yellow balloon was still tucked under the brick there. She wrote one more letter.

'Dear Papa,

This is my last letter. Mom will not give me anymore balloons so my letter will not fly to you. She says you are not writing but I love you papa and I know it is you. But why you call me Bani and not princess? Why leave me papa?

Take care for you when with God. Say Hi to God. I will come someday and play with you.

Bye, I love you

- Bani'

She attached her last letter and released it into the air. As usual, Veer was waiting. He took the letter and wrote a reply. He went back and kept it there.

The next day, Bani went back and saw the letter under a brick. She was happy.

'Dear Bani,

I am sorry Mumma won't buy you a balloon but don't worry. You can keep a letter under this brick and I will ask someone to take them. She is worried so not be angry with her. She loves you. I didn't call you princess because you are big girl now. You have to help your mother and be brave.

Papa loves you'

This was the best reply Veer could think of her questions but to Bani, this was everything her young heart hoped for. She took the letter and kept it in her pouch. She rushed downstairs and wrote another letter and tucked it under the brick. That night, Veer came there and picked the letter. He wrote a reply and left it under the same brick.

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Years flew by and this became a routine thing for Bani and Veer. They would occasionally skip a letter or two if they went out but always ended up falling back into the routine soon. With age, Bani's letter also became lengthier. She would write about everyday problems or if she did something new. Veer felt he knew her inside out now. One day, he opened the letter and what he read shocked him.

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To Be Continued

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This part focused more on how their connection formed in childhood and progressed into early teenage. The next part will focus more on them as teenagers and adults.