“Hey Ravi, wait for a second....” came a female voice from behind.

Agent Scar turned back for a moment and when he saw it was Shreya, he ignored her and continued walking towards Sudheer’s house.

Finally Shreya did catch up with Ravi and panting said, “Why didn’t you stop when I called....”

“I don’t want to talk to you...go away...” said Ravi.

“Don’t act like a girl....I came to give you this....” said she and thrust into Ravi’s hand a small cover.

“I don’t want anything...leave me alone...” said Ravi and continued walking.

“Hey I know it was your birthday day before yesterday... I just can’t seem to forget you...” said Shreya.

“Well then try harder... I like Pooja and stop disturbing us OK?” said Ravi and was about to throw that cover away but Shreya stopped him and said “At least have one look at it....”

Ravi just kept that in his pocket and went away leaving Shreya to softly shed tears in silence...


Ravi reached Sudheer’s house and saw that it was a duplex house and when he rang the door bell a middle aged women came and opened the door.

“Is Sudheer at home?” asked Ravi.

“He is in his room upstairs...you can go directly there through those steps...” said she pointing towards a staircase.

Ravi thanked her and went directly upstairs.

He knocked on a locked door...no reply for a few minutes... he knocked again. Then he heard a few sounds and when door opened he was surprised to see a very messy haired boy with shabby clothes drinking cola.

"Sudheer, what happened?" asked Ravi.

"Why are you asking that man?" said Sudheer equally surprised by that question.

"I mean, look at you...this is not how you usually are at school..." said Ravi.

"That is school and this is my arena...and currently I am gaming and I like to comfortable while doing so...by the way come on in..." said Sudheer.

Ravi was a little amazed by that room...it had a large high definition TV which was on and displayed the start screen Street Fighter and Sudheer went and sat in front of it still sipping cola... Ravi also went and sat beside him.

Sudheer said,"Hey Ravi remember I told you about this fighting game...want to play?"

"Umm, yes but I don't know how to..." said Ravi a little embarrassed.

"It's no rocket science...just tap a few buttons and the aim of the game is to reduce the life points of your opponent to zero before the stipulated time..." said Sudheer

Then they started playing and Ravi lost badly against Sudheer's Ken...a little while later Ravi got bored of street fighter because it didn't allow him to fight the way he wanted but had to fight how the game was designed...

Sudheer said,"Hey Ravi there are limitations to this game...now you can't fight as you want...but in the next game you can drive as you wish... do you have a Need for Speed?"

Ravi said Ok...as he had nothing better to do and another hour of intense graphic filled round of racing virtually took place.

Sudheer's mom then came and gave some snacks but Ravi refused to take it and was getting ready to leave...just before he left he asked Sudheer,"Hey what do you think is a nice gift for a girl friend?"

Sudheer was a bit shocked and said,"You have a girl friend?"

"That is not the point...give me some advice on what to buy..." said Ravi seriously.

"Well it depends...did you first propose her or she proposed you?" asked Sudheer.

"Whats that got to do with gifting?" asked Ravi a little puzzled.

"Well, if the girl proposed you first...she would have lots of feelings for you and would accept anything from you but if you had proposed first...well its better if you know the tastes of your girl better?"said Sudheer in a style that was reminiscent of Gurus who impart wisdom.

"Aren't there any gifts that are you know...universally liked by girls?" asked Ravi.

Sudheer thought for a while and said ,"Well most girls like puppies or something cuddly..."

An idea struck Agent Scar's mind the moment he heard the word "Puppies" and got a huge smile over his face.

Ravi said,"One last question...who is this Spider-Man?"

Sudheer was shocked again and said,"What are you man... some kind of Last Warrior from Another Planet?...you don't know Street Fighter, you don't know Spider-Man...what is it that you know then?"

"If only I could tell you Sudheer..." said Ravi slowly.

"Anyway...Spider Man is one of my favourite super heroes of all time...its a story of how a teenager gets bitten by radioactive spider and gains its abilities and uses them to fight evil..." said Sudheer as a matter of factly.

"Tell me long story short...why do you like it so much..." asked Ravi.

Thinking deeply Sudheer said,"With great power comes great responsibility...those are the words of Ben Parker...the uncle of Spider-Man and that is kind of my motto...anything else you want to ask me?"

"No...thanks again...bye" said Ravi and left the place.

While he was walking Agent Scar called a secret no. from his inhibitor cum watch and said,"Requesting a Blood Fang" and cut the call.

As he was going he had too many thoughts on his mind and to clear them he decided to take a walk...Assassin Style and quickly climbed a rooftop and started running over rooftops...cool wind blowing through his messy hair...looking down during the little jumps he had to make while crossing from one building to another...he liked that feeling.

As he was crossing one alley he could hear the screams of one man who was saying something like ,"Please don't rob me...Its very tough for me to feed my kids...please don't take my money."

Ignoring those pleas for help he continued running thinking its the duty of the police to nab thieves but even after running for a little distance he could hear the screams of that person with his enhanced hearing and after a few minutes of pondering he went back and directly jumped into that narrow alley landing exactly on the robber who was threatening that poor man with a knife and that robber died as all of his bones had broken due to the impact from the fall. But that boy who jumped showed no signs of distress...he was perfectly normal though he jumped down from over 5 stories.

The poor man was extremely surprised by the turn of events and before he could thank that messy haired boy whose face he could not see clearly that messy haired boy had ran away. Suddenly a police vehicle came and saw the crime scene and were equally baffled by the story that poor man told them.

Then back at Agent Scar's place his heart was beating at an extremely fast rate...that was not because of the running or jumping but the simple fact that he made use of his Assassin Abilities to help one person gave him some kind of satisfaction he had never experienced before.

Then the words ,"With great power comes great responsibility" started rotating in his head and he said to himself,"Thank you Spider-Man, because of you, I saved one human today." and at that point he decided to help other humans who were in trouble...

The next day at school he was disturbed by thoughts of Pooja and how she was having an impact on him…

“Unless other people point out I am not able to notice but slowly but surely I am changing and I don’t want that to be happening…why can’t I just kidnap her father and take him to the King so that King can get all the info he wants…” were the thoughts running through his head…

Pavan came early too that day and he sat beside Ravi..

Pavan said,”Hey Ravi, I wrote a few chapters for my new book…the funny part is…I still didn’t name the book”

“Ohh Ok, hey can I ask you something…” said Ravi feeling a little shy.

“Ya sure anything…” said Pavan casually.

“What do you think is a good gift for a girl…” asked Ravi.

“A friend who is a girl or a girl friend?” taunted Pavan.

“Hmm a girl friend only….” Said Ravi sheepishly.

“Hey who is it…tell me man, I can keep a secret…” requested Pavan.

“Later…just give me some advice man…” said Ravi.

After thinking for a few moments Pavan said, “Actually it totally depends on the girl…if you at least tell me what kind of girl she is…I can give you a better choice…”

Ravi too thought for some time and said “Well, she likes books, horror movies, music and chocolates…”

“You can always give personalized DVDs with her all her fav songs or movies.” Said Pavan

“I thought of giving her a box of assorted chocolates” said Ravi.

“The chocolates will soon finish and be forgotten, the DVDs too will get boring after a while... give her something lasting man...give her a memory...” said Pavan

“What do you mean by that...” said Ravi.

“Think about it yourself...” said Pavan winking...

“Anyway thanks...” said Ravi.

“Something long lasting and it shouldn’t even get boring after a while... but she gave me a stupid stuffed toy and a musical card...what should I give her... arghh this is too tough for an assassin.” Were the thoughts running in Agent Scar’s head.

Then he noticed that Pooja hadn’t come to school that day.

After the school was over Pavan went near Ravi and asked him,”Hey Ravi, I need to take a few books from someone...want to come along?”

Agent Scar had no reason to go anywhere but still replied,”Whose house?”

“Pooja’s...she took a few books I need for the coaching institute and it will be boring if I go alone...” said Pavan.

Ravi was elated within but hiding his excitement he said,” Ya sure....lets go”

After walking for 12 min from the school they reached the apartments where Pooja lived.

Pavan said,”She lives in the first floor only...”

The door bell rang and Pooja’s mother went to open the door only to find a messy haired boy in School uniform...before she and the messy haired kid could say anything Pavan came from behind and said, “Aunty...how are you?”

“Ohh Pavan, it’s you...after a long time...how are your parents?” asked Pooja’s mother.

“Everyone is fine...I just needed to take some books...” said Pavan.

“Who is the new boy...never seen him before...” asked Pooja’s mother.

“My name is Ravi and I am a foreign exchange student...” said Ravi.

Pooja who was trying to sleep in her room was kind of shocked by hearing the voice of someone whom she never expected to hear in her house.

