TERI MERI KAHAANI

CHAPTER 14 HAAR KE JEETNE WAALE KO....

Saint Mary's Convent School, Bandra Kurla, Mumbai

The school sports ground had a festive atmosphere. It was designated as a special day for students and their parents. Most students were looking forward to performing in front of their parents and giving their best. A lot of students were looking forward to the main event at the end of the day: the dad-child joined-leg race. Before the start of the race, all the dads had tied a cotton cloth around one of their legs and attached one leg of their child with it. Purvi had taken special permission to participate with Pihu. Since Rohan and Pihu were in the same class, they would be participating in the same group. Each group had to participate through four rounds: qualifying, quarters, semis and finals. Pihu and Rohan passed all three stages to reach the finals along with their parents (duh!-yeh toh hona tha re..).

While waiting for the final round for their group, Pihu and Rohan were running around, playing with each other. Kavin and Purvi were talking randomly while each looked at both the children fondly.

"Mujhe toh bahut khushi hai ki dono bachchon ki itni achchi friendship ho gayi hai!"

"Purvi, sahi keh rahi ho tum. Mujhe Rohan ka hamesha se dar laga rehta tha. Ek toh leg brace upar se uski chuppi. Par Pihu ke saath woh bahut open up hua. Ab uske aur friends bhi bane hai. Mujhe umeed hai ki jaisa doctor Mannat ne kaha ki woh jaldi bolne bhi lagega".

"Bhagwaan kare aisa hi ho! Achcha bachchon suno!"

Both the kids came running towards her.

"Aap kahaan chal diye Rohan ji? Aap hamaare saath idhar aayie! Bhul gaye competition hai?", Kavin said, playfully.

"Kavin uncle, aap ki lane kaunsi hai?"

"Yahin, aapke bagal waali Pihu beta".

"Phir toh aap haar jaayenge pucca. Main aur mumma aapse tez hi daudenge!"

"Dekhte hain..huh?"

"Dekhte hain Kavin!", said Purvi as they all got ready for the race finale of their group.

As the whistle blew, all the participants started hobbling towards the finish line as they had one leg each tied together. Plus the dads (and one mum!) had to match their steps with their kids which was not an easy task. A couple of kids being a bundle of energy, ran faster than required resulting in their teams to topple over. Meanwhile both Purvi and Kavin had successfully navigated their way up to the middle of their lanes. Kavin was leading with Rohan while Purvi and Pihu were a close second.

Suddenly....

"Ah......", Kavin turned as Purvi's scream reverberated around the track. His face had a look of concern as he stopped in his tracks and turned around. Purvi had stumbled with her foot twisted badly.

But there was no time to waste....

He felt Rohan untie his cloth and hand it to him. Kavin understood and immediately lifted Pihu who was on the floor, miraculously unscathed. Without a word, he tied Pihu's leg with his and continued the race while Rohan stayed behind with Purvi. Rohan hugged her and wiped her tears as she saw her daughter cross the finish line with Kavin and raise her hands in the air as they still managed to come first.

"Yeh mujhe kya hua. Main normally apne emotions nahin dikhaati. Par aaj Kavin ne jo kiya uske aage main usse kahoon bhi toh kya kahoon? Ek parayi bachchi ke liye Kavin aur Rohan dono ne apni jeet thukra di? Sirf isliye ki Pihu ke chehre ki smile naa jaaye? Kyun Kavin? Itna care kyun?", Purvi thought as she looked towards him with eyes full of tears. She realized immediately (when she saw her daughter raise her arms in gleeful triumph) that she had fallen for Kavin hook, line and sinker....

Although Kavin had been showing his fondness for her in subtle gestures but she had been trying to ignore all the obvious signs as it would probably spoil her friendship with him. But she also realized one thing: for her, (maybe unlike Kavin) it was her daughter's happiness that pushed her to make a special place in the heart for him...

AND she was determined never to give in to those feelings.....

Epilogue, Chapter 14: Although Kavin and Pihu could not be given the winner's medals, but due to Kavin's and Rohan's selfless gesture, it was decided that all three of them will be given a special trophy. Pihu and Rohan's faces were glowing as they held Kavin's hands from each side while receiving the trophy. Purvi clapped very hard along with all the others in the stands as she looked on grateful and happy for her daughter :)

~To be continued~