Arjun woke up in the morning and splashed water on his face. These past three years had been relentless. Tears, humiliation, backstabbing, badmouthing—how much could one endure? He had seen it all. But today, he told himself, would be different.
"What are you thinking, Arjun? Just be happy," he muttered to his reflection. "It's the weekend. Just chill."
With that, he decided to go to the movies. Stepping out of his apartment, he noticed a group of kids playing in the courtyard.
"What are you all doing outside instead of sitting at home?" he asked them, half-joking.
One of the boys replied, "Our parents scold us if we stay inside playing mobile games. They told us to play outside for an hour."
"Smart parents," Arjun said with a smile.
Just then, a little girl named Arha called out, "Uncle, where are you going?"
"To watch a movie," he replied.
"Can we come with you?" she asked eagerly.
"Ask your parents first," Arjun said. "If they're okay with it, I'll take you all. But just this one time."
The kids scattered, running to their respective houses. After ten minutes, they returned, each with a small bag and a change of clothes.
"So, you all got permission?" Arjun asked.
"Yes, Uncle!" they chorused.
"How did you convince your parents?" he asked, amused.
One girl giggled and said, "I told my mom that you were going alone and invited us to join you. Then she asked my dad, and they said yes!"
Arjun chuckled. "Alright, let's go. But we're taking the bus, so everyone hold hands and stay together."
They boarded the bus and arrived at the mall. The children were buzzing with excitement as they entered the theater. Arjun bought tickets and snacks, using their parents' money for the treats they requested. Seeing their laughter and joy during the movie filled him with a sense of warmth he hadn't felt in years.
After the movie, he showed them around the mall, treating them to some good food. While they were eating, one of the girls tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Uncle, I need to pee."
"Alright, let's find the restroom," he said, guiding her to the ladies' toilet. Outside, he spotted a woman and asked, "Excuse me, could you please take her inside? I can't go in."
The woman smiled. "Of course. Come on, little one."
When they returned, the girl said, "Thank you, sister!"
Arjun shook his head and said to the kids, "You call everyone else brother or sister, but when it comes to me, it's always 'Uncle.' Why don't you ever listen?"
"Mom said to treat you like an uncle," Arha said with a cheeky grin.
"Haha, fine," Arjun said, handing a chocolate to the woman. "Thank you for helping. I didn't bring much, but please take this as a small token."
Once they were back at their table, one of the boys asked, "Uncle, why do you always carry chocolates if you don't eat them yourself?"
Arjun's face softened. "I used to have a friend who loved chocolates. I always bought them for her. Even now, whenever I see chocolates, I think of her."
"What happened to her?" a girl asked.
"I don't have the face to meet her anymore," he said quietly. "But forget about that. Let's focus on enjoying the day."
As they sat together, one of the kids noticed the candy Arjun had given to another and started wailing. "Boo! Uncle gave her candy, not me!"
Arjun laughed and handed out more chocolates. "Here you go. Happy now?"
The kids laughed, showing off their sweets to each other.
After their meal, Arjun asked, "Does anyone want dessert or ice cream?"
The chorus of replies came instantly. "Strawberry!" "Chocolate!" "Vanilla!" "Cone chocolate!" "Mango!"
Arjun placed the orders, and as they enjoyed their treats, he reflected on the past three years. He had spent so much time confined to his room, cooking simple meals and taking solitary walks. Why hadn't he thought of doing something like this before? It was chaotic, yes, but seeing the joy on their faces made him feel alive again.
"This will be a memory for me," he thought.
Once the ice creams were finished, he gathered the kids. "Come on, let's head home."
They returned to the apartment complex, and Arjun made sure to drop off each child at their respective homes. To every parent, he explained, "The kids only spent the money you gave them on snacks. I covered the rest, so please don't scold them. Also, I'll be moving soon once my job is finalized, so let them enjoy this memory."
Finally, back in his apartment, Arjun ordered takeout for himself. Looking out of his window at the quiet, family-filled neighborhood with its modest four-story buildings, he thought, "I should go out more. Maybe life isn't so bad after all."