R E Y A N S H

After I became friends with Ansh, he started sitting with me in class. He doesn't talk too much so I make sure he doesn't get bored because of me.

One day he asked me to come to his house because his mother wanted to see me. I was anxious if I should go or not. What If she disliked me ?

I was thinking about everything that can happen in his house while sitting in the car.

"My mom is soo loving" Ansh said while looking at me. I smiled at him. How does it feels to have a mother ? A father ? A family ?

When we reached the house I was shocked. Isn't it the same house where I came that day and met that rose girl ?

He took me inside the house and the first thing I saw was his mother sitting on the couch, looking happy. They stood up when they saw me. I bent down and touched her feet. Ansh said his parents are traditional so I should behave well.

"Namaste beta. You are Reyansh ? Ansh talks about you" His mother said.

"Nice to meet you aunty"

Ansh took me to his room. It's soo good. Games, comics. He got everything.

"Wanna play ?" He asked.

"I don't know how to" I looked down. I never saw these things at the orphanage.

"I'll teach you"

He taught me everything and we played for hours. I enjoyed it very much. Having money is everything in life. When I'll grow old I'll earn money and buy everything. His mother came to give us snacks.

Ansh went outside as his brother was calling him for something. I sat silently not knowing what I should do.

"Is the orphanage good ?" His mother asked and I looked at her.

"Yes it is"

"I am soo happy Ansh made a friend. He really talks less idk why. I'll be happy if you will come here often and just tell me anything you need"

"Thank you aunty"

She caressed my cheeks and I understood she is too pure and good. Not like other rich people. The sudden urge to have a mother came into my heart. I looked away as I might cry if I'll get this much love. My orphanage isn't bad but having mother is different.

Ansh came and sat beside me. His mother went out of the room.

"You are soo lucky ,you have a mother"

"You can call her 'maa' too" he said while chewing snacks like it's too normal.

"How can I call her that ?"

"Because she love kids. She like it when kids love her back too"

"Ofc i like her but that doesn't mean I'll call her that"

"Why not ? My brother also call her that"

"Idiot he is your brother. Ofc he will call her mother"

He thought for a second "No, she convinced him to call her 'maa' for what i was told"

I didn't understand what he said so I just ignored and focused on the game.

But I got to know what he said when his mother convinced me to call her 'maa' because I never got mother's love. I didn't understand why she did or thought like that. Just because she love kids it doesn't mean she will make every kid to call her mother. But no it wasn't just for that. It was because Ansh had problems. He didn't talked like other kids. He didn't learn to talk because his mother thought he will eventually learn it. He said his first word when he was 4. Even if he learnt to talk he never talked to anyone in the house.
He was all busy with himself.

His twin brother, Advit, talks less but atleast he does. He also talk to me whenever I come to their house.

One day when I went to Ansh's house, everyone was freaked out like something happened. I silently went to Ansh's room where he was just sitting and thinking something.

"What happened?" I asked.

"My elder brother ran from the house" He said while looking down.

"WHAT ? And you are just sitting here ?"

"What can I do ? I'm only 8"

"Where is your father ?"

"He is in USA"

"Why did you brother ran ?"

"He thinks....he is burden" he said while showing me a letter.

"He wrote this ?" I snatched the paper from his grip and read it.

Badi maa ,

You cannot fool me forever.
I'm 11 but I know everything. You aren't my mother. And I know my parents are dead. Because of me my parents died, my sister died, dadaji died, dadi died now I don't want anything to happen you. You really loved me. Thank you, but I am a burden to you all. If I'll live here something might happen to you all. I am not too much old but I understand everything. I want to know who killed my parents. That wasn't an accident. That was a murder. I saw them. I know them. They are looking for me. Don't search for me please.

                         - Aditya

"You should give it to your mother Ansh" I said. I never talked to his elder brother because I never saw him. But I think that boy is suffering. Only those can understand it who doesn't have parents.

"I called papa, he said not to give it to maa, she will freak out. He is coming back from US in some hours. He said he knows where Adi bhaiya can be"

I didn't said anything. I can't interfere in someone's family. So I just took my leave from his house. I went to orphanage and forgot what happened in his house because Ansh said not to tell anyone what happened there.

____________________

Two years later,

We three, me , Ansh and Siddharth became good friends.

I don't know what happened after that day. I only know that his dad took his elder brother to USA because he was having depression phase. Advit also went with them because he was scared for him.

We were in the school garden playing cricket. Ansh hit the ball and I missed the catch.

"Nili ankhe hai isliye nhi dikhayi deta ky ?" Siddharth joked

(You can't see because of the blue eyes ?)

"Shut up" I went in the direction of the ball. Where is the ball ? I went more away. Aah there it is. I bent to take the ball. When I stood up, I saw the same girl whom I saw 2 years ago. She was with a girl. Looks like she said a friend. I turned and went to play again.

After having a good game we sat on the ground.

"Wow look, they are pretty" Siddharth said. I looked at where he was looking. That rose girl. Yes she is pretty but isn't they are too young. I looked at Siddharth to judge him but Ansh said
"Yes she is pretty"

Oh rich people talks like this.

"Let's go and talk to them" Siddharth said.

"No they will automatically come here" Ansh said and waved at them. Oh he knows them.

They both came towards us.

"Hello" siddharth said

"Hello" they both said in unison.

"Do you have water ?" Ansh asked. And that rose girl gave him water bottle

"Uhm...water huh. Ansh is good at this" siddharth said in teasing voice.

"Yes because she is my sister" Ansh said while drinking water. I looked at him. Oh i guessed it right. She is his sister.

"Oh sorry. Now she is my sister too I think" Siddharth said. I scoffed at him.

"What's your name?" I asked both.

"Kriti Singhania"

"Shivani Rathore"

I nodded.