She got up with a jolt and was about to come outside but her mother had said that Pooja was in her room and the boys were just about to enter her room and suddenly Pooja and Ravi collided and when Pooja was about to fall down...Agent Scar with his lightning fast reflexes caught her and broke her fall.

“Cool reflexes Ravi...” said Pavan amazed.

Ravi got back to his senses...”Normal humans don’t react so quickly” were his thoughts.

Pooja ushered the boys into her room and she said,”Hey sorry, the room is kind of messy...”

“It’s Ok Pooja, just came back to take that book on Quadratic Equations.” Said Pavan.

“It must be here somewhere.” Said Pooja and started searching for that book from a pile that was present on her study table.

Pooja’s mom went into kitchen to get some snacks for the guests and Pavan followed her when she asked him something about a few relatives.

Ravi and Pooja were alone in the room.

Pooja said, “Ravi I never thought that one day you would be in my room that too when my mom is present...”

“Why didn’t you come to school and what’s wrong with your voice.” Said Ravi thinking about her sweet voice.

“Achoo...I caught a cold Ravi, I always get them whenever I play in rain...didn’t you get a cold?” asked she.

“How can I tell her that medinites in me never make me sick” thought Agent Scar but he simply said,”I take my vitamin C everyday...so...”

“I don’t think I will be able to come to school tomorrow also, Ravi, I feel feverish...” said Pooja sneezing again.

Ravi slowly moved his hand towards her arm and gently squeezed it....this action alarmed Pooja.

“What will happen if mom sees us like this....?” were the thoughts running through her mind but she couldn’t utter a word.

“Pooja, your body temperature is 4 degrees above normal....” said Ravi casually.

“You hold a girl’s hand and this is what you say” were the words she wanted to say but simply said,”Oh Ok, how do you know? Doctor Ravi.”

Agent Scar never thought about the concept of prolonging one’s life or anything like that but being addressed as doctor made him think for that single moment “How would life be if I was not an assassin”

But he brushed away those thoughts and said,"Your voice sounds so good when its normal...."

Pooja said,"I like my voice this way Ravi...I don't like being that perfect girl and stuff..."

Agent Scar thought ,"What kind of strange girl is she...maybe people get tired of being perfect and things like that."

He got back to his senses when he heard footsteps coming from the other side of the door.

The door opened and Pavan followed by Pooja’s mom came into the room holding a few snacks.

Ravi said,” No thank you madam...we need to get going...”

“Oh you don’t have to be so formal Ravi...” said Pooja’s mother.

“What do your parents do?” was the second question and this time there was no quick answer and suddenly the room became silent.

After a few seconds it was Pooja who spoke up and said, “Mom, his parents died last year...”

“I am sorry Ravi, there is one last thing I want to ask you...I have seen you somewhere before, just not remembering where...do you know? Asked her mother.

Agent Scar remembered about the picture which Pooja’s sister Shruthi took when he and Pooja were working in the park but simply said, “Don’t know...we are meeting for the first time...”

Pavan said,”OK aunty, meet you later...bye.”

Ravi also said bye and left the place.

“Poor kid, loosing parents at such an important phase...must be tough for him...” said Pooja’s mother slowly.

Pooja with her hoarse voice said, “His parents left him a huge fortune...he is like super rich...”

“Money is nothing compared to family....you can never understand that....he seemed like a good kid except for his hair though....” said her mother remembering his messy hairdo.

“Really, you liked him?” said Pooja getting somewhat excited.

“What are you getting excited about?” asked her mother.

Pooja suddenly coughed and said “Nothing”....she continued, “Mom I don’t feel too good, I think I will take a little nap...”

“Go, play in the rain...you even want ice-cream? See what happened...when will you learn to take care of your own health Pooja” said her mom a little annoyed with the childish behaviour of her daughter.

“If something happens, you are there to take care of everything right???” said Pooja and turned and closed her eyes as if asleep.

Her mom left the room after tucking Pooja under her favourite blanket and Pooja’s mind became hyperactive and her thoughts continued ,”Yay... mom liked Ravi and I was breaking my head to think of various plans to introduce him....Thanks Pavan without you that wouldn’t have been possible...

While walking Pavan said,"Hey Ravi, Sudheer's house is also nearby...want to visit his house?"

Ravi had no work that evening and thought it would be fun to hang out with that guy who knew a little bit of Japanese and said ,"OK Pavan, will you also come?"

"No man, i need to hurry to Verma coaching...meet you tomorrow." said Pavan and went away after giving the directions to Sudheer's house.

In the facility....Location unknown...

“Welcome back Agent Scar” said the Scientist whose worn out lab coat said a lot about his experience...

“Why did you call me Dr. David?” said Agent Scar seriously.

“To give you a little birthday present.” Said Dr. David with a wink....

Agent Scar was in no mood for fun and he just looked at the doctor with a serious face....

“OK no jokes...show me your inhibitor...” asked the Doctor.

Scar stretched his left hand and David connected a cable from a nearby computer to Agent Scar’s Watch and after a few seconds all the info about the inhibitor was displayed on the screen.

“It’s an old version but don’t worry we will upgrade it in no time...” said the doctor cheerfully.

“First we need to inject you with an anaesthetic... Timothy, get an anaesthetic quickly” said David calling out to his assistant.

Timothy was a fresh college graduate and as he was new to work in the weapons facility he was naturally excited.

Timothy got the anaesthetic and gave it to David and the doctor asked him to administer it to the assassin.

When Scar lifted up his sleeve, Timothy was dumbfounded for a few seconds...

“You are Agent Scar Right??? I mean you are the youngest person to achieve the Legendry level status..I have read so much about you... I never thought I would meet you in person....”

Doctor David was a little annoyed and said, “Timothy, if your done with the star gazing shall we get down to work...”


Timothy got back to his senses and administered the anaesthetic and within a few moments Agent Scar went into deep slumber oblivious to what was going on around him or what they were doing to him....

After what seemed like hours to Agent Scar but in reality was less than 30 min. He woke up with a slight headache.

“What did you do doc...feel kinda different...” said Scar holding his forehead.

“Ohh nothing just upgraded the versions of all your nanites ... your optinites have been modified a little bit and now you don’t have to close one of your eyes when you activate the Eye of the Assassin...” said David.

“Then how am I going to choose between the two variations in it?” asked Scar a little doubtful.

“That’s simple...your inhibitor is now supersensitive to your voice commands...Eye of the Assassin Type 1 is the slow time one and Type 2 shows the altered perspective.” Said the doctor.

The Doctor continued...”We have upgraded even your medinites and now you heal twice as fast as you did earlier and finally your birthday present...we have kept a new type of nanites in you...the Arachnites”

“What do they do?” asked Scar a little curious.

“Ever heard of Spider-Man? “ asked Timothy.

“No who is he...” said Scar a little embarrassed.

“Well that’s not important...let me demonstrate it to you...put your hand on a wall and say the words Arachnites activate” said David.

Agent Scar followed the instructions and when he placed his hand on the wall and said those words suddenly he felt his hand tingle and a few moments later his hand was stuck to the wall.... It was a new experience for Agent Scar and he panicked a bit.

“Say the words Arachnites deactivate to return back your hand to normal.” Said the doctor happy that his new invention was working out properly.

Agent Scar quickly said those words and examined his hands and touched them again and again but they were not sticky at all.

Agent Scar asked “How does it work doctor?... I mean my hands feel normal.”

“Do you really want to know...you won’t understand it anyway” said Doctor David his ego filling him up.

Sensing that Scar was in no mood for fun the doctor continued “Actually I have designed those nanites in such a way that they lie just below the first layer of skin in your palms and as you know every atom is a magnet with two poles...these nanites emit small electrical charges and convert the atoms of the surface in this case a wall into the opposite poles and that makes the surface attractive to your palm....did you understand anything?”

“Ya somewhat....” said Scar.

Scar continued “ I have one more doubt... I always wondered how that slow time thing worked...it has saved me many times and its only natural that I would want to learn more about it...”

“You are in a chatty mood today Scar..what’s the news... you seem a little bit changed since the last time we met... I hope being with that girl hasn’t had an impact on you...” said David a little seriously.


“Nothing like that...was being a little curious thats all....” said Scar.

“Then it’s Ok...Timothy here will clarify all your doubts..I am kind of busy here...” said David and got immersed in his work.

Timothy came forward excitedly and said “Agent Scar I have researched a lot upon the Eye of the Assassin...its a complex biological process but I will put it in the simplest terms possible...The human brain can process images at a certain rate...but when agitated the body secretes some hormones and because of it the brain processes the images a faster rate and because of that an effect of slow time is achieved...”

“So what you are saying is that one second is still one second only but the way we perceive it is different...we feel it like more than a second...” said Scar trying to understand it.

