Author's POV

Dressed in the school uniform, a teenager Preeti tried her best to cover her figure under the dark green blazers since the freezing winds were blowing harshly in these winters.

Her friend, Rashi also sat with her silently. Both of them were having lunch, and there was no one else with them. Rashi could not befriend anyone for the last three years, so Preeti decided to stay with her instead of choosing the happy groups of her class.

People used to mistreat Rashi because her teeth were big, and she couldn't close her mouth all the time because of them. Her looks were the reason why everyone in the classroom used mock her.

A teenager Preeti suddenly recalled how the students of her previous school used to tease her for her fat body, so she could feel the unseen tears of Rashi. Rashi felt blessed to receive someone in this school, where only looks mattered till now.

The entire school drools over Arjun because he is handsome and these children are unaware of his actual life, which is totally messed up.

Arjun belongs to middle class family, and his parents had died in a car accident when he was just ten. His paternal grandparents gave up on him, and their property was transferred to his paternal uncle, leaving him all alone.

That is when his maternal grandmother adopted him, took care of him like his own child, but she wasn't as rich as his father's family. Arjun's father name ended with the surname 'Bhatnagar', but he adopted his mother's surname, that is 'Srivastava' because he was living with his maternal grandmother.

She exhausted everything she had to ensure that he studies in one of the best schools of Prayagraj, and Arjun performed so well in sports that the sports quota eased his fees in the school.

Arjun used to focus on sports so much because he needed this quota, and as a result, he built a Greek God like body, making every girl there a fan of him.

Arjun was everyone's favourite, but it was only for his looks, while on the other hand, Preeti was left all alone because no one appreciated her since she was fat.

On one such winter day, just before a few days of winter vacations, Rashi and Preeti were having their food silently on the stairs of the basket ball court, and suddenly Arjun came up there.

"I'm getting the ball. You guys come after ten minutes."

Arjun yelped at his team, who were all set to practice. Preeti kept gawking at him without blinking. He brought out the ball, and tapped it on the ground.

"Hey you fattie! Leave this place or you'll break your nose, and would become more ugly. Hehehe!"

The team members of Arjun mocked Preeti, who kept gazing at them blankly, not being able to discern what she should say next.

"Hey! How could you say that to her?"

Arjun interrupted, moving that friend of his aside. He stood before Preeti, whose heart already started beating wildly finding her crush standing before her.

"Hi little girl. What's your name?"

Arjun asked Preeti, who kept ogling him as if she was observing her deity.

"Preeti!" She replied, in a low and shy voice. This attribute wasn't her innate nature, but Arjun's presence was enough to make her coy and timid.

"Oh! Preeti, you are very pretty. Don't mind his words. He is just stupid."

He encouraged Preeti, without touching even an inch of her. He is a gentleman, he would never steal the first touch without the woman's consent, or perhaps begging.

"Are you mad, Arjun? Why are you supporting her?"

The friend of Arjun beloowed at him, while Arjun glared at him with incensed red eyes.

"You shouldn't be demotivating a child like this. She can develop a life long trauma. And look at her, she is beautiful! How can your eyes not see her beauty?"

He elucidated him in an angry tone, making him flinch. Preeti could listen to all his words, and now her crush was slowly transforming into infatuation.

Preeti POV

I could never imagine how I would feel when he stands before me until this actually happened to me. His presence felt so surreal and warm that I can't put it into words.

That day I returned home, but something inside me could never return, and perhaps that was left behind with Mr. Arjun Srivastava - the Sports Captain of my school.

I didn't know such handsome men exist in reality until I laid my eyes upon him. His thick black hair bounce gaily on his thick shiny forehead when he jumps and taps the ball on ground.

I observe in secretly, everyday while he practices. I just hope he never notices me.

"Miss Pretty! Can you pass that ball to me?"

He asked me, and I felt like fainting. His voice is so masculine and deep, that no girl over here can resist him.

"Miss Pretty!"

I flinched, and took a few steps backwards realising that now he stood exactly before me, holding the ball in his hands, and stroking it gently between his palms.

I wish I was that ball!

"I'm so sorry, Mr..... Sports Captain!"

I immediately apologized, in a broken voice. The goosebumps were troubling me all over the body. His mere presence was enough to send shivers down my spine.

"You may call me Arjun bhaiya!"

He spoke to me, and mood instantly went off. How could he say this to me? He is not at all a 'bhaiya' material.

"Itne handsome ladke ko bhaiya bolu, mai pagal hu kya?"

"Why would I call such a handsome man 'bhaiya', do I appear a crazy person to you?"

I blurted out, making him gawk at me with widened eyes. He didn't say anything, and I ran away from there.

I came home, and cried intensely. How could he say that? Yes, we call our seniors 'bhaiya' and 'didi', but I thought he had feelings for me, but I was wrong. He has nothing for me.

