1. How the journey started

The dusty breeze of Panchgani swirled around the community hall, where school volunteers bustled with colorful posters and tangled fairy lights. Among them, a ten-year-old girl stood with stubborn determination, guarding a telescope—a gift from her late grandfather and the centerpiece of her astronomy showcase.

But destiny had drama written all over it.

Three older boys cornered her near the benches, mocking her and the telescope.

Boy 1: “You gonna find aliens or just fail in style?”

Boy 2: “Bet her space junk’s worth less than our old sneakers.”

Boy 3 (laughing): “Should we dump it in the trash now or later?”

The girls eyes burned. She knelt, shielding the telescope, whispering to herself:

“It’s okay. It’s just words. You’re stronger than this…”

Then—a shadow stepped in.

A ten-year-old boy who is newly moved to town, messy-haired and radiating fierce confidence, watched the scene unfold from across the lawn.

For a heartbeat, he didn’t move. He just stared. Mud-splashed shoes, scraped elbow, chin lifted with quiet defiance.

She looked like a warrior in sneakers.

And in that moment—he was gone.

Love at first sight—loud, reckless, absolute.

He stepped between her and the boys : “Touch her again, and I swear you’ll be in pain for a week.”

Boy 1 (mocking): “Who even are you?”

The boy smirks : “Your worst nightmare. Now leave.”

The shove came first. But Manik’s punches came faster. It wasn’t elegant. It was chaos—shouts, and bruised egos.

When the boys finally scattered, he turned, panting, and knelt beside her.

Him : “You okay?”

The girl (blinking): “You just tackled three idiots. Over a telescope.”

Him (grinning): “Nah. Over you.”

And somewhere between her shock and his smirk—her heart skipped, making her fall in love at first fight with a boy who is clearly defined by chaos.

She said, smiling : "Thank you. by the way, I am Nandini Murthy, and you are ?"

Him while blowing his knuckle said: "Manik Malhotra, and just thank you, nothing else?"

Nandini: "What else do u want?"

Manik: "Hmmm.. how about u make me your friend as u saw I am very good very good at fighting, so what say ?"

Nandini: "Haha, that I have seen. ok, let's be friends."

Just then, both families arrived as someone informed them that their kids were in trouble.

The voices of worried parents echoed through the corridor as the scuffle finally broke apart.

Mrs. Murthy (rushing to Nandini, gently cupping her face):“Nandini! Child, are you alright? You’ve got scratches—what happened?”

Nandini (pointing quickly at Manik):“He helped me, Amma. Those boys tried to take away Dadaji’s telescope, but he stopped them.”

Mrs. Malhotra (exasperated, tugging Manik’s ear lightly):“Manik Malhotra! First week in a new town, and you’ve already found a fight?”

Mr. Malhotra (grinning despite himself):“Before we scold him, let me ask one thing… did you win?”

Manik (smirking, wiping a bit of dust from his cheek):“Obviously.”

The Murthys exchanged a surprised laugh, while Vasudha brushed the dirt off Nandini’s frock.

Mrs. Murthy (to the other mother, with a warm smile):“I’m Vasudha Murthy. And you must be…?”

Mrs. Malhotra (returning the smile, extending her hand):“Anjali Malhotra. We just moved here this week. Looks like our kids didn’t just meet. They crashed into each other.”

The two mothers chuckled knowingly, while the fathers finally stepped forward.

Mr. Murthy (with a polite nod):“Arjun Murthy. Astronomy professor at the college. And you are…?”

Mr. Malhotra (shaking his hand firmly):“Raj Malhotra. I handle business, though honestly, today I seem to be managing my son’s adventures more than anything else.”

They shared a laugh, instantly at ease with one another.

Mr. Murthy (gesturing toward Manik and Nandini, who were now standing side by side, a little too close for ten-year-olds):“My daughter, the star-chaser. And your son, the knight with his fists. That’s quite the combination.”

Mr. Malhotra (grinning with pride):“He’s a handful, but I suppose she gave him a cause worth fighting for.”

The mothers exchanged twinkling glances.

Mrs. Murthy (half-teasing):“You think this is fate?”

