11 The Girl With A Baby Smile52 You, me and an accident183 Kiss of Thousand Illusions274 Locket In A Penguin Trashcan345 The Ser

11 The Girl With A Baby Smile52 You, me and an accident183 Kiss of Thousand Illusions274 Locket In A Penguin Trashcan345 The Ser

. It was a cold, midwinter morning and I was getting ready for my science exam at school. I was an average student, but I was determined to do well on this exam. As I sat at my desk, going over my notes one last time, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. It was the last day of exams before the winter holidays and I couldn't wait to spend my days playing sports with my friends.

I finished my breakfast quickly and left for school. On my way, I noticed something different. There was a new girl walking towards the school gate. She had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. It was like a ray of sunshine in the frosty winter morning. I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

As we walked into the school gates, she went to the reception to inquire about her class. I followed her, pretending that I needed to ask something as well. I found out that she was in the same grade as me and was new to the school. Her name was Maya and she had moved here from another city with her family.

We ended up sitting next to each other in the exam hall and I couldn't focus on anything else. I was completely mesmerized by her. After the exam, I mustered up the courage to talk to her. To my surprise, she was also interested in talking to me.

We hit it off instantly and spent the whole day together. We talked about our interests, our families, and our dreams. I felt like I had known her for years, not just a few hours.

As we said goodbye, she gave me that beautiful smile again and I knew that I had fallen in love with her. From that day on, we were inseparable. We spent every single day of the winter holidays together, playing sports, exploring the city, and talking for hours on end.

But as the holidays came to an end, we both knew that our time together was limited. Maya's family was moving back to their hometown and she would have to leave the next day.

As we said our tearful goodbyes, I promised her that I would never forget her smile and that I would always love her. She gave me a locket with her picture, and I gave her my favorite book.

That was the last time I saw her, but she left a lasting impression on my heart. She became the girl with the baby smile, the girl who showed me that love

Although our love story may have been short, it will always hold a special place in my heart. And I know that no matter where life takes us, we will always hold on to that magical midwinter day when our love story began.

Sunandan and I were both eagerly waiting for the school day to end. Not because we didn't like school, but because we had a test that day. It wasn't just any test though, it was the final exam of the year, and we were both nervous. We had been studying hard for weeks, but there's always that fear of not doing well enough.

My mother, Shailaija, noticed our nerves and made sure to pack us two extra aloo parathas with mango pickle for lunch. As we walked to the bus stop, she reminded us to stay calm and believe in ourselves. 'You are both capable and smart,' she said, giving us a reassuring smile.

At the bus stop, Sunandan and I talked about cricket, our favorite sport. We were both huge fans and always discussed the latest matches and players. While we both liked Sachin, I secretly admired Rahul Dravid more. He was not only a talented player, but also a true gentleman and role model. I aspired to be like him when I grew up.

When the bus arrived, it was already packed with students. Sunandan and I were used to standing, as there were usually no seats available. But I didn't mind, as it gave me the opportunity to observe the people and shops outside. At the bus stop, there was a rule that if a student didn't get a seat, they could hand over their school bag to someone who did. And if there were no seats for a girl, a boy had to offer his seat and the girl would hold his bag. I always thought it was a funny yet valuable rule, and I didn't mind standing without my heavy school bag.

As we stood in the bus, holding onto the support bar, Sunandan and I discussed our favorite players and strategies for the upcoming cricket match. We were so engrossed in our conversation that we almost missed our stop. We quickly got off and rushed to our classroom, trying to calm our nerves for the test.

The test was challenging, but I tried my best to remember everything I had studied. When it was finally over, Sunandan and I breathed a sigh of relief and high-fived each other. I couldn't wait to see my grades and find out if all our hard work had paid off.

As we walked back to the bus stop, I couldn't stop thinking about the test. I felt a mixture of confidence and uncertainty, but I tried to push those thoughts aside and just enjoy the journey home. When the bus arrived, we were both surprised to see that there were a few empty seats. Sunandan and I quickly grabbed our bags and took a seat, grateful for the break from standing.

However, I couldn't help but notice a group of girls who were standing, struggling to keep hold of their heavy bags. I remembered the bus rule and thought about offering my seat to one of them. Before I could make a move, one of the girls caught my eye and smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back, feeling grateful for the small act of kindness.

