“Please meet our new and final member Ms.Alisha Javed,” announced our class teacher. Alisha was an extremely beautiful girl. The girls in the classroom were envious and the boys of our class were delighted to have her in our class. The entire class was bustling with various conversations. Our teacher asked Alisha to be seated and pointed towards the only vacant seat in the classroom, which was next to mine. She walked and sat next to me.

I felt glad to finally share my seat with someone especially with such a lovely girl.

“Hi… What’s your name? ", asked Alisha.

“Gayatri Nair”,I replied.

“I missed a lot of classes. What all have we covered till now? Please do share your notes with me after the class", said Alisha.

Alisha seemed very friendly. I was more than happy to share my notes and help Alisha in all possible ways. Alisha, too, was very grateful. Gradually, we both became close friends.

We eventually discovered that we both had similar interests. Both of us loved listening to songs, watching movies and many other things.

One day, I heard Alisha singing an English song-

"Show me the meaning of being lonely
is this feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart"

"Wow Alisha!!! Which was the song that you sung now? Can you please sing it again?", I requested.

Alisha sang the song once again and said," This song is by Backstreet Boys. Even I love this song. It's so romantic."

After listening to the song again, I felt as if someone had penned down my feelings for Hari into a song.

I quickly tore a blank page from one of my notebooks and said, "Here, write down the song on this paper and teach me the tune too. Otherwise, give me the cassette of that song tomorrow. I would love to hear it again and again."

"I do not have the cassette of the song. Aashiq taught it to me...” said Alisha blushingly.

"What happened? Who is Aashiq? Why are you blushing so much?” I asked.

"Aashiq is my cousin who stays in Pune. He is 2 years elder to me. He proposed love to me when I went to his place last year", said Alisha without any hesitation.

"Do you also love him?” I asked.

“I trust you a lot Gayu... Please do not tell this to anyone. I love him too. He sang this song for me when we met last time. He told me that the lyrics in the song are his feelings for me. And...” said Alisha abruptly stopping her conversation.

“And...And what? Don't be shy. Please tell me. You can trust me", I insisted.

Alisha's cheeks turned red like a rose and said, "When everyone was away, we both danced together. We also stood like Jack and Rose like in the movie Titanic. We swung our arms in the air and I stood leaning on him. He taught me to stand on toes like Rose does in that movie."

After listening to Alisha's story, I was thrilled and eager to tell her about my love story.

I hesitantly asked," Alisha will you promise to keep my secret? If yes, then I also want to tell you about somebody."

Alisha replied, "Of course you can trust me dear. What do you want to share with me? Go ahead and tell me".

I started speaking about Hari. Words started flowing like water.

I vented my emotions to Alisha," I also have a cousin. His name is Hari. My aunt has told me that he is my muracherukan, with whom I can get married in future. He lives in Kerala. We do not meet often but I like him a lot. He is very sweet, caring and extremely helpful. He is of our age but he behaves so maturely. He is extremely friendly too. I feel really comfortable with him. I feel that all the happiness in this world is around me when I am with him. I have not felt so happy in my life. I do not know whether it is right or wrong to harbour such feelings so early. We are school going kids and thinking about being in love is not right at this age. But I cannot control my feelings when I think about Hari. I have never felt this kind of intimacy with anybody in my life. There is something strong which is attracting me towards him always, more and more. I have not told about my feelings to anybody till now. I have felt several times that I should tell about my feelings to Hari. I stop myself each time from telling it to him. I am not sure if he feels the same for me. I fear about his reaction. What if he tells about it to our parents and relatives? Everyone will think that I am a bad girl. I am a good girl. My feelings for Hari are sincere and pure. I truly love him. I love Hari".

My eyes were wet. I felt relieved after sharing my feelings with Alisha.

Alisha said," Do not worry Gayatri. We are very young now. You are right. We do not have the maturity to decide about love. We both will have to wait till we grow up. Let time decide. Anyways, I will write this song for you. Now I know why you liked it so much".

She handed over the paper to me. I read it few times and folded it many times to make it smaller. I then hid that paper in my school bag. I smiled at Alisha. Alisha smiled back and winked at me.

"How did you do that? Show me again", I said excitedly.

Alisha taught me how to wink. I began practising it at home. Alisha imbibed lot of confidence and boldness in me. By the end of the year, I became a totally different person.

School vacations- the most awaited days in my life had returned. My aunt who had first told me about Hari had delivered a baby girl and was in Kerala. I was sure that my parents would definitely visit Kerala. What made me more excited is that my aunt and Hari's family stayed in the same city. My family reached Hari's place. All our relatives including Hari's siblings had gathered at Hari's house to meet us. But Hari was missing. I searched the entire house for him. There was no sign of him.

"Oh no! Did Hari go back to Chennai to stay with his grandparents? How will I meet him now?”I wondered. I was worried and disturbed.

I was standing in the verandah pondering about Hari when heard a screeching sound at the gate. I quickly turned my head to see who it was. I saw a tall, lean figure entering through the gate. Something struck me.