“Exactly and these optinites allow you to secrete those hormones in larger quantities for an extended period of time...and as you are physically at peak human levels you can react very fast and for others it appears as if you are teleporting when you are just moving quickly.” Said Timothy.

“So how long can I be in this altered perception of time?” asked Scar.

Timothy thought for a while and said “ I think the maximum time you can be in that state continuously is 9 seconds...that should be more than enough to dodge bullets and sudden attacks.”

“Hmm yeah but anything else I need to know about my new eyes” asked Scar.

“ It might seem very useful but these optinites have a backdrop... they strain your eyes a lot.. I guess you already know that by now.... as you can use it with both eyes now...the duration is doubled and at the same time even the strain is doubled....and if you use them too much there is a chance of you going blind permanently...” said Timothy thoughtfully.

“So what you are saying is the Eye of the Assassin is like a double edged knife...it can be used to one’s advantage but at the same time it also causes disadvantage to the user....” said Scar with a wicked grin on his face.

Scar continued ,”Thanks Timothy, you were of good help.”

Timothy couldn’t believe his ears he said “Really was I helpful to you...I never expected you to be so nice...from what I have heard...you were nothing like that...I guess your reputation precedes you.”

Scar became serious again and Timothy became silent.

Scar thought,”What am I doing...is having a wish to talk a sin? But earlier I was never interested in talking to all these humans...Pooja are you really changing me... No, I cannot change... my name is Agent Scar and I am an Assassin.” He kept reminding himself.

Just then Dr. David came in and said “Scar, I need to run a few tests on you...to check if the Eye is working properly or not...”

Agent Scar accompanied by Timothy went into a new room where there was a glass chamber which had a gun like thing.

Agent Scar was instructed to go into the chamber and then Dr. David said,”Scar, we will fire extremely fast projectiles at you..Use your Eye of the Assassin Type 1...Ok...the test begins in 5 seconds.”

Scar’s mind was still disturbed with thoughts about him changing and all that.
He closed his eyes and just then the test began.

The first few projectiles he could dodge easily because of his acute sense of hearing but he had to try out his “new” eyes....

He muttered the words “Eye of the Assassin Type 1” into his inhibitor and opened them just to see the world go slow around him...the projectiles seemed so slow he could actually walk through them... and he was enjoying this feeling... but his happiness didn’t last long.

A few moments later he felt his eyes all burning up and his head felt like it was going to split into two...his eyes literally bled and he collapsed.

The test was terminated and David rushed to attend Scar.

After a few hours when Scar finally woke up for a few seconds he was not able to see anything and for a tiny instance he felt as if he had gone blind.

Then suddenly the world became clearer and heard the doctor say ,”The optinites haven’t had much testing...we had no one to test them on...” he continued “Don’t worry we have fixed them but my advice to you would be not to use them much...”

Agent Scar got up and was getting ready to leave the lab but Timothy caught hold of his hand and said ,”Hey you can’t leave now...we still need to run some more tests on you.”

“Leave me, I need to go, I have school tomorrow.” Said Scar seriously and left.

Dr. David said to Timothy “He is just a kid at heart...I think this mission is really letting him understand his human side a little more.”

Slowly but surely 6 P.M. did arrive and in Pooja’s house everyone were getting ready to go to a party and Shruti said,”Hey Po...wear that Pink Chudhidar of yours...really suits you....” admiring herself in the mirror wearing a new dress herself....

Pooja said, “No sis I am not coming...got a lot of school work to do......you people enjoy.”

“Mom, Pooja says she is not gonna come....” said Shruti.

Their Mother entered and asked why and Pooja said the same thing.

Her mother thought for a few seconds and said, “It’s not a really important thing anyway...you can stay but don’t waste your time.....we will be late so don’t wait for us...have dinner and sleep....lock the door from inside.....we have a spare key.....”

Pooja wanted to say,”Mom how old do you think I am.”


But didn’t say anything cause she was too happy she was getting extra time to spend with her Beggar Prince.

A few minutes later their parents and sister went away and after waiting for another 15 min to see if they are coming back.....she raced off to Friends Park along with her gifts and a card.

She was out of breath by the time she reached the park. She went to their usual meeting spot and found Ravi sitting on the bench all alone.

“Really Sorry Ravi.....I had to wait till my parents left......” said she panting.

“It’s OK Pooja....just glad that you came.” said Ravi.

“I would have come earlier if my family had left earlier but because of Shruthi, they got late.” Said Pooja thinking about her sister who always takes a lot of time to get ready.

“Who is this Shruthi?” asked Ravi.

“She is my elder sister....Ravi this is what I wanted to talk about....” said Pooja.

“You wanted to talk about your sister?” said Ravi.

“No....what I meant was you don’t know anything about me Ravi.....” said Pooja.

“But I feel I know enough about you.” Said Ravi somewhat confidently.

Pooja suddenly felt a sense of contentment filling her up. She thought “He thinks a lot like me.”

But keeping the thoughts to herself she asked him Teju’s question “How much is enough Ravi?”

Ravi was kinda surprised by that question and thought for a while....he tried to recollect if any movie had that scene.

After a few moments of silence he said “Pooja, I know you love me isn’t that enough to reciprocate the feeling.”

Pooja blushed after listening to that answer but said “No Ravi that isn’t enough, you need to know about my family background etc. Etc.”

“I don’t know.... I love you and that’s it.....” said Ravi defiantly.

“Why Ravi why.....why do you like me so much?” asked Pooja seriously.

Agent Scar didn’t know what to say to that girl....

“Come on think....you are an assassin you came out of many tricky situations....this shouldn’t be a problem for you.” Were the thoughts racing in his mind.

But he didn’t know what to say.....he thought for a while and decided to say what was in his heart all along and slowly said,” Because of the Theory of Inductive Resonance.”

“What!!!!!.” Pooja exclaimed.....she continued “Ravi what is the relation between that physics concept and love?”

“Pooja, just like the frequency of a body increases when some sound are applied....my heart rate also increases whenever I listen to your voice.” Said Ravi innocently.....he continued “This phenomenon I observed from the first time you offered me biscuits on the first day of school.”

Pooja was highly impressed by that answer and couldn’t contain her words she said, “Ravi, I wanna hug you now.....”

Agent Scar looked at her with some kind of strange expression of surprise and Pooja felt embarrassed...she quickly said, “I can’t do it here....anyway I have something for you.....Here’s your gift B’day boy.”

She gave him the package she brought.

Ravi opened the cover and found a soft teddy which was holding a heart on which “Te Quiero” was written.

Then there was a greeting card which was a small one but produced the “Happy Birthday” tune melodiously whenever opened.

Agent Scar was surprised on seeing the card...he opened and closed it many times observing it very curiously. He didn’t understand what to do with the soft toy and ignored it completely playing only with the card.

Pooja thought “This Ravi behaves like an overly mature person sometimes and a little kid the other time..... Don’t know who the real one is.”
She cleared her throat and said “Ravi did you like your gifts?”

“They are really nice Pooja, specially this card...I liked it a lot....” said Ravi excitedly.

“Why Ravi, didn’t anyone give you a musical card before?” asked Pooja.

“No, actually no one has ever given me anything on my birthday till now.....you are the first one to ever do this.....Thank you Pooja.” Said Ravi emotionally.

Pooja was filled with sympathy for her little childish lover and wanted to hug him just to make him feel better but didn’t do anything like that.

She had forgot about the personalization factor and said “Ravi, forgot to give you this.”

Then she removed an old pair of specs which were slightly bent and gave it to Ravi.

“What are these for?” asked Ravi confused.

“These are my first pair of specs....one of my most cherished treasures.....I have so many memories with them....but now I want you to have it.” Said Pooja recollecting her memories.

“Why Pooja, if you like them so much why give it to me?” asked Ravi still confused.

“Ravi once give me that teddy and those specs.....” said Pooja.

Then she kept her old specs on the teddy and it fit correctly.

Pooja proudly showed her creation and Agent Scar still couldn’t understand.

So she only took the initiative and continued...”Ravi, say hi to Mini Pooja...whenever you want to talk to me and I am not there talk to mini Pooja.”

Ravi said, “Does this thing have some microphone or anything like that with which you can hear what I am talking.”

“No Ravi, what do you think I am, some kind of Female Spy?” said Pooja.

“Then you can’t hear what I am saying right?” asked Ravi once more.

“No, but imagine as if I am right there and if your feeling is really strong maybe I can hear...” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Agent Scar couldn’t understand what she was trying to convey but still played along.....

Then he asked “Hey Pooja, know what Te Quiero means....”

“No I don’t” she said innocently.

“Without knowing, why did you give it to me...” said Ravi seriously

“Is it something bad.” Asked Pooja a little nervous.

“It means I Love You in French....” said Ravi mischievously.......

“Wow Ravi you scared me....” said Pooja relieved.

