FRIENDSHIP TRACK

- 9/8/24

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Vansh Rai Singhania.

A child born with a silver spoon. The only heir to the Rai Singhania Industries. Raised in the confines of his house with love, money and pampering, Vansh grew up to be a timid yet intelligent boy.

His life was perfect in almost all aspects. Loving parents and grandparents, servants and bodyguards to serve him, best tutors of the world as his teachers, and unlimited wealth to fulfill all his wishes and whims.

And six months ago, his perfect life disappeared. A car accident took it away. Took away his parents, his grandparents, his cage. All at the age of six.

Time flew by in a blur for Vansh. The funerals. His father's younger sister, Anupriya was granted his guardianship. She lived in a far away corner of the city. Vansh left behind his house and it's management to Rudra, his family's trusted. His son, Angre was Vansh's best friend.

Vansh came back to reality when he saw her — Mayura. The daughter of Anupriya's secretary, Sakshi. After being bullied by Kabir, his cousin and his friends, Vansh ran away into the depths of the garden.

"Did you get lost?" She asked, sitting in front of him.

Vansh stared at her with tear filled eyes. He hiccuped, crying again. Mayura immediately shifted beside him.

"Hey! Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Did I scare you?" She panicked. Vansh held her hands tightly, crying. "Home. I want to go back home."

"Do you mean that house?" She asked, pointing towards his aunt's mansion. Vansh shook his head. "That's not my home."

"Where is your home?" She asked softly, wiping his tears away.

Vansh hiccuped, taking in a deep breath. "It's far away. My home is very big and bright. Mumma-Papa, Dadu-Dadi and I used to spend lots of time together."

"Where are your mumma..." Mayura paused.

'He lost his parents and grandparents. So he's moving in with his aunt.' She remembered her mother saying. Letting out a breath, she pat his head.

"There's a big boy there. Kabir." Vansh said, quietly pointing towards the mansion. "He and his friends said bad things to me. Very bad things. He even hit me."

Since Vansh didn't spend much time running around, his physical growth was slow compared to his peers. Which is why he assumed Kabir to be older than him even though they were of the same age.

"They are all idiots. Don't listen to them, Vansh!" She said kindly, patting his cheek. But her eyes were burning in anger. And Vansh could tell that it wasn't directed towards him.

"You... you know my name?" He asked, surprised. His stomach grumbled loudly, embarrassing him.

"Yes." She smiled. Opening her bag, she pulled out a cream bun and handed it to him. "Have this. Then I'll take you to my home."

Dusting his clothes, Vansh took the bun and sat on a bench near by. After taking a bite, he asked her in a timid voice. "What is your name?"

"My name is Mayura Malhotra." She smiled, "I'm seven years old."

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Malhotra! My name is Vansh Rai Singhania, and I am six years old." Vansh introduced. Mayura giggled, "The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Rai Singhania."

Vansh smiled, a faint blush of happiness coating his cheeks. He ate the bun in silence; the cream coating his lips.

"I live there." She pointed towards the other building. "My mumma works for Anupriya aunty. She comes home only on Sunday, for one hour. If we go with that, that building is my home."

Grinning, she looked at him. "And because you're my friend, you can come to my home anytime you want."

Licking the cream off his fingers, Vansh looked at her with his eyes sparkling in curiosity. "We're friends? Really? Really? Really? Really?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" She nodded. Jumping off the bench, she held her hand out for him. "Come, I'll take you home. It's night. Everyone must be worried about you."

"Can I go to your home, Mayu?"

"What did you say?" She asked, unintentionally glaring at him.

"Can... I go to... your home?" He shuddered.

"No. After that."

"Mayu," he whispered.

Mayura stared at him with sparkly eyes. "You've given me a nickname. Now we're best friends! But wait, I should also give you a nickname also. What should I call you?"

Mayura tapped her finger against her cheek, thinking deeply. Vansh stared at her in wonder. "I got it! I'll call you softie."

"Softie?"

"Yes. Because your cheeks are soft, like ice cream. My favourite!" She giggled, poking his cheek. Vansh blushed.

"Ok." He whispered. Holding his hand, Mayura dragged him to her house.

It was the start of his new life.

:::

"Vansh," she called him. Her little hands rested on her waist, an expression of anger appearing on her face.

"Mayura," he sniffed, looking up at her. Wiping away his tears, he held his hands out for her. Holding his hands, Mayura pulled him out of the ditch. Vansh hugged her tightly, crying and trembling over her shoulder.

She hugged him back tightly, caressing his hair. "You're safe now, Vansh."

"Mayu," he wailed. "Kabir... his friends... I was so scared."

Pulling back, Mayura glared harshly. She clenched her fists hard. "I'm gonna beat them to a pulp." She raged. Vansh could see the fire in her eyes, feeling amazed at her courage.

"Mayu, suno," Vansh meekly tugged at her shirt. "Tumhe Kabir se Darr nahi lagta hai?"

"Nahi."

"Bilkul bhi nahi?"

"Thoda sa bhi nahi." She said proudly. She rolled up her sleeves. "Softie, tum mere saath chaloge?"

"Kahan?"

"Kabir ki pitai karne."

"Tum akele nahi ja sakti? Darr lagta hai?" He teased.

"Nahi. Mujhse darr nahi lagta, bas woh gate par teen bade uncles hote hai joh Kabir ko mujhse dur rakhte hai."

