Arjun POV

The school's infrastructure and vibe felt so ethereal after years that I didn't realise when my eyes turned teary because of the sudden surge of emotions within me.

The memories of childhood hit me, a wave of nostalgia arose, and I inhaled the sweet redolence of the lush green grass that was once my daily routine. It felt so natural and energetic.

The students were excited to visit us, and most of the girls came specifically to me, with no special talks. I could understand their intentions, but I maintained a constant smile on my face throughout.

My restless gaze was wandering all around to see her once. I don't know what had happened to me at that moment. It felt sinful to have a desire for a girl so younger than me! She must be in class tenth now, but what if she had left the school? And why the hell do I want to see her?

I never have had such intentions for any girl. My focus has always been my grandmother and my career, and this is expected of me because I belong to a middle class family and I have responsibilities, which are more important for me than these blemished desires, that hold the potential to deviate me from my path.

I was scuffling with my thoughts when my gaze fell on her friend, who had handed over the letter to me four years ago. Alas! I don't remember her name.

"Hey, did your friend leave the school?"

I asked her, my tone sounded a little shameless, and I didn't know why these words just slipped off my tongue extempore.

"Preeti?"

She asked, smiling at me. She doesn't try to hide her teeth now, and I admire this gesture of hers deeply.

"Yes!" I replied, gulping down my nervousness. God knows what she must be thinking of me right now.

"She is in the classroom. She is not well."

She informed me, but she uttered the second statement in a low voice deliberately.

"Not well? What happened to her?"

I enquired, furrowing my brows at her.

"I think...." She mumbled, but paused instantly, and her gaze flickered for a while, as if she was checking who else could listen to her.

"The monthly problem." She whispered to me, covering both sides of her lips with her palms.

"That's called periods!" I spoke without hesitation, and she immediately lowered her gaze. I could sense how insecure she felt just by listening to its name.

"You shouldn't feel bad about it. That's natural."

I elucidated her, casually caressing her head, to make her feel good. She smiled at me.

"Thank you, bhaiya!" She asserted happily.

"You called me 'bhaiya'. Now you can share your problems with me like a sister does. Got it!"

I told her with a wide grin, and the DJ began. Loud noise and people started dancing mindlessly. Luckily, I had gotten some chocolates that were finely kept inside my pockets, and I walked to her classroom.

As I entered her section, patiently and silently, I saw a chubby petite figure lying on the table, her head rested on it comfortably.

She must be in pain!

I sat before her, placing a chair over there without producing any sound. I was busy analysing her face, and a little messy hair, and she turned her head, finally opening her eyes. I kept gawking at her, and the moment her gaze landed at me, she straightened up with a jerk.

"Hello Miss Pretty!"

I groaned in a heavy voice, leaving my seat. She kept gaping at me, while I perched on the seat beside her. She got startled a little, and her gaze lowered immediately.

"You may not remember me now, but you had written a letter for me years ago."

I told her, but she didn't give any reaction, but she averted her eyes from me.

"I remember you, Mr. Sports Captain!"

She replied, her voice has turned sweeter now. I never knew she would grow up so gracefully. I don't know why people have hated her for her weight. She is beautifully chubby."

"You still remember me?"

I asked, biting my lips with coynes and uneasiness that was troubling my stomach.

"Bhoolne ke liye thode na man me basaya tha."

"I didn't like you to forget you so easily."

She spoke casually, and my heart skipped a beat. She always says something that amazes me. Did she really like me so much that she couldn't forget me in the last four years?

She frowned a little, holding her belly and I remembered about her periods. I brought out the chocolates, and handed it over to her.

She gawked at them for a moment, and held it loosely.

"Wh....why?" She asked, hesitation evident in her voice.

"You are bleeding! It must be aching there."

I replied, signalling my finger towards her belly. Her cheeks instantly turned pink, as if I had spoken something tabboo.

"Miss Pretty!" I called her out. I don't know why I love calling her with this name.

"Stop calling me by that name. I'm not even pretty."

She grumbled, hiding her face behind her little palms. I bit on both my lips to control myself from chuckling. She is so pretty and still thinks that she doesn't look good. Perhaps the world has inculcated these norms within her.

"Who said you are not pretty?"

I asked her, turning my head towards her, my fist resting beneath my temple region, and I kept ogling her lovingly, analysing all her movements with utmost patience.

What are you doing to me, Preeti? Even the most beautiful girls, according to the standards of beauty set by the society, couldn't lure this unattached heart of mine, but you are doing magic now - driving me crazy with each breath of yours.

"Everyone says! My parents, the classmates....I'm thrown out of the dance because I'm fat."

She complained to me, sniffling in between. She was in tears. Oh my God! I can't see her crying for something that isn't her mistake.

"Who did so?" I enquired, my tone became serious. I so badly wanted to caress her, but I controlled my hands because I don't touch anyone without consent, and I, in general, avoid touching women without any concrete reason.

"The annual function is approaching in two weeks. The dance teacher said...."