Ravi then looked at his watch and said ”Pooja your one hour is almost over...”

“Don’t worry about that....my family has gone out and won’t be coming till late night.” Said Pooja confidently.

“Ok fine...you said you wanted to talk about something” asked Ravi curiously.

“Ya I forgot, hey Ravi remember rule no.2 of our relationship?” said Pooja.

“Of course...what about it...” said Ravi.

“Ravi acc. To that rule, you should know everything about me and vice versa....your turn to interview me....start...” said Pooja.

“Why all this so suddenly.....anyway what should I ask you...” asked Ravi in confusion.

“Your wish...ask anything you want to know....” said Pooja getting ready.

“Ohh Ok what is your favourite colour?” asked Ravi.

“Purple and Black.....and sometimes even Pink” said Pooja

“Favourite food?” said Ravi.

“Well in vegetarian I like Potato Fry and Mango Dal and Non-veg I like first Fish Fry and then Chicken Fry....” said Pooja salivating thinking about her most preferred dishes.

“Favourite Pastime......” asked Ravi.

“Well I really like reading all kinds of books specially fantasy novels....and watching movies and my most fav genre is Horror......and ya sometimes even romantic ones are fine with me...”

And then Ravi asked Pooja some more trivial things to which she answered but felt somewhat awkward...

Pooja said ”Phew...that was some quiz Ravi...now my turn....”

But before she could ask any question it started to rain and as it was the monsoon season in India...it soon became a heavy downpour.....

“Arghh Pooja come quickly, let’s find some shelter.....” and grabbing hold of Pooja’s slender arm he ran to find cover....


But just as they reached shelter Pooja broke free of Ravi’s tight grip and said “What are you doing?”

“Hey if you get wet you will catch a cold...” said Ravi blankly.

“I know that but I like playing in the rain.....” said Pooja sheepishly.

Leaving Ravi in the shelter she ran out....swirled, twirled, jumped and made wavy motions with her arms....in short she was dancing with pure ecstasy...No skill no talent but just the joy of dancing....


Ravi looked at her with awe and thought “A girl who appears so serious and studious has such a playful nature in her...I can never understand humans completely.”

“Ravi come on...don’t be shy...join me it’s so much fun...” screamed Pooja.

He too stepped outside the cover and as it was still raining heavily he got completely drenched in a few moments....

”What is fun in this...you just get yourself wet and sick” thought he.

“Hey isn’t it fun Ravi...come on you too dance...” she said playfully.

“No Pooja I can’t...I don’t know how to.” Said Ravi shyly.

“Who is a trained classical dancer here? Just enjoy the feel of cool water over your head and move your body....” said Pooja continuing her dance.

Then suddenly Ravi’s watch beeped and the message flashed “Come over quickly...”

“Umm Pooja, I need to go...got some urgent work...” said Ravi getting ready to leave.

“Ravi, everyday you ask me to wait a little longer and I can’t. Today I have a lot of time but your leaving why?” asked Pooja longingly.

“Really sorry, I just remembered I had to do something important....” said Ravi.

“More important than even me????” asked Pooja a little enviously.

“Don’t be silly Pooja....you know I have to attend some boring board meetings and all that...” said Ravi a little angrily. He continued “Shall I call a car of mine...how are you going to go home....”

“On my cycle only....hey Ravi can I ask you something....” said Pooja

“Anything....” said he.

“Will you drop me on my cycle to my house.....I always had that wish.....” said Pooja shyly.

“OK fine....” said Ravi and without thinking much

And both of them jumped onto Pooja’s old pink bicycle and Ravi started pedalling fast while Pooja while holding her umbrella trying to protect them.


On the way...Pooja said to Ravi, “You know what...you didn’t even give me a chocolate for your birthday....”

“Tomorrow definitely one large bar of chocolate with extra nuts will be waiting for you...” said Ravi dropping her off near her house and quickly hurrying away in the rain.

Morning arrived finally and Pooja woke up excited, quickly got ready to go to Verma Coaching Centre. She took the gift along with her.....

”What should I say to him....should I just tell him a Happy Birthday or something else......”were her thoughts as she was on the way to her coaching centre. Then something struck her.... she should have wished him at 12 am but the biggest problem to that was that she didn’t have his phone no. And they were supposed to be ‘Lovers’

She felt kinda stupid for not asking his phone no. But then she satisfied her conscience by thinking “He didn’t ask my no. either.....” In between all these thoughts she reached Verma Coaching Centre, there were still 15 minutes left for classes to begin and still no sign of Ravi.

The bell rang signalling the commencement of classes. Teju who was sitting Pooja said, “I guess he won’t be coming today....he is usually early you know....anyway what do you want him for now? You know how things are here....”

“Ya ya...you are not supposed to lift your noses from the middle of the books....girls and boys are not supposed to talk to each other in class.....” said Pooja remembering a few incidents that happened to some of her classmates who broke a few rules.....



The first teacher entered the class and everyone became silent........

After two periods they had a break of 15 min.

In the Break........


“Teju, the thing is its Ravi’s Birthday today and I wanted to be the first one to wish him...” said Pooja sadly.


“Why, didn’t you wish him last night?” asked Teju a little surprised.

“I don’t have his phone no.” said Pooja a little embarrassed.

“What!!!you still don’t have his no. What do you people do after going home....” asked Teju now in complete disbelief.

“Actually we meet everyday... so the need for a phone never came.. He didn’t ask me either? So why should I?” said Pooja a little defiantly.

Teju then asked”Do you at least have a photo of him?”

“No....” said Pooja.

“You people are really a great couple.....no phone no. no email id, no photos....the first thing you do today evening is send him some of your photos which are really good.” Said Teju.

“But why?” questioned Pooja innocently.

“Don’t ask stupid questions just do as I tell you.....leave that did you at least buy him a gift?” said Teju seriously.

“Yes of course, who do you think I am?” said Pooja a little annoyed.

“No its just that you people are so close to each other that I thought maybe you would just tell him a happy birthday and be off with it.” Said Teju sarcastically....

“We know what is needed to know about each other and that’s enough for us.” Said Pooja her anger building up.

“So what is that which is needed?” said Teju raising one of her eyebrow.

“It’s personal.” Snapped Pooja and even their break finished after that.

The next class started but Pooja wasn’t really interested in listening to it....her mood was really bad because : 1.Ravi didn’t turn up after so much planning on her part.

2.The talk with Teju really raised some doubts in her......were they really behaving like a “couple”

After a while Pooja calmed down and thought coolly only to realize something.....She didn’t know much about Ravi even after so many days of being in a relationship. She remembered that Rule no. 2 of their relationship was “to know each other perfectly” but most of their talks in park were about useless trivial things rather than getting to know each other. Pooja felt really bitter when she thought about Ravi and how less they know about each other.

After one hour when she went home, quickly got ready for school but this time she didn’t take the gift along as she knew it would be impossible to give it to him at school.

At school she was the first one to enter the class and she had come early only to spend some time with Ravi alone. But she was disappointed as even at school he was not to be seen.

A few minutes later Shreya entered the class, both of them were not surprised on seeing each other at that time as they knew why they had come early but what was surprising was Ravi who used to come to class earliest did not turn up.

They did not look into each other’s eyes but simply went and sat at opposite corners of the class.

Pooja was thinking, “Does she know that it’s his birthday today..... she can’t....I am the only girl he talks to or did he tell that witch by slip of tongue.....na he wouldn’t.....”

Both of them felt very awkward not talking to each other....staring blankly at the black board with too many thoughts running through their heads.

They were like that for only a few moments but that small time interval seemed like hours for them.

Pooja then removed a book from her bag and started reading it, while Shreya went to meet some of her friends in different classes.

Both of them didn’t want to be in each other’s company at all.

Slowly the class started filling up and even their class teacher Ms.Savita came in and started taking the attendance.

She called everyone by their Roll No.’s

Roll No. 17 Pooja.....

Yes madam....

Roll No. 18....Roll No.18.....Roll no. 18 Ravi Teja.......

“Present......” said Ravi a little breathless, standing at the door.

Pooja was the one who heaved a sigh of relief in her heart and was really glad.
She thought ,”What took this idiot so long......silly fellow.”


“What took you so long....you could have given me a heart attack.....tell me why didn’t you come to Verma Coaching today?” were the first words said by Pooja to Ravi in the short interval.

“Sorry Pooja, I had a meeting to attend last night.... and I am just coming back from airport....really sorry.” said Ravi longingly.

“OK OK whatever but you could have at least told me....you don’t know how bad I felt when you didn’t turn up today morning, I bought you a gift and wanted to be the first one to wish you....” said Pooja a little sad.

“No one knows it’s my birthday even now and you would still be the first person if you had wished me even during our park time” said Ravi.

