The sun wasn't up yet, the sky just slowly waking up from the embrace of darkness. It was the first dawn of Sarat Kaal (autumn season), marking the arrival of the festive season. This scenary of the dawn was nothing short of picturesque to little Shilpi, who was out with her friends at this hour to collect night Jasmines from the nearby big houses.
This was her first time doing this, she was excited and nervous at the same time.
"You see that house? There is a big jasmine tree planted near it. We will find plenty of flowers there. But be quick girls, you can't be caught!" Announced the eldest one of them all.
Soon enough all the girls scattered themselves around the yard which was filled with those white floret, as they started collecting them in their respective baskets.
Being the youngest and most inexperienced one of the squad, Shilpi was a little slower than the others. Just when she was about to leave, her wrist was grabbed by an unfamiliar presence. Her eyes widened thinking that she might have been caught by the owners and had no way out.
"What are you doing?" enquired, a rather childish voice. Pressing her eyes shut Shilpi slowly turned to face the stranger.
"What were you trying to do?" The same voice asked again, as the grip loosened making Shilpi feel a tad bit relief but her nerves were yet to be calm as she realised that she was the only one here who had been caught.
Slowly opening her eyes, Shilpi was met with the figure of a lean tween boy who had the most mysterious yet winsome pair of hazel orbs, standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest as he shot an annoyed yet perplexed look to her.
"I was collecting flowers." Shilpi muttered, hanging her head down as she figdeted with her tiny fingers.
"Ohh.. so you were stealing the flowers from our yards." The boy exclaimed in a rather mischievous and playful tone.
"..n-n-o." Shilpi mumbled, barely audible.
"My my, you're such a thief! You steal and deny it the very next moment?" The boy
gasped.
"Please leave me. I promise I won't do this again." Shilpi implored.
"I see. But you've to give me something in return." The boy wiggled his eyebrows in playfulness confusing the younger girl.
"I'm very poor. Please don't ask me for anything."
"If you can't give me something in return, then you don't get to escape! Also who said I'd ask you for an expensive gift."
"Please tell me what you want, please don't lock me up here." Tears almost threatening to spill from her eyes.
"Okay, then be my friend."
Shilpi's eyes widened at the peculiar demand of the stranger facing her right now. She glanced at his face, it flickered with a tinge of voidness, as if he had been suffering from prolonged solitude from quite a long time. Without wasting any more time, Shilpi agreed to the condition immediately as it was welcomed with a warm smile from the boy.
"You know, being the youngest of all my siblings, I've been home schooled all my childhood. I won't be sent to the school until I turn 14, that's why I've no friends. I'm so jealous of those school going kids, who have so many friends..." He trailed off looking away.
"I'll be your friend! But don't tell anyone about anything what happened today." Shilpi chirped in immediately making the other boy chuckle.
"Ok promise. Anyways what's your name?" He asked shooting her a soft smile.
"Shilpi. What's yours?" Her eyes beaming with curiosity.
"Dhrubojyoti!"
"Dhru..bo..what?"
"Nevermind. Call me Dhrubo. It's easier that way!" He replied with a soft sigh as the younger one seemed happy with this statement.
++
"Dhrubo?" She called out uncertain of his presence.
It wasn't long after she was met with sudden darkness as she felt two hands covering her eyes.
"Guess who?" A hoarse boyish voice spoke.
"Well easy peasy. Dhrubo." She guessed immediately with a victorious smile dancing on her lips as she slowly removed his hands.
"How do you get it right every time?" He pouted, crossing his arms near his chest.
"It's just easy to guess. Anyways your eyes seem to hold some gleeful sparkle. What's it about?" She found out amidst his expressions of annoyance.
"Am I that easy to read, Shilpi?" He turned around to face her this time, only a little more astonished.
"For me, yes." Shilpi replied, flashing a confident little smile.
"Guess who is gonna start school finally."
"You!?" Shilpi exclaimed as she applauded in excitement.
"Yes kid. I'm going to be a school student now!" Dhrubo announced proudly puffing his chest high as he rubbed his nose in pride.
"Ok Mr. 2 year older grandpa. I get you. Officially a 14 year old oldie." Shilpi teased as Dhrubo couldn't help but chuckle.
++
"It's a wrap for today!" Dhrubo sighed in relief.
"Heyyy, I wanna learn more." Shilpi whined not ready to finish her lesson.
"You learn everything at the speed of light, child. You need to wait for me to learn everything first, only then can I teach you miss epitome of brilliance." Dhrubo replied only to be met by a pout forming on Shilpi's face.
"Accha, tell me, you wanna know about the Swadeshi peo-" He was cut off as Shilpi forbade him for continuing further by keeping her hands on his mouth.
"Don't you know? That word shouldn't come out of any resident's mouth or else they'll seperate you from the whole village thinking you are some kind of spy." Shilpi warned whisper yelling.
"Are you scared of the people who are such cowards that they can't support the people who are fighting for the right of their very own nation?" Dhrubo retorted.
"But.." Shilpi could only look away.
"What if I become one of those people, will you start hating on me too like the others? Will you not keep contact with me just because I would want to fight for my country?" Dhrubo enquired, his voice laced with a very strange and different emotion which was unknown to Shilpi.
"No. You are my best friend Dhrubo. How can you say that?"
"Then don't be scared to learn about these brave people. Maybe you could be of some help one day!" His tone a bit calmer and more reassuring as Shilpi's shoulders relaxed in relief.
+++
"What happened Ragini Kaki? What is this huge crowd about? Why do people look so concerned?" Shilpi enquired an elder woman on her way to the market as she noticed a big huddle.
"Areh, these rich spoilt brats always ending up in troublesome situations. Yesterday, this Ray Bari's youngest son, fleed with a few Swadeshi youth. Today morning his mother found a letter in his room stating his cause of absence and well now the news in all over the village. Ahh this young generation, just ruining everything for everyone." Ragini said with annoyance and disappointment written all over her face.
While Shilpi felt like her someone had plucked the heart out of her body. Well it was a similar situation, except it was her bestfriend instead of her heart whom she dearly admired.
****
YOU ARE READING
Butterflies
Romance"Go away. There was nothing between us." Tears brimming her eyes as her lips quivered in anguish and fear. Fear of losing someone whom she had been trying to hold onto. Tragedy was slowly creeping in her life yet again. He stood there silently, a...
