Chapter 2: Cute girl with pigtails
Flash back
Little boy over 12 years standing in his balcony looking curiously at newly arrived neighbors as they`re unloading the items from the truck.
Meanwhile a rickshaw appears in front of the neighbor house. A little girl around age 8 jumps and runs towards the middle aged man calling him papa. Boy`s eyes got struck on the cute girl with pigtails wearing a white frock which had imprinted pink lily flowers on it, who was laughing clinging into her dad leg when a middle aged lady joins them who maybe the girls mom. She had a cute smile which could melt anyone. All of sudden the girl sees the boy and waves at him. The boy is dumbstruck he didn't know what to do.
Meanwhile a boy`s mom comes to balcony calling him for lunch. She sees the new family next door greets them saying hello. He regains his senses and waves to girl who grins from ear to ear and greet him.
Hi my name is Arthi, you can call me Aru for short. What`s your name? Will you be my first friend here? Will you play with me?
Chuckling to towards the over enthusiastic daughter her mom tells Aru...
Dear let the boy also talk if you keep bombarding him with so many questions How will he answer?
Turning towards the boy her mom says...
don't mind her son she is just enthusiastic about the new place and school.
Realizing her mistake Aru apologizes to her looks at the boy who has not replied to her yet with lot of expectation. Seeing the boy who has not replied to her yet smile on her face drops seeing that boy doesn't feel good.
He smiles at Aru and replie...
Hi, my name is Siddharth and you look cute when you smile.
By saying he goes inside the room.
Meanwhile the boy mom is shocked to see her son took initiative to talk to the girl and even complimented her. She looks at that girl and replies...
Hey cutie don`t be sad my son rarely speaks to anyone don't mind but I would love to be your friend. When you are free please come to our house sweetie.
It`s ok aunt I talk too much its best he doesn't talk, I know we will become best buddies.
Aru spoke with full of confidence. Hearing her everyone was smiling. Sid who was behind the curtains hearing this he also had a genuine smile.
Over the period of time they became inseparable and best friends where Aru did all of the talking while Sid was the best listener who never complained it. In fact he didn't like Aru being silent.
But everything changed when Aru turned 11 years old, on her birthday her father who went to pick a gift for died in an accident.
Once Arthi who was very talkative became silent locked all her emotions inside rarely smiled. It literally felt like a knife stabbed into his heart seeing her like that.He tried everything to make her smile like before it never happened.
Aru lost herself when lost her dad because he was her inspiration, reason of her smile and topics of her talk.
Over the period of time Arthi became normal with Sid help. After her father Sid was only one who can make her smile genuinely.
2 years later,
Sid father got transferred to another and they had to leave the city. Aru was very sad when that Sid was also leaving her. The day before moving Aru had locked herself in her bedroom and refused to talk to anyone she didn't even eat whole day.
At night she was sitting near her window looking at stars and tears were falling from her eyes nonstop. But there was a soft knock on her door and Sid voice resonated through it...
Aru sweetie please open the door.
Hearing no response from the other side of the door. Sid continued to talk...
I know baby you are sitting near the window looking at the stars and crying silently complaining to your dad about me leaving you. I`m not leaving you completely baby just shifting for another city. I`ll be mailing you every day and even call you and I promise to visit you whenever it's possible, please open the door baby.
Do you promise to me to call me whenever you have time?
A small hoarse voice came from Aru side.
Yes baby I'll call you when I get time and message you, even you can call me anytime you want. Please open the sweetie I`m really very hungry can`t hold my hunger any longer like you.
Aru`s mom and Sid`s mom who were listening to their conversations till now silently. Aru`s mom said...
Aru baby even Sid has not eaten anything from morning.
Sid`s mom also said...
Now be a good girl and open the door baby and both of you should eat something.
Listening to it Aru opened the door and started shouting at Sid angrily...
You idiot stupid boy why didn't you eat anything from morning you will get stomach pain when you don't eat at regular times you have a weak stomach why do you neglect your health.
Seeing Aru complaining Sid smiles and hug her tightly. Seeing their reunion the mom`s retreat to kitchen wiping there tears to get food for them.
Sid makes Aru sit on bed wipes her tears kisses her forehead, cups her cheeks and says...
Don't ever think that I`ll forget you. You can`t get rid of me so easily in this life time and always stick with you through thick and thin.
Listening to it a small smile creeps on Aru face and says...
As if you can get rid of me easily stupid, if you want you can try it I`ll come haunt you to death.
And winks at him.
Sid smiles at her and takes out a small box from her pocket, gives to Aru and asks her to open it.
In that box there where to silver chains with lockets A and S with half star attached to it seeing it Aru looks at him. Sid takes the S locket chain puts on to her neck and then takes A locket chain puts it around his neck.
Aru you always say we are each other's lucky star. So from now on wards this chain with our names first letter with star will be our lucky charm and this not make us forget each other. It reminds us about our friendship.
Aru touches her locket looks at Sid tears were filled in both eyes ready to come out any time hug him tightly.
WE ARE FRIENDS THROUGH THICK AND THIN TIMES OF OUR LIFE AND SHARE EVERY SMALL AND BIG THINGS, NEVER HIDE ANYTHING FROM EACHOTHER.
Sid and Aru say at a time and wipes tears of each other and smile.
Their mom`s comes in with food and by seeing them smile asks them to eat food. After feeding each other they sleep in Aru`s room.
In the mid of the night Sid looks at Aru who was sleeping hugging a teddy bear like baby cute and adorable. Sid kiss her forehead and says...
I Love You Aru you are not only my best friend, also love of my life who bought smile and light into my life after my sister`s death. I`m going to miss you so much I`ll become successful and marry you and you going to be with me forever. I`ll never give you a reason to become sad and always make you happy princess.
By saying this Sid slept looking Aru face like he was trying to capture the moment in his mind.
Flashback ends.