The Almost Bride (Part 1 of The Broken hearted of the Hill View Garden Maze)

When Mira Met Rishi

The End of Summer 15 years ago...

There was nothing special about the day Mira Sharma first met Rishi Ahuja. 

10 year old Mira, had just moved from London to Mumbai, leaving behind her parents, friends and home to come live with her grandfather. Her busy parents had carted her off to India the moment they felt her effervescent personality was getting too tough to handle, an excited 10 year old just did not fit into their jet setting lifestyle. While she terribly missed the only home she had known and didn't understand what had prompted her parents to do so, she was warmed by the love her grandfather showed her. 

As Mira stood in front of her new school, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness watching  anxious parents blow kisses and wave goodbyes to their children. Mira shook off the momentary despair as she reminded herself that school was going to be amazing and she would make loads of new friends, then she wouldn't feel lonely!

As she walked the short path up the school she heard a petulant voice throwing what seemed like a massive tantrum.

"I HATE SCHOOL! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME GO!",  a little boy bellowed stomping his foot as his mother tried to pacify him. 

"Rishi good boys don't scream like this, please listen to Mum?", his mother kindly chided. 

Mira was in awe of her kind demeanor and the concern she saw reflect in her eyes. A man stood next to her with identical concern on his face, Mira presumed he must be the kid's dad. 

"I don't like it here, I have no friends in class!" the little boy sniffled. 

The parents shared a sad look as they contemplated what to say next. 

Mira being the typical ten year old completely unaware of boundaries, ran up to the trio putting her hand out, "Hi, I am Mira!" 

The three were taken aback as the ball of energy that Mira was came to them, they took in the little girl in front of them, a pretty smiling face and her long hair in uneven pigtails  she was adorable. 

"Hi Mira, I am Maya Ahuja and this crybaby is my son Rishi!"

"And I am the crybaby's dad, Ravi Ahuja!" 

As Mira peered at the smiling couple she couldn't help but wish her parents were like this, pleasant and speaking more than 2 words to her. She shyly waved at the two as she focused on the boy Rishi. 

"Why don't you like school? We get to learn, draw, play with our friends! What's not to like?" 

"I don't want to learn or draw. I have no friends here, I hate it!" Rishi said staring a hole into the ground as he kicked an imaginary stone. 

Mira laughed and grabbed his hand, "Don't worry, I am here now! I will be your best friend ever. I am in the 4th Grade, what about you?" 

Even at ten, there were very few in the world who had the capacity of saying no to Mira Sharma, so it was no surprise to her when Rishi raised his head and begrudgingly smiled at her. 

"I am in 4th Grade too!" 

"Can you take me to the admin office I need to collect my schedule and induction package." 

"Sure, Let's go! Bye Mum and Dad, see you later!" 

Maya and Ravi watched in amusement as Rishi did a complete 360 from not wanting to go to school to marching towards the school with determination leading the way for Mira. Maya had a feeling Mira was going to be special for them. 

~*~

For the first time since starting school Rishi felt like he was better than everyone else. He felt like a hero when Mira thanked him for getting her timetable and showing her around. He was used to being made fun of, but Mira was different. She treated him like he was special. He was showing her to their classroom, when one of his regular bullies showed up. The kid was bigger than him and shoved him with his shoulder causing him to stumble back.

His face went red in embarrassment as he saw Mira's shocked face. He wondered if Mira would still look at him like he was special he she knew he was the butt of every joke in school and pretty much a no good looser. 

"Why did you push him like that!", Mira demanded. 

"You stay out of it New Girl! You don't know how stupid he is.", sneered the bully. Kids all around the corridor snickered. 

Mira was appalled at the unkindness she saw in all their eyes, not one person stepped forward to help him up from the ground. She could feel her face heating up with anger as she realized why Rishi hated school. 

"All of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Nice people do not bring people down.", Mira said in a level tone admonishing everyone. 

Mira Sharma was practically impossible to ignore. Maybe it was the way she held her little head up or the maybe it was the way she smiled, there was something about her that made everyone  pay attention and want her approval. So when she stood next to Rishi and showed kindness, there was a shift in how their peers saw Rishi. 

Her head still held up high she tugged Rishi along, she silently pledged to always protect her new friend. 

~*~

At recess, Mira and Rishi sat at a bench splitting a berry jam sandwich from their cafeteria. Forever curious Mira probed the question that had been plaguing her. 

"The thing that happened this morning? Does that happen a lot?" 

"You mean my utter humiliation? Yes."

"But why?" 

Rishi let out a laugh too bitter for a 10 year old , "Because I am a looser, that's why. My grades suck, I don't play sports and overall am not good enough." 

"Not being number one at sports or studies doesn't mean you deserve to be bullied." 

"Well tell that to everyone here, who keeps expecting me to be perfect because I am related to the Golden Boy."

"Golden Boy?"

"Yes. Golden Boy aka my older brother Dev. He is perfect. Great grades,  good at sports, every teacher's favorite. " 

Mira let out a laugh as Rishi bit out angry praises about his brother. 

"Why are you laughing?" 

"Because you and everyone around you is being silly! So what if your brother is good at most things? You are a different person, and you are perfect the way you are." 

"Nobody calls me perfect." 

"Well I, Mira Sharma, just did." 

Rishi smiled at her conviction.

"You are only saying it because you don't know Dev yet. If you knew him, you'd hero worship him too. He is better than me at everything." 

"Rishi, somebody is always going  to be smarter than us, better looking than us, better than us at something or other. Doesn't mean we aren't good enough." , She said sounding sage.

Rishi kicked dirt with his shoe looking down as he tried to believe the words she said. 

"Okay, If you still have doubts I am going to make the most serious kind of promise ever."

"Which is?" 

"A pinky promise." 

"A pinky promise?" 

Mira stood up on the bench placing a palm over her heart and extending the other hand to rishi with her pinky finger sticking out, as she announces,

"Yes. I pinky promise you that even if Dev is the poster boy of perfection and gets me the shiniest star or the prettiest flower or the yummiest cake, I will still never pick him over you. Rishi will always be number one for Mira." 

Rishi's face breaks out in a grin as he takes her pinky finger in his. 

There might not have been anything special about the day Mira Sharma first met Rishi Ahuja, but there was a very special friendship that they found that day.

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Stay tuned for the Next chapter!