Two days later, Kabir returned to India with his family, and the next day he went to school with Siya.
As Kabir was walking to the classroom, he saw some boys harassing Shreyansi.One was pulling her hair, another was touching her cheeks inappropriately.Poor Shreyansi was trying to defend herself, but apart from letting her tears flow, she couldn't do much.
Kabir, enraged, stepped forward, pulled Shreyansi toward him, and stood in front of her saying,"Don't you have any shame? Harassing a girl like this? Don't you have mothers or sisters at home?"
All the boys knew that Kabir was from the Roy family, who had a strong influence in the city, so they backed off with scornful looks and left.
Kabir turned to Shreyansi. She bowed slightly to thank him and began to walk away when Kabir called out, "Hey, listen..."
But by then, Shreyansi had already gone.
The entire day in class, Kabir kept turning around to look at Shreyansi.Even during lunch, he tried to talk to her, but Siya dragged him off to the canteen.
The next day, when Shreyansi came, Kabir offered her the seat next to him, but she kept her head down and quietly walked to the back.
Kabir felt bad, so he got up and went to the last bench himself.Shreyansi looked at him questioningly, and Kabir grinned and said,"Your math is good, right? I came to learn from you..."
Shreyansi gave a soft smile and replied, "My math is weak, English is good..."
Kabir scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Yeah... teach me that then."
But Siya didn't like Kabir getting close to someone else.
Gradually, days passed, and Kabir and Shreyansi had started talking regularly. Kabir now sat with Shreyansi every day, no matter how much Siya tried to stop him. He began to enjoy her company—her funny stories and tales of sibling fights at home reminded him of Raghav.
But Siya started to feel hurt. A sense of jealousy and irritation crept in. When we feel entitled to someone's love and that love begins to be shared elsewhere, jealousy is a natural response. Siya and Kabir had been together since childhood and had always been enough for each other. They never got close to anyone else. So now that Kabir was leaning toward Shreyansi, Siya couldn't bear it.
One day, while coming home, Siya finally said to Kabir:
"You're acting really different these days, Kabir. You hardly talk to me anymore. You seem a little too interested in that new girl. I guess I don't mean much to you now…"
Kabir, still playing his video game, replied:
"Lizard, what nonsense are you talking about? Just think—since childhood, it's only ever been the two of us. Did we ever make any other friends? No, right? That's why I want to make new friends now. Anyway, I have to move in with bhaiya after two years, so I'm practicing making new friends from now. What's wrong with that?"
Siya, trying to read Kabir's true feelings, said:
"But don't you think we're enough for each other?"
Kabir laughed loudly and said:
"What...? Are you out of your mind? Can one person ever be someone's entire world? And anyway, you're only saying all this because you can't make new friends. You're jealous of me."
Siya squinted and said:
"Me...? I can't make new friends...? Are you serious?"
Kabir lifted his collar proudly and replied:
"Yes."
Siya, now challenging him, said:
"Fine then! If I make a new and real friend within a month, you'll have to break your friendship with that new girl."
Kabir glanced at her and replied:
"Okay."
Siya looked at him, surprised, and said:
"It won't matter to you...?"
Kabir said:
"That situation won't even come up—because seriously, who would be friends with a lizard like you?"
Siya hit Kabir and said – "If I'm a lizard, then you're a kangaroo! And what did you say? No one will be friends with me, Siya Prajapati? That's not even possible! Who would refuse to be friends with someone as famous and beautiful as me?"
Kabir rested his chin on one hand at the car window and said – "Okay, one month. Only one month… You're free to try. If in a month, you manage to make even one friend who's as handsome, cute, and smart as me… then I'll accept that you can make friends apart from me. Deal?"
Siya, flipping her hair with full attitude, said – "Challenge accepted!"And she turned her face away, sulking, while Kabir yawned and fell asleep right there in the car.
After reaching home, Siya went to her room, lay down on the bed and said to herself –"Girl, you've accepted the challenge, but the way you've annoyed all your classmates till now, no one's even going to talk to you nicely. And then there's this whole rumor about Raghav…Yes, I know I'll be marrying him someday, but why is everyone spreading it like wildfire?Every handsome guy is scared to even look at me—like Raghav will suddenly appear and swallow them whole!Ugh! Now how am I going to make a new friend?I wish someone new like Shreyansi would join the class… it would be easier to befriend them.Dear God, please help me! I'll offer five laddoos at your temple… promise!"
Meanwhile, Kabir walked into his house, tossed his shoes, threw his bag on the sofa, flung one sock on the dining table and the other one so wildly it disappeared completely.He ran into his room, took off his tie and hung it on the window, where it swayed in the wind like a dancing snake.
When Kabir opened his wardrobe, all the clothes tumbled down onto him.He pushed them off himself and shouted loudly – "Kaaki!"
An older woman came rushing in and said – "What happened, Baba?"
Pointing toward the pile of clothes, Kabir said –"I told you to clean all this—why is it still such a mess?"
Kaaki, picking up the clothes, said –"Forgive me, Baba. I was going to do it this morning, but the little girl kept me busy with something else."
Kabir, getting annoyed, said –"Kaaki, how many times have I told you? Do my work first!"
Kaaki, putting the clothes back in the wardrobe, said –"Alright, Baba. Go have your breakfast… I've made your favorite kofta today."
Kabir grabbed an outfit and walked to the bathroom, asking –"Is Mom home?"
Kaaki – "No, Baba."
Kabir – "Great. Then please make some gulab jamuns for me."
Kaaki, smiling, replied – "Okay, Baba."
She went downstairs, and soon after, Kabir changed his clothes and sat on his bed watching TV.
Kaaki returned with the other servants and served Kabir's food right in front of him.
Kabir kept watching TV while eating. Kaaki asked the other servants to leave and began cleaning the entire room.When Kabir went to the bathroom to wash his hands after eating, Kaaki picked up his plate and even changed the bedsheet.
Kabir came back and sat on the bed again, watching TV.
When Chandrika ji returned from the temple, the house was neat and clean.She handed the prayer tray to a servant and walked into Kabir's room. Looking around, she said –"Wow, Kabir! You actually kept your room clean today…"
Kabir stood up and said – "Haha… yeah, Mom… well…"
Chandrika – "Kabir… I know Kaaki did all this. When will you learn to take care of your own things? Is living off others really the kind of life you want?"
Kabir – "Mom, when we have servants at home, why should I do all the work? I just don't get it—if we have to do everything ourselves, then what's the point of having them?"
Chandrika, glaring at him, said –"The house is big, that's why we have servants. But we must still do our own work. At the very least, keep your school bag, uniform, and other things in place. You can manage that, right?"
Kabir – "Okay, Mom… I'll do it. Now bye…"Saying this, he picked up his phone and walked out.
Chandrika ji said to herself –"What kind of boy is this… he can't even do a single thing on his own.It's all his dad's fault—he's completely spoiled him…"