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~ A familiar face, yet a stranger's frame,
Nine years of growth, a changed terrain .

I remembered the boy, but not the man,
Towering above, with a gentle hand.

My eyes wandered up, to his lofty height ,
185 cm of kindness, shining so bright .

I felt small, in more ways than one,
158 cm of doubts, beneath the morning sun. ~

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15th October 1899
Calcutta, Bengal

KAVITA POV & DARSH POV ~

☆ ( Darsh pov......... Kavita povs........ )

[ BOTH POVS WILL GO SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE FONTS OF BOTH POVS ARE DIFFERENT TO UNDERSTAND WHOSE POV WE ARE READING, DARSH IN ITALIC AND KAVITA IN BOLD. PLUS THERE ARE EXTRA GAP BETWEEN BOTH POVS FOR EASY READABILITY ] ☆

We enter the library, greeting the librarian sir.

Stepping inside, we gasp at the library's intricate, grand designs .... It feels like walking into a palace...

Towering shelves filled with leather-bound tomes line the walls, their spines embossed with gold lettering. Ornate wooden tables and high-backed chairs create an inviting space, while large windows allow soft, filtered light to illuminate the dust motes dancing in the air.

"Here ! This library was established on 24th January 1857. It is considered as the multidisciplinary library in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia" Aditya explains to the girls.

☆THE LIBRARY WAS INDEED ESTABLISHED ON 24TH JANUARY 1857, BUT THE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE OF TODAY'S ERA☆

A blend of musty paper, polished wood, and faint traces of ink fills the air. The scent of aged leather from book bindings adds to the library's Grandeur.

Excited by the sight of the books and the stunning interior designs of the library, we squeal like toddlers, forgetting the boys standing beside us.

Seeing them squealing like kids, we can't help but cover our mouths, stifling our chortles.

Our laughter halts abruptly as we hear stifled chuckles. Our eyes widen, and a blush of embarrassment rises on our faces.

I clear my throat, hoping to ease the awkwardness. I glances at my friends, and they look just as embarrassed as I am, unable to turn back.

Pakhi gestures for Mehreen and Amrita to sneak a peek at the boys, but they quickly shake their heads. Then she looks at me... but before she can gesture anything, I shake my head as well.

I see them signaling each other through their eyes and murmuring something while shaking their heads.

I glances at my friends and we nod our heads, not to pick out the awkward moment, understanding their embarrassment.

Mehreen, Amrita, Pakhi and I grin as we look at Aara.... OUR SCAPEGOAT!!

"What?... Why are you all giving me that look?... Umm.. uh-huh..nah.... I'm not going!" She shakes her head as she realizes our intentions.

"Chup chap jao... waise bhi hamesha badbad karti rehti hai!!!" Pakhi hushes her.

[ GO QUIETLY... YOU ALWAYS KEEP MUMBLING ANYWAYS!!! ]

We all turn to Aara and push her forward to start a conversation. she gives us a betrayed look and hisses in a low tone "Aastin ki naagin ho tum sab!!" We all ignore her looks, averting our gazes away from her.

[ YOU ALL ARE SNAKES IN THE SLEEVES!! ]

"Sorry...! Our sacrificial lamb!" I murmur, sympathetically shaking my head.

"Uhh...umm...hehe...ermm... w-what kind of books and how many are there... in this Library?" Aara nervously shutters, trying to start the conversation, still feeling embarrassed.

I see Marshall and Aditya glancing at each other then at Matthew and I. We gesture at Rashid to speak to them.

"Our library is divided into 34 sections... Each section has its own kind of genre. There are over 1 million books at Calcutta University, including 250,000 rare texts dating back to the 15th century" Rashid answers briefly, in a calm tone, as if to ease the awkwardness.

As soon as the words 'over 1 million books' leaves his mouth, our jaws drop in disbelief. We stare back and forth between him and the other boys, totally shocked with the information.

"OVER 1 MILLION BOOKS!!?" We gasp in unison, then quickly glances back at the library in wonder. Our earlier embarrassment fades, replaced by amazement and exhilaration.

It feels like heaven on Earth for us. We're all readers and read different types of genres --- myths, spirituality, children literature, religion, story books, moral stories, short stories, poetry, historical, realism, adventure, journals, travel literature, naturalism, satire, social critique, mystery, etc.

"Yes...! and you're free to explore any section you want..." Rashid says with a calm tone. A small smile comes to my face seeing them smiling like small kids who've just been given candies.

"Really !! We can !!?" I clarify again, still not believing that we are allowed to explore freely.

"Yes, you can. Every student from Bethune college who has come today for this educational tour is allowed... " I assure, with a smile.

We beam with happiness, glancing at each other, and then eagerly go our separate ways to explore the sections we love the most.

After a bit of roaming, between so many sections, I spot the poetry section. " Ohh ! There it is !!" I exclaim happily, rushing over to scan the shelves for short poetry collections, which I can finish before our tour ends.

I see her going to the poetry section. Feeling curious, I follow her.

I found several short poetry books on the top shelves. Glancing around, I spot a wooden ladder. Bringing it to the desired shelf, I adjust it properly.

Climbing on it happily, I take out a few books from the top shelf. I carefully starts descending the ladder not wanting to trip on my saree and fall badly. But it looks like my fate really doesn't love me.

Once reaching the poetry section, I see her standing on the ladder with an excited face, picking out a few poetry books from the top shelf.

