Chasing Butterflies

It's that day of the year when 11 year old Akangkhya gets all dolled up and eager to see all other girls dolled up and dressed up in beautiful Sarees and Mekhela Chadars. Yes, it's the day of Saraswati Puja again.

"Maina, get ready real quick! We are already running late. Most of my colleagues have already reached college!!" Shouts Akangkhya's busy mother who is getting her 6 year old brother, Diptangshu, choose his shirt.

"In two minutes, Mom!" replies Akangkhya as she inspects her blue frock with fervour, determined to look as good as the older girls studying in her mother's college. The only thing that gets the little girl worried are the ever increasing pimples that began appearing on her forehead at the time of her menarche and are now spreading to the cheeks.

"Let's go now that we are already." Akangkhya's mother said after the three of them got ready. They reached the college where Akangkhya's mother, Sangeeta, works in about 15 minutes. Getting down from the car, Akangkhya gets awestruck looking at the beautiful girls coming in batches. But, she is not distracted from her main goal, i.e., to seek blessings from Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, so that she continues to get the first rank in the entire class this year too.

While going to the pedestal of the Goddess to pray, she notices a cute little guy who seems to be around her age. After praying, she sits with her brother who has a habit of sticking to her whenever they are outside. Suddenly, she notices the same cute little guy, whom she had seen before, sticking to his elder sister too. It is strange that all the other young boys are running around and playing except her brother and the that other cute little guy.

"Mom, who is that little boy who is sitting with his elder sister as well?" Akangkhya curiously asks her mother.

"Oh that guy! He is Chhetri uncle's son and his elder sister is currently studying in our college." replies her mother briefly, who is busy chatting with her colleagues.

Nilesh notices a girl who have been staring at him for quite some time. Little Nilesh who is quite arrogant and a bit narcissistic thinks "There comes another girl who seems interested in me. Uff!"

Suddenly, he sees the girl giving him a sweet smile. Though mesmerized, he doesn't notice it himself and thinks that his thoughts are affirmed.

Both of them get up from their seats and proceeds to the refreshment area for munching on some snacks along with their siblings.

The butterflies fluttering and the windy sky with the sun providing warmth amidst the January cold is quite relieving for the people present.

A unique purple butterfly catches Akangkhya's attention, fascinating her immensely. As she comes closer to the butterfly, it flies away with its majestic purple wings. Chasing it, she reaches a corner and sees that it has landed on the shoulders of the cute guy who doesn't seem to care much.

Admiring from afar, she is mesmerized by the beautiful scenery of the sunset in the backdrop of the beautiful mountains faraway, the golden paddy field and the boy whose back faces her with a majestic purple butterfly on his shoulder. "Matches with the bluish purple stripes of his white shirt!" she thinks and then turns away, ready to go back home.

Nilesh suddenly turns around to be greeted with a charming back view of blue and grey with ponytail swinging as the girl walks away.