I

“Ding dong” went the main gate bell. It was a fine gate with a huge structure and solid iron which gave it a rich feel. Black iron not polished long ago gave it a royal look. “Ding dong” again went the bell which shook the silence of the deserted neighborhood.

A lady with a few greys walked up to the door and opened the solid cast for the impatient visitor. She looked down to find the young visitor wearing a smile prettier than her pink frock. “Yes? May I help you?” “Oh yes Ma’am, I have recently shifted in the house next to yours, and was looking for a friend to play with!” chuckled the little miss.

“You won’t find any company here! Or anywhere near!” said the lady clad in a very regular cotton sari, with more wrinkles than her face. Mrs. Sharma shut the door tight and returned back to her room, only to return to the door on the sound of the second bell.

“Namaste, you must be Mrs. Sharma, I’m Kamini, Katyani’s mother. I’m sorry, she is such an active child, must have bothered you.” “Umm, that’s Ok but I have already told her, there is no one in my house to play with her.” said Sunita in a rather strict tone. “Yeah, we would love you to join us for tea sometime! See you around. Bye!” Kamini said rather abruptly astounded by the unfriendly attitude of Sunita, and rushed back home taking Katyani by her arm, “don’t run off to stranger's homes dear, be careful…..”.

Sunita dragged herself back to her room, her mind unable to let go the 8 year old’s smile. Her voice echoed in her ears and a tiny tear fell off her left eye corner. Seated in her arm chair she gazed out through the dark big window. Her mind jumped back 20 years back….