“Ravi there are still a lot of things I need to talk to you about.....anyway Happy Birthday.” said Pooja.

“Thanks and what are those ‘other things’ you want to talk about.” asked Ravi somewhat curiously.

“Now is not the place or time....meet me at our place 6 PM.” said Pooja and was getting ready to go back to her bench.

“But your friend Shreya already saw us there....is it alright?” asked Ravi somewhat confused.

“Firstly, she is not my friend anymore and secondly, that park is not hers.” saying those words angrily Pooja went away.

3 more periods passed slowly and it was lunch time.

Pavan as usual came and sat beside Ravi.

He said, “Ravi you know what I got an idea for a new book last night.”

Agent Scar was not interested much but said, “Good for you.”

Pavan continued ,”I get most of my ideas and scenes for my books in my dreams....Last night I got a dream about a person who took money to kill me.......that’s when I decided to write a story about An Assassin.”

Agent Scar’s eyes widened when he heard the last word..... He said,” Tell me Pavan what do you know about assassins, what’s the story?”

“Ravi I can’t tell you anything as of now but I will surely write only after doing research on the subject....you don’t think I get crazy dreams do you?” said Pavan somewhat embarrassed.

“Na nothing like that, I think it’s a new concept...anyway what is the name of the assassin.” asked Ravi.

“Still don’t know....you suggest something.” said Pavan.

Ravi thought for a few moments and said “How is the name Agent Scar.....a nameless, faceless Assassin.”

“Wow Ravi that’s really cool and mysterious....thanks a lot.” Said Pavan and he too went away.

On the way to the mall Rose asked Pooja how much her mom gave her and Pooja told sadly how her mom gave her only 200 bucks and how she had to add all her savings.

“What do you want to shop?” questioned Rose to which Pooja replied, “My friend’s birthday is coming up and I wanted to buy a gift.”

“Boy or girl?” asked Rose.

“Boy” said Pooja

Rose didn’t dwell more on who that person was but changed the topic and asked, “What are you planning to buy for him.”

“Don’t know Rose, I’ve never bought a gift for a boy....what do you think I should give him?” said Pooja


“I don’t know either but if you wanna take my advice....make it something personalized.” advised Rose

“Personalized in what way?” questioned Pooja.

“Hmm...personalized means...it should show your effort in that gift.” said Rose in a matter of fact way.

“What do you want me to do....put my sweat on it?” said Pooja a little annoyed.

Both the girls laughed for a second.

Then Rose continued, “No what I meant was it should not be like you just went to a shop and picked up something...but did something personal to make them feel special....I make paintings of things they like and give it to them.”

“But I can’t paint.” said Pooja sadly.....

“Then write a small poem or something like that.” said Rose.....

“I can’t do that either....anyway giving a gift is only a big thing and you expect me do all such things....lite.” said Pooja with a streak of arrogance.

They finally reached the mall which had been opened on that morning only.

Its name was “P.R Mall”

Rose was amazed by the sheer size of it.....She said,”Ohh my God...I went to a mall in Chennai once but this is so much bigger.”

Pooja said, “Come on Rose, we didn’t come here to look at its exteriors only.”

A huge map of the mall was displayed at the entrance on a huge screen....Pooja checked if any gift shop was there and there was one in the first floor.

Rose and Pooja went into the shop which was the biggest gift shop both of them had ever seen and it had the widest array of soft toys in entire Hyderabad.


The shop also had chocolates boxes in various shapes and wind chimes which produced the most melodious music when a breeze hit them occasionally.

“Wow Pooja, all these articles appear so expensive.” said Rose in awe.

“They are all so expensive.......”echoed Pooja looking at some of the price tags.

Then the manager of the shop came and said, “Hello girls, how may I help you?”

“Umm...I am looking for something to give my friend....but I am not sure what to give him.” said Pooja.

“You can give him a chocolate box or this cute teddy bear here.” Said the manager.

“But will boys like soft toys?” asked Pooja.

“Yes, if they are given by someone special.” Said the manager and winked giving a smile.

Pooja checked the soft toys section and found a really cute teddy bear but when she saw the price her heart sank a little.....the price was 600/- and just when she was about to put it back the manager came and said, “What happened...it’s a really good choice.”

“But I don’t have that much money with me......” said Pooja grimly.

“Hey didn’t you read the banner on the ground floor.....today everything is on sale for only half the price.” said the manager.

Pooja was really elated and quickly told the manager to gift pack it and even selected a greeting card for Ravi.....

Just before leaving the shop the manager said, “Girls, don’t forget to check out the shop ‘Chocolate Fantasy’ on 5th floor....you have to try their special milk shake....you can get 2 glasses for the price of one.”

Now Pooja and Rose definitely wanted to go there and as it was on 5th floor Pooja said, “Let’s take the lift Rose...we can reach there sooner.”

But Rose said, “If we go by stairs....we can check out other shops on the way too.”

Pooja liked the logic and started walking slowly towards the last floor of the mall.

While they were exploring the mall...Rose was telling Pooja about her various experiences in Tamil Nadu but Pooja wasn’t really interested in them because she was thinking about Ravi and how he would react when he sees the personalized gift she planned to give him.

Finally they reached the shop ‘Chocolate Fantasy’....it was a room filled with aromas of chocolates imported from different parts of the world....The shop was really crowded and Rose suddenly said,”Hey Pooja, that boy Ravi from our class is here.”

“Na he can’t be here....he hates crowded places.” Said Pooja.

“No really, I never forget names or faces....see that boy wearing that red shirt is Ravi only right?” said Rose.

Then Pooja saw a dull red shirt among many colours but couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Ravi checking that nobody was watching him takes not one but 3 expensive chocolates from a container.

First reaction of Pooja was, “What the hell is he doing....why is he behaving so cheaply.....”

Then her thoughts continued, “Did I have to do so much to buy a gift, for a mere thief.”

Rose broke Pooja’s flow of thoughts, she said,”Pooja, I thought you said he was a nice boy...but he is stealing.....we should complain about him.”

The last part of Rose’s sentence brought Pooja truly back to her senses.


Pooja said, “No let him be....he will only be punished for his sins.”

“No Pooja, my dad always says that the true triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” said Rose seriously.

Before Pooja could say anything further to Rose... Rose started screaming, “Thief.... thief....”

People suddenly stopped moving and saw what was happening...only one of them moved and it was Ravi....

” This boy stole some chocolates.” Continued Rose pointing towards Ravi.

Then someone got hold of Ravi’s collar and started getting rough with him... Agent Scar wanted to remove that person from his sight in an instant but did not react as there were too many humans.

“Hey, how dare you steal...you little punk...expensive clothes, good shoes...what are you some kind of high end thief?” said the man holding Ravi’s shirt.

Ravi said, “Let me go, I am not a thief...”

Rose came in and said, “Yes you are.... I saw you stealing.”

Ravi saw that it was the new girl at school and at a little distance behind some people he could clearly see utter disbelief in Pooja’s eyes.....an expression he couldn’t see for long.

Ravi said, “Is it wrong to take chocolates from your own fridge....”

“You are talking as if this shop is yours....” said that gruff man who was holding Ravi tightly.

Other people started closing in on Ravi to thrash him.....

Suddenly the manager of the mall came and he was shocked at what he was seeing......he said, “What’s the matter sir?”

That man who was holding Ravi tried to say something but the manager cut in and said,”I wasn’t talking to you.”

“He is the thief and you are stopping me from talking.” Said the gruff man.

“Who do you think this boy is....he is the owner of the entire mall.” Said the manager.

Now everyone were in disbelief and Pooja suddenly felt very proud.

Rose was the most embarrassed among all and she wanted to hide her face in a bag......

Agent Scar said, “Next time...check before hand whose collar you are holding.”

That man suddenly left him and walked away silently.......

Everyone slowly cleared the way and Ravi went to meet Pooja.
Ravi asked,”Pooja what did you buy?”

“Why do you want to know that?” taunted Pooja.

“Nothing special, just like that.” said Ravi casually.

During this conversation between the couple Rose coughed suddenly and reminded them of her presence.

Pooja said, “Ravi this is Rose....our new classmate”

Agent Scar thought, “Does this Pooja think I can’t see.....” But simply said,”Umm Hi nice to meet you.”

Rose was still too embarrassed to say anything and nobody forced her to either.

Pooja was the only one doing most of the talking among the three.

She said, “Ravi, why did you take the chocolates so sneakily?”

“I took them just like I always do.” said Ravi.

“People don’t take things like that...so silently, secretly....anyway why did you take 3.” asked Pooja.

“Actually I saw you people and thought of giving you free samples........” said Ravi

Rose was really impressed by Ravi and thought he was a nice guy.

Pooja like a little girl asked, “Where is my chocolate?”