Arjun POV

The words spoken by that little girl kept ringing in my ears even after she left. She is different from other girls because she doesn't groom herself significantly before seeing unlike other girls, who unbraid their hair for me, apply gloss on their lips and curl their eyelashes for me.

I have always ignored such girls because I don't want distractions. My nani has worked a lot to give me the place where I'm standing today, and I cannot let it go waste.

An inter school competition awaits our basketball team, and today the youngest son of Jaswant Singh Thakur is invited here as chief guest. He is one of the best bikers of this country, and inspires me deeply.

I kept gaping at him when he arrived in the court. He is the same age as mine, but the status difference between us is so much that I cannot even talk to him directly.

The game began, and we all started playing. I performed my best that day because my Nani was present there, cheering for me. Jairaj Singh Thakur felicitated me with the trophy. Our team is now qualified for state level games.

"You're a wonderful player, Mr. Arjun!"

Chhote thakur praised me, patting my shoulder. Unexpectedly, he hugged me too.

"Thank you, Chhote thakur."

I thanked him, and stood beside him so that the photographer could capture this moment in his camera.

"I would love to be friends with such a determined man."

He whispered again into my ears, but I don't believe him to be honest because rich people can't be trusted.

"That's my honour, sir."

I mumbled, plastering a fake smile on my face.

"Don't call me sir."

He said again, grinning widely at me.

"Okay chhote thakur."

I corrected myself, and bowed down to him before leaving the stage.

"I hope we meet again."

He spoke again, and smiling at him for the last time, I came down the stairs. I touched the feet of my Nani, who pecked my forehead immediately. I folded my knees a little to come down to her level. Her hands have wrinkles now, her back is hunched slightly, but her love for me is still fresh as the flowers blooming in Spring season.

"Now focus on your studies, son. The board exams are close."

She reminded me of my twelfth class boards which were just a month away now. Leaving everything aside, I started studying day and night to score good marks. I was not paying attention to anything that was happening in the school these days - the drama and the special attention that was given to me by the female teachers.

The girl, umm...Miss Pretty, used to cross my way quite often during the recess, but I intentionally kept ignoring her. There was something in her that made me steal a glance of her every time she passed by me, but I don't know what that is.

The board exams began, and luckily I was performing well there. On the last day of our exams, all of us were ruining each other's school t-shirts with memorable messages, while the juniors kept gawli at us.

That is when her friend came to me, whose name was 'Rashi'.

"Bhaiya, this is for you."

She said, her voice is sweet like honey.

"Who sent this?"

I asked her, gazing at the envelope like card that she had brought for me.

"Preeti Aggarwal - my friend."

The mention of her name made my heart skip a beat. What could she write in this? I hope she has not fallen for me. She is so young, like a child to me.

I opened the envelope, which was embellished beautifully with ribbons and small handmade stickers. She is just an amazing artist.

'I'm Sorry if I ever misbehaved to you Mr. Sports Captain, but I cannot call you 'bhaiya'. I like you. You are my crush, but I will never follow or trouble you. I just wanted to confess, but I couldn't face you so I chose this way. Hope you do well in your upcoming life.'

The words written there hazed my vision. How could a sixth standard girl fall in love with me. She is just a child. This must be infatuation, and she'll forget me once I leave this place.

Thinking so, I decided to leave this place forever without meeting her in person. Coming back to home, I kept thinking about her for another few weeks, but I'm wondering what she must be thinking of me. I hope she forgets me soon.

I didn't realise how time flew right before my eyes, and now my graduation has completed from a private engeneering college, but I don't want to do this job.

The uniform of a police officer always fascinates me, and I think this is my purpose. I must prepare for the entrance examination of being a Police Officer.

My school sent me an invitation to attend this year's annual function as the alumni, and I willingly accepted the invitation. I will see my school after four years, and I'm so excited for it.

Nani's health is deteriorating, something that keeps troubling me with each passing day. I can't lose the only person that I have in my life, but no good hospital is ready to admit her because we don't have funds.

I think I should contact Chhote thakur now. After immense struggle, I finally entered the Thakur mansion, and my eyes sparkled ogling the magnificent lifestyle of them. They must be so happy and lucky.

The eldest son of Bade Thakur Saheb is a budding politician, but the middle one is a spoilt brat. God knows how the youngest one is.

I was waiting near the outhouse of the Thakur mansion when chhote thakur came up there.

"Hey Arjun!" He spoke, and I felt flabbergasted with his presence. He actually came out for me.

"Chho... chhote thakur! You...you could have called me."

I mumbled in a broken voice, standing immediately for him.

"I told you that I see you as a friend so I came here to take you inside with me."

He said, and held my shoulders lovingly to take me inside this huge mansion. Is he really so good at heart?

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