≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"So now, will you become my friend?" 

Ten-year-old Shivendra asked as he lifted his hand, offering a chocolate to six-year-old Aryavi.

Little Aryavi blinked at him innocently. "But Kaki said not to take anything from strangers." she complained, pouting slightly.

Shivendra let out a heavy sigh before sitting on the ground. "Oho, ab kya kare? Ab kya tum meri dost nahi banogi?" he asked sadly looking at Aryavi.

[Oho, now what should I do? Won't you be my friend then?]

Aryavi pouted, not liking the sad look on his face. She sat down in front of him, placing a finger under her chin, thinking adorably.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she stood up. "IDEA!" she shouted, making Shivendra flinch.

He looked at her and quickly stood up, but before he could say or ask anything, little Aryavi grabbed his hand with her tiny fingers and began to drag him along. 

And Shivendra, willing to do anything to become her friend, let her drag him without resistance.

Aryavi dragged him toward the main office inside the orphanage and knocked on the door with her tiny fist.

A minute later, the door opened and standing there was the handsome and charming Jaiveer Rathore, Shivendra's father.

He looked at the little girl with soft eyes. "What do you want, beta?" he asked gently, not noticing his son just yet.

Aryavi looked up at him with innocent eyes. "Where is Asha Kaki?" she asked, pouting at not finding her beloved Asha Kaki.

Jaiveer chuckled softly. "Beta, your Asha Kaki is inside. Want to meet her?" he asked kindly.

Aryavi beamed and nodded eagerly. "Yes, please," she said grinning.

Jaiveer stepped aside to let her in and that's when he finally noticed his son being dragged behind her.

Jaiveer's eyebrows rose slightly at the sight his son, his, being led around by a little girl.

Aryavi entered the room and looked around for Asha Kaki, only to find her sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a file.

"Kakii!" Aryavi called out, drawing Asha's attention. Asha looked up and smiled warmly at the little girl.

"Arre meri rajkumari, kya hua?" Asha asked softly, picking Aryavi up into her arms.

[Oh, My Princess, what happened?]

Aryavi pouted looking at her with her innocent eyes. 

"He wants to become my friend, but I said I'll only be friends if he gives me chocolate. But Kaki, you told me not to take anything from strangers." she said adorably, pointing at Shivendra making all three of them Jaiveer, Asha and even Shivendra melt at her innocence.

Asha glanced at Shivendra, who stepped forward and respectfully bent to touch her feet. 

"Khamma Ghanni, Kaki Sa." he greeted politely.

Asha smiled, gently touching his forehead to bless him. "Ghanni Khamma, beta. Toh aap banna chahte ho hamari rajkumari ke dost?" she asked teasingly.

[So you are the one who wants to become the friend of my princess?]

Shivendra blushed at the sudden teasing and rubbed the back of his neck. 

"Yes, Kaki. I want her to be my friend. But she said she'll only be friends if I bring her a chocolate. And see I got her a chocolate. But now she says she'll ask you first." he said with a tired shake of his head.

Asha chuckled at Shivendra's words while little Aryavi giggled in her arms.

Shivendra narrowed his eyes at her. "Why are you giggling, huh?" he asked, pretending to be stern.

Aryavi pouted and glared at him angrily. 

"I'll gi-gilu-whatever! I'll do whatever I want. You can't say no to me, or I won't be your friend." she declared as she stepped out of Asha's embrace and stood on the sofa to reach Shivendra's height, placing her tiny hands on her waist. 

Even while scolding, she looked absolutely adorable.

"Accha meri maa, kuch nahi bolunga. Aur woh giggle hota hai, G-ee-gal," he said, trying to demonstrate the pronunciation to her.

[Okay okay, my lady, I won't say anything. And it's giggle, G-ee-gal.]

Aryavi's eyes narrowed further. "I didn't allow you to teach me how to pronounce that gilu word." she scolded, clearly offended.

Shivendra panicked and raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, Devi ji! I won't say anything. See?" he said, making an exaggerated show of zipping his lips shut.

Aryavi hummed in satisfaction before turning to Asha. "Can I accept his chocolate, Kaki?" she asked innocently.

Asha looked toward Jaiveer, who was leaning against the door, watching the scene unfold. He gave a small blink of assurance and Asha sighed in relief.

"You can, meri rajkumari," she said, placing a soft kiss on Aryavi's forehead.

Aryavi beamed at her before looking toward Shivendra, who was now grinning ear to ear.

She held out her hand, and Shivendra placed the chocolate in her palm with an exaggerated, dramatic bow, making her giggle.

As Aryavi unwrapped the chocolate and began munching on it while sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, Shivendra stared at her in disbelief.

"Hey, ab toh bata do will you be my friend or not?" he asked, pouting.

[At least now tell me, will you be my friend or not?]

Aryavi made a thinking face, her tiny finger tapping her chin, before shrugging. 

"Depends on my mood." she said, trying hard to suppress her giggles.

Shivendra narrowed his eyes at her. "Fine then, I won't get you the tasty homemade chocolates my elder brother made for me." he said with a shrug.

Aryavi's eyes widened. "You can't do this to me. I'm your friend, na?" she said, pouting adorably and giving him her best puppy eyes.

Shivendra's expression softened at the sight. "But you said I'm not your friend." he replied, pretending to be unbothered.

Aryavi's eyes began to well up, her lower lip trembling. Seeing her expression, Shivendra panicked.

"Hey, hey, why are you crying? Don't cry! See, I was just joking." he said quickly, trying to calm her down.

But Aryavi broke into tears, wailing loudly. "You're very bad!" she cried, hitting his chest with her tiny fists.

Shivendra immediately pulled her into a hug, gently patting her back to soothe her. 

"Yes, yes, I'm very bad," he said softly, consoling her.

Aryavi hiccupped, her eyes still watery. "Friend?" she asked innocently, pouting.

Shivendra chuckled softly and booped her nose. "Yes, friend." he said, holding out his pinky finger.

Aryavi looked at it in confusion, her expression silently asking, What's this?

Shivendra gently guided her. "Interlock your pinky finger with mine that's how we seal our friendship." he explained softly.

A small smile lit up Aryavi's face as she lifted her tiny pinky and linked it with his.

And in that innocent gesture, a bond was formed.

A friendship destined to turn into infinity.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