Mrs. Malhotra (with playful mischief):“Maybe not fate. Maybe the universe just wanted to speed up introductions.”

Manik & Nandini (in unison, faces flushing red):“Mom! Amma! Please stop!”

Both fathers burst into laughter, loud and warm, echoing in the hall.

Mr. Malhotra (suddenly realizing):“Wait—you’re the Murthys? The family in the bungalow by the lake road?”

Mr. Murthy (smiling):“Yes, that’s us. So you must be our new neighbors.”

Mr. Malhotra (nodding, delighted):“Exactly. Well, what are the odds? We move in this week, and already we’re in the middle of an… adventure.”

Mr. Murthy (chuckling):“An adventure that calls for tea, don’t you think? Why don’t you join us this evening? The event’s nearly done anyway.”

Mr. Malhotra (enthusiastic):“Splendid idea. Just give me a few minutes to speak with the principal about Manik’s new class. Then we’ll be there.”

Mrs. Murthy (squeezing Nandini’s hand):“Perfect. We’ll help Nandini pack her telescope while you finish up.”

Later That Evening – Murthy House, Lakeview Colony

The sun was slipping low, painting Panchgani’s hills gold. The Murthy home smelled of fresh jasmine and cardamom as Vasudha laid out steel trays of hot samosas and kulfi cups on the balcony table. The Malhotras arrived right on time, arms full of housewarming sweets from the local bakery.

Vasudha (welcoming):“Please, come in! We’re so happy you could join us.”

Anjali (hugging her back warmly):“Thank you for having us on such short notice. It feels good to already have neighbors who feel like friends.”

Inside, the children had already claimed a corner of the balcony. Nandini had opened her telescope, carefully pointing it at the slowly darkening sky. Manik hovered close, holding her notebook where she had doodled constellations. Their whispers and giggles floated softly between the adults’ conversations.

Raghav (pouring tea for Raj):“So, what brings your family to Panchgani?”

Raj (accepting the cup):“A little bit of business, a little bit of peace. City life was too rushed. Thought Manik deserved some fresh air, a bigger sky. Seems he’s already… found good company.”

He smiled knowingly at the kids, who immediately looked away, cheeks warm.

Raghav (smiling back):“That’s the best decision you could’ve made. Panchgani has its own magic. And, clearly, destiny wanted our families to meet fast.”

Meanwhile, Vasudha bent down to Anjali, offering a tray.

Vasudha:“Try the samosas. It’s my mother’s recipe. Nandini loves them after her stargazing sessions.”

Anjali (taking one, laughing softly):“Oh, then I know Manik will steal them too. He always eats more when food is made with love.”

Sure enough, across the balcony, Manik was already reaching for his second plate.

Nandini (teasing):“You fight like a warrior but eat like a monster.”

Manik (grinning, mouth full):“Better than eating like a bird.”

The adults chuckled at their back-and-forth, exchanging looks that said: they’re going to be trouble, these two.

A gentle breeze swept through the balcony, carrying the scent of jasmine. The kids sat cross-legged now, Nandini pointing out Orion’s Belt through her telescope.

Nandini (softly, almost to herself):“See those three stars in a line? That’s Orion’s belt. It’s always protecting the sky.”

Manik (leaning closer, voice low):“Then I’ll be your Orion. Always protecting you.”

She looked at him, wide-eyed. For a moment, even at ten, her heart knew this was special. She only smiled in reply—a quiet, glowing yes.

From behind, the parents watched silently, their laughter settling into something gentler.

Vasudha (murmuring to Anjali):“They’re just children… but there’s something about the way they already understand each other.”

Anjali (squeezing her hand):“Maybe it’s just the beginning of a story neither of us could have written.”

The fathers clinked their teacups, still half-teasing.

Raj (joking):“So tell me, Professor, are we looking at future in-laws here?”

Raghav (laughing):“Too early to say. But I won’t deny it. They already look like a team.”

And as the sky deepened into velvet, laughter, stories, and promises of many more evenings together filled the Murthy balcony—anchoring two families into friendship, and quietly sealing the start of a bond between two children who had no idea how far their story would go.

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