The Girl Who Wasn't Afraid
619 Words
The Singh house had never been this entertained.
Usually, when Eshaan Singh returned home from Army training, everyone expected the same routine.
A disciplined son.
A serious conversation.
A quiet dinner.
But this time...
The topic of the evening was not his achievements.
It was an eleven-year-old girl who had bitten him.
"Let me see your hand again," Isha said, trying to hide her smile.
Eshaan sat on the sofa with his arms crossed.
"Mom, it's nothing."
"Nothing?" Colonel Arvind laughed from his chair. "A small child defeated a future Army officer."
"Papa."
"What? It's true."
Eshaan gave him a look.
His father only laughed harder.
"I have seen you handle difficult situations, but never someone like Hania."
At the mention of her name, Shanya immediately started laughing again.
"Bhai, you should have seen her face when you touched her braid."
Eshaan looked at his sister.
"Your friend is dangerous."
Shanya nodded seriously.
"I know."
Then she smiled.
"That's why she's my best friend."
Meanwhile, at the Khan house...
Hania was sitting on her bed, eating mango slices happily.
Her mother, Naila Khan, stood near the door with her arms folded.
"Hania."
The moment she heard that tone, Hania stopped eating.
"Yes, Ammi?"
"Where were you?"
"At Shanya's house."
"And the mangoes?"
Silence.
Hania slowly looked at the plate.
"Those..."
She searched for an excuse.
"...fell into my hands."
Naila raised an eyebrow.
"Hania."
"Okay, okay."
She lowered her head.
"I climbed the tree."
"Hania Khan!"
"But I didn't fall!"
"That is not the point."
From the living room, Imran Khan laughed.
"Let her be. She is just adventurous."
Naila sighed.
"One day her adventures will give me grey hair."
Hania smiled.
Her father always defended her.
The next morning at school...
The entire Class Five knew about the mango incident before the first period even started.
Because Shanya had told everyone.
"You told people?" Hania whispered angrily.
Shanya tried not to laugh.
"Only a few."
"How many?"
"Maybe..."
She counted on her fingers.
"...the whole class."
Hania stared at her.
"You are my best friend."
"I know."
"And you betrayed me."
"I know."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because your face when you bit my brother was legendary."
Hania rolled her eyes.
"Your brother is so irritating."
Shanya grinned.
"You know he is going to tease you forever."
"He better not."
"What if he does?"
Hania crossed her arms confidently.
"Then I'll fight back."
That afternoon, Hania saw Eshaan again.
He was standing outside the Singh house, dressed neatly in his Army uniform.
At only nineteen, he already carried the seriousness of someone much older.
Most people became quiet around him.
But not Hania.
She walked straight toward him.
Eshaan looked down.
"mango thief."
Hania immediately frowned.
"strict officer."
Shanya covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Eshaan raised an eyebrow.
"Strict officer?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know how to have fun."
Eshaan looked confused.
"I don't know how to have fun?"
"No."
Hania pointed at him.
"You only know rules."
"And rules are important."
"See?"
She turned to Shanya.
"Exactly what I said."
Eshaan shook his head.
"You argue a lot."
"And you lecture a lot."
For a moment, they just stared at each other.
Two completely different personalities.
One disciplined future soldier.
One fearless little girl who wasn't scared of anyone.
Then Eshaan unexpectedly smiled.
A small, rare smile.
"You're strange."
Hania smiled back.
"You're boring."
And with that, she walked away.
Leaving Eshaan Singh standing there...
wondering how one little girl had managed to challenge him in a way no one else ever had.
Years later, he would remember this moment.
The first time he met the girl who would change his entire life.
- Writer
