Merryweather, a countryside town where my grandma lived. She was incessant with the fact that she would spend her last couple of years in her native town. Estranged from the rest of the world. And because of that fact we would always spent our summer in Merryweather.
The most beautiful town to spend your childhood. The big oak trees covered every nook and corner. A side lake which would reflect the those colossal trees and the sunshine simmering through it. There wasn't much people in the town.
And in the middle of it was our mansion covered in white wash. Quiet, serene and beautiful. In the wee hours of day there was the sound of birds chirping and duck wriggling in the quiet lake.
One summer morning when Hashir went outside to play alone. While chasing his paper boat in the lake, he got lost. As he walked down the stream he heard a commotion where people were shouting anxiously. Out of curiosity, he went further and came across the scene.
Amidst all the servants and guards, who were gathered around a tree.
He saw her.
She was sitting on the highest and a hidden branch of a fruitful cherry tree, like a carefree bird ready to fly.
The merriest of all the birds, wearing a bright red dress with a ribbon on her waist. Her hair were tied in a half pony tail with a matching ribbon. Laughing on the branch of a cherry tree, wriggling her legs, her cheeks bulging with cherries she had been chewing.
In such a beautiful landscape, she was more entrancing than any other thing in the town. Even for an eight year old boy, he had never seen such a vibrant sight.
"Please Hurry up and Come down Little miss !!!!!" A maid was anxiously shouting by the tree.
" Little miss, You may get hurt or fall down. Please listen." the butler Jared was equally anguished.
She stuck out her tongue and kept laughing.
"Nooooo!!!!! I wanna eat more cherries" the little minal pouted and popped two cherries in her small little mouth.
" The doctor uncle said I cannot have any cherries and no one was giving me any so I took them myself." she was very proud of her little deed.
She looked like a little stubborn hedgehog doing whatever she wants with an army of servants worrying for her down the tree.
"But eating so many cherries will hurt your stomach and you could also fall down from the tree " all servants were at their wits ends.
"The tree is my friend. He won't hurt me." she shrugged and said unperturbed.
All the staff was worried and were ready to catch her if she accidently falls until a voice came from behind:
"What is happening here?" A deep baritone voice and ranged.
Jared visibly tensed and all the maids were scared like a death sentenced awaited them. A handsome man in his early thirties wearing a suit walked from behind.
"Umm.... Master this .....Uhh"
"Daddyyyyyyy!!!!!!" Minal instantly cheered up and acted like she is about jump.
Before the Jared could say anything Minal shouted and drew attention towards herself.
"Daddy catch me !!!" Again she hollered.
Aaron got surprised but quickly acted and catch the little naughty person who was so happy to see him. He slightly pinched her nose and said:
"What were you doing high up on the branch?"
She giggled and replied:
" My birdie friends have new babies and I wanted to see them"
"And?" Aaron perked up his eyebrows and inquired further.
"Umm I wanted to eat more cherries" she mewed like a mosquito.
"You know what you did was wrong, right?" Aaron pretended to be serious.
'Nooooo daddy will ground me agggainnn ' a thought suddenly came to her.
In a quick second she scanned her surroundings to find and excuse and she saw a boy almost her age and she found herself an excuse:
" Daddy I wanted to make a friend, so I went up to give him a gift" she pointed her little chubby finger at Hashir who was standing, a couple of steps away from them.
In a moment's span all the eyes turned up to Hashir, who was dumbfounded b the development of the situation.
"Isn't it right brother?" she said blinking her big azure eyes.
Everyone was looking at him and urging him to answer from their eyes, even if they knew she made it all up. She had that impact on everyone.
"Yeah.... I guess" he stammered.
"See daddy!! I made a friend today, and I didn't make a mistake today so you can't ground me again" she was avidly waiting for her praise with shining eyes.
Hashir was completely speechless at her shamelessness.
Aaron looked suspiciously at the boy who has suddenly showed up. The butler quickly eased the situation.
"Why don't you introduce yourself" he said to the young boy.
" I am Hashir, grandson of Mrs. Gilbert."
"We've come to spend summers in here. I got lost earlier."
Hashir was tensed. Aaron's gaze was too much for the little boy.
"Jared send him home and you can come tomorrow to play" Aaron said and turned to the mansion.
Satisfied with his performance Minal turned her head and looked at him over Aaron's shoulder. She rumbled her pocket and threw a small cherry at him.
" Friends" she mouthed smiling at him and blinked.
And that's how within 5 minutes, a socially shy little boy got himself a new friend.