Tara POV (age 15)

I was lying on my bed, completely lost in my book, reading my favorite kavita (poem), when I suddenly heard a familiar voice. Siya.

My best friend. My partner in crime.

Without a second thought, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the balcony, just in time to hear her asking Kaki (aunt), "Tara kaha hai?" (Where is Tara?)

Before Ma could answer, I shouted, "Siya! Yaha! Yaha dekh!" (Siya! Here! Look here!)

She turned her head, spotted me, and immediately called out, "Kaki, mai aati hu!" (Auntie, I'm coming!) before running straight toward my room. I quickly opened the door for her, and since she had been running, she was out of breath.

I made her sit down, handed her some water, and asked, "Siya, kya hua? Itna bhaag ke kyun aayi? Koi tufaan aa gaya kya?" (Siya, what happened? Why are you running like this? Did a storm come?)

Siya put the glass aside and gasped, "Arey, tufaan hi aaya hai!" (Yes! A storm has come!)

She took a deep breath before announcing, "Tujhe pata hai tune top kiya hai!" (Do you know? You topped!)

"Kya?" (What?) I frowned, confused.

"Haan! Tenth ki pariksha mai! Pura zila mai pehla number aaya hai tera!" (Yes! Your 10th board exams! You got the first rank in the whole district!)

I froze. Did I hear that right?

"Kya kaha tune?" (What did you say?) I asked, still in shock.

Siya grinned. "Maine kaha, tune sirf school mai nahi, balki poore zila mai top kiya hai!" (I said, you didn't just top your school, you topped the entire district!)

The realization hit me like a wave, and within seconds, I was squealing. I grabbed Siya's hands, and we both started jumping and spinning around in excitement.

"Siya! Tu mujhe itni badi khush khabri de rahi hai!" (Siya! You're giving me such big news!) I beamed. "Ab dekhna, mai Baba se kahungi ki woh mujhe ek ache college mai admission dila dein! Woh bohot khush honge!" (Now watch, I'll tell Baba to get me into a good college! He'll be so happy!)

Siya grinned. "Arey, honge kaise nahi? Tune top kiya hai! Kaka ka seena garv se ooncha kar diya hai!" (Of course, he'll be happy! You made uncle so proud!)

We both sat down, still buzzing with excitement. In between our chatter, I suddenly asked, "Siya... woh unki chitti aayi?" (Siya... did his letter come?)

Siya blinked. "Unki? Kinki?" (His? Whose?)

I rolled my eyes and lightly slapped her arm. "Samajh na! Natak mat kar!" (Understand it already! Stop acting!)

Siya smirked. "Ohhh... Karan bhai ki?" (Ohhh... Karan bhai's?)

I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips.

Siya sighed. "Chitti abhi tak aayi nahi hai. Maine daak ghar par pata kiya tha, unhone kaha abhi tak nahi aayi. Par tu chinta mat kar, jaise hi chitti aayegi, mai tere paas le aaungi, hamesha ki tarah." (His letter hasn't arrived yet. I checked at the post office, they said it hasn't come yet. But don't worry, as soon as it does, I'll bring it to you like always.)

I nodded, though I felt slightly disappointed.

Siya noticed my silence and huffed. "Tu jaanti hai na, mai toh Karan bhai se bohot naraz hoon?" (You know, right? I'm very angry at Karan bhai?)

I frowned. "Aur woh kyun?" (And why is that?)

Siya crossed her arms. "Arey! Unki shaadi tujhse kab ki ho gayi, par woh 10vi ke baad seedha shehar chale gaye aage ki padhai ke liye! Tujhe jab 14 saal ki thi tabhi toh yaha aana tha, par pata nahi bhai ko kya hua ki woh shehar mai ruk gaye!" (Come on! He married you years ago, but after 10th grade, he went straight to the city for further studies! You were supposed to move in with him when you turned 14, but for some reason, he never came back!)

I stayed quiet.

Siya continued her rant, "Ab toh gaav bhi kam aane lage hain, chitti bhi kam ho gayi hai! Par tu dekhna, ab ki baar jab aaye na, mai unke kaan pakad ke kahungi—'Aapki himmat kaise hui meri pyaari Tara ko itna intezaar karane ki?!'" (Now, he rarely even visits the village, and the letters are also getting fewer! But just wait—when he comes back, I'll grab his ears and ask—'How dare you make my dear Tara wait so long?!'")

Hearing her dramatic words, my mind drifted back to the last time I saw Karan.

Flashback:

The last time I met Karan (age 16) was when he was about to leave for the city. Even though we were married as kids, I was never allowed to go to his house due to traditions. So, the only time I got to see him was that day when Baba and Ma wanted to meet him before he left.

He looked at me and smiled. "Tara, kaise ho tum? Humari shaadi ke baad aaj tumhe dekh raha hoon. Tujhe meri yaad nahi aati kya?" (Tara, how are you? I'm seeing you for the first time after our wedding. Don't you miss me?)

I lowered my eyes, hiding my shy smile, and turned slightly away.

He teased, "Kya? Nahi aati?" (What? You don't miss me?)

I quickly looked up. "Nahi! Aisa nahi hai!" (No! It's not like that!)

He laughed. "Tara, tu bilkul nahi badli! Pata hai kaise? Tu pehle bhi mere aur Siya ke saath khelne aati thi, ab bhi waise hi hai!" (Tara, you haven't changed at all! You know how I know? You used to play with Siya and me, and you're still the same!)

Then, his expression softened. "Suno... mai shehar ja raha hoon aage ki padhai ke liye. Maine Kaka se baat ki hai, tu mujhe chitti bhej sakti hai. Bhejegi na?" (Listen... I'm going to the city for further studies. I spoke to uncle—you can write me letters. Will you?)

I asked. "Ji, mai bhejungi?." (Yes, I?.)

He smiled. "Haan, tu aur nahi toh kaun?" (Of course! Who else but you?)

Then, he took a step closer. "Tara, hum bohot saal alag rahe hain, par tu kuch saalon mai yaha aa jayegi. Aur mai nahi chahta tu mujhse anjaan lage. In chittiyon ke zariye, hum ek doosre ko samajh sakenge. Samjhi?" (Tara, we've been apart for years, but soon, you'll be here with me. I don't want us to feel like strangers. Through these letters, we'll understand each other. Got it?)

I nodded, feeling warmth in his words.

He stepped back. "Theek hai, ab mai chalta hoon. Apna dhyan rakhna." (Alright, I'm leaving now. Take care.)

I whispered, "Ji, aap bhi." (Yes, you too.)

Flashback Ends

Siya's voice pulled me back to the present.

Since that day, Karan and I had exchanged letters, writing about small things my studies, his life in the city. But as time passed, the letters became less frequent. I didn't know why, but it left me with a strange feeling.

I tried to ignore it and focused on Siya, who was still ranting about what she'd do when Karan returned. I laughed at her dramatic words.

But even as I laughed, a strange thought lingered at the back of my mind...why had the letters really started coming less? I hope everything is okay with him.