Born  in  a  middle  class  family,  raised 
in  an  average  society,  Heena  makes  her  way  up  to  her  16th  birthday. 
She  could  smell  the  arrival 
of  the  gift  wraps  and  the  perfume 
of  guests  entering 
the  house.  It  felt  like  Uncle  Hiren  and  Aunt  Moushumi.  She  loved  it  every  time  they  were  around.  She  came  jogging 
downstairs,  looking out at  the  door.  "Uncle  Hiren, 
Aunt  Mou!"  she  greeted  with  joy!
"Heena  dear  look  at  you  -  grown  up  so  much!"  Aunt  Mou  expressed 
her  pleasure.  "My 
goodness  ...  have  I  missed  you?"  she  gave  her  the  warmest  hug.
"When  was  it  that  we  last  saw  her,  Mita?" 
Uncle  Hiren  asked  Heena's  Mother, 
latching  the  door.
"About  seven  years  I  guess" 
She  was  a  sweet  and  gentle  looking 
lady  in  her  trousers  and  highneck  sweater.
"Please, make yourselves at home. Let me get your coat." Heena's father welcomed them both.
"Please, make yourselves at home. Let me get your coat." Heena's father welcomed them both.
"Monu,  How  are  you?"  They  shook  hands. 
"How've  you  been....did  u  join  the  gym  or  something?"
"Me,  no...it's  just  my  natural 
charisma.  How  else  do  you  think  I  got  Mita  to  marry  me?"  Monu  cracked  a  joke.
"Sure.....I  must  have  gone  crazy  then."  She  joked.  "Heena, 
don't  fall  for  guys  like  your  father"
They  laughed  while  her  father 
justified  himself.  "How 
am  I  not  a  good  example  of  the  kind  of  man  she  should 
be  looking  for?" 
he  asked  in  a  funny  way.
"Because she already has a man for herself, don't you Heena?" Aunt Mou teased.
"What!" Monu was startled! "A boy? Why did I not know about it?" seemed as if might just start crying.
"Because she already has a man for herself, don't you Heena?" Aunt Mou teased.
"What!" Monu was startled! "A boy? Why did I not know about it?" seemed as if might just start crying.
"Theres  is  no  one  in  my  life  guys"  Heena  declared  "I'm 
still  a  single 
average  looking  soul  with  the  power  of  repelling  every  cute  guy  who  come  near  me."
"Repelling?" 
asked  Aunt  Mou.
Mita  answered  for  Heena  -  "She  somehow 
got  in  her  head  that  she's  an  unattractive  girl  who's  not  worth  a  good  guy."
"What!" This time her father and uncle both were startled! "Who the hell said that?" Uncle Hiren, folded his sleeves up ready to battle with whomever it was. His Dad pretended to dial a number on the phone made a fake call - "Hello, Spy Agency? I want to find out which which monkey told prettiest girl she's unattractive! And also ... if it's a guy...." he took a grim look "...tell him....I'm watching"
"What!" This time her father and uncle both were startled! "Who the hell said that?" Uncle Hiren, folded his sleeves up ready to battle with whomever it was. His Dad pretended to dial a number on the phone made a fake call - "Hello, Spy Agency? I want to find out which which monkey told prettiest girl she's unattractive! And also ... if it's a guy...." he took a grim look "...tell him....I'm watching"
"And  me  too" 
Uncle  Hiren  too  joined  the  fun.
Heena chuckled "Stop it you two. I'm not bothered with it."
Heena chuckled "Stop it you two. I'm not bothered with it."
"Well,  you  shouldn't 
be."  said  Aunt  Mou.  "Whoever 
said  that  must  have  said  that  being  jealous  of  you  being  both  pretty 
and  smart  at  the  same  time."
"I'm not smart. Smart people at least know how to handle a conversation."
"You are a wise person Heena...and a good one." said her mother. "She's been the top rank student since the last 5 years." she declared.
"I'm not smart. Smart people at least know how to handle a conversation."
