Only the timid and the weak leave things to destiny but the strong and the self-confident never bank on destiny or luck.

Afternoon had set in. The bell rang and the students ran out of the classrooms, their bags bouncing on their backs as they ran home, happily. Some students walked out slowly, in groups, giggling with each other. Somu, along with Sumit and Inder, walked out giggling.

"Somu, don't you think Radha ma'am punished you for no reason."

"No. It was my fault. I should have carried an extra pen." Somu said innocently, kicking a small pebble. The trio stopped when they saw a lad, a beautiful lad, standing under the tree in front of the school.

Madhav leaned against the tree, a small smile on his lips as he watched a few squirrels play on the branches. He carried an air of gentleness that drew the boys towards him.

"Bhaiya!" Inder beamed.

"Hi Inder. How's Rama?"

"She's good bhaiya. But why did you leave that day? We wanted to give you a mango for helping us." He pout.

"Next time maybe." Madhav replied.

"Inder," Sumit tugged his shirt. "Who is he? How do you know him?"

"Last week, when Rama and I were plucking mangoes he helped us. But he ran away before we could share the mangoes with him."

"And his name?" Somu asked.

"My name is Madhav." He answered with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Somu. And you too, Sumit."

"You know our names?" Sumit gasped dramatically. Madhav smiled in reply.

"Madhav bhaiya, come to the main park today evening. We all will play together." Inder proposed.

"Sure. Can I get a friend?"

"Yes bhaiya!" Sumit smiled. "We need to leave now. If we don't reach home on time, we won't be allowed to play in the evening."

"Okay. But," Madhav pointed towards a dusty road, "take that path home."

"That road has no trees and is full of dust. And it's very hot today." Somu frowned.

"It won't be that hot. See, that rain clouds have started coming this way."

"But it's not yet rainy season." Inder said, the trio looking at the grey clouds.

"Inder, if you keep stalling time any longer," A mischievous smile curved on Madhav's lips, "Rama will eat all your sweets."

"No!" He cried, running up the dusty path. Madhav chuckled, walking towards the school.

"All the student have gone home. Only the teachers and staff members are left." Sumit said.

"I am not here for a student. I'm here for my friend. She is lost." He replied softly.

"How can your friend be here and be lost at the same time?" Somu quizzed.

Madhav smiled. "Aren't you getting late now?"

Hearing this Somu and Sumit gasped, turned to their heels and ran up the same dusty path.

In a while, the teachers started pouring out of the school, exhausted and frustrated.

"I feel so bad for the student." A lady said.

"Exactly. I'm going to complain to the school board." A man said, putting a cheque in his bag carefully.

"What will they do? She has everyone's sympathy. Such a drama queen." The lady mumbled. Madhav laughed.

"What are you laughing at, young man?" The man asked grabbing everyone's attention.

"Mrs Mathur, you can't blame Radha for her behaviour." He let out a chuckle, and the teachers looked at him.

"What do you mean? Is it all my fault?" She asked, crushing the cheque in her hand.

"Calm down Mrs Mathur . That's your pay slip, not a random sheet of paper." He giggled.

"Oh no! What have I done?" She cried, trying to straighten the sheet.

"Ego is the creator of anger and the greatest cause of destruction. What is the reason of your ego? A decision once made in anger can never be made right again. Take control on your anger, for your soul is carrying the unwanted weight of your anger and your ego separates you from the Supreme God."

"Who are you? Why are you here?" A teacher asked politely.

Before he could say anything, Radha walked out of the school corridors and a smile appeared on his lips. "I'm here for my friend."

He walked towards Radha who looked at him in surprise. "Who are you?"

"Makhan Chor." He said softly, his voice creating a melody in the surrounding.

"Quite a strange name." She chuckled.

"But that's what you always called me." He said. Radha was astonished.

"Why are you here?" She put some distance between her and him.

"To take you back home, Radha."

"Urmilla sent you, right?" She asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

He just smiled.

"I have warned that little lady not to do anything like that. She is in great trouble today."

"She didn't do anything like that. I came here on my own because I couldn't bear the separation between us." He said and she looked at him. For once, Radha who had always seen hate for her in other's eyes, saw pure love in his eyes.

"Why did you let such an incident become a barrier in the love you have for me, Radha?" He asked, his smile fading away as sadness settled in his eyes.

"What do you mean? I don't know you. Then how can there be love between us?" She said, moving ahead.

"Radhe." He said and she froze in her place.

"Why are you letting pain come in between the love you have for me? It pains me to see you separated from me, not talking to me. If you don't talk to me, how will I reduce the pain in your heart?" He asked, walking upto her and looking at her in the eye.

"What do you mean? Do you know anything about me?" She moved back.

"Anything?" He smiled. "I know everything about you, even your first birth. How long do you think you can stay away from me, Radhe. "

"Don't act like you are God. You are just a young boy." She said and brushed past him, walking out of the school gate.

"Do you actually know everything?" The surprised teachers asked him.

"I know everything. Even the things you don't know about yourself and the things you don't tell anyone about."

"He must be joking." Mrs Mathur said, laughing.

"You all are teachers and teachers hold a place higher than God. You are supposed to enlighten children and not push them towards darkness for your personal desires. This is my final warning. If you don't change, you will be in trouble." He spoke to everyone, yet it sounded like he directed it towards someone.

He walked away towards Radha and caught up with her in a few steps.

"Why are you following me?" She asked, annoyed by his presence.

"I'm not following you. I'm going home." He smiled and held his flute to his lips and blew into it.

"Where do you live?" She asked, stopping in front of her house.

"I live in your heart, just like you live in mine." He spoke and Radha felt something in her heart. "I live everywhere and in everyone's heart just like they all do in mine." He added, smiling at her.

"You are just a seventeen or eighteen year old boy. Yet, you speak like you are the one who created this Universe, as if you are God." She said and walked into her house.

He just laughed and walked in behind her.