Khamoshi main chupi bataaon ko, Uss ki aavaj mil gayi hai..
Unki duniya main pyaar ki bhasha ko,
Issharon ki khubsurti mil gayi hai..
Dheere dheere se jo dil ke dhaage unhone bandhe hai, uss se unke pyaar ki nayi kahani ban gayi hai..
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And there she was, my gaze falling upon My Girl... wait, My Girl? How could someone be so breathtaking? Her big doe eyes, round chubby cheeks, her delicate pink lips, cute button nose, and the way her curves hugged her body perfectly – she was like a combination of hot, cute, and beautiful all rolled into one.
As she looked our way, a frown suddenly creased her forehead. But then her eyes met mine, and my heart felt like it burst with happiness as she smiled at me, waving her hand cutely. Unable to resist, I waved back, a smile spreading across my face, and she did the same to Abeer and Mish.
"Baccho, tum log aa gaye aur Puffi bhi.." Kaki chimed in, but her words trailed off as she caught sight of the girl, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed her round cheeks puffing up with air – a sight that sent us all into fits of laughter. I couldn't help but chuckle along with the rest..
"Ahh Teju beta, maine tum sab ke liye kheer banayi hai. Sab log jaldi jao aur fresh ho kar aao. Kheer kha kar fir sab araam se padhai karna," Kaki announced, prompting Teju to nod and scamper off with the other children in tow. I couldn't tear my eyes away as she disappeared from view. Please don't go, I silently pleaded, wanting desperately to talk to her, to admire her a little longer. Lost in my thoughts, I felt a nudge from Abir, snapping me back to reality. I glanced at him, but simply shrugged, pretending nothing was wrong.
"Umm beta, tum log bhi humare saath kheer khao. Hum baatein baad mein kar lenge," Kaki suggested, and I exchanged a look with Abir, silently begging to avoid the kheer ordeal. But Abir, being the Bhukkad he was, couldn't resist.
"Kheer? Haan haan Kaki, kyun nahi... pehle pet puja phir kaam puja... Chaliye jaldi chashni jaao na, na chachi ki madad karo kheer lane mein," he exclaimed eagerly, and I mentally sighed, knowing what was to come. Mish shot him a glare before smiling at Kaki and following her into the house, presumably to assist in the kitchen. Soon, all the kids returned, but not her. Puffi, huh? Is that really her name? It's odd, yet oddly cute.
As Kaki and Mish distributed bowls of kheer, Teju finally emerged, settling opposite me on the couch with a small girl in her lap.
"Arre baccho, main toh bhool hi gayi... Inse milo, yeh hai Karan aur Abeer bhaiya aur Mishti didi," Kaki introduced us to the kids. While the other children greeted us eagerly, Teju simply smiled, saying nothing.
"Yeh Pari, Chotu, Raju.." Kaki continued, introducing us to each of the kids in the orphanage.
"Aur tumhara?" I blurted out, unable to resist asking for her name directly.
"Vo Tejasswi hai," Kaki replied instead of her. Tejasswi, a nice name, but a bit long. No matter, I'll come up with a cute nickname for her – Puffi isn't from me, after all.
As we all indulged in the kheer, except for me, who was preoccupied with something else entirely, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. It didn't matter if I looked like a creep; she was doing the same. And from what I observed, she was just like Abir when it came to food – devouring it as if it might vanish at any moment. Watching her scoop up spoonfuls of kheer, her mouth forming a perfect circle, she reminded me of a laddoo's.