When I reached home, my mother greeted me with a warm hug. 'How was the test?' she asked.

I smiled and replied, 'I think it went well. But even if it didn't, I know I did my best.'

My mother's smile grew wider and she said, 'That's all that matters. I'm proud of you.'

As I sat down to eat my delicious aloo parathas, I realized that the test was just one small part of my day. The real test was in how I treated others and how I handled challenges and uncertainty. I made a mental note to always strive to be like Rahul Dravid, a true gentleman both on and off the field. That was the kind of test that truly mattered in life.

It was just an ordinary day, sitting in the school bus on my way home. I was lost in my own thoughts, just staring out the window and watching the world go by. But then, something caught my attention. It was the girls, sitting next to us.

I noticed a new face among them, a girl who looked lost and unfamiliar with her surroundings. She seemed to be struggling with her heavy bag, so I decided to offer her a helping hand. I gave my bag to her, and as she thanked me, I couldn't help but notice how cute she looked with her bob cut hair and round glasses.

It wasn't until later that I found out she had joined our school in the middle of the year due to her father's transfer. I didn't even know her name at that time, but I did know that she was in the same grade as me, as she was studying for our upcoming science test.

She seemed like a very serious and studious student, the kind we usually call a book feeding insect or a nerd. Her appearance only added to that image, with her round glasses and serious expression. But as I got to know her, I realized that there was so much more to her than just being a 'nerd'.

As I looked around the bus, I saw that everyone else was busy preparing for the upcoming exams. The atmosphere was tense and stressed, with everyone trying to cram in as much last-minute revision as possible.

But amidst all the seriousness, I and my friend Sunandan felt the need to relax and discuss the subject in a more casual manner. We couldn't help but feel a little left out, as everyone else seemed to be focused solely on their own studies.

So, we started discussing the important questions, the ones where we could score well, the chapters we had left, and the most probable long and short questions. We opened our science book and tried to revise like the others, but I faced a problem.

I have always found it difficult to read in a moving vehicle as it makes me nauseous and gives me a severe headache. So, we decided to take a break from our revision and started cracking jokes.

We made fun of things we saw happening outside the bus, and even though I can't remember the jokes now, they were hilarious. I noticed a few students listening to our conversation and laughing along with us. It felt good to see them relax for a bit, too caught up in their studies.

As the bus ride continued, I found myself getting to know the new girl next to us. We shared jokes and laughed together, and soon enough, I learned her name was Riya. I was surprised to find out she was just as funny and easygoing as me, despite her initial impression of being a 'nerd'.

That day, the bus ride home turned into more than just a regular ride. It became the start of a new friendship, one that would eventually blossom into something much more special.

It's not just my only love story, but also the story of how I found a great friend in Riya, and how sometimes, it's the unexpected moments that bring people closer together. As our journey continued, I couldn't help but feel grateful for that new girl on the bus, who unknowingly changed my life for the better.

It was just another day in Bhubanesh Baisakha's life, sitting in his usual spot at the back of the classroom, lost in his own thoughts. But that all changed when he suddenly found himself in the middle of a conversation with his classmates. They were all laughing and smiling, and in that moment, Bhubanesh couldn't help but join in.

As the conversation died down, Bhubanesh's eyes were drawn to a new girl in class. She had a bob cut hair and was holding his bag on her lap. He had never noticed her before, but he couldn't help but be mesmerized by her presence. Something about her just seemed to radiate positivity and joy.

The girl noticed him staring and gave him the most adorable baby smile. Bhubanesh couldn't believe it. Her smile was like a ray of sunshine, warming his heart and filling him with an unexplainable happiness. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

He couldn't help but notice how perfect her smile was. Her well-brushed white teeth, her cherry-red lips, and her pinkish-white cheeks. But it was her eyes that captured his attention the most. They were like glassy waterfalls, shining with a light that he had never seen before.

For Bhubanesh, this was more than just a smile. It felt like the smile of God, a smile that he could look at for eternity. It was like it was the sole purpose of his existence, to be the guardian of that smile and make sure it never faded. He felt a strange urge to take care of it, to just be the reason behind it.

