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Colorful, oversized raincoats adorned their young bodies and their little, transient feet spilled the muddy water out of the puddles, while the rain poured down heavily. Every year, the color of their raincoat changed, their feet became an inch or so bigger; but just one thing remained the same, their kaagaz ki kashti..
They lived in an area of India, where it rained for almost twelve months of the year; which made most of the kids feel joyous whenever it rained. Be it jumping in the puddles, or floating paper boats in the water, rain was never something that would make anyone sad. Everyone, ranging from small babies to old'aged people, were used to the smell of rain..were used to the happiness spread by rain.
"Khushi.. khana khaa lo" [Khushi.. Have your food] her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen and the little girl shook her head vigorously.
"Nahi maa.. Baad mein khaayenge hum" [No maa.. I'll eat later on] she screamed, before looking out of the window again.
"Har roz yahaan khidki se dekhti ho unn bacho ko, jao khelo unke saath!" [Everyday you see those kids from the window, go play with them] her father patted her back gently, smiling at her.
"Nahi.. Humein bas dekhna hai unhe" [No.. I just want to see them] she replied coyly, clutching her frock's material in her little palm.
And her eyes just admired someone's smile, which formed as his paper-boat danced in the ripples of water.
*
"Jao Khushi.. Aaj ghar ki safai karni hai.. Jao bahar khelo" [Go Khushi.. I have to clean the house today.. Go and play outside] her mother came near Khushi with a broom and bucket, her saree tied around her waist.
"Par maa..." [But maa...] she hesitantly tried to deny.
"Jao bitiya" [Go bitiya] and she reluctantly went out.
Khushi moved out of her small cottage-like house, and sat in the verandah, not wanting anyone to notice her. She never thought of playing with those boys, just that she wanted to look at them and adore the cuteness of their shining eyes and broken-toothed smiles.
Just then, a boy from the group of boys playing, came near the fence of the her house, making her conscious of herself.
"Tum yahan kyu baithi ho? Aao, hum saath khelenge" [Why are you sitting here? Come, we'll play together] he said in his childish treble, smiling a dimpled-smile.
She looked down and smiled.
The smile which she'd been admiring since the last complete month; she was able to see that same smile from such a close distance; and hence adore it.
She gave in to his invitation and stepped into her raincoat. Holding her hand delicately in his, he ran back to his play area.
"Lo" he gave her one of his newly-made paper boat, teaching her tentatively as to how to float the boat.
She did as he told her, smiling and clapping when her boat started to float.
"Yeh meri kagaz ki kashti.. Nachegi, nachayegi.. Kisi ko rulayegi, toh kisi ki hasi ban jayegi.." [This paper boat of mine.. Will dance, will make others dance.. It will make someone cry, or will become someone else's laughter] he sang his arrhythmic song in a slightly raised voice, blowing air over his small possession.. his kaagaz ki kashti.
"Yeh gaana maine banaya hai" [I've made this song] he proudly stated, chuckling the next minute.
"Aap bahut pyaare ho" [You're very sweet] she said in a soft voice, enough for him to hear.
"Tum bhi" [You too] he replied, and the next minute they both laughed out loud as Khushi's boat drowned.
*
She hastily gulped her food the next day, not wanting to miss out the time to play with her new friend. Covering herself in her raincoat, she ran out to the playground.
Her eyes searched for that smile, which she fell in love with, the previous day, when they first met..
Not able to locate him anywhere, she went to a random boy and asked for him.
"Kaun? Arnav? Woh toh chala gaya.. Kal uske papa uss ko lene aaye the aur ab woh sheher mein hi rahega.." [Who? Arnav? He went away.. Yesterday his father had come to take him to the city, and he will live in the city from now on] the boy told her in a high pitched voice, lisping slightly.
She muttered a short 'thank you' and walked back to her home, the bright color of her face getting lost, as her breath remained hitched in her throat.
"Aap kyu chale gaye?" [Why did you go?] she asked, holding his smiling face in her mind, as a tear flowed down her little chubby cheek.
*
"Yeah Di, the flight has just landed" he said in a hushed voice over the phone, as his driver stood holding the car door for him.
"Don't forget to pick up Sneha from her school.. She is waiting for you" a sweet voice came from the other side, making his lips form into a fresh smile.
"Her Mamu is also waiting to meet her" his voice automatically gained a childish tone, as he chuckled soundly.
Though he had talked a lot to his niece on Skype along with his Di, but it was the first time he was meeting her in person, which of course hiked up the excitement on both the sides. It had been three years since his sister had given birth to Sneha, in the time period while he was abroad to complete his graduation.
*
"Quiet everyone now" she raised a finger on her lips to quiet down the small kids in front of her,"We will learn to make something new in today's class."
Her students looked at her with keen eyes; each one holding a finger over their lips, as their teacher explained them the day's task.
*
"Ma'am done" a little girl raised her hand high, as she smiled over her just-made paper boat.
Her origami teacher walked up to her and patted her back lovingly.
"Very nice, Sneha" her teacher smiled an acknowledged smile.
"Ma'am, I will make you meet my Mamu today. He has just returned from Caligonia" she said and smiled her cute chubby smile, her face reflecting the extreme excitement.
"California" the teacher taught her the correct pronunciation and chuckled, "Sure, angel, I will meet him"
The school bell rang and the respective teachers lead the tiny kindergarten kids out to the school gate.
"Arnav Mamu" Sneha screamed and the next second she was in the strong arms of a handsome man, who smiled hard.
Smiled.
"Mamu meet my Khushi ma'am" Sneha excitedly jumped out of his hold, running towards her teacher.
"Mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai ki maine tumhe kahin dekha hai?" [Why am I feeling like I've seen you somewhere?] he asked, memorising every girl's face of his college.
"Yeh meri kagaz ki kashti.. Nachegi, nachayegi.. Kisi ko rulayegi, toh kisi ki hasi ban jayegi.." [This paper boat of mine.. Will dance, will make others dance.. It will make someone cry, or will become someone else's laughter] she said in a breath, looking straight into his eyes and then smiled a teary smile.
"Khu.. Khushi?" he asked, gasping at his realization.
"I never knew that I would meet you like this" that smile refused to leave his lips, as he adored Khushi and Sneha, who was busy drooling over her paper boat.
"But I knew we would meet some day" she fondly grinned, her eyes shining with joy.
Not everyone gets to meet their childhood friends, or rather say sweethearts, as they grow up; which made both Khushi and Arnav feel like their destinies were connected.
"Wow, it's raining!" Sneha loudly screamed, as a large drop of rain fell on her head, followed by more drops, breaking the eye-lock shared by the two which extended for like eternity.
"Ma'am, will you teach me how to swim this boat?" she asked cutely, shifting her gaze between Khushi, Arnav and her boat.
"Sure" the two of them said in a united voice, making Sneha giggle and they both glanced at each other, yet again.
Khushi searched for some more paper boats in her bag, which her students had given her after the origami class, and bent down on the ground near a puddle.
And a colorful boat started to dance in the puddled water, making the little girl dance and the other two smile in elation.
"Thank you Sneha for letting us meet for the first time... properly" he whispered huskily into Khushi's ear, kissing her cheek, before picking up his niece and walking towards his car.
"Sneha.. I have found your Mami" he said in a raised voice, deliberately wanting Khushi to hear, and he kissed Sneha's ear lobe, while Khushi blushed.
Their first meet would surely lead to a LOT of meetings...
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