The Strict Stranger
741 Words
"Hani! Jaldi neeche aa!" Shanya whispered frantically, hopping from one foot to the other.
"I can't! My dress is stuck!" Hania whispered back, trying to free the fabric from the branch.
The more she pulled, the tighter it became.
"Oh no... oh no..."
A deep voice suddenly echoed through the silent garden.
"What are you two doing here?"
Both girls froze.
Shanya's eyes slowly widened.
She recognized that voice.
Very... very slowly, she turned around.
Standing a few steps behind her was a tall young man in olive-green Army trousers and a black T-shirt, a duffel bag resting on one shoulder.
His sharp features, disciplined posture, and calm expression made him look intimidating even without saying another word.
He had just returned to Mussoorie on leave.
"E... Eshaan Bhaiya?"
The twenty-year-old looked at his younger sister, then at the terrified girl hanging from the mango tree.
"So," he said, folding his arms, "this is why you disappeared after lunch?"
Shanya gave him an awkward smile.
"We were... um..."
"Studying?" Eshaan asked dryly.
She immediately looked down.
"No..."
"Helping the gardener?"
"...No."
"Then?"
Shanya pointed toward Hania.
"Actually... it was her idea."
"What?" Hania gasped from the tree. "Traitor!"
Shanya bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
Eshaan looked up.
The little girl with two neatly braided pigtails glared at him as if he were the one who had stolen the mangoes.
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Instead, he walked toward the tree.
"Stop pulling."
"I don't need your help," Hania muttered.
"You clearly do."
"I'll come down myself."
"You've been trying for five minutes."
"I was about to succeed."
Eshaan raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Hania stubbornly crossed her arms, forgetting she was still stuck.
The branch shook.
She squeaked in panic.
Eshaan sighed.
"Stay still."
Without another word, he carefully climbed onto the lower branch, untangled the fabric from the broken twig, and steadied Hania before helping her climb down safely.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she quickly stepped away from him and dusted off her frock.
She looked up at him.
He was so tall that she had to tilt her head back.
"You should thank me," Eshaan said.
"I didn't ask for help."
Shanya slapped a hand over her forehead.
"Hani..."
Eshaan looked at the pile of mangoes scattered across the grass.
"So these were for scientific research?"
Hania blinked.
"...Maybe."
"For charity?"
She shook her head.
"For lunch?"
"...Yes."
Eshaan finally let out a quiet chuckle.
"So the brave mango thief does know how to answer honestly."
Hania puffed her cheeks.
"I'm not a thief."
"Oh?"
"The mangoes were growing outside."
"They're inside the garden."
"They were hanging toward us."
"They're still not yours."
Hania had no reply to that.
Shanya couldn't hold it anymore.
She burst into loud laughter.
Eshaan looked at the tiny troublemaker standing before him.
"You need a punishment."
Hania narrowed her eyes.
"What punishment?"
He reached forward...
...and gently caught one of her braided pigtails between his fingers.
"Next time," he said calmly, "ask before taking someone else's mangoes."
Hania's eyes grew wide with outrage.
"My braid!"
She tried to pull away.
"Leave it!"
"No."
"I said leave it!"
"No."
For a second, both stared at each other stubbornly.
Then Hania did the last thing anyone expected.
She grabbed Eshaan's wrist...
and bit his hand.
"Ouch!"
Eshaan instantly let go.
"You bit me?"
"I warned you not to touch my braid!" Hania declared proudly.
Before anyone could stop her, she picked up two mangoes from the ground, grabbed Shanya's hand, and shouted—
"Run!"
The two girls sprinted out of the garden as fast as they could, their laughter echoing through the quiet afternoon.
Shanya laughed so hard she could barely breathe.
"Hani... you actually bit my brother!"
Hania lifted her chin proudly.
"He deserved it."
Back in the garden, Eshaan stared at the small bite mark on his hand.
He had faced obstacle courses, brutal training, and stern instructors.
But never...
had an eleven-year-old girl bitten him for touching her braid.
Colonel Arvind, who had quietly witnessed the last few moments from the veranda after hearing the commotion, walked over with an amused smile.
"So..."
he asked, trying not to laugh,
"First day of leave... and you've already lost to a little girl?"
Eshaan looked toward the lane where the two best friends had disappeared.
For the first time in years...
someone had left the disciplined young officer completely speechless.
- Writer