"Theek hai." He giggled. "Chalo, darpok... ah!"

"Kya hua? Chot lagi?" She asked, examining him from head to toe.

"Ankle. My ankle hurts." He sniffed. Mayura bent down, checking his ankle. "It's swollen. Can you walk?"

"Nahi!" He hiccuped. Scratching her head, Mayura turned around, her back facing him. "Get on my back. Mein tumhe aapne ghar le jaungi aur tumhare chot par dawai lagaungi."

"I am too heavy, Mayu." He said meekly. "I... I'll walk... with your support."

"Softie, aisa kuch nahi hai. Aao, jaldi."

"Par..."

"Par war kuch nahi. Tum theek karne ke baad mujhe Kabir ki pitai bhi karni hai. Jaldi karo!"

Reluctantly, Vansh got on her back. Taking a deep breath, she got up. She almost lost her balance, but slowly and steadily, she started walking towards her home.

"Mayu, you'll be my best friend forever, na?" He asked innocently.

"Yes."

Vansh held her tightly, resting easy on her back. "I got the first rank in my school. I scored 100 in all subjects."

"I got the 15th place." She giggled.

"Humne saath mein padhai kiya, phir bhi tumhare marks kam kyun?" He scolded.

"Kyunki mujhe bukhar hua tha exams ke wakt. Bhool gaye?"

"Mujhe bhi tha. Phir bhi mere full marks aaye. Bahane mat banao."

"Tumhari tarah ek genius nahi hoon mein. Mujhe padhai se zyada khelne mein interest hai."

"Woh toh mujhe bhi hai."

"Tumhe sirf chess khelna pasand hai."

"Toh? Woh bhi ek sport hai." He said proudly.

Mayura kicked the door open and made Vansh sit on her bed. She took the medical kit and the ice pack from the kitchen.

Vansh stared at her from the bed, his legs dangling on the edge. Taking off his shoe and sock, she wrapped the ice pack around his ankle. Opening the kit, she took out the antiseptic and cotton, nursing his bruises.

"Aaj lunch mein kya hai?" He asked, rubbing his stomach.

"Karela." She said stiffly.

"Karela. Nahi!" He whined. "Kuch aur nahi hai?"

"Nahi," she said, controlling her giggle.

"Arre yaar! Mene socha tha khane ke baad rasmalai khayenge. Par lagta hai abh andar jaakar khaana hoga." He said sadly, shaking his head.

"Hai na! Mujhe abhi yaad aaya! Karela toh parso khatam ho gaya tha. Aaj toh rajma chawal hai." She reverted, her mouth watering at the thought of the dessert.

"Tumne banaya?"

"Aur kaun hoga?" She grinned, putting away the medical kit. "Abh tum idhar ruko. Mein khana garam karti hoon."

Vansh lay on the bed, burying his face in the teddy bear that was next to him. "I also want to be strong. Like Mayu. Even more than her." He mumbled.

Vansh remembered all the times Mayura came to his rescue, standing up against Kabir and his friends. She acted like his shield. She felt like a family to him, and sometimes, even reminded him of Angre.

Bored, he placed the teddy next to him and started talking to it. "You know, teddy. Anu aunty doesn't believe that Kabir is wrong. She and Sakshi always scold Mayu, because, in their words, she's too wild for a girl.

But that's not true. Mayu is always protecting me. Sakshi doesn't even care about her daughter. She is busy working for aunty and yet she says bad things to Mayu. She doesn't know how cool, strong and amazing Mayu is. She is not a good mumma." He growled. "I will grow up and become strong and protect Mayu."

"Kisse baat kar rahe ho?" Mayura asked, putting two plates on the table.

"Iss bandar se." He said, punching the bear in the stomach.

"Ah!" She cried dramatically, taking the bear away. "Uss bechare ko kyun maara? Accha chodo, khana tyaar hai. Tum aaram se baith jao."

"Jaldi lao. Mere pet mein gud gud ho raha hai." He grinned, rubbing his hands together.

"Haww! Shayad tumhara pet kharab hai. Ruko, mein tumhare liye khichdi banati hoon."

"Arre nahi, buddhu! Bhook ki wajah se gud gud kar raha hai." He frowned cutely. Mayura giggled. Vansh sat himself on the chair. He poured two glasses of water.

Their lunch was filled with giggles and smiles. Putting away the dishes, Mayura got some chocolate from the fridge to share with Vansh.

"Mayu, mene soch liya hai!" Vansh declared. His mouth and fingers were covered in chocolate. Grabbing the wet towel, Mayura wiped away the chocolate. "Mene bhi kuch socha hai."

"Pehle tum," they chorused. Vansh narrowed his gaze, a dominating aura surrounding him. "Boss mein hoon toh meri baat maano tum. Pehle tum bolo."

"Mein tumhe," she broke out into a full fledged grin, "ladna sikhaungi. Phir woh duffers tumhe kabhi pareshan nahi karenge."

Vansh placed his palm under his chin, lost in thought. "Abh tum batao. Kya soch rahe the?" Mayura shook with impatience.

"Main bhi vahi soch raha tha. Tum mujhe ladna sikha do." He smiled innocently.

"Kal subah, paanch baje mujhe garden mein milna."

Vansh yawned, lying down on the bed and closed his eyes. "Dekhte hai."

"Der se aaye toh punishment milegi."

"Dekh lenge." He grinned.

• TO BE CONTINUED •