Rishabala : Three Shots : Puppy Love

Part One

Since many people asked me to repost this story with Rishabala, I am posting it

Lawrence School, 1996

Madhu walks into the isolated girl's restroom in her hostel. Noticing the free stall, she got inside and went on taking care of her business as she thought of her first day in her new school. This is the first time she was staying away from home and the previous night was a nightmare for her as she had to stay with a bunch of strangers, that too without her father by her side to take care of her. Everyone around here knew everyone else and she felt so lonely that she had cried herself to sleep. Even in class, though the teachers and students were sweet to her, she had felt lonely. She wanted to go back home so badly but then she was never a quitter, her father had taught her better, so she was determined to stay here and enjoy hostel life as much as possible. Suddenly she heard someone from the adjoining stall singing breaking her train of thoughts.

Are Re Are Yeh Kya Hua, Maine Na Yeh Jaana

Are Re Are Ban Jaaye Na''.

Are Re Are Ban Jaaye Na'..

"Damn!"

Are Re Are Yeh Kya Hua, Maine Na Yeh Jaana

Are Re Are Ban Jaaye Na'..

Madhu realizing that person was trying to remember the lines she sings softly

Kahin Koi Afsaana

"Yeah!" and the girl sing "Kahin Koi Afsaana"

Are Re Are Yeh Kya Hua, Maine Na Yeh Jaana

Are Re Are Ban Jaaye Na, Kahin Koi Afsaana

"Thanx." The girl said. "No probs." Madhu replied. "By the way, who are you?" "I am Madhubala Malik. And you?" "Oh the new girl! I am Trishna Kundra. I am in your class only." "Really? That's great." Madhu said. "You fine now?" Trishna asked  "Yeah" Madhu replied. "Is this you first time in hostel?" "Yeah.. and yours too?" Madhu asked. "No.. I have been staying in hostel since 4thstd. so this is my 3rd year in hostel." "Wow!" Madhu said amazed. Trishna giggles "My brother has been staying in hostel since he was in 2nd std. Now he is in 12th here." "10 years??" Madhu asked shocked. Trishna laughs "He likes hostel more than home. He says he has more freedom here." "Are your parents very strict?" Madhu asks. "No! But my brother is kind of a rebel." Trishna says. "Your brother sounds scary." Madhu said without thinking. "Oops. I am sorry. I didn't mean it like that." Madhu immediately says after realizing what she had just said. "Ha ha ha no worries. Actually my brother is a sweetheart." "Even I have a brother. He is also a sweetheart." Madhu said, not knowing what else to say. "Is he in our school?" "Yeah. He is in 10th." "Hmmm okay."  "Do you have many friends here, Trishna?" Madhu asks hesitantly. "I don't know." Trishna muses. "You don't know? How is that?" Madhu asks confused. "It's difficult to explain. Why did you ask?" Trishna asks her. "Because, I don't have any friends here." Madhu said after a lot of hesitation. "Oh that's it? From now on I am your friend!" Trishna declared. "Thank you." Madhu replies gratefully. "What is the need to say 'thank you' and all?" Trishna asks. "hehehe I don't know." Madhu replied. Madhu starts laughing. "Why are you laughing?" Trishna asks. "This is the first time I made a friend in bathroom and that too with someone I have never seen but only heard voice of." Madhu said. "Me too! But then I have seen you. Yesterday in dorm and today in class." Trishna says. "Yeah! Maybe even I have seen you, but don't know who you are." Madhu guesses. "Yeah possible." Trishna agrees.

That night, Madhu and Trishna were sitting on Madhu's bed as they talked. They had become fast friends and as they talked they realized that both of them were from Bombay, they liked Sharukh khan and  the same author and also that Madhu's cousin sister, Kasturi was dating Trishna's family friend's son Robbie which made the bond all the more stronger. "Hey Trishna!" a girl greeted Trishna as she walked past by. Trishna replies a "Hi!" without much interest. "You seem to be so famous here. Everybody is so friendly with you." Madhu says amazed. "I am not famous. My brother is!" Trishna replied. "What?" Madhu asks confused.  Trishna shrugs "You leave that. Tell me this, what did Robbie do when you caught him and Kasturi di kissing?" Trishna asks all interested and Madhu starts giggling as she recounted the tale.