Veer stood on the lawn, his face scrunched up in a determined pout. "Why am I always the one who has to be 'it' in hide-and-seek? Not today! I refuse to be the first 'it'!" he declared, his voice ringing out to the group.
Lakshmi, a spirited six-year-old, shot back with a mischievous grin, "Oh, you know you will! You're the youngest, and everyone knows the rule: 'Younger ones must listen to their elders.' So, you have to listen to us!"
Veer's frustration bubbled over. "That's a dumb rule! I'm not following it! I'm out of here!" He spun on his heel and stormed off, leaving the others giggling behind him.
Lakshmi trailed after him for a moment but turned back when she saw him duck into a cycle repair shop across the street.
"He's just at Uncle Raju's shop," she announced to the group, her tone light.
Rani, the oldest of the group at fifteen, sighed, "That's fine, but you really shouldn't tease our little brother like that."
Lakshmi crossed her arms, pouting. "But it's so much fun! And I'm not the only one doing it, you know!"
Rani raised an eyebrow, her voice firm. "As long as it's all in good fun, that's fine. But don't take it too far, or you'll face consequences from me too, not just from Sarla ma."
Meanwhile, Veer had reached the old cycle repair shop, where Raju, the owner in his thirties, greeted him with a smirk. "Hey there, kid! What's got you looking like you just saw a ghost? Did you catch a glimpse of your matron's saggy...?" He lowered his voice, chuckling to himself.
"What are you talking about?" Veer asked, confusion etched on his face.
"Forget I said anything! Just erase that from your mind!" Raju replied hastily, panic rising at the thought of Matron Sarla's wrath.
Veer shrugged, his tone lacking enthusiasm.
Noticing the frown etched on his face, Raju enquired, "What's bothering you?"
Veer shot back, his anger bubbling to the surface. "They always pick me to be 'it'; I'm done playing with them."
Raju simply chuckled at his sharp retort, accustomed to these exchanges by now. It had become routine for Veer to retreat to this bench whenever trouble brewed at the orphanage or when he felt down, watching Raju busy himself with various tasks.
"Wanna listen to some radio?" Raju suggested, noticing Veer's bored expression. Veer, intrigued yet confused, asked, "What's a radio?"
Raju's eyes lit up with realization. "You've never heard of a radio?" he exclaimed, excitement bubbling over. Veer shook his head, a clear sign of his unfamiliarity.
"Well, you're in for a surprise, my friend," Raju said, a playful sparkle in his gaze. He stood up, retrieved an old radio, and set it down beside Veer. Adjusting the antenna, he stretched it skyward.
"Wow!" Veer gasped, watching in awe. Raju pressed a few buttons, and the radio crackled to life.
Veer leaped from his seat, his face alight with wonder and curiosity.
"How does it make a voice?" he asked, eyes wide with amazement.
Raju, noticing his excitement, replied with a hint of pride, "Just wait a moment."
He turned the dial, which resisted with age, each twist accompanied by a shower of sparks.
The atmosphere suddenly buzzed with the enchanting melody of a singer's voice.
Veer, his eyes wide with wonder, spun around the radio, searching for the source of the sound. When he found no one, he turned to the shop owner, confusion etched on his face.
"Is there someone inside this radio? How can anyone be so tiny?"
Raju burst into laughter at the boy's innocent question.
'What a whimsical notion!' He thought to himself, chuckling at the child's curiosity.
"I may not have the answers, but I know someone who does," he replied, a name flashing in his mind.
"Who? Who?" Veer exclaimed, bouncing on his feet with excitement.
"There's a teacher who lives close by. He can answer all your questions."
Without hesitation, Veer grabbed Raju's hand, eager to set off to the teacher's home.
Noticing the boy's impatience, Raju chuckled, "Hold your horses, young man; the teacher isn't going anywhere. First, I need to let your matron Sarla know I'm taking you or else she'll eat me alive. Trust me, she's quite the formidable woman."
This momentarily dampened Veer's enthusiasm, but he quickly agreed.
"Alright, you go ahead. I'll keep an eye on the shop."
"Good lad," Raju said with a grin.
After a short while, he returned with the necessary permission.
"I've got great news! You're all set to go, but you must be back at the orphanage by 7 pm. It's only around 2 or 3 pm now, so you have plenty of time," he said, his tone serious to convey the importance of the matter.
Veer swallowed hard but nodded in understanding.
"Let's get going then. It's not too far. Once you recognize the house, you can visit on your own, but only with your matron's approval," he added as he began to close up his shop.
After securing everything, he led Veer through a quieter, well-constructed neighborhood, with Veer tightly holding onto Raju's hand as they made their way.