I exclaimed," Oh my God! It's you Hari! You have grown up so much...”

I was extremely happy to see Hari.

I asked him, "Where have you been today? I was looking for you everywhere...”

"I was in school. I had scholarship exams today. When did you all come?” asked Hari.

My family went to see my aunt’s house to see her new born baby. Hari was very familiar with that place. So, he accompanied us. Hari led us to a house across the fields. All of us entered the house. While the elders were busy talking to each other, Hari took me and my brother to the new-born's room. I was elated on seeing my infant sister. She was extremely sweet with an angel like face. Hari lifted the baby in his hands and brought her to me. He told me to hold the baby in my hands. However, I was too scared. Hari asked me to sit down on the chair and handed over the baby to me. I felt heavenly. I had never experienced such a lovely feeling. I was thankful to Hari. My parents came in and were surprised to see the baby in my hands. My mother felt anxious and took the baby away from my hands.

While my parents were cuddling and playing with the new born, we kids went upstairs. The view from the terrace was terrific. The green paddy fields, the evening sky filled with hues of yellow, orange and red and the sunset appeared like a painting. I was enjoying the view when Hari brought a white pigeon in his hands.

I asked curiously, "Where did you find this pigeon?"

"Look down; you will be able to see its cage. Hold it and touch its feathers", said Hari.

I was apprehensive. But when Hari insisted too much, I touched that bird. I caressed the head of the bird and slowly slid my fingers through the neck and body of the pigeon. The feathers were smooth as silk and its body was soft as cotton. I loved this new experience too. I was appreciative of Hari and smiled looking at Hari. Hari smiled back too. At that moment, golden rays of the evening sun shimmered on his face. His benevolence made him look like an angel from heaven.

We left my aunt's home. We decided to walk through the fields towards the main road. Though I hated the idea of walking so far, I kept mum as this was a golden opportunity to spend more time with Hari especially at such a beautiful location. The path seemed ambiguous as the sun had sunk below the horizon and the light had started to recede. My father led the way with a battery torch in his hands and the rest of us followed him in a straight line. The darkness had started making me feel insecure. I gripped Hari's hand and drew myself close to him. It was a very natural and spontaneous reaction. Once we reached the main road, I loosened my grip from his hand. After reaching back, I felt embarrassed thinking about holding Hari's hands. I felt timid. I was restless. I couldn't sleep that night.

Next day morning, I was sitting upstairs browsing through some old photo albums kept on a table. Hari came and sat beside me. He showed an old class photo of his and asked me to find him. I easily pointed out the picture of the figure etched in my mind. Hari showed me picture of his best friend Aakash Menon.

Hari asked, "Who is your best friend?"

I looked into Hari's eyes. I was about to announce his name, but I felt intimidated when I thought about the consequences.

I coerced myself to lie and said, “My best friend is my classmate Alisha Javed. She is a very adorable girl. We both share everything, even the top most secrets."

Hari naughtily asked," Secrets like?"

"Everything a 13 year old feels like a secret..Like personal issues, crushes, boyfriends...Alisha often tells me about her boyfriend Aashiq", I said engrossed in the conversation. I bit my tongue in regret of sharing my friend's secret.

I exclaimed, "Oh my God! I shouldn't have told you about it. I broke my promise. I had promised her that I will not share it with anyone".

Hari laughed and said," Hold on! How does it matter Gayatri? I do not even know who Alisha is and I might not even meet her in my life. Do not worry, it is fine. I will not tell this to anyone".

I heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Ente Krishna Nanni!" (Read: Thank You My Krishna)

"Hey!!! Krishnan is yours? I'm Krishnan too, Hari Krishnan", said Hari.

I kept gazing at Hari unable to decide how to react. Hari smiled mischievously and left me in a state of trance.

I was lost in my thoughts when I was disturbed by a scream," Throw the ball..here...here...fast".

I went towards the terrace to check what the commotion was all about .All of the members had gathered downstairs for playing cricket. Hari was bowling. My eyes constantly followed Hari. Hari sensed that I was watching him. He suddenly looked up and winked at me. I was stumped. I felt waves of emotions gushing through my body. I was experiencing such kind of feeling for the first time. I smiled back though shyly. Hari winked again. I was tempted to wink back and finally I did that. We continued doing it till the game was over.

Finally, it was time for my family to go back. Hari came with us to the railway station with my family to say good bye. I stood near the door of the train while Hari stood on the platform. I was on the verge of crying when he winked at me. I laughed, with tears rolling down my cheeks and waved good bye as the train began to move ahead.

School reopened and a new academic year begun. I was full of hope and positive energy. I was on top of the world after meeting Hari.

One day, the entire class went for sports day. I had severe stomach cramps and could not move. So, I stayed back alone in the class room. I tried to sleep with my head on table. I was awakened by somebody's footsteps. I was scared as I was alone in the classroom and immediately lifted my head to see who it was...