Innocent Love

The Girl



Reynold Malevolenton Who lived in London, Reynold,a boy with that name, sat by the window of his school, engrossed in watching a bird weaving a nest. Despite looking at least 18 years old, his height was imposing, with brown eyes, dark hair, and rosy lips – a striking figure. His teacher was speaking in anger and frustration, but he remained focused, contemplating the state of his home.

His thoughts dwelled on a father who abused alcohol yet strangely clung to religious beliefs. Reynold pondered this contradiction. He couldn't tolerate a word against God; however, if someone dared to speak against his father, he felt the urge to ruin them.

"If I were God instead of Jesus, and I had a devotee like my father, I'd kick him in the backside and drive him away," he thought.

He observed a bird carrying a dead cockroach in its beak while its chicks were feasting on the insect's remains. For some reason, Reynold found this amusing.

"You...You, Mr. Malevolenton, could you hear me?" the teacher shouted in frustration.

Reynold immediately turned his attention toward the teacher and innocently replied, "Yes, teacher."

"I don't think there's a separate class going on outside the window, or is it so intriguing that the whole class should jump out to see?" the teacher remarked.

Other students in the class turned their gaze toward Reynold. "What excuse have they found now?" Reynold thought to himself.

"S-sorry, teacher," Reynold stammered, attempting to divert attention, but the entire class remained focused on him.

"Ah, sorry, I don't need your sorry. Tomorrow, I will check your homework first," she declared.

"But-" Reynold started to protest, but just then, the school bell rang.

"See you later," she said. After yelling like a Bitch, she left the class.

In the hallowed halls of a government school, Reynold pursued his studies. Seated in the 12th-grade arts stream, his aspirations danced with the dreams of making a mark in literature, perhaps as a writer. Yet, a lingering doubt sometimes whispered that these aspirations might remain unfulfilled. His familial circumstances, a tapestry of notoriety, denied him the luxury of a girlfriend.

Reynold's family bore the weight of a tarnished reputation, a tale concocted by the tongues of the neighborhood. Whispers painted his mother as a woman of dubious character, but in truth, she toiled as a humble government employee, while his father trod the path of a common civil servant. No siblings graced his familial landscape.

Friendship, a scarce commodity in his life, found a solitary ally in a fellow student from the neighboring commerce class. Special bonds formed, yet as everyone dispersed towards the cafeteria, Reynold trudged alone. En route, murmurs behind him insinuated, "Isn't that him? The illegitimate one?"

Having grown weary of such remarks, he pushed through the canteen's corridors, deftly ignoring the hushed comments that trailed him like shadows. It was amidst this cacophony that a girl with blonde tresses crossed his path. However, her solitude shielded her from his discerning gaze, an oddity in this unfolding narrative.

Reynold strolled into the cafeteria, settling in the farthest corner on a lonely bench. His friend was a no-show, leaving him to ponder on the empty space across the table. As he resisted the tempting aroma of food, he observed others indulging, his eyes meeting those who had once bullied him at Reynold. Amidst this, a gentle voice broke through, "Hello, lonely too." Looking up, Reynold discovered a blond-haired girl with blue eyes, Luna.

"Oh," Reynold responded, intrigued. "Who are you?"

Luna, with a serene demeanor, replied, "I'm Luna. Noticed you were alone, so I thought I'd join you."

This sparked a hint of irritation in Reynold. "Seems you haven't heard the fabricated stories about my family or haven't been around in school."

He felt a rising anger, questioning why Luna was putting on an act when the whole class knew about him.

"I've heard, but it seems false to me," she said with the same calm demeanor. "My friend couldn't make it today, so I thought I'd join you since you were alone."

"Oh, you thought you'd pass the time with me, right?" Reynold retorted, teasingly.

"No, no, it's not like that... I noticed you sitting alone, and with all those false rumors about you not having any friends, I thought I'd come over and talk to you," she explained, her words devoid of any hint of sarcasm.

"Alright, you can sit," Reynold said.

"Thanks, dear. So, how are you?" Luna inquired.

"I'm fine. How about you?" Reynold replied, trying to ignore the curious glances from those around, who seemed to be watching as if a pauper were dining with a king.

"Nice," Luna started to say, but her sentence got cut off as the cafeteria bell rang. "The bell rings too quickly. I'll catch up with you later. Bye!" she said and swiftly exited the cafeteria.

"She is mad," Reynold muttered to himself, overhearing comments from nearby.

For some reason, this girl seemed different from the others.

Having left the cafeteria, Reynold headed to his last class, completing his economics lesson before making his way home. The lack of funds from his father meant no taxi ride, and he wasn't confident anyone would lend him a bicycle or anything else.

Upon reaching home, a modest abode with three bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, and two bathrooms, Reynold entered and threw his bag aside before retreating to his bedroom.

The house seemed empty, and it was Reynold's habit to jot down events in his special diary. Occasionally, he reserved pages for special individuals, but those were few.

Sitting at the table, he pulled out his book and began writing the day's entry under the title "Aaj ka dincharya."
"Today was unusually uneventful, just classes. I met a girl named Luna who appeared very polite and quite pleasant. She greeted me with a simple 'hello.' I sense she might want to be friends, and if that's the case, I'd be delighted. During class, it felt like feeding a fish – a baited hook."

He finished but felt the need to dedicate a whole page to this girl.

Flipping through his diary, he found the section for special individuals and titled it "THE GIRL."

"Luna, with her golden heart and flowing blonde hair, embodies kindness and compassion. Her genuine nature and warm spirit make her a beacon of goodness. Whether extending a simple hello or offering a friendly presence to someone sitting alone, Luna radiates positivity. In a world often clouded by complexities, Luna stands out as a reminder of the beauty that kindness brings, leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to cross her path."

He wrote and started feeling happy in his heart. He heard the sound of the door opening.

TO BE CONTINUE