Rose pulled Pooja’s sleeve but Pooja repeated the question again and this time Ravi dug deep into his pockets and removed 3 medium sized bars of chocolates. He gave one to each of them and kept one for himself.

Pooja and Ravi were walking very slowly, talking to each other while Rose was walking pretty fast and after a while she had left them behind.

The couple were so engrossed in their discussions about mundane things that they had forgotten a person called Rose was with them.

Pooja finished her chocolate and then she suddenly realized something and said, “Ravi, Rose doesn’t know the routes here......and if we go on like this she might get some unnecessary doubts about us..... I need to go now....talk to you later.....”

“Do you really have to go.....” asked Ravi longingly.

“Yes dear......” said Pooja and she was about to leave but just then Ravi caught hold of Pooja’s hand and pulled her closer.

Pooja got alarmed and said”What are you doing?”

“I wanted to give you something....” said Ravi

“What?” asked Pooja now getting a bit red faced.....

Ravi removed another bar of chocolate from his pocket and gave it to her....
Pooja said “That’s it....”

“Ya what else do you want... I only brought 3 chocolates.....” said Ravi a little confused.

“Thanks for the chocolate....you are really sweet.....” saying that Pooja ran off.

Agent Scar thought “Why does she always leave so suddenly.....just when I am getting to know her a little better. “

Then his thoughts continued “No what am I thinking....she is a human and I am an Assassin....she is just a tool useful to complete my mission that’s all”

Checking that the coast was clear, he jumped into a nearby dark alley and vanished.
Pooja remembered that she hadn’t told bye to Ravi and turned back only to find thin air....no sign of him anywhere.

“You sometimes seem so complicated and sometimes so simple....Ravi, I don’t know if you are too good at acting or are really innocent.....but one thing is for sure....you never fail to surprise me”, thought Pooja. She then quickly ran to catch up with Rose.

“You people seem to be really good friends.” Said Rose.

“Heh heh Ya....” said Pooja forcing a cackle.

Rose didn’t talk much after that and they reached her hostel pretty soon.

Pooja said,”Meet you at school tomorrow and ya this is my phone no. ...if you need anything just give me a ring...”

“Umm don’t you have a cell phone?” asked Rose...

“Well I asked for one but parents said they will buy me after tenth finishes....” said Pooja sadly.

“OK fine, bye, take care....” said Rose.

“You too.” Said Pooja and both of them went their separate ways.

That night after dinner Pooja lay in her bed and thought how Ravi’s reaction would be on seeing ‘The Personalized Gift’ she planned to give him on his birthday.

The next day as usual Pooja woke up early... got ready and went to Verma Coaching Center and found Teju sitting at the 5th bench, Ravi sitting at the last bench.... then she told to Teju about the last night’s events and how Shreya was unable to understand her properly..... Teju too sided with Pooja and told her to take that Shreya lite....
Then again after 3 hours Pooja found herself getting ready for school and strangely she didn’t feel like going to it..... cause Shreya would be there but after a while she thought, “Why shouldn’t I go if she would be there?” and boldly stepped into the school premises but a strange feeling gripped her.... she felt as if she did not have any friends in there and what all Shreya must have told about her to everyone else.... The class was quite full and nobody showed any sudden change in their demeanor when she entered the class, so she thought Shreya mustn’t have told anything.... then after a few minutes their class teacher Savita entered and made a surprising announcement, “Dear students we are going to have yet another new student in our class and she is coming from Tamil Nadu ... be nice to her.”


Most of the boys were excited when they came to know it was a girl coming..... For the first time in four years Pooja was not sitting beside Shreya... Then a few moments later, the new girl entered the class and brought along with her a lingering fragrance of White Lilies, she had shoulder length hair, good complexion and she looked a little nervous.... but Ms.Savita put her arm on the new girl’s trembling body and said, “Why don’t you introduce yourself.”

Then the new girl began, “Hello everyone, my name is Rose Arthur and I came from Tamil Nadu.”

Then Ms.Savita said, “Welcome Rose, I am your class teacher Savita and please take your seat... your Roll No. 41.”

Rose scanned the class and found only three places empty...one was beside Pooja in the second bench and one was beside Shreya in the first one..... The last bench was empty except for messy haired boy and she didn’t want to sit either in the first or the last bench so she chose to sit beside Pooja.

Pooja gladly moved aside and was happy that Rose chose her and not Shreya..... The first thing Pooja told Rose when they sat beside each other was...”Nice perfume Rose.”

Rose smiled and said, “Thank you, it’s called the “Dawn of White Lilies.” What is your name?”

Pooja replied,”Pooja, and pleased to meet you.”

Rose continued,”Oh don’t be so formal.” And they could’ve talked like that for some more time if their teacher hadn’t opposed them.

Slowly the time for recess came and Pooja took it up as her responsibility to introduce Rose to all the students of the class and one by one both of them went and met their friends.....

Then Rose asked, “Who is that weird boy in the last bench who is not eating anything.”

Pooja thought,”Oh god, how many times should I tell him to get 2 tiffins and not one”

Then Pooja got back to her senses and said,”Ohh his name is Ravi.... he doesn’t talk much”

Suddenly Shreya muttered, “Except with some people.”

Pooja said angrily, “You got a problem with that.”

The discussion seemed to be getting heated up and before something else could happen.... Pavan intervened and said, “Calm down both of you...what happened.”

“Ask your cousin.....humph”, saying that arrogantly, Shreya exited the scene.

Pavan then asked Pooja what was the matter and Pooja didn’t say anything about the previous night and she along with Rose went away,

Rose then asked,”Pooja, who was she, what was her problem.”

Pooja said, “Her name is Shreya and she is kind of mad, leave about her, tell me why you came to Hyderabad 2 months after the school began?”

Rose stayed silent for a few minutes and then slowly started, “I come from a small village in Tamil Nadu.... and did my schooling till ninth standard there only.... but one day I entered a painting competition sponsored by St.Joseph’s Society and won the first prize in it. So, I was entitled to a scholarship and that’s how I got admission here.”

“Wow Rose, that’s really cool, show me your drawings.... and I don’t want to hurt you or anything but your English is... is really good.” said Pooja feeling a little uncomfortable with herself.

Then Rose smiled and said,”Ohh though I came from a little village, my English teacher who taught me for 9 years was really good and took great care for us to learn correct language.”

Pooja felt she shouldn’t have said that but then quickly changed the topic, “So where are you going to live Rose have any relatives in Hyderabad?”

“No one actually, I am going to live in a hostel near school.” said Rose and a few minutes later tears started rolling in her eyes..... It was the first time she had come so far away from home and she was remembering her family in TN....

Pooja saw that and said,”Hey don’t cry Rosy... we will talk to your parents once the school finishes and you know what...... Let’s go shopping in the evening......a new mall is opening today”

“Ohh OK...fine....” said Rose controlling her tears.....

The real reason why Pooja wanted to go to mall was to buy a gift for Ravi and she needed someone to accompany her as her Mom wouldn’t let her go alone...

Later that evening after school............Pooja and Rose made a phone call to Rose’s parents residing in Tamil Nadu.

Rose started, “Hello Mom, it’s me Rose.”

Rose’s Mom was extremely emotional on listening to her daughter’s voice because it was the first time that Rose was staying away from them, words failed to come out of Rose’s Mom’s mouth and only tears rolled down her cheeks.

Then suddenly Mr. Arthur (Rose’s dad) took the phone from Mrs. Arthur’s hand and said, “Hello Rose glad to hear from you, your mother is.....you know right what she does when she gets emotional......”

Rose imagined her mother crying and she too started crying and her father tried everything to console her. He said, “Don’t worry darling; it’s just a matter of one year...it will be over soon and you will even come here during your vacations right?”

Then he tried to divert the topic by asking her about other things like school and is she made any new friends.

Rose suddenly got excited and replied, “Dad; the school is really nice, all the teachers here are warm and very helping.....forgot to tell you Dad....I made a new friend here.....her name is Pooja and she can’t draw or anything like that but she really has some imagination.....”

Then Rose continued telling some more trivial things about Pooja which made Pooja a little squeamish.

Mr. Arthur asked if that Pooja was near.

Pooja took the phone and said, “Hello Mr. Arthur, my name is Pooja; nice to meet you.”
Mr. Arthur said, “No dear the pleasure is mine. I am really glad Rose made friends so soon....”

“Ohh nothing like that....we started talking and found that we had many things in common that’s all.” said Pooja

“No Pooja you don’t understand....Rose is a very shy kind of girl who doesn’t talk to a lot of people ......she’s always lost in the world of her art...to be frank I’ve never been able to completely understand her myself.....I know I am asking too much but if possible try to make the fear of new people in her go.”, said Mr. Arthur

Then Pooja thought, “I myself don’t like to talk to people unless required and he asking me (an introvert), to make another girl into an extrovert.”

