Author's POV
The classroom buzzed with delightful chaos. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating a rainbow of colors: vibrant finger paintings adorning the walls, a plush carpet scattered with blocks and toy cars, and a dramatic play area transformed into a magical castle.
A group of children huddled around a table, their heads close together as they pieced together a giant puzzle. Laughter erupted from the art corner where a little girl with bright pink pigtails proudly displayed her masterpiece - a vibrant Jackson Pollock-inspired creation.
In the reading nook, a teacher with kind eyes read aloud from a picture book, her voice gentle and soothing. Tiny hands reached for the pages, eager to explore the colorful illustrations.
A small boy, his face smeared with paint, raced across the room, a mischievous glint in his eye. He crashed into a pile of pillows, sending a shower of feathers into the air, and then collapsed into a fit of giggles.
The air was filled with the sounds of playful chatter, the clinking of blocks, and the soft melodies of children's songs playing softly in the background. It was a symphony of childhood, a vibrant tapestry of learning, laughter, and pure joy.
Samarth and Ishqi meticulously building a towering castle out of colorful blocks. They are deep in concentration, their brows furrowed as they carefully balance each block.
" Almost there, Ishq. Just a few more blocks." Samarth said whispering
"I think it's going to be the tallest castle in the whole world!, Sam." Ishqi nodded in agreement. Suddenly her eyes sparkled . " Princess!!! " She looked at Samarth . " Sam , Can I be the princess of this castle ?"
" No!!" Samarth said and turned to Ishqi . He smiled as he saw her pouting angrily. "Because you can be the queen of the castle ." He smiled widely as he saw Ishqi smiling .
"Look what I found! A sparkly ball!" Suddenly, Ruhan bursts into the area, his face flushed with excitement. He throws the ball high in the air, and it bounces off the castle, sending a cascade of blocks tumbling down.
Samarth looked at him furiously , "Ruhan! What did you do?"
" I just wanted to show you my ball." Ruhan said totally confused.
" It's ok, Sam . We can rebuild it." Ishqi said trying to calm Samarth down .
"But we were so close! All our hard work..." Samarth said stomping his foot .
" I'm sorry, Samarth. I didn't mean to." Ruhan said looking down.
Samarth continues to glare at Ruhan, his lower lip trembling. Ishqi puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe Ruhan can help us rebuild it." Said Ishqi.
" I don't want his help!" Samarth who is still upset .
" Please, Samarth. I'll be careful this time. I promise." Ruhan pleaded
Ishqi looks at Samarth pleadingly. After a moment of hesitation, Samarth sighs.
He can't say no to his Ishq , can he ?
" Fine. But if you knock it down again..." Samarth said grudgingly
Ruhan nods eagerly and starts helping Samarth and Ishqi rebuild the castle. They work slowly and carefully, with Ruhan trying his best to be gentle and quiet. Gradually, the castle starts to take shape again . Samarth excused himself and went to the washroom.
A small smile begins to appear on Samarth's face as he comes back from the washroom remembering how he built the castle with Ishqi and Ruhaan but his smile fades away the next second. Ishqi and Ruhaan were not in the classroom. He went outside the classroom to the playground.
The swings creaked rhythmically as Ishqi and Ruhaan soared through the air, their laughter echoing across the playground. Samarth watched them from beneath the shade of the roof , his stomach churning with a strange mix of emotions. He loved playing with Ishqi , but the way Ruhaan was trying to join their games... it made his chest feel tight.
"Sam, come on!" Ishqi called, her voice bright and cheerful. "Ruhaan wants to play tag with us!"
Ruhaan grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ready, set, go!" he shouted, and he was off, his short legs pumping furiously.
Samarth hesitated. He wanted to play with Ishqi, but the thought of Ruhaan tagging him, of Ruhaan laughing with Ishqi, filled him with a pang of jealousy.
He kicked at the dirt, feeling a knot of resentment tightening in his throat.
"Sam!" Ishqi called again, her voice laced with concern. "Are you okay?"
Samarth looked up, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm coming," he mumbled, scrambling to his feet.
He joined the game, but his heart wasn't in it. He ran clumsily, tripping over his own feet, his mind consumed by jealous thoughts. He watched Ishqi and Ruhaan, their faces flushed with excitement as they chased each other around the swings. He saw the way they laughed together, the way they high-fived when one of them caught the other.
A wave of sadness washed over him. He felt like an outsider, like he was losing his best friend to Ruhaan.
Samarth went inside the classroom. He sat in his seat and sighed still not happy about the fact of Ruhaan and Ishqi becoming friends . A notebook caught his eyes , it was Ruhaan's notebook . Anger took over him so much that he took the notebook and tore it .
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