Rooster crows....
Birds chirping at distance.....
Early morning filled with fog.....
Unclear sun rising from the river.....
People covered themselves with woolen blankets as they tend to their works.....
Women and young girls cleaning their frontyards....
Children who just woke up ,came to their mothers clinging on to one knee as they work while half asleep....
As the fog cleared and the day brightened,... all the children came out to play with each other. A girl was running all around the village greeting everyone she met, adding the children she met along the way, who just follwed her enthusiastically. The girl is followed by two boys who are almost two years older than her and two girls of which one is of same age as her and other one is two years younger. Those five children along with 8 boys and 6 girls were playing while running through the village. As they were running the girl saw an eight year old boy who's sitting on the slab around the tree looking sad. The girl stopped abruptly and went to him, while others continued running their way forward without noticing her. The girl came to the boy "why are you sitting alone?" asked innocently with a sad face. The boy looked at her "my grandfather just scolded me now." replied as he wiped his tears and snot off his face. She sat beside him "why? Did you make your grandfather angry?" asked him. "I don't know. He was teaching me stotras, and I couldn't remember them properly and kept on making mistakes. So he scolded me today." He replied and started crying again. She jumped forward from the place she was sitting and stood infront of him extending her hand to him, "shall I teach you some games for now?" asked him. He shook his head sideways "what if I were caught by grandfather playing with you instead of reciting stotras? He will get even more angry and may whip me this time." he replied sniffling his snot. She took his hand and moved a little which made the boy to stand up and follow her "don't worry, we'll can get reprimanded together. For now, follow me." continued to run forward with his hand. They ran together a little faster with the girl giggling all the way... the boy started to smile a little. As they were running, four children came in their opposite direction for them. "Aparna, don't stop in the middle like that, we were worried about you." Karunakar scolded her as soon as he saw her. Siva came in the middle "Karunakar, don't just yell at her. Look at him." showing the boy she was holding with her hand. "Who's this boy? I haven't seen this boy before." added Oormila. "Apannaa, apaanna... my hand" a four year cute girl stretching her hand to be held while the other tugging to her skirt. Aparna reached out her hand to let her hold it. She took that hand with both of her cute hands and swayed them in different directions while giggling excitedly. "He is Chandranna. Village head's grandson." Karunakar told as he looked at Oormila. Oormila eyes widened, "thaaattt.. village head.., I heard he's scary." she asked with a fearful expression on her face. Siva chuckled a little "He's not scary at all. He's just strict when it comes to traditions and rituals, but his face is intimidating." he added the last sentence looking at his grandson as if watching for his reply. "Ooohhh... your name is Chandranna. I'm Aparna," showing the other in an order, she continued, "my brother..Karunakar, brother Siva, she's Oormila and this cute girl is Krishna. Don't touch her cheeks okay. They are mine" she told while squashing Krishna's cheeks. "Aparna, why did you bring him along?" Siva asked observing moisture in his eyes and wetness around his mouth. "Brother Siva, he was sitting alone looking sad, so I brought him to play." Aparna answered him and looked so proud of herself. Karunakar face palmed. Oormila laughed. Krishna giggled looking at Oormila. "Let's play for a while and I will drop him off at his home carefully, please brother." Aparna asked her brother with a pleading tone. Her brother couldn't resist her cuteness "okay. Only for a short time. Otherwise their parents will be worried." Karunakar replied. Aparna jumped in joy making boy stumble and Krishna jumped with her while holding her hand and laughing. Chandranna was just looking at them having conversation about him without letting him talk anything. He was dragged to play with them. They played games like hide and seek , played tag where they just ran around each other laughing out loud when they were caught. Chandranna came to enjoy the game and Siva "STOP. Now Aparna its time to drop him off." ended the game abruptly. Chandranna looked a little disappointed. Krishna took his right hand "brother, will you play with us tomorrow?" asked looking at him with expectant eyes beaming with anticipation. Chandranna looked at her "Hou cute. She's like a doll" he pet her head softly and continued "I will play with you tomorrow also." with a small smile. Aparna took his hand off her "I told you, don't touch her. You'll make her stained." said pouting her lips and taking Krishna's face into her and moved it round and round while Krishna just enjoyed playing with Aparna. "Should we come along with you?" Karunakar asked Aparna who's still busy squishing Krishna's face. Aparna looked at him, "no need brother. I remember his house. You drop off Krishna at her home" she said. "Apanna, you are not coming?" Krishna asked sadly. Aparna couldn't contain her cuteness and rubbed her cheek against krishna's "this brother here is crying. So I will take him to his house and come to your house to play with you. For now, go with brothers and Oormila. Okay?" showing Chandranna and others as she talked about them. Krishna nodded and Aparna hugged her and took her leave along with the boy. Aparna and Chandranna walked towards their house and Aparna stopped at a turn "do you know your way back home?" she asked looking guilty at Chandranna. Chandranna laughed out loudly and nodded yes. Aparna sighed in relief. They walked to their house and saw some elders rushing. They looked at each other confused. As they neared the front gate, someone at the gate shouted "young master has come, master" coming hurriedly to Chandranna. Soon his mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, father's elder brother and sister in law, many servants loomed around him asking if he were okay. Chandranna held Aparna's hand tightly "I'm alright. What happened?" asked nervously. Her mother sighed and relief and kneeled down to his level "nothing. You came home late." told him as she hugged him desperately, almost crying.
.....
Chandranna rushed outside of their house after getting scolded by his grandfather crying. His mother thought he'll come back after a few minutes and left him to go. But he didn't come in for a while. So she came outside to check on her son, but she didn't find him there. She went to his husband hurriedly and worried, told their son missing, soon everyone in the house started looking at every corner of the house and the area around their house for him. Then someone saw him coming and called for their master.
...
Krishna is four years old and cannot pronounce Aparna's name clearly so she calls her Apanna.