He couldn't remember ever seeing anything more captivating than her smile. It was like magic, the greatest magic he had ever witnessed. It was as if the whole world around him had faded away and all that mattered was her smile.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Bhubanesh couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. He didn't want to leave her presence, to lose sight of that beautiful smile. But he knew he had to.

As Shilpi closed her science book, Bhubanesh's eyes fell on the cover sticker and he finally learned her name - Shilpi Mukherjee. He couldn't wait to see that smile again, to be in its presence and feel its warmth.

From that day on, Bhubanesh found himself constantly looking for Shilpi in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the library. He just wanted to catch a glimpse of that smile, to bask in its radiance.

And every time he did, Shilpi would give him that same enchanting smile, making his heart skip a beat. It was like their silent communication, a language that only they understood.

As they spent more time together, Bhubanesh discovered that Shilpi's smile wasn't just a facade, but it was a reflection of her kind heart and beautiful soul. She brought out the best in him, making him laugh and smile more than he ever thought was possible.

And as time went on, Bhubanesh realized that he had fallen in love with Shilpi and her smile. It was a love that knew no bounds, a love that was pure and genuine.

From that day on, Bhubanesh made it his mission to always keep that precious smile on Shilpi's face. And she, in turn, gave him an even bigger reason to smile - her love.

:

It all started with a violin.

I remember the first time I saw her, she was playing the violin in the school orchestra. Her fingers gracefully danced on the strings, producing a beautiful melody. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. And in that moment, I knew that she was the one.

But what I didn't know was that this was just the beginning of our love story.

After that day, we kept interacting regularly, we began to pass smiles at each other whenever we made eye contact, whether it was at school or on the bus. Our school hours started at eight thirty in the morning and went on till two in the afternoon. During our thirty-minute recess break at eleven, we would always find a way to bump into each other.

I was in seven 'G' and she was in seven 'T'. Our classrooms were on opposite ends of the school, with mine on the corner of the third floor and hers on the ground floor. It was strange to have all the classes of a particular grade on one floor, except for one. I never understood the reason behind it.

With every passing day, we became closer and closer. Every day on the school bus, it became a ritual for me to stand near her seat and give my bag to her, which she would keep on her lap. We became better friends, meeting, talking, and even sharing our lunch boxes. Borrowing each other's notebooks also became a regular affair.

But my terrible handwriting made it difficult for her to read my notebooks. Despite this, she continued to borrow them. And every time she returned my notebook, she would leave a small note or doodle in the corner, making me smile.

Our friendship blossomed into something more as we spent more time together. We spent our weekends bonding over our love for music, particularly the violin. She even started giving me private violin lessons, and I found myself falling more in love with her every day.

But our love story took an unexpected turn when one day, on our way back from a music competition, our bus met with an accident. I remember everything in slow motion – the screeching of brakes, the screams of my classmates, and the feeling of weightlessness as the bus flipped over.

I was knocked unconscious, and when I woke up, I was in the hospital with my parents by my side. I had a fractured leg and a few bruises, but I was grateful to be alive. However, I couldn't stop worrying about her. I asked my parents about her, but they didn't know where she was.

It turns out that she had suffered a concussion and had been taken to a different hospital. As soon as I was able to, I went to see her. And when I saw her lying on the hospital bed, tears streamed down my face. I realized that I couldn't live without her.

That was the day I confessed my love to her, and she confessed her love to me. In that moment, everything felt right – like our love was meant to be. And it was all because of that one accident that brought us closer together.

From there on, it was just the two of us, our violins, and our love for each other – a story that started with music and an unexpected twist of fate.

th grade summer vacation

I still remember the day I found the friendly note inside my notebook. It was the beginning of summer vacation and I was in the 6th grade. The note was from a girl named Bhubanesh Baisakha, who sat in front of me in class. It simply read, 'Hey there! I noticed we share the same love for chocolates. Let's share some next time you return my notebook.'

I couldn't help but smile at her cute handwriting and her simple yet sweet gesture. I quickly wrote a response, agreeing to her proposal and adding a little doodle of a chocolate bar.

From that day on, every time I returned her notebook, I made sure to include some chocolates. We would exchange small talks and jokes, and I found myself eagerly anticipating each time I would get her notebook.