When she start descending the ladder, her legs stuck into her saree's hem.

My legs tangle in the saree's hem, and in the way of untangling the saree, I squirm, losing the balance of the ladder. Closing the eyes tightly in fear, a meek shriek leaves my lips.

I quickly spring towards her, holding the ladder tightly so she doesn't fall down.

"Are you okay!?" I check on her, concerned, as she shut her eyes close, maybe because of fear.

I snap my eyes open, hearing an unknown male's voice.

I look to my right side, and see the same boy who was glancing at me earlier.

I turn to glance at the ladder, and see him holding it with one hand.

I turn back to him, my eyes a little higher than his, as I'm standing on the ladder.

I gaze down, realizing I'm standing on the fifth step of the ladder, but still I'm only reaching a little high up from him.

"How tall is he !???" I wonder, looking at his eyes, feeling offended.

"Hey!! Are you fine ?" He repeats his question, breaking my thoughts as I didn't answer him at first.

"Yeah, I'm fine... thanks to you" I murmur, looking down, clutching the ladder, suddenly being conscious of our closeness. He's standing right beside me, all tall.

Her voice is soft and melodious. Hearing her answering softly and leaning back a little to create some distance between us, a knowing smile tugs on my lips.

I notice her clutching the ladder and I bit my lips, trying to buckle up my chuckles, seeing her cute antics.

"She is so cute...... she looks too cute up close..." I muse internally, admiring her.

I glance back at him, his eyes ---- " I don't know why, how and when... but, I feel like I have seen these eyes before..." I wonder to myself.

"I'm holding the ladder, you will not get tangle again. Come down, carefully" He respectfully instructs me with concern. With him holding the ladder, I carefully step down, glancing at him.

After she steps down carefully, standing 3-4 feets away in front of me. It seems more difficult to control my chuckles, finding her cute and adorable as she's barely reaching my shoulders.

"What in the name of God !!!? Is he a palm tree or something !??" I wonder, eyeing his towering height, feeling a personal attack on my height.

I see her slightly accusing eyes, glaring at me secretly..... and only God knows how, but I feel like I know what she's thinking.

Her glares didn't change at all, it reminds me of when she glared at me for tripping over her.

"Thank you for your help..." I thank him genuinely, brushing off the personal attack on my height.

"You're welcome!... Hmm... Hello, I'm Darsh Agarwal" I introduce myself, excited.

"Hmm... nice to meet you, Darsh.." I greet him, but.. not introducing myself to him.

I see him frowning, clearly waiting for something.

"What?" I ask, frowning in confusion.

"Introduce yourself..." He asks, his tone respectful.

"Why should I ?" I ask him again, feeling confused with his curiosity of me introducing myself.

I look at her, amused, when she questions me back " why should I ?", taking me aback.

"Well... because, I introduced myself to you" I express her in a polite tone, logically pointing my index finger to myself.

"I didn't ask you to introduce yourself to me... you did it with your own consent" I blurts in low tone, lost in my own thoughts.

Her words turn me speechless and I just stare at her, trying to understand what just happened.

"Ah... umm... m-my aunt taught me not to share my name with strangers... especially to those we just met" I quickly gave him my reason, not wanting to appear rude and hurt his gentle approach.

"Ohh... sorry !" I apologizes, stepping back a little more, respecting her comfort boundary and modesty.

"It's okay !" I wave a little, feeling nervous.

"Well, I may not know your name but... I have known you for 9 years" I murmur, rubbing my nape with a small nervous smile.

" What ?? Really!!? How?" I question him, feeling stunned yet curious.

"Remember the boy who tripped over you in the market, and your knees were bleeding.... 9 years ago !??" I express nervously, reminding her of the past.

I scrunch my brows as if trying to remember the past. My breath halts as I remember the time someone stumbled upon me and my knees got scraped....

I remember the little boy who rushed to me, just to give my ruby bracelet back to me.

My eyes widen as I recall the time, baffled.

" Wait ----- don't tell me... that boy is YOU !!?" I gasp, stunned, unable to believe his words.

I became speechless, too stunned to speak.

"Yes, I am !" I exclaim happily, all excited while nodding my head.

"Is he really the same little boy from 9 years ago??? Wasn't he almost like... My height?.... I agree, sure, he was a little taller than me before too but still not like this....... Arghhh... I'm so small in front of him" I ponder, feeling jealous of his height.

"I should look down or else my neck will break..." I lower my head to a normal position, thinking it is a humorous sarcasm.

"What kind of holy herb did he consume?" I sneak a peek down at myself , while complaining in the back of my head, feeling like crying mentally."This is way too much..... I know I'm short... but, this is psychological teasing!!"

"I can't believe I met you again!!! I thought I would never....!" I chime, smiling brightly at her.

"Looks like his body grew up but not his inner child ! Hehehe..." I giggle to myself, softly glancing at his over excited self for meeting me again after all these years.

I glance at her curiously as she seems to be thinking something intensely. I wonder what she might be thinking about so deeply.

That's when she blurts, pouting a little, looking at nothing " I am so short.... What kind of food and exercise did he do to get this tall !!? I want that too..." but quickly palms her mouth as if realizing that she spoke it out of her mind, nervously looking at me.

I grin, slightly, seeing her cheeks turning into light red hues, feeling embarrassed, maybe.

~ Hearts are small, but not the memories.

჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻.✾.჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻჻

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