A BEAUTIFUL CHILDHOOD LOVE STORY

YEAR- 1994 A six year old kid living in police quarters is seen playing cricket... The ball he hits goes directly breaking the window pane of an adjoining house... A middle aged woman comes out scolding the kid, accusing him of ruining other kids' studies by forming a cricket team... The boy's mother comes to his rescue ... "Just leave him na, he is still a kid.." "He is still a kid (mocking her) does a kid who is six years old play cricket like this, and that too with such big boys... this is not at all considered as playing cricket, he only knows to break glasses of other's windows.." The woman glares at the boy and he hugs his mother. It's then he sees her for the first time.. As the mothers argue, the boy watches a girl, 4 year old, probably the daughter of the aunty who is scolding him standing beside her mother, holding her pallu. The girl gives a meek smile and he smiles back... PRESENT- Darsh smiles at the faint memory that keeps buzzing in his head... The girl was one of a kind... Sipping his drink, he slips into another memory... YEAR 1996- The same boy, now 8 years old, is as usual playing cricket... A group of boys of his age join him... It's basically 8 year olds team vs 14 yr olds… The girl now 6yrs old, is watching from her veranda... There is no special playground, but the boys loved playing in the small space b/w the quarters and the girl would watch them... The boy now hits the ball, attempts to run and as his legs give up, he falls short and is given a run out... The girl laughs at this... It's like watching one of her favourite cartoon characters slip and suffer a fall... It's fun but when the boy spots her, she is scared.. The boy marches towards her, anger burning his delicate eyes... "When someone gets hurt , then.. then you should not laugh at that person.." The girl blinks before running inside to call her mom... "Huhh scared cat…" he calls after her... Another chuckle escapes his lips; Darsh smiles adoring that memory... Those were the days when he thought of himself as an arrogant cop, like his dad... His smile turns into a laugh as he remembers how he terrified her that day... 1997, THE SAME YEAR IN THE SCHOOL The boy sees her in school... He turned 9 and is now under-10 school cricket captain.. The girl now seven; is more fearless n feisty... They never talk just glare at each other... He didn't like how she made fun of him... He knew her name, it was... (although he has forgotten now) she was his neighbour n he saw her in school yet they were never friends not till now... "My big brother will only win the match!" He hears her talk with her friends... "Arey but Darsh is the captain right..." 'Who that bear...?" Anger rages inside him as he overhears her... "Oyee you called whom as a bear...?' "Oho just see him... You are only that.. bear! Bear!" The girls laughed at this... It was recess and Friday- meaning only girls could use the school playground... 'Scared cat! How you became so daring.. just keep your mouth shut otherwise I will just break your head with this cricket ball.." The girl seems scared but then smirks... The boy turns around to bump into their PT sir... " Oh no I am dead.." "Darsh! don't you know boys can't come to the ground? Immediately come with me, and here you were scaring this innocent girl? now only I will punish you.." The teacher drags him off. "Huhh he came to threaten me now see his condition.." (the girl mocks him pulling her tongue out) He glares before leaving the place... THE NEXT DAY The girl suffers an injury during the match... Her brother sanjay, also in the boy's team has not taken part in the game... It's not Darsh who hit that girl, but the ball hit by someone else knocked her head... Something stirs in him as he sees her bloodied forehead... She is taken inside a class room for first aid n he follows her... "Oh big brooo.. this wound is paining very much…" the girl cries... "This girl's brother didn't come to school today..." One of the teachers says... "And both her father is busy with their duty, and her mother is taking care of her brother as he is sick.." "Does she have any friends..? who stays near her house, who can also drop her home...?" Something compells the boy to stand up... "Teacher I will take her home .." The girl still cries… "I don't want to go with this bear... I want to go with my brother.." The boy goes to hold her hand... "You don't worry little cat.. I am there for you.." The girl looks up at his familiar face... She stops crying and after dressing her wounds n much prodding she's ready to go with him... "Thank you Bear.." He smiles at her as he drops her off at her home... The walk to their home was peaceful... "My friends call me Dusht , my name is Darsh.." She smiles at this... "You are very good Darsh.." Her mum joins her and thanks him.. As he leaves the place, he is sure he'd never forget her innocent face and the smile that she gave him... The girl isn't bad… YEAR-2000 Bear and Cat, the best friends… their friendship was an instant hit... Ever since he helped her that day, they had started