It wasn't just the chocolates that drew me to her, it was her kind and friendly nature. She was always the first one to offer help and encouragement to those in need. However, there was something I couldn't help but notice - she was always alone. She didn't seem to have any close friends in class and I wondered why.

It was New Year's Eve, and while the whole world was celebrating, my house was enveloped in an uncomfortable silence. My parents had a serious argument, and I could hear my sisters' muffled sobs from their room. I knew this had something to do with my eldest sister, Rashmi didi. She was pursuing her B-Tech in electrical engineering from a reputed college, and my other elder sister, Prajakta didi, was carrying out her Higher Secondary studies. They were both incredibly bright and their academic achievements always put me in a shadow. I was the only one in my family who was not a brilliant student, and I often suffered insults and criticism because of it.

My father was an eminent physics lecturer, and he had always been strict with me. I could never live up to his expectations, and it was a constant source of disappointment for him. He wanted me to excel in academics, but I always found myself more interested in sports and dancing. I saw myself as a sportsman or a dancer, and I couldn't understand why my father couldn't see that.

As I sat alone in my room, drowning in my thoughts, I heard a knock on my door. It was Bhubanesh, holding two cups of hot chocolate and a bundle of notes. She had found out that I had a passion for dancing and had brought some choreography notes from her dance class. We spent the whole night going over the notes, and she even helped me perfect a few dance moves.

As the clock struck midnight, we heard laughter and celebrations outside. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy and content. Bhubanesh had been the one to bring joy into my life when everything else seemed to be falling apart.

From that day on, Bhubanesh became my best friend. She was the one who always stood by me, even when my own family couldn't see my potential. She taught me that it was okay to be different and to follow my dreams, and I will forever be grateful to her for that.

As I look back on that 6th grade summer vacation, I realize that Bhubanesh was more than just a classmate who shared my love for chocolates. She was the one who helped me find my passion and encouraged me to pursue it. And even though we may have lost touch over the years, her friendly note still remains in my notebook, serving as a reminder of the beautiful friendship that blossomed during that summer.

Growing up, I was always fascinated by the world of acting. Watching movies and television shows, I became enamored with the idea of being able to portray different characters and tell compelling stories. But in my family, pursuing a career in acting was seen as frivolous and not a viable option for a successful future.

As the youngest of three siblings, I often felt like the odd one out. My parents and older sisters were all involved in science and math, and excelled in their fields. My father was a doctor and my mother, who had been a gold medalist in biology, had given up her career to be a homemaker and take care of us. I, on the other hand, struggled in my science courses and found myself more drawn to the arts.

Despite the pressure from my family to follow in their footsteps, I couldn't shake off my dream of becoming an actor. With every passing day, the desire grew stronger, but I was too scared to voice it out loud. I knew my family would never support me, and I didn't want to disappoint them.

But fate had other plans for me. In my final year of high school, I stumbled upon a drama club that was putting on a play. Without hesitation, I auditioned and landed the lead role. It was a small production, but it was my first taste of performing in front of an audience. And from that moment on, there was no turning back.

I started taking acting classes and performing in local plays and eventually got accepted into a prestigious acting school. My family was shocked and disappointed, but I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life. I was determined to prove them wrong and follow my passion.

As I immersed myself in the world of acting, I fell in love with the craft even more. I learned how to tap into my emotions and channel them into my characters, and I discovered a sense of fulfillment that I had never experienced before.

But it wasn't just the art of acting that captivated me. It was the people I met along the way – the fellow actors, directors, and crew members – who shared the same love and passion for storytelling. And it was through these connections that I found my true love.

His name was Arjun and he was an aspiring actor just like me. We met in acting class and bonded over our shared love for the craft. He was charming, talented, and had an infectious energy that drew people towards him. We quickly became inseparable and soon our friendship turned into something more.

Together, we chased our dreams of becoming actors. We auditioned for every role we could, no matter how small or insignificant, and supported each other through all the rejection and hard times. And as we worked towards our goals, our love only grew stronger.

It wasn't an easy journey, but our passion for acting kept us going. And finally, after years of hard work and determination, we both got our big break – landing lead roles in a highly acclaimed movie.