While she was lost in those thoughts...Rose’s Mom suddenly took the phone and said,”Pooja, see to it that she eats well, she doesn’t eat until she is forced too......”

“Mrs. Arthur, I won’t be staying in same hostel as Rose but OK fine I will try to check on her whenever possible.”

Then Rose took the phone from Pooja’s hand and said,” Bye Dad; Bye Mom...love you......”

“We love you too....bye and take care.” said her parents together and disconnected the call.

Then Pooja said, “Now you don’t start crying again.....get ready....we will leave for the mall in an hour.”

Both of them went away and quickly got ready and Pooja went to her mother and said,”Mom, my friend’s birthday is coming up and I need to buy a gift........can you umm lend me some money.”

Without much thought her mom asked, “How much?”

“500 Rs.” said Pooja

“So much!!!, who is this friend?”, asked her mother.

Pooja was taken aback by that question but said, “She is a new girl in my school.”

“No Pooja, don’t waste so much money and remember the value of the gift is in the heart that gives it and not its price.”

Pooja thought, “Such dialogues are nice to listen but not to follow practically.”

Then Pooja became a little disappointed and asked slowly,”OK then, you only give...”

Pooja’s mom then removed 200Rs. from her purse and gave it to Pooja.

Pooja went to her room and checked all her savings and they added to some 300 Rs.
She now had 500Rs. but if she spent everything....she wouldn’t have anything left for a whole month.

Pooja’s mind was now divided into 2 halves.....

Angel (the good part of her) said, “Save some for a rainy day Pooja.....”

Viper (her evil alter ego) said, “Spend it all Po, buy some nice costly thing so that he would be really impressed and maybe he might even buy you a more expensive gift.”

She thought for a while and said, “Viper, this time I am going to listen to you.”

Then Pooja went near her school and found Rose already waiting for her there.

Pooja was shocked on seeing Shreya and her mind was buzzing with various thoughts about what to tell her but before she could say something.
Ravi stood up and said,”Hm, Hi Shreya."

"You left me for this, this... Frenemy", said Shreya

"What did you just call me?” said Pooja seriously.

"I said you are a frenemy. I thought you were my friend Pooja but you turned out to be my enemy, and you, Ravi this is your cool girl... I tell you she has no interest in you. All she ever thinks about is books, grades and don't know what.” said Shreya.

Before Pooja could say something, Ravi came up to her defence and said, “Well Shreya, you don't know anything about her."

"Ravi, you just stay out of this.” snapped Shreya.

"How dare you talk like that.” snapped Pooja.
Agent Scar read that when two girls are arguing, it is best to stay away from them because if one gets in between two battering rams he will only get crushed.


Then Shreya looking towards Pooja continued, “You know right, that I liked him why did you come in between us?"
Pooja said, “What if you like him, he should also like you right? If he doesn't, how can you think he would become your boyfriend."

"Hey witch I am done talking with you, just forget Ravi and everything will be alright.” said Shreya controlling her anger.

"Witch!!!???, how dare you call me witch, look at yourself you you...." Pooja was not getting any correct word to fill the gap but after a few seconds she said something that none of the them present there could ever imagine, she said, “Shut up you dumb twit, you have the brain of a dino.... so old and so small......"

Shreya was shocked on what she just heard, for a few moments there she was dumbstruck. She never expected such words from anyone and lastly from Pooja, her best friend from many years whom she trusted with even her most intimate secrets.
Then Shreya felt completely defeated and lonely… Her best friend and the boy she loved had both deserted her. She just did not understand what to do and felt like punching Pooja but controlling her anger and tears that came along.. she started running...really fast and soon reached the entrance of the park. There her driver was waiting and was a little surprised on seeing his little mistress crying but he kept quiet and wondered what must have happened.
She got into the car and said, “Don’t ask anything just take me home quickly.”
Her driver obeyed and was driving but her tears did not stop and suddenly he changed the route of the car.
Shreya through her tears noticed this and said,”Hey where are you going this is not the way.” But her driver paid no heed to her words and after driving for a few more minutes stopped at a place.
Shreya was really frustrated and said, “What is this place?”
Her driver slowly said, “Please get down Madam.” And he opened the door for her.
When she got down, she noticed that he had stopped the car in front of “Softy Den” The biggest Ice-Cream Parlour in entire Hyderabad.
And he said, “After you madam.”
Shreya said, “I did not ask you take me here… I want to go home.”
The Driver humbly said, “I won’t ask you what happened but atleast have an ice-cream.. you will feel better.”
Then Shreya as if in a trance went inside and sat down at an empty table. Her Driver knew which flavour she liked and brought a large edition of that one with extra nuts and cream.
Shreya said a meek thank you and started eating the ice-cream slowly. Her driver didn’t ask her anything but after a few spoonfuls of her ice-cream Shreya only said, “Thanks for bringing me here... Now I feel much better.” She continued, “Today was a very bad day for me… Why is God being so mean with me, Today I lost my best friend and the boy for whom I had special feelings.”
Her driver was listening to her patiently and said, “My child, remember one thing.. No day is so bad that you don’t have God’s Grace and no day is so good that you don’t need his grace,” Then her driver continued, “Maybe you deserved much better than the people who left you.. maybe they were never your friends to begin with,”
Shreya too thought the same thing but she just couldn’t forget all the feelings she had for those two. Some more time later she finished her ice-cream and went home.

Back at the park. Pooja had suddenly become very dull and Agent Scar thought.. why did that girl come and spoil our mood. After a while Pooja also started crying and Agent Scar just didn’t know what to do but he saw in movies that in such cases ”The Hero puts his arm around his lady love and consoles her.” But when he tried to do the same thing Pooja gave him a sudden glance and he felt it’s best not to do that thing and tried consoling with words only.
But before he could ask anything Pooja only started talking through her tears… “She called me a frenemy.. I was so nice to her, always helped with her many things just because she helped me once… I don’t forget what she did for me many years ago but now she called me many things…”
Agent Scar didn’t know that reminding the past would only make her feel more sad but asked her anyway, “What is the great help that she did for you which made you stand by her side all these years.”

Then Pooja slowly went into flashback mode.. and recollected the exact occurrence of events.
Pooja said, “I was not originally from this school, I transferred here when I was in some fifth grade or something. That time also I had my specs but the frame was a little odd and the first day here.. Some boys starting making fun of me but suddenly Shreya came to my rescue and drove

the boys away. That maybe a small gesture but for me it left an ever lasting impression and I could never forget that. She was the epitome of bravery for me back then.”
After listening to all that Agent Scar thought, “Humans, take little things too seriously, I can never understand them.” But he didn’t want to hurt Pooja’s feelings because she was already depressed. So he just looked at the time and said,”Pooja your one hour is almost finished,”
As soon as he said that a new fear gripped Pooja,”What if Shreya tells her Mom about Ravi and her meetings,”
She told the same thing to Ravi who could say nothing but, “Don’t worry nothing like that will happen.”

Then she hurriedly rushed to her house and expecting a lot of things and imagining even more but when she finally entered the house her mother behaved as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened but she looked at Pooja a little strangely and asked, “You look like as if you have seen a ghost.”
Pooja was completely relieved after understanding that nothing had been told so she just said, “A dog chased my cycle and that scared me a little.”

Then that night both the girls went to bed but were not exactly sleepy and both imagined how a new life at school without each other would be.

The school was a drag but it finally got over and then everyone went to their respective homes. Pooja was making all sorts of plans in her imaginative mind to tell her "Dark Secret" to another person for the first time. She went home, changed her dress and got ready quickly and after a cup of milk she took her cycle and was off. Her mother thought,"Wow she is changing a lot but anyway its in a good way only so I have no reason to worry."

After a few minutes the phone in Pooja's house started ringing.

Pooja's mom lifted the phone and said Hello.

The person on the other end said,"Hello Mrs.Reddy, it's me Shreya speaking, can I talk to Pooja."

Pooja's Mom was a little surprised on hearing Shreya on the other end and she said,"Shreya you still didn't go to the park?, Pooja said that she went there to meet you."

Shreya was a little surprised but was quick to respond,"Actually I got some urgent work and was going to be a little late and thats what I wanted to tell her."

"Oh, but she already left, don't worry about her she can wait.",said Pooja's Mother and hung up the phone.

Shreya was very suspicious now. She went to the park to meet somebody and took my name. I have to find out who that is and quickly went to the park.

In the park we find Ravi and Pooja on the same bench that they sat on previously in the "Forest Section" which was a little isolated. There Pooja was just fidgeting with herself and after a few minutes Agent Scar started getting annoyed by that, then he said,"Pooja you said you wanted to talk about something."

Pooja still looking down towards the ground said slowly,"Ravi what do you think about me?"

