Chapter One: ANU

(Radio on)

“Anu! Switch off that radio and finish your homework!” said Anu’s mother, Jaya.

(No answer.)

“Anu! What are you doing? Wake up!” said Jaya after she had come into Anu’s room.

“Moms, if you do not have work then give me snacks. But don’t…disturb…me! It’s weekend, you know”, Anu with a mean face.

“Aaarrggh!” murmured mother and went out of the room.

Next morning, Anu, with a droopy face, went to school cursing everyone possible for having to go to school.

Even in school, Anu has a reputation of sorts, for all wrong reasons.

She slept in class, did not finish her work. The class teacher while walking into the classroom overheard Anu whispering into her next one’s ears ‘Aah, now enters Ms. Fatty’ with a crooked smile. Class teacher’s name is Jennifer.

Its playtime and Anu had to go out and play, but a lazy bone she is always, she tried to find excuse saying she’s all tired when someone caught her walking away.

She comes home with leftovers in her lunchbox with some or other complaint- almost every day and that day also no different. 

That day she got hurt during a tussle with a boy in her class. While putting a bandage,  Jaya tried to tell her not to get into fights in school and Anu walked out on her,  shouting, “Now don’t be a priest, Moms! Enough of your stupid preaching!” 

“God, Please help her, help me change my daughter”, prayed a concerned Jaya. 

Jaya never believed in raising her voice or raising her arm on Anu, with anyone for that matter. She believed and wished that her love and patience will change Anu one day. 

***

Chapter Two: Anu’s Neighbour

A new family had moved into Anu’s apartment.

They were very friendly people. They wanted to acquaint with all the residents so their little girl, Maya, was sent all around the apartment to find friends.

Maya soon came to Anu’s flat.

It didn’t take much time for Maya to understand Anu. However, she’s not put off by Anu’s behaviour. She knew that she has to help change Anu. 

She told Anu an idea that her teacher once told the class in her previous school. 

“Blow a balloon whenever you’re angry or upset over something or someone”. 

At first Anu did not listen to Maya, but Jaya tried her best to add that it’s fun and brought her a pack of balloons. 

That day, Anu wanted to play ‘Guessing Junior’ with her mother but Jaya wanted to finish her chores in the kitchen first. Anu got angry. She remembered what Maya told her and thought she’ll give it a try. She picked up a balloon and started blowing and went on and on, without stopping, venting her anger over her mother into the balloon. Shortly, the balloon couldn’t hold anymore and bursted with a big sound. Jaya rushed to the hall. Anu could not help but laugh out loud.

That controlled and eased her bad temper. Anu liked this and she liked Maya for the idea. Soon both Anu and Maya became friends. Since Maya is elder to Anu by an year, she started giving tuitions for Anu, helped her do several activities and sang out the lessons. She even taught art to Anu. She conducted races and detective games with other children in the apartment. She spoke nicely and encouraged her in everything. 

One day, while playing ‘Knock, Knock’ Maya got hurt and Anu felt sad for her. She rushed to her home , brought a lotion and applied on Maya’s knee. Despite her pain, Maya felt pleased with the change in Anu and smiled at her fondly. 

***

Chapter Three: Anu’s Transformation

Anu is a changed person now. It’s a different Anu that her classmates, her teachers and even her mother are seeing now. 

Anu is polite to her mother. She helped her in chores and ate happily. She apologised for being bad before.

She was alert in school and up in her grades at school. Anu even delivered a speech in the school assembly about donating toys for the toddlers. She actively participated in games especially she loved being the detective as she liked to chase and catch thieves. 

She apologised Ms. Jennifer for her rude comment and the teacher was very happy. Anu is giving her teacher a flower every day from her garden.

Jaya wondered if Maya could be Jesus’s mother herself.

***

Chapter Four: Farewell

Anu and Maya became best friends. Maya even came in Anu’s dream and said that she would not ever leave her and so shouldn’t Anu.

During a long weekend, Anu’s friends from the apartment went for a trip. Anu couldn’t because she had a fever. Maya wanted to stay back but her mother insisted that she shouldn’t miss the trip. She joined the others for the trip. Anu felt bad for once but let Maya go and wished her a pleasant trip. Maya promised her a quick return. 

Maya did not return with the others. Anu cried and cried, couldn’t recover from the loss for long.

She became the old Anu again, rude, harsh and troubled child.

***

Chapter Five: Reunion

Anu sat near her study desk in her room. She is thinking about Maya. She suddenly felt the room is hot. She opened the window and a gust of wind came in. She looked at the diary on her table. The pages went turning with the air coming in from the window. She stared at them. She got a feeling of anger growing in her. She slammed the window shut.

She looked at her diary. It was open at a page with only a small paragraph in glitter ink: 

‘Yesterday I had a dream. Maya was telling me that she never left me nor shall she ever. I suddenly woke up and told myself that I shall neither. I realised that Maya is still there alive with me in all the things she taught me, gave me. That means that I must do whatever she told me  to do, be the person she helped me to be.’

Tears came to Anu’s eyes and she said, ‘I will, Maya!’

Anu grew up, studied well, took up challenging jobs and became successful but she did not forget Maya. Whenever it rains, it reminds Anu of Maya. Like rain, she also came and left in a short span, but leaving a trace, making a mark – by bringing something to life, by bringing in a change.

Maya also never forgot about Anu, sends her blessings and remains proud guardian angel for Anu.