THE MAN HELP - By Ocean Singh

- CHAPTER 3 -

- CHAPTER 3 -

THE STRING

On a July afternoon of year 2001, Vaani, a girl of seventeen, steps out of the car and walks toward the building. She stops when suddenly a doll hits her head from top. She looks upward and sees no one and then she sees a boy and a little girl running to her. The little girl sweetly asks for her doll and Vaani gives the doll back to her. Holding her doll back in relief, she jumps in excitement and Vaani looks at her in surprise. The boy with the little girl smiles to Vaani and she replies with a smile too.

Gautam asks - "You're new here?"

Vaani - "yeah, we moved in just today. On the third floor."

"Oh! It must be your things then, loading off from that truck."

"Yes."

"Nice. You need help bringing the things upstairs?" -Gautam asks being polite and very usual of his nature.

"Aa I don't know. You can ask my parents." - Vaani thinks for a second and tells.

"Okay. Let's go then."

All three are about to turn to the new family bringing the stuff out of the truck, when a lady from the building hallway loudly calls.

"Gautam! Sona!, come on, eat your lunch. What are you guys doing in this heat?"

Renu searching for her young kids in the hot sun finds them standing with a stranger girl and talking. Listening to her mothers' voice Sonakshi quickly turns back.

"Coming mamma! Let's go bhaiya!"

Gautam looks at Vaani. Vaani tells -

"It's all right. You guys go. We have got help already. Thanks for it by the way."

Gautam smiles and says further stepping away –

"Cool. Let's all meet in the evening or in the night after dinner, we all kids play here in this park."

"Okay." - Vaani smiles and replies.

"Gautam!!!" – Renu still standing in the wait shouts now.

"Coming mamma! Bye!"

Gautam runs with his sister and disappears in the hallway. Vaani turns back and goes to her parents and help them with the things to bring upstairs.

******