"What?,why are you asking all this now?",replied Ravi.

"Ravi a question is not answer to another question,just tell me what do you think about me."

Ravi was a little surprised by her question but said,"Well you are a really good girl."

Then Pooja said,"That, anyone can say, tell me what you think about me."

Then Ravi smiled and continued,"Now I get it, where this conversation is heading.. Pooja I am really lucky to get you... Happy?"

Agent Scar thought this was like a repeat of their conversation a few days ago.

But he was wrong because she said,"No thats not what I meant, tell me what is my character sketch according to you."

It took Ravi some time think what to say but then he said,"Well where to start... Hm I think you are a soft natured girl who wouldn't want to hurt others, you are studious, love to hang out with friends, help them when they are in trouble."

Then Pooja cut in saying,"And My favourite past time is watching Girly gossip shows and talking about them later?"

"Hm ya.",Ravi echoed. "Well Ravi there are a few things you need to know about me.",said Pooja slowly. After a brief pause she continued,"Ravi, I thought at least you could see through me but no even you flel for the pretence, but anyway I will only tell about myself.....firstly I am not such a girly or good girl, I have a few dark secrets."

Agent Scar thought,"Hey who wrote her dialogues man... she is saying everything I am supposed to be telling her."

She took a deep breath and continued,"I don't like gossip shows, I once ran away from an ice cream parlor without paying the bill, I tripped a boy once when I was in fifth class and made him cry...." She smiled to herself when she remembered that incident but then became a little more serious and said,"You may think I am a little freaky but I speak with Angel and Viper."

Ravi looked a little quizzed and said,"Who is this Angel and Viper."

It was evident that Pooja was feeling very shy now but said,"They are my imaginary friends, Angel is the good one and Viper is the bad one, before I take any major decision I consult them."

Another brief pause and then she said,"Ravi I wanted my boy friend to love me for what I am and not what he expects me to be, so if you love me even after this. I will be the happiest person if not......" She never completed that sentence.

Ravi had the most awkward expression she ever saw on a boy's face... it was a mixture of surprise,shock, in short it was very queer. Then she stood up and was about to leave but before she could move one step, she felt a tug on her arm. It was Ravi now smiling softly,then he pulled gently one more time and made her to sit on the bench. Pooja's eyes were getting moist.. she thought that Ravi would think her some nutcase and make fun of her. But he did no such thing. He looked at her with the most caring look that could come on his face.

Then he sighed and said,"Well thats a little unexpected..... remember one thing Pooja, I love you and there will be no change in that."

Now tears which had come in her eyes started rolling down her cheeks. Those were not the tears of sadness or pain but happiness and relief. But Agent Scar didn't know people cried even when they were happy and again his face started showing some kind of concern... Then he saw through her specs he saw deep eyes, moist with tears that were waiting to roll down. So Innocent and Sweet were here eyes. How could she think herself to be evil when she possessed such eyes? He slowly lifted his index finger towards her cheek and flicked away a tear that was rolling down.

"Thanks Ravi, I am so relived... I was expecting something different.",said Pooja.

Ravi said,"Hm Pooja you know what... what all you said as your dark secrets are not so dark at all, if you ask me you just think that you are evil but you are not... you are a good girl."

"No Ravi, I am not that good.",said Pooja a little loudly.

Agent Scar was thinking,"If she thinks she is not good and has dark secrets for those minute and useless things... what would she think of me when she gets to know my little secret and things I have done in my past."

Making Pooja fall in love with him was a part of Agent Scar's assignment and till now he thought it might be easy for him to do that but after listening to her little confession and how complicated her mind is... It just might take a little longer to complete his assignment than planned previously.

Then Ravi said,"Let me prove to you that you are a good girl Pooja. Tell me whose advice do you follow most of the times - Your Angel's or your Viper's?"

Pooja thought for some time and said,"Angel's only.. but sometimes I even listen to words of Viper."

Ravi smiled and said,"See that proves my point. You are a good girl who just thinks she is not so nice and it's alright to get into mischief sometimes. So tell me how much did you make the bill and ran away."

Pooja thought hard and said,"Oh your asking about the Ice Cream Parlor incident, that day I was alone and made a bill of Rs.140."

Then a big smile came upon Ravi's face. After that Pooja narrated some more incidents in her childhood when she was still not pretending to be "very good girl" according to her and most of the situations she narrated were hilarious for Ravi. He had never thought little girls could do such things and after a few minutes... He burst into laughter, something he had never done till that day, Pooja also started laughing out loud with him.

She thought,"I was always reprimanded for laughing loud and was only told to give soft smiles but with Ravi I don't need to hold back." and her thoughts continued,"I am so lucky to get him... he made me feel so many emotions like anxiety, happiness, romantic, and madness all in a span of 15 minutes, what would have happened to me if I had not met him."

But after a few seconds of their mad laughter Pooja suddenly stopped. Ravi still laughing asked through his laughter,"Hey what happened why did you stop suddenly." Then Ravi noticed that Pooja's face which was now a little red with tears and laughter in a short span was showing the emotion of shock. He turned back slowly to find Shreya so angry that she was breathing very heavily and she was definitely not amused at what she was seeing.

The next day she didn't want to wake up early but she had to. Then after another 3 hours of strenuous bout of classes in Verma Coaching Center in which she spent most of her time talking to Teju about Ravi.

It seemed as if Teju was more interested in knowing about Ravi then Pooja herself.

Finally in the end Pooja told Teju,"Enough, I don't know about him anything more, if you want to know more ask him yourself, I will make you both meet."

"What!! Meet? Him, now, No way...",said Teju.

"Yes way.",taunted Pooja and then she continued,"I think he will wait for a minute or two near the stationary shop near our coaching center before his Car comes."

Then when they got down, they saw him waiting for his car and there was some time before Pooja's Father also came. So Pooja went towards Ravi, Teju following her closely and Pooja said,"Hey."

That voice was too familiar and pleasant and on hearing it Ravi turned only to find the person he was expecting.

Then Pooja continued,"Ravi, meet my best friend Tejaswini but you can call her Teju." Teju suddenly froze cause she was not accustomed to talking with new boys very freely and didn't know what to say.

Then Ravi after a few moments of silence said,"You can talk to this 'Beggar Prince', he won't bite"

After listening to that Teju was a little shocked a looked at Pooja as if trying to convey,"Did you tell him that." but Pooja was also shocked and then Teju managed to say,"Did you hear that that day, I am really sorry."

"No it's OK.",said Ravi. Then his ride came and he went away.

"Pooja your boy friend is cool and mysterious, I really liked him a lot.",said Teju.

Then Pooja looked at Teju angrily but within she was happy that her best friend also approves of their relationship. Then a few minutes later her father came drove her back home.

Then she went to school and again she went early to find Ravi there all alone sitting in the last bench and then she started the conversation, "Hmm Ravi there is something I need to tell you." Ravi smiled at her and

He said,"Pooja the proposal part of our relationship is already over, now you can tell me anything."

The moment Pooja heard she blushed again, she was still not used to talking with him very freely. She felt awkward whenever she wanted to tell him something personal. She felt that he was supposed to be telling her a lot of things and she should be the listening type but for her... the reverse was happening.

Then she continued,"Oh not that Ravi,there is something else I want to tell you."

"OK Pooja go ahead.",said Ravi.

Then before she could continue their conversation ahead, someone else entered the class and it was none other than her best friend Shreya.

Shreya was a surprised on seeing both of them together. Seeing her Pooja stopped her talk right in its tracks and said,"Hi" with a weak smile coming onto her face.

Shreya looked at her suspiciously and then asked her,"Hey Po, what are you doing with him." Pooja felt very uncomfortable on being asked that question but after a few moments of squeamishness she managed to say,"Oh nothing Ravi here was telling me about his new girl friend." and then both of them looked at Ravi and Agent Scar just didn't know what to say suddenly and words failed to come out of his mouth.

Shreya took the initiative and started,"So you have a girl friend? and for her you rejected me."

Pooja came in and said,"Shreya, leave all that, he told you right? that he was not interested in you."

"You don't talk in between.",snapped Shreya and then she continued,"Hey Ravi show me your girl friend's picture and tell me more about her."

Ravi cleared his throat and said,"Well I can't show her pictures because even I don't have them but to summarize her in one word, she is cool girl to have as a girl friend."

Shreya didn't see Pooja but she blushed again when Ravi told Shreya about his cool girl friend.

Then Shreya said,"Can you introduce me to this cool girl of yours." Ravi then just smiled and said,"Well when the time comes." and went back to his seat and sat down.

But before further conversation could continue,some other students also entered the class and there was no point in continuing it. The school was a drag. Both Pooja and Agent Scar were eagerly waiting for the Park Time because Pooja wanted to tell him something and he was eager to find out what it was.