The Pond Where Peace Died
In a small village where gossip traveled faster than the wind and every auntie owned binocular-level eyesight, there existed a peaceful pond.
Or at least… it used to be peaceful.
Because one day, two seven-year-old disasters decided it was their battlefield.
Her name was Mimi.
His name was Pappu.
And they were not friends.
They were competitors.
"Stop copying how I throw stones!" Mimi snapped, adjusting her pink hair ribbon like a queen preparing for war.
"I invented throwing stones," Pappu replied proudly. "You're using my technique."
"Oh please. You throw like a confused duck."
He gasped dramatically.
"Take that back."
She didn't.
Instead, she threw a stone so hard it skipped five times across the water.
Pappu stared.
"That was luck."
"That was talent."
That was the moment destiny sighed and said,
"Ah… these two."
The pond heard their arguments every day.
They argued about: – Who ran faster.
– Who had better handwriting.
– Who would become more successful.
– Who was more annoying (this debate never ended).
One afternoon, while sitting side by side, legs dipped into the water, Mimi casually asked,
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Pappu didn't think.
"Your husband."
Silence.
A bird stopped chirping.
The water rippled dramatically.
Mimi's brain froze.
"WHAT?!"
He shrugged. "Seems efficient. We already fight like a married couple."
She stood up, grabbed a stick, and chased him around the pond.
"YOU MONKEY!"
"Future wife attacking future husband!"
Villagers watched.
Someone whispered,
"They'll marry one day."
Someone else replied,
"Or kill each other."
Both were correct
If childhood was noisy, school was a full military operation.
Teachers quickly realized something dangerous:
Never. Ever. Seat Mimi and Pappu Together.
It was tried once.
Just once.
Within seven minutes:
– Mimi accused Pappu of breathing too loudly.
– Pappu accused Mimi of blinking aggressively.
– Their notebooks collided.
– A pencil flew across the classroom.
– The teacher aged five years.
After that, they were placed in opposite corners.
It didn't help.
They argued across distance.
"Mimi, stop staring at my paper!"
"I'm making sure you're wrong!"
"Madam! She's disturbing my intelligence!"
The class laughed.
Punishments were daily.
Stand outside.
Hold ears.
Write "I will not fight" 50 times.
They wrote it.
Then argued about who wrote it better.
But something strange happened whenever someone else teased Mimi.
Once, a boy mocked her for answering a question wrong.
Before Mimi could react—
Pappu stood up.
"Say it again."
The class went silent.
The boy laughed nervously. "Why? She your lawyer?"
"No," Pappu replied calmly, "but I'm her problem. Not you."
And just like that, the teasing stopped.
Mimi pretended not to notice.
She noticed everything.
And when someone laughed at Pappu for mispronouncing a word in English—
Mimi stood up.
"At least he tries. Unlike some people."
The same people who fought daily…
… defended each other fiercely.
They were enemies.
But exclusive enemies.
Teenage Ego Explosion
By the time they reached high school, the village had accepted one truth:
If Mimi was thunder…
Pappu was lightning.
And when they met—
Storm.
Teenage years made everything louder.
Arguments were now philosophical.
"You are impossible," Mimi declared one afternoon.
"No," Pappu replied, leaning against a tree, "I am misunderstood brilliance."
She rolled her eyes so hard even gravity felt insulted.
"You failed math."
"I failed the system."
"You wrote your name wrong in the exam."
"That was creative expression."
She threw her notebook at him.
He caught it smoothly.
"You throw better now."
"Shut up."
But slowly, something shifted.
Arguments lasted longer.
Stares lingered.
Silences became heavier.
One evening during a school festival rehearsal, Mimi tripped on stage.
Before anyone could react—
Pappu was already there.
"Careful," he said quietly.
No joke.
No teasing.
Just… careful.
For a second, the storm went silent.
Then Mimi stood up and snapped,
"Don't touch me, monkey."
He grinned again.
Balance restored.
But something had changed.
College didn't calm them.
It upgraded them.
If school was war… college was live television.
The first day they entered campus, Mimi adjusted her bag and said confidently,
"New place. New life. No drama."
Pappu appeared behind her.
"Impossible. I'm enrolled here."
She closed her eyes.
"Why are you everywhere?"
"Fate," he replied proudly.
"No. Misfortune."
Within a month, the entire college knew them.
They fought in:
– The library (whisper shouting).
– The canteen (with audience).
– The corridor (echo effect).
– Group projects (disaster level maximum).
Once, during a debate competition, they were placed on opposite teams.
Topic: "Love is a distraction."
Mimi spoke first.
"Love makes people irrational. Emotional. Weak."
The crowd clapped.
Then Pappu walked up.
"Love makes people stronger. Protective. Loyal."
He glanced at her.
"And sometimes… stubborn."
The crowd cheered louder.
After the debate, they argued for thirty minutes about who won.
Neither listened.
Both smiled secretly.
Then came the annual cultural fest.
A random voting mistake led to something shocking.
They were announced as:
"Best Couple of the Year."
Silence.
Then chaos.
"WHAT?!" Mimi shouted.
"This is fraud!" Pappu protested.
Students laughed and clapped harder.
They were forced on stage.
Given matching sashes.
Asked to hold hands for a photo.
They hesitated.
Then did it.
Just for a second.
But it felt longer.
Too long.
They dropped hands immediately.
"This means nothing," Mimi said quickly.
"Obviously," Pappu replied.
But that night, neither of them slept easily.
Because maybe…
It meant something.
Part 5
The Proposal Disaster
After college ended, adulthood entered like an unwanted guest.
Responsibilities.
Jobs.
Family pressure.
And then one evening—
Pappu's parents visited Mimi's house.
Tea was served.
Snacks arranged.
Mimi sensed danger.
Her mother smiled too much.
Her father cleared his throat dramatically.
Then it was said.
"We think Mimi and Pappu should get married."
Explosion.
"WHAT?!" Mimi stood up.
Pappu almost dropped his tea.
"This is emotional blackmail!"
"It's destiny," their parents said calmly.
"We've seen it since childhood."
"Seen what?!" they both shouted together.
Everyone smiled.
The families were serious.
The village already assumed it.
Even their old school teacher said,
"Finally. Peace."
But Mimi and Pappu weren't ready to surrender.
They met secretly near the old pond.
"This is your fault," Mimi accused.
"My fault? You existed first," Pappu argued.
"I will not marry you."
"Good. I refuse too."
Silence.
Wind.
Memories.
Then Pappu said softly,
"If… if it happens… we'll just fight forever, I guess."
Mimi crossed her arms.
"Obviously."
But her voice wasn't strong.
And neither was his.
Because deep down—
They were scared of one thing.
What if fighting stopped?
What would remain?