As I stood on the red carpet with Arjun by my side, my heart swelled with pride and gratitude. Not just for accomplishing my dream of becoming an actor, but for finding my soulmate in the process. Looking back, I couldn't imagine my life without acting or without Arjun. It was, without a doubt, my only love story. One that not only fulfilled my passion for acting but also brought me my greatest love.

th time in his life, however long ago it was, he could hold on to that and repeat that paricular incident, express how sad, bad, pathetic that incident was.

On New Year's Eve, the Baisakha family was not in a joyous mood. It was a common occurrence in Indian families, where the parents' emotions inevitably affected the atmosphere of the entire household. And this year, it seemed like Bhubanesh Baisakha, the patriarch of the family, was particularly unhappy.

As the youngest member of the family, I was used to these somber evenings. It was expected of us children to keep quiet, sit in our rooms and absorb the sadness and anger of our parents. But as much as I tried to obey, my mind couldn't help but wander to thoughts of going out and having fun.

All I wanted was to go out in the evening, eat pastries and kababs, and buy rubber balls to play cricket with my friends in the colony. But no one in the family seemed interested in entertaining my wishes, and I wasn't allowed to go out alone. I was sad and frustrated, stuck inside our house while everyone else seemed to be in their own world.

I tried to pass the time by pretending to study in front of my parents, while secretly daydreaming about playing cricket. Just when I thought the evening couldn't get any more boring, there was a knock on our door.

To my surprise, it was my father's closest friend and my favorite uncle, Narendra. His warm smile instantly made my mood a little lighter. He had brought my favorite Indian sweet, kaju barfi. And as he walked into the living room, he could immediately sense the tension in our home.

My father, who was usually a reserved and quiet man, suddenly became very animated in front of his friend. He started complaining about his so-called miserable life, how getting married to my mother and having three kids was the biggest mistake of his life. How he should have stayed single and pursued his dreams of becoming a political leader or a social worker. How he wanted to start an NGO to help people, but his responsibilities as a husband and father had taken over his life.

Narendra listened patiently as my father vented his frustrations, and I couldn't help but admire his calm demeanor. I could tell he had a true understanding of my father and his way of thinking. My father's approach to life was simple - he held onto every bad thing that had ever happened to him, no matter how small and repeated it over and over again, expressing his sadness and disappointment.

As I watched my father and his friend talk, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Narendra's presence. He had unknowingly lifted the gloomy atmosphere in our home and brought some much-needed laughter and joy. And as he left, I couldn't help but think how lucky my father was to have a friend like Narendra, who could make him forget his problems and see the bright side of life. And in that moment, I realized that sometimes, it only takes a good friend to turn a sad day into a happy one.

I sat in the corner of my room, desperately trying to finish my holiday homework before my father came home. I knew he would be angry if I hadn't completed it on time, and I couldn't bear another scolding from him. I had always been the scapegoat for his anger and frustrations.

Ever since I could remember, my father had blamed every mistake and bad decision he made before his marriage on my mother and his children. According to him, every good thing that happened in his life was solely due to his efforts and intelligence. His approach towards family issues and problems was an extension of his approach towards his personal life. In his eyes, everything good about his children was because of him, and anything wrong or bad with us was my mother's fault.

As I grew older and became more mature, I started to realize that this was not just my father's mindset, but the general mindset of most men in our country. They were not even aware of how irrational and unfair it was to blame their families for their mistakes. It was a part of our culture, passed down from generation to generation, never questioned or changed.

But then, I met Narendra uncle, or as I used to call him, kaka. Kaka was my father's childhood friend and they had grown up together. Kaka was different from my father in many ways. He was more understanding, kind, and compassionate. He had a different perspective on life and family, one that was not clouded by ego and pride.

Whenever kaka visited us, he would try to ease things down, but with little success. I think he felt bad for me, seeing me sit in a corner of the room, trying to do my homework with a sad and pathetic face. He knew how my father treated me and it pained him. So, one day, as he saw me struggling, he asked me to go out with him.

I was surprised and excited by kaka's offer. I had always liked kaka and spending time with him was always fun. I quickly got ready and we were good to go. As we were about to leave, my eldest sister Rashmi didi walked in.

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