The Shadow Encounter

~ Left home? ~

"Aapko mera naam nice-nice nahi laga" she repeated with childish innocence.

hearing her voice, I snapped back to reality "Umm.....No-No very-very nice laga" I replied with a small smile.

["You didn't like my name, did you?"]

"Aapka naam kya hai?" She asked.

[What's your name?]

"Vedansh!" I replied and bent down.

"Aachhoo!!" She sneezed, waking my all senses up.

"Kya hua?" I asked, my tone filled with concern.

["What happened?"]

"Zukhaam" She mumbled, rubbing her nose.

["I have a cold,"]

I gave her a handkerchief but she stared at me with a confused look. 

"Use this....not hands" I instructed and she smiled sheepishly and took the handkerchief.

I took her to a suitable spot nearby where raindrops couldn't reach us and sat on stairs and made her sit on my lap so that she doesn't catch cold because of rain.

"Where are your parents?" I asked, removing her shoes and poured out dirty water from it.

Hearing no reply, I looked up. 

Sensing her hesitance, I reassured her, "You can trust me baccha!"

"Aapne wo waala cartoon dekha hai?" She asked, looking at me.

["Have you seen that cartoon?"]

"Konsa?" I asked, confused by her unexpected question.

["Which one?"]

"Wo weather waala jisme...ek magical girl hoti hai" She described.

["The one about the weather, with the magical girl,"]

"Weather waala?? Beta mai cartoons nahi dekhta" I denied, adjusting her so that she doesn't end up falling off.

["A weather cartoon? I don't watch cartoons,"]

"Arre wo japanese cartoon hai meri mumma ka favorite-favorite hai" She said, again mentioning her mother.

["It's a Japanese cartoon, my mom's favorite,"]

But this time, my mind clicked I understood which cartoon she was talking about.

"Weathering with you" I snapped, waiting for her reply. But again she looked at me with confusion....Ahh! Am I wrong?...I don't know why I am just loving this little girl.

"Maybe Maybe" She replied as if she doesn't know the name of that movie. 

"Wo jisme wo ladki weather change karti hai.......Hina Amano" I extended the topic further in hope that she would remember anything.

["The one where the girl controls the weather... Hina Amano,"]

"Haa-Haa" She nodded with a wide smile adoring her face.

Aww...she's so cute

"Beta wo cartoon nahi hai anime hai" I corrected her.

"Oh yes! Anime" She nodded again, playfully hitting her forehead with her little palm.

I don't know why I am feeling like holding her chubby cheeks and stretch it.

She is so-so CUTE!

"Where are your parents Ritika?" I repeated.

"Aap meko scold scold toh nahi karoge na.....tabhi aapko bataungi" she said.