1 Memories l

Year- 1994

A six year old kid living in police quarters is seen playing cricket.

The ball he hits goes directly breaking the window pane of an adjoining house. A middle aged woman comes out scolding the kid, accusing him of ruining other kids' studies by forming a cricket team.

The boy's mother comes to his rescue.

"leave him mam, he is a child.."

"child? a six year old boy can play cricket like that, and.that too with older children.He is not a type to play cricket, a type to break the window glasses.."

The woman glares at the boy and he hugs his mother. It's then he sees her for the first time..

As the mothers argue, the boy watches a girl, 4 year old, probably the daughter of the aunty who is scolding him standing beside her mother, holding her pallu (pallu is the end part of the saree which hangs over the shoulder). The girl gives a meek smile and he smiles back.

Present-

Ayush smiles at the faint memory that keeps buzzing in his head. The girl was one of a kind. Sipping his drink, he slips into another memory.

Year 1996-

The same boy, now 8 years old, is as usual playing cricket. A group of boys of his age join him. It's basically 8 year olds team vs 14 yr olds…

The girl now 6yrs old, is watching from her veranda. There is no special playground, but the boys loved playing in the small space b/w the quarters and the girl would watch them.

The boy now hits the ball, attempts to run and as his legs give up, he falls short and is given run out. The girl laughs at this. It's like watching one of her favourite cartoon characters slip and suffer a fall. It's fun but when the boy spots her, she is scared..

The boy marches towards her, anger burning his delicate eyes.

"when a person gets angry, you should not laugh at them...."

The girl blinks before running inside to call her mom.

"coward billi( billi means cat in hindi)…" he calls after her.

Another chuckle escapes his lips; Ayush smiles adoring that memory. Those were the days when he thought of himself as an arrogant cop, like his dad. His smile turns into a laugh as he remembers how he terrified her that day.

1997, the same year in school

The boy sees her in school. He's turned 9 and is now under-10 school cricket captain.

The girl now seven; is more fearless n feisty. They never talk just glare at each other. He didn't like how she makes fun of him. He knew her name, it was.. (although he has forgotten now) she was his neighbour n he saw her in school yet they were never friends not till now.

" my older brother will win the match!"

He hears her talk with her friends.

"but Ayush is the team captain of other team ,"

'who, this bear?)"

Anger rages inside him as he overhears her.

"Oyee whom you called a bear?'

"who will be it other than you.. bhallu! Bhallu (means bear in hindi)!"

The girls laugh at this. It was recess and Friday- meaning only girls could use the school playground.

'coward billi! how courageous she became.. shut your mouth or else I will hit your head with cricket ball..."

The girl seems scared but then smirks. The boy turns around to bump into their PT sir.

"l am dead.."

"Ayush! you know that the boys are not allowed, right? Come with me and why are you scaring her? l need to punish you.."The teacher drags him off.

"haha...came the hero to warnme.." (the girl mocks him pulling her tongue out)

He glares before leaving the place.

The next day

The girl suffers an injury during the match. Her brother sanjay, also in the boy's team has not taken part in the game. It's not Ayush who hit that girl, but the ball hit by someone else knocked her head.

Something stirs in him as he sees her bloodied forehead. She is taken inside a class room for first aid n he follows her.

"Oh big brother.. ahh it is hurting…" the girl cries.

"her brother didn't come to school",One of the teachers says.

"And his father is out of station and her mother is ill ..."

"she has any friend? who stays near her house or who can take her home?"

Something compells the boy to stand up.

"Teacher can l take her home?.."