Chapter - 8

Meera reached office early since there was an important client meeting. She made sure that once after meeting she will attend Krithi's school function. Krithi got ready in her uniform and Kamala dropped her in her school. "Kamala ma, surely Mommy will come right" Krithi asked sadly. "Yes dear, she will come and you don't think about it. Practice for today's performance, All the best" she said kissing her cheeks. "You too come with mommy" she said and bid her bye.

Krithi joined her friends and practiced for the group song. Her teachers asked whether her mom would join the function. She replied that her mom surely will join the function in evening.

"Aishwarya, inform school management that I'm visiting there this afternoon and I too will join the function" Krishna informed Aishwarya. "Ok Krishna but why afternoon?" She asked hesitantly. "It's been four years. Evey year mom used to inspect the school but in these four years we never did that. Mom always had special care on this school, so I don't want to disappoint her" he said taking a deep breath. She nodded and called the management to inform that.

Krishna reached Bangalore in early morning flight. He reached his hotel room and freshened up. His wallet which he placed on the bed fell down when he sat on the other end. He picked it up in his hand and saw his mom's photo. She was smiling in that picture. All her memories flashed in his mind. She might be a business women but at the same time she concentrated more on the charity work too. She ran a charity trust and helped thousands of people in their education.

She took special care on that school in Bangalore since it was the place where Krishna completed his schooling. Twice in a year she visited the school but once after her accident neither Krishna nor Vishwa visited the school. Krishna never visited the school since it contains all his bad memories and Dev. His eyes were wet thinking about Dev. He wiped the tears and decided to visit the school early.

Afternoon,

He reached the school. Principal, staffs and few students welcomed him. He nodded with small smile and entered the school, the school which was filled with his childhood memories. Aishwarya too joined him and she too felt the same since that was the place where she too completed her schooling. Dev, Krishna and Aishu were good friends from their childhood. Unfortunately Dev died few years ago which haunted Krishna's mind. He controlled his tears and walked further.

He checked few files regarding school management and asked them whether they need some other help. They replied the fund which their charitable trust was more enough and they maintained it well. Krishna felt happy seeing their maintenance.

Meanwhile Aishwarya went around the school just to cherish her school memories. She went to the canteen, play ground, library, auditorium and prayer hall. Her heart was filled with the happy memories. She thought her school days were happiest part of her life and wished that could have been dragged a little longer, a lonely tear escaped her eyes.

Krishna asked the staffs to continue with their work. He didn’t want to disturb their work. He slowly wandered in the playground where he spent more time with Dev. All the scenes flashed infront of his eyes. The classrooms were remodeled, he sat on the bench and felt peace inside him.

He came out and walked in the corridor. He saw a small girl sitting there alone. He felt to talk with the girl. He went near her and called her. She turned to see him.

He looked at her without blinking. He felt that he had already seen her somewhere and more than that he had a strange feeling in his heart. He didn’t know what he exactly felt. "Uncle" she brought him back to the world. He smiled at her. She smiled back. "What are you doing here alone, baby?" He asked with smile. Her smile faded which broke his heart. Her sad face disturbed him. "I'm waiting for mommy. She promised me that she will come today but till now she didn't come" Krithi replied sadly.

"Still time is there, function will start at evening only right. So don't worry mommy will surely come" he consoled her but her face was still sad. He didn’t know why but her sad face hurt him a lot. "Okay, now I am promising you, surely mommy will come or else I'll go to her office and bring her here. Now I will get you ice cream, so smile" he asked with smile. "Icecream!! Mommy said I shouldn't eat ice cream and chocolate from others" she said suddenly.

He smiled. "That's good, but I'm not any other person. I'm one of the staff in this school. Today only I joined and we are not going out, I'll buy ice cream in the stalls inside school" he requested. Krithi accepted half-heartedly. He carried her in his arm, his heart jumped in happiness while taking her in his arm. Those feelings were very strange but that was very good. In those four years that was the first time he smiled wholeheartedly and his heart felt his lost happiness.

He usually love kids but he felt that kid was a magic and no one made him happy all those days. By seeing her, he felt like his heart was throwing all the sadness out refilled with happiness. He too felt his soul was somewhere connected to that kid.

"Baby, what's your name?" He asked eagerly. "Krithi" she said with a cute smile. "Cute name" he said with smile and they reached the ice cream stall. "What flavor you want?" He asked with smile. "Chocolate" she replied. He nodded and ordered a chocolate flavor. "Uncle you too eat ice cream with me" she said. He nodded with smile.

He made her sit on the table and bought the ice cream. He gave her chocolate and he had strawberry. "Uncle, mommy too likes strawberry flavor" she said happily. He smiled and asked her some random things. She answered him eagerly with some actions. He loved all her actions and he listened all her stories by nodding his head accordingly. He laughed wholeheartedly and kissed her cheeks.

Krithi usually takes time to mingle with other people but she felt comfortable around Krishna and soon became his friend. She too liked his company, forgot about the function in the evening and smiled happily with him. Krishna too said some stories which she heard for the first time. Meera used to say fairy tales but Krishna said her adventurous stories which made her completely involved in that. She enjoyed it by clapping her hands.

"Achacho, teacher will search for me. I have to dress up for the function" she said with shock. "Ok ok chill, I'll drop you in your classroom" he said with smile. She nodded. He took her to her classroom. Everyone looked at him with shock and nervous, he signaled them not to show expressions. They understood. "I'm sorry teachers, I only forced Krithi and took her to ice cream stall. So please forgive me and it was not her mistake" he requested.

"It's ok sir, we will take care" one of her teachers replied. He nodded with smile. He bid bye to Krithi, he smiled and bid her bye. She kissed his cheeks which made his heart happy. He left the place, he felt peace in his heart and loved that feeling. He had no word's to explain his current state. He forgot all his frustrations and sadness when he was with that child. "May be God sent this angel to heal my broken soul for few days" he thought and thanked God.

He noticed several similar things in her. She had several similar things in her like her smile, attitude, speech. He felt like he was talking to himself and thought that was the reason he liked her at the moment he saw her. His heart wished to see her again and again but he was helpless. He walked to the correspondent room and sat there with several thoughts. "How it would be, if I had a child like her!!? My deserted life would have been a blooming garden" he thought, his heart ached and it came out in the form of tears.