"You are a wise person Heena...and a good one." said her mother. "She's been the top rank student since the last 5 years." she declared.
"It's  not  big  deal  mom....the 
papers  were  not  that  tough. 
Anyone  can  do  that."
"But  only  did  it,  didn't 
you?"  her  father 
squeezed  her  cheeks.
"Dad..."  she  called  out  "You're  doing  the  cheeks  again....I'm 
turning  16  tomorrow."
"You  are!!!"  For  a  moment  it  seemed  like  he  was  utterly  surprised! 
"I  mean...you  are  -  but  you're  still  gonna  be  my  little-goochi  daughter, 
aren't  you?"  he  snuggled  her.
"Daughter  --  yes  --  gooochi?  --  no."  she  gently 
moved  his  hand  away.
"Common...she's grown lady now. You can't "gooochi" her anymore like that?" said Mita.
"Common...she's grown lady now. You can't "gooochi" her anymore like that?" said Mita.
"Why  not?  I'm  still  her  father?"  he  wrapped  his  arms  around 
her  head  in  worry  and  showing  rightfulness.
Suddenly,  the  bell  rang.
"Who  could  that  be  at  this  hour?" 
Mita  wondered,  looking 
at  the  clock  ticking  8:30  pm.  She  walked  up  to  the  door  while  the  rest  sat  themselves 
down  on  the  couch  --  and  Heena's 
father  still  trying 
to  "goochi"  her  cheeks.  But  abruptly, 
everything  froze  -  as  soon  as  Mita  opened  the  door  -  they  saw  a  young  chap  with  a  bouquet  of  roses  standing  curiously. 
"Hi,  is  this  where  Heena  lives?"
The  sudden  gust  of  shocked 
froze  Heena  right  where  she  was  -  at  that  moment, 
all  she  could  do  -  was  run  back  to  her  room  -  pulling 
Aunt  Mou  with  her!  Everyone 
was  surprised!  Although 
her  dad  was  concerned  about  -  "Why  didn't 
pull  me?  Am  I  that  far  apart  now?  Why  would  she  run  away  like  that?"
Mita  greeted  the  boy  -  "Yes,  please 
come  in.  Are  you  a  friend  of  her's?"
"DON'T  JUST  LET  ANYONE  ENTER  LIKE  THAT!" 
Monu  came  walking  slowly towards  the  door,  as  if  he's  posing 
a  threat  to  the  boy.  He  came  walking  slow  and  dangerously 
--  Uncle  Hiren, 
showed  him  the  thumb,  approving 
that  he's  looking 
scary.  He  stopped 
before  the  boy  with  a  murderous  look  -  "Who...are...you?"
"I'm Duryanth, I'm from her class." He answered with a positive sunshine aura steaming out of him - with no sign of any fear from the murderous look by the way. "Sorry for coming in at such an hour. I was just going back home from my private classes - thought I'd drop by to wish Heena."
"I'm Duryanth, I'm from her class." He answered with a positive sunshine aura steaming out of him - with no sign of any fear from the murderous look by the way. "Sorry for coming in at such an hour. I was just going back home from my private classes - thought I'd drop by to wish Heena."
The  failure  --  to  scare  the  boy  went  through  Monu's 
esteem.  He  coiled 
himself  backwards  in  shame  while  Mita  greeted 
him  in.  Heena  was  peeking  from  the  gap  of  her  door.  She  was  in  utter  panic!
"What happened?" asked Aunt Mou curiously. "Who is he?"
"My debt -- he's gonna tell my parents!" She shook Aunt Mou. "He's gonna tell my parents!!"
"What happened?" asked Aunt Mou curiously. "Who is he?"
"My debt -- he's gonna tell my parents!" She shook Aunt Mou. "He's gonna tell my parents!!"
"Tell  your  parents 
what?"  she  insisted 
to  know.
"......"  With  a  gulp  of  courage  "We.....We  kissed!!"  --
 
