CHAPTER 23 THE LITTLE ANGEL

He looked to his right and found Aditi standing near him!  He forced upon a smile and greeted her.  She reciprocated but appeared very concerned looking at his condition.  “What happened?  What are you doing sitting here?  You look very worried!”

Aryaman dismissed her fears and maintained that he was only tired.  Aditi did not believe him and insisted in knowing the matter.  Seeing Aryaman concealing facts from her, she began to surmise the matter.

  “You told me once that you reside alone in a jungle and that your parents do not stay with you.  Are you missing them?”

Aryaman looked at his little friend and smiled.  “I always miss them!”

“If you do not feel bad, can I ask you something?”  Aditi asked hesitantly.

Aryaman shook his head in the affirmative.

“Are they alive?” she softly asked and then looked at him keenly for his reaction.

Aryaman looked at her pensively and then hung his head down for some moments.  “I lost my mother when I was your age!  My father is alive but we do not stay together!”  He finally responded with a sigh.

Aditi felt sad for her friend.  She now felt certain that owing to some reason Aryaman was dearly missing his parents that day.

“Aryaman!” she called out to him breaking the uneasy silence that prevailed after he had made this revelation.

As he looked at her, he found her swallowing hard before she began to speak, “I lost my parents a few years ago owing to the outbreak of some disease that had affected quite a few during that time!”

Aryaman was stunned to hear this.  Aditi continued, “Ever since they died, I am been looked after by my father’s brother.  Today I will admit that there have been instances when I feel that I am being offered step-motherly treatment and some of my needs ignored.  Try as I might, at times, I cannot stop this thought from entering my mind that had my parents been alive, they would have showered far greater love and affection on me and taken care to fulfill all my needs.   Still I am grateful to uncle and his family for giving me shelter and allowing me to refer them as my parents.  This thought makes me feel happy and gives me the feeling that my parents are alive and are with me.”  Aditi’s voice shivered and layers of tears formed in her eyes.  Aryaman endearingly moved his hand over the child’s head as she continued wiping off her tears, “When despite this tragedy I can be happy, why can’t you, Aryaman?  You are fortunate than me for your father is alive!  You can always meet him and start staying together!”    

Aryaman held her close to his heart.  “If only people are as understanding like you, my child!  This world would be such a better place to live in!  You have soothed my aggrieved heart.”

“Remember what I had once told you?” she asked to which Aryaman nodded with a grin.  “I have succeeded in making you happy!  Hurrah!” she cried out in all her childish exuberance.

Aryaman asked her as to why she had come there.  Suddenly, she felt silent and hung her head down.  Then, she murmured, “Actually I had come to fill water in the pot from that well.”  She then looked at him with fearful eyes.   She then pulled her ears and muttered, “Sorry!”   

All of her reactions were so cute that Aryaman could not resist a smile on his face.  “Where’s your pot?” He asked her curiously.

She pointed her little finger towards a nearby tree and replied with a sullen face, “I hid it behind that tree when I saw you here!”

Aryaman softly pulled her chubby cheeks and asked her to fetch the pot so that he could go and draw water from the well.  “No, Aryaman!”  Aditi declined his help, “Please let me do it!  The rains have raised the water level in the well thus making it safe for me.”

Aryaman gave in and decided to wait there until she returned.  Seeing him relent, Aditi regained her childish charm!  She shouted in jubilation and ran towards the tree for getting her ‘hidden’ pot.  Flashing a very sweet smile at her friend, she then hurried to the well even as he cautioned her to be careful.