A sudden separation:

My dad works at a big real estate firm--- something called TLF Enterprises. He's the Managing Director there. I've always seen him as this relentlessly hardworking man. Honesty, discipline, loyalty--- he preaches those values like gospel. And honestly?

He lives by them too. The kind of man whose hard work shows in every corner of our present.

We used to live in Nashik. A quiet life. but then, like all stories that shift without warning, everything changed overnight.

Dad got promoted. Along with it came a transfer--- to Pune. And just like that, our world got panicked into suitcases.

That day, He came home earlier than usual and dropped the news like it was weather, and sometime later, he tells us about all the details.

 ****************

"I've spoken to a landlord about a rented house. We'll live there for the time being, and I'll buy a new one soon," he said in a rush, It's urgent. I just need you all the support me."

My mom blinked. "What about Daisy's school? Her education? It's middle of the year..."

"I'll handle it," he cut in. "Tomorrow, I'll go and collect her transfer certificate. Everything will be done properly."

"But I don't want to switch schools," I said, quietly but firmly. "I love my school..."

He turned toward me and rested a hand on my back. "Sweetheart, you'll be admitted into a very good school. Better than this one. trust me, you'll love it."

"But---"

"Daisy," he interuptted, his tone soft but final. " Please. I need you to cooperate. I promise you, this new city... you'll like it. you'll make new friends, have new beginnings. Just pack up, Okay?"

"And just for the record," he added, glancing at his watch, "Be ready by 9 PM. our flight is at 10. The lorry will be hare by 4 too--- It'll carry the furniture ahead of us. I've already arranged workers to set it all up before we arrive. Everything's under control. just... don't stress."

Mom, still processing, asked calmly, "can you at least tell us where exactly we're going?"

"Pune," he replied.

I raised my eyebrows slightly. Pune. It wasn't different country or anything--- just about four hours away. still, it felt far enough to feel exile.

"Hmmm... good city. Excellent education," my mom said, trying to keep things optimistic.

"Education hub of India, after all."

then she paused, furrowing her brows slightly.

"You said you'd go to her school tomorrow to collect all the credentials-- the transfer certificate and everything... but how's that possible if we're leaving tonight?" she asked, genuinely confused.

Dad didn't even blink. " Okay, don't worry," he replied calmly. " I have some work back at the Nashik office anyway-- I'll return tomorrow morning, around 10 or 11. I'll handle the school stuff then. And even if not tomorrow, it can be done the day after. There's no rush. I'll inform her teacher. just... calm down."

"Hmmm... Okay," my mom raised her eyebrows in a calm, open expression.

But none of it mattered to me.

It wasn't about school or a new house or even the city.

I didn't want to leave because of Kathy.

This move-- this sudden, sharp lift-- meant I wouldn't see her every evening anymore.

Our secret talks. Our shared silences. The tiny moments that stitched our friendship together like fragile thread.

No more knocks on the door. No more "Come outside" or shared walks. Just... distance.

I already Knew.

After today, everything would change.

Perhaps this will be the last time we meet.

And every evening after this?

would feel dead.

But that day, she didn't come.

I waited near the entrance of our home, hoping she'd show up. but she never did.

I didn't have her number, no way to tell her we are leaving. No way to say goodbye.

Nothing was going the way I had imagined.

I had to leave-- without telling her.

part of me wondered if she might come back tomorrow, only to find an empty house and a big lock on the door.

 *****************

finally, we reached Pune.

The environment was... different. Better than Nashik in many ways.

Our new home was bigger, too. Actually, it was more like an apartment-- a massive building, nearly nine or ten stories tall. We lived on the seventh floor. There was a lift, and the tenth floor has a huge terrace with a stunning view of the city.

The campus inside the complex had everything: a playground, gym, swimming pool-- all the facilities you could want.

I should've felt happy.

I should've felt excited.

But none of it mattered.

without Kathy, none of it meant a thing to me.

After a few days, I started to get used to the place-- the new streets, the sounds, the rhythm of Pune life. But I never forgot Kathy.

Every evening, my thoughts drifter to her. What could she be doing now, maybe she's also thing about me, who knows?

I didn't have any friends nearby at first. but at school, some classmates opened up to me quickly, and I to them. We talked, laughed, shared stories.

Still, none of them were like Kathy.

NO one could replace her.

Indeed, I talked to them--- but that didn't mean they were like Kathy. not even close.