She sniffled, and quavered in a low voice

"...that I dance well, but I won't look good on the stage."

She told me everything, and I felt a pang in my chest. I was always kept in front in all pictures, all my life because I look good physically. Why is the society like this? Why are there beauty standards? Everything created by the Divine is beautiful. Who says dusky doesn't look good? Krishna is the most beautiful man the world has ever seen. Who says fatness looks ugly? The pregnant mothers glow with baby bump. The short heighted people look cute and adorable. Why is the world so judgemental?

Thin thread like tears fell on her skirt, her eyes were still on the wooden desk, and not me. I felt offended, since I want her to look at me now. I want her to talk lovingly with me since now she has grown up.

Fuck, Arjun! She is a kid, but you aren't. I need to control myself, but wait! Why am I getting attracted to her? Is this my insecurity and craving for parents' love that is being aroused around her? I don't know, but I can't see her in tears.

I quickly brought out my handkerchief, and gently placed it beneath her eyes, making her flinch.

"What....are you doing?"

She asked me, hesitating a little. So this girl can be shy too? Thank God! I would love to see her blushing for me. Her curly hair danced on her forehead and shoulders, her cheeks were pink, round and chubby. They are appearing so cute that I want to bite them.

Stop, Arjun! What is happening to you? She is in tenth standard! Why am I losing my character?

"Relax! I won't touch you."

I sibilated, though every cell of mine was screaming to me to hover over her. A man so good like me, has never felt an urge to grab a girl so badly until this moment, and I still don't understand why this is happening to me.

"I just couldn't see you in tears."

I confessed, still gawking at her without blinking.

"Why?" She asked in a trembling voice, bridling her tears from falling.

"I don't know!" I spoke, and she slowly rotated her eyeballs to steal a glance of me. This was the moment when I lowered my gaze because I don't want her to know how shameless I was while ogling her.

The reason behind my love could be her originality. Ever since we have met, she never avoided me to fetch some time to glam up herself for me, instead she chose to stay real. Her simple and serene behaviour is what attracts me the most now.

"How do you define love, miss Pretty?"

I questioned her, with an intention of knowing what she feels about the feeling of love. Albeit I won't judge her on this because she is too young to know what love is, and her views will definitely change over the course of time, but I still wish to listen to her.

Her eyes resemble those of peacocks, slightly curved at the end. Her lashes are thick and curled upwards. Blind are those who've ever called her ugly.

"Love! I don't know the poetic side of it, but for me, love is safe space where I can lie happily around my man, without caring about my makeup or appearance, where I can be relaxed about how my body appears instead of being insecure about it. You know, Mr. Sports Captain....."

I cut her off, to stop herself from calling me 'Sports Captain'.

"Arjun!" I muttered, and she gawked at me with astonishment.

None of her words had gotten unheard by me. The definition she proposed to me, of love, was beyond her age. She is trying to find simplicity and authenticity in this fake and showy world, and I'll do anything to give her that. I hope to make her happy with my presence.

"Hm?" She asked, her brows raised, and her lips parted. This is when I noticed those light pink soft lips of hers. Like the winter mist, they were moist and pinkish. I licked on my lips to restrain myself from attacking them with mine.

Why is my body reacting so weirdly today? I had come here to see whether or not she has forgotten me, but now I feel like I've become her slave.

This feels horrible because she is too young, and I've completed my graduation. The age gap is huge, and the characterless man in me wants to have her completely. How disgusting!

"Call me Arjun!"

I spoke, no...that was my desires who spoke. I don't want this boundary between us to crumble, but the shameless esurient man inside me is hungry. This luscious man wants a girl, and Preeti is that girl.

"But.....you're quite elder to me."

She muttered, her gaze again left my face, but this time her cheeks had slight red tint, indicating that she was blushing.

She is blushing for you, Arjun! Just don't leave this moment.

"I'm okay with it."

I groaned, and my eyes advanced to her hands. Her fingers were continuously scuffling amongst themselves. She must be struggling to say my name.

"See, I hate age gaps. It's like a generation gap."

She blurted out, without looking at me, but I turned deaf and quickly put forth a question.

"Do you wish to listen to my perspective about love?"

I asked her, and she glanced at me with sparkle in her eyes.

"Yes!" She chirped, for the first time in this conversation. I don't think she still likes me. It was just a random crush that faded away with time, but my feelings have begun to sprout now, when her infatuation is over.

"Love is beyond boundaries, where no societal norm feels considerable. It's just you and lover, else anyone doesn't invade your personal space. You are open with them about everything. You cannot keep secrets with them. That person is all you need even when there is nothing important to do. You don't appreciate their presence because they are always with you, but you lament their absence. That's what love is for me."

I uttered each word ogling her beautiful face, my entire attention was reserved for her. An eerie silence interrupted me, and I deciphered that the DJ went off. The students must be coming here soon.

"Preeti, let's go somewhere. I want to talk to you more."

I uttered in a low voice, and she licked on her lips, nodding gently.

"Okay...... Arjun!"

She mumbled my name, and my heart skipped a beat.

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