As The Pink Blush Appeared....

6.

Manjiri was strained at the time. Oh! How she missed those days where her only worries were collecting tamarind seeds, roasting them and reaching back home before five in the evening! It was afternoon then and Manjiri was at the Gate – 1 of her school campus. She hated that she had to carry her pink file which included her fine arts projects. She often said that she lost her patience, sitting for hours painting and sketching was indeed a tough task. But she loved painting as it relaxed her mind and she forgot her worries.

It was her fast; her mother asked her to observe fast as it supposedly pleased the Almighty and her wishes would be granted. Then she saw Saanvi approaching her and she was very happy. "Here, have some fruit juice. The Sun's directly above our heads and it's quite hot," Saanvi said. "No, I can't take this," Manjiri said even though the juice was tempting. "Why?" "I have to observe fast." "So, you haven't eaten or drunken anything since morning?" Manjiri slowly shook her head. "Are you crazy? Here, take this, it's your favourite," Saanvi said while opening the wrapper of the straw. Manjiri went away from there without saying anything. Saanvi felt very sad. She threw the juice pack in the trash and ran after Manjiri.

She held her hand and apologised. Manjiri said, "I've faith and I observed the fast for some reasons." Saanvi apologised again and again. Manjiri couldn't stay angry for a long time. Saanvi said, "Now let me help you." Saanvi took some files from Manjiri's hands and then produced an umbrella, seemingly out of nowhere. She opened the umbrella and they both walked back under its shade.

After walking some distance, Saanvi dramatically forwards her hand towards Manjiri and bent down. She handed an embroidered handkerchief with the letter 'M' on it. Manjiri was surprised. Saanvi continued with her drama and said, "Please do me this great honour and accept my little gift, my lady." 

Manjiri felt weird, well, not in a bad way. Each and every syllable coming out of Saanvi's mouth was just as smooth as the way her paintbrush glided over the canvas. Her voice and her words were very soothing, pacifying, just like painting a fancy piece with incredible details on a rainy day. But why, why was her mind associating a girl from other class with her favourite hobby, with her passion? She had no idea but she knew one thing that she'd end up in a perilous zone. She believed that this whole thing was very wrong. Ugh! As if she didn't have enough on her plate, Saanvi began occupying her.

As for Saanvi, she was a carefree girl. She jumped into the things right away. She hated worrying about anything; she liked to follow her trajectory of her thoughts, she was spontaneous. She was what one would call, wild, pretty wild. She pretended to be this cold and aloof person. But she, she lost her shield right away when she saw the cheerful and smiling Manjiri. Saanvi, the careless, emotionless and heartless stone sprouted a young sapling and a young spring arrived in her little bubble. But she was afraid, for the first time she was afraid of something. The way the spring arrived in her life, it all felt very strange and she wondered if she were just lying in her those harsh times and dreaming about happy times, it scared her that ultimately she'd wake up. She was petrified because inside her heart she knew she was still the stone which would crush the sapling ultimately. Oh! How she wanted to be gentle and careful! 

A/N : We see that the winds of change are approaching. Let's see if there comes a tornado or everything gets captured in deathlike stillness. 

Also if you find the cluster of words in the picture above worthy of little appreciation, do show your support.