talking, going to school together, eating lunch, sharing stuff… Hell he even invited her to join his cricket team even though other boys protested... "This girl will not play with us..' "Why can't she play with us...? why is it like this...?" "Yaar because she is a girl… and we are a boy's team" "So?" "Yar let's end this thing here, just put her out of the team otherwise you will also not play with us.." "Okay then, I don't want to play on this team..." She watches him storm off. She goes to pacify him... "What is this bear..? what have you done... ? for me you left cricket...? go and play na yaar.." "I don't want to play with them who have insulted you... And also now I am a big boy, I want to now focus on studies and do something good and become a police officer.." "Acha you do your studies... but for now at least give me a smile.." "Hmph.." "Arey now come with me I will give you kulfi, mom made kulfi today.." They eat the kulfi and all is well... YEAR- 2002- He's 14... They celebrate her 12th birthday grandly... Life was perfect, happy until her dad got transferred one day n she's gone... Present, Frenny's place- "Arey he is here, Arey Darsh you are here and everyone is looking for you, come na.." Frenny drags him to the hall where everyone (all guys) is playing truth or dare... It's a game to pass the time... The officers were there to celebrate the occasion of the marriage anniversary of Frenny & Manisha... To Darsh's horror the bottle stops spinning pointing him... "Truth or dare..' Jico asks him... "Truth..' 'Scared..' Daya comments... Kartik, Pankaj, Nikhil, Siddharth sir, Karan, Sahil are all present... "To get saved from you all sir... Otherwise you will let me do such bad dares.." All laugh at this... "You will not escape from my hands today also... So tell.. when and with whom do you want to get married...?" "What type of question is this...?" "Arey question is just a question... if you have someone special in your life then say ... this is truth... got it!" Darsh is pulled once again into the memories of the girl... "Hello...? where you got lost...?" "You are lost somewhere means… there is someone..." Darsh smiles at his seniors... "Sir actually-" "Yes" "There is no girl like this sir..." "Your cheeks are looking like tomato and you are saying there is no such girl...?" "Sir.. m-my face.. r-red... n-no sir my face is not red..." "Y-yes s-sir your face is red! say it quickly otherwise I will not talk to you ever..." "And our friendship is also ended" " Sirrr plz.." "No plz.. all boys are present here no girls and you are thinking so much...?" "Sir, ok there is someone- happy...?" "Say the name.." Jico and Daya keep grilling him while others just enjoy this... "Name...? sir plzzz, no sir..." "Ohoo you have to say the whole story .." "Kartik, Sahil help me plz.." "Rules are rules boss.." *sigh* "Yes go on!" "Sir actually- means she is just my friend sir .. childhood friend... her name- I used to just call her cat... she was just my neighbour ... that's it.." "Ok ... tell something more about your this cat.." "And tell everything from the beginning.." Darsh takes a deep breath n shares his secret... 'What should I say sir...? She was my neighbour... at the beginning we used to fight a lot, but after sometime we suddenly became friends... so much good friend that I was ready to do anything for her... for her also I left the school cricket team . for her happiness... for her one smile I was ready to bring the whole world for her.. everyone knew that cat and bear, best friends forever, but suddenly.." "Suddenly...? One minute who is this bear..?" "Frenny.. if she is cat then obviously out Darsh is bear.." "Arey yes sir ... but this is funny hehehe" Jico asks Darsh to go on... "Suddenly, Her dad got posted at some other place and she got shifted from Punjab... I still remember that day ... the day she was going from Punjab, that day I was crying very much... I was very much angry on her... Then she came to me... to meet me, and she gave this to me..." He pulls out a red ribbon (laal paraanda) and shows it to them ... "And said that when she will grow up and when we will meet then she will recognise me through this... she also said that she will never forget me .. Like this only there are two red ribbons with her... Red- her favourite colour... hahaa that time we both were kids..., so I believed that she will again meet me . but today I know that... that is never possible... I can't find her.. " "Arey why it is not possible...?" "True love always meet after being separated at some time.. and also you should have taken her number , if not her atleast of her dad..." "I know sir but everything happened so suddenly and - dunno Frenny sir, is this true love or something else - I just wish that atleast for once if I get a chance to meet her~ I will get the clarity.." "You will find her friend don't worry." Darsh nods smiling a little. Prachi, Ishani n all girls reach there. "Did we miss something?" "Nothing much it's just some childhood stories .." "Ohh- "Wanna play?" "Suree.." All of them chillax and long day comes to end...