RECAP Kabir goes to school with Mark, his imaginary friend. Mark advices him not to oil his hair and wear a ‘tilak’. Kabir does so and looks quite good and different. At school, Mark asks him to participate in a storytelling session during a free period. Kabir tells an interesting story, which everyone likes. On reaching home, when he refuses to play with Kriti when his mother asks him to do so, Mark scolds him badly. As a result, Kabir plays with Kriti. He has now begun to enjoy Mark’s company and often does as he says. CHAPTER 9 God knows why Aakriti was so happy today. The snooty headstrong little girl was humming a sweet tune since she returned from the school. “Hey kiddie!” she gently patted Kabir as she passed by him. Kabir, busy solving his Maths problems, looked up in amazement. He too was surprised with such a pleasant change in her behaviour. “Come! Let me teach you a computer game,” she dragged him to the computer table. He turned to Mark with astonishment in his eyes. Mark nodded as if urging him to go with her.   “See, first we click on Start menu, then we go to Accessories, then Games, and finally Solitaire. It’s an interesting game. You’ll learn it fast. Now watch as I play,” she instructed him like a teacher. Kabir was enjoying his role as a student. He was obediently following what she was teaching him. A quick learner as he was, he did not take much time to be well-versed with the game. “Di! Now can I play a game myself?” he asked her. “Sure!” Aakriti smiled and put his small hand on the Mouse. He got busy with Solitaire. She looked at the clock and mumbled, “When will it be 6?” Kabir, after playing a short game, retired to complete his homework. But she was not interested in anything today. She was feverishly strolling in the drawing room, waiting for the clock to strike 6. As soon as the awaited hour came, she grew even more restless. She picked up the phone and dialled Shilpa’s number, “Mom! When are you coming back? I’ve to show you something.” “Sorry honey! I’ll be a little late today. Got some work in the office,” she replied. “When will you come then?” she asked a little frustrated. “Let’s say by 7:00-7:30. Your dad is coming to pick me up. What is it that you want to show me?” “That’s a huge surprise, mom! Please come soon,” saying this she put down the receiver. She played with Kriti for some time, but soon got bored. She wanted mom and no one else. She went into the drawing room and lay flat on the sofa, lost in her own thoughts. Her reverie broke with the honking of dad’s car. She cast a glance on the clock. It was 8. “God! I slept for two hours,” she sprang from the sofa and rushed to open the door, “Hey mom! Hey dad! I’ve a surprise for you both.” “What is it, dear?” Vishal asked. “Oh yes! She was telling me. She has something to show us,” said Shilpa. “Sure I’ll show you,” Aakriti hastened to her room and brought a self-made painting. “An inter-school painting competition was held in our school last week. I stood first in that. And this is the painting I made. You know, mamma, I beat all the contestants, even those from the other schools,” she said in one go. “So this is the surprise you were talking about,” Shilpa sounded a little disappointed. “Yes mom!” Aakriti was ecstatic, “You know, I had to beg my teacher to give me this painting for a day so that I could show it to you. Tomorrow she’ll put it on the school bulletin board.” “I thought it would be something to do with your science test,” exhausted Shilpa plunged into the sofa. “But that was last Friday, no?” said Vishal, “I taught you myself. You must have got your marks by now.” Aakriti, not knowing what to do, shook her head. Then not being able to tell a lie, she nodded. “How much did you get?” questioned Vishal. Aakriti hung her head in shame. “Dad is asking you something, Aakriti,” Shilpa looked at her with piercing eyes. “14 on 25,” she replied in a low voice. Shilpa and Vishal did not seem to be surprised. “Good!” Vishal said in a sarcastic tone. “We couldn’t have expected more than that,” murmured Shilpa. Without taking any notice of her painting, they got busy with their activities. Vishal went into the kitchen to prepare tea, while Shilpa started cutting vegetables. Aakriti, on the other hand, quietly sank into her chair. Her parents had torn her ‘surprise’ into shreds. Suddenly, Kabir barged into the room. Mark, as always, was with him. “Hello aunty!” Kabir greeted her. She, in response, just smiled. “Di! You go and have your customary shower,” Sujata joked entering the room, “I’ll prepare the dinner.” “I thought I’ll bathe after making preparations for the dinner. You have Kriti to take care of,” Shilpa replied. “Oh! She’s just slept. Now she’ll wake up in the night to bug me,” laughed Sujata, “I’m free right now. Let me prepare the dinner.” “Alright!” Shilpa got up. “Have your tea first. You must be tired,” Vishal said coming from the kitchen. Mark suddenly noticed Aakriti. She was silent, and sulking too. She was still holding her painting in her hands. He nudged Kabir and asked, “What happened to her? And what is she holding?” Kabir went close to her and asked pointing at the painting, “What’s this, di?” “My painting,” she said in a low voice. He took it from her hands and started caressing it with admiring eyes. Mark too peeped into it. He, at once, cried, “It’s amazing!” Mark’s reaction prompted Kabir too to shower all his praises for Aakriti’s creation, “This is wonderful, di!” “What a beautiful picture of a landscape at night! Show it your uncle and aunty, Kabir,” Mark further said. “Aunty! Did you see it?” Kabir handed it to Shilpa, “What a lovely scene!” It was now when Shilpa and Vishal glanced at it for the first time. “It’s nice! How did you make it?” Vishal was awed. “Dad! I first coloured the landscape with wax crayons and then painted the whole sheet with black poster colour. Now water does not stay on wax. So, the landscape is standing out,” explained Aakriti. “What an effect!” exclaimed Vishal. “It looks marvellous,” joined Shilpa. “Show it to me, didi,” Sujata asked for it. Soon everyone in the house was praising Aakriti for her beautiful painting. She was delighted. Everyone was heartily appreciating her talent. She was not matured enough to analyse and understand her feelings. She herself did not know why her eyes welled up with tears. She smilingly looked at Kabir, who in turn shifted his gaze to Mark. He smiled and winked at Kabir.                             To be continued….