On the eighth floor lived two uncles. Over time, my parents got close to them. They started talking more often, visiting each other's home, inviting each other to celebrations and festivals.

My mom used to say, " Bete, those uncles are very good men. Thier behavior, their manners-- you should be like them."

But one of them... he gave me a strange feeling. He looked at me differently-- in a way no one else did. At first, nobody noticed, and neither did I. I just tried to ignore it.

He behaved like a perfect gentleman, polite and diplomatic, not just with my parents but with me too. He'd take me to parks and malls and gave me all kinds of things---

stationery, dresses, little gifts. At first, I felt good about it.

My mother never let me go anywhere alone. But with that uncle, she did. with this strange man who'd only recently entered our lives a few months ago.

What sort of woman is she? That's why I never understood her behavior.

One day, he called me to his apartment on the eighth floor-- and it was my mother who delivered the message.

She looked oddly happy, almost excited, as she said,

"Daisy, see... Vihaan uncle has called you upstairs. I think he needs help with something-- must be important. And do one thing, take your books too. you can ask him about your doubts while you're there, and most importantly, be on your best behavior when you meet him, okay? Now go quickly, he's waiting."

I raised an eyebrow and made a face--- part confused, part disgusted.

"What's the wor--" I started to ask, but she cut me off mid- sentence.

"Just go," she said firmly. "you'll get to know. I don't Know."

I was still confused.

What will he think when he sees these unexpected books in my hands?

He called me upstairs for help... and I'm going with doubts and textbooks?... How embarrassing is that.

I was stuck in that thought loop when my mom suddenly handed me the books and said,

"Go! Hurry up!"

I just stared at her for a sec. she looked so... excited. almost proud.

and I couldn't help but wonder-- what kind of woman is she?

she was letting her daughter go to some strange man's apartment-- alone.

but fine. that's just how she is, I guess. that's her behavior.

As I walked upstairs, books clutched awkwardly in my arms, I kept wondering-- what help could he possibly need for me?

I mean, what kind of "work" does an eight-year-old do for a grown man?

I knocked anxiously.

yeah... anxiously.

sure, I'd gone to parks and malls with him before. but that day felt different. something about it made my stomach twist.

He opened the door after a moment and smiled.

"Very studious, huh" he said, glancing at the books in my hands. "Got some doubts and all, Daisy?"

"Ah-huh," I replied, exhaling slowly, trying to steady myself.

"Okay, we'll do it later," he said casually, already turning toward the bedroom. "First, I have something to show you."

He disappeared into the room and returned after a minute with two boxes in his hands.

"Here, open them," he said, placing them in front of me.

I sat quietly on the couch and started unboxing.

Inside the first was blue, straight bellbottom jeans.

In the second- a nice pair of sneakers.

I actually liked them. A lot.

My mom must've told him what I liked-- plain jeans, straight fits, no more pockets and all. I wasn't into flashy designs. and sneakers were always my favorite.

I smiled politely and said, "Thank you... but there's no need for all this. please don't waste your money on me."

"You liked them?" he asked, eyes fixed on me.

"Ah-huh," I nodded.

"Then no problem. just keep them. I picked them especially for you, alright?" he said with a soft smile.

I nodded again... after some time I quietly began practicing some math problems from my notebook.

He sat beside me, working on his laptop.

He was actually kind of handsome-- I mean, his facial features were sharp, clean. His hair, his clothes... he had good fashion sense too. but that was just in general. just a passing thought.

After a while, I noticed him starting to take off his shirt. then his jeans. right there. In front of me.

It felt strange, really strange.

But I tried to ignore it. I told myself maybe it wasn't that big deal.

He could've done it in the bedroom... right?

"I am going to bathe, ok? stay here till then. I'll come back soon," he said, casually walking toward the bathroom.

He came back from the bathroom after some time, water still dripping down his body. His hair was soaked, and as he walked over, he ran his fingers through it, flicking the droplets off.

"How much have you done so far?" he asked, casually sitting beside me. "Show me. Any doubts?"

"Yeah, I have some doubts," I said showing my notebook to him.

I adjusted my position, still a little tense, and handed him the notebook.

He glanced through the questions and started explaining one of them to me-- honestly, better than our actual math teacher.

"Is that clear now?" he asked, as if nothing was wrong.

"Yes," I whispered.

"Good. now do the next one by yourself," he said, passing the notebook back to me.

I started working on it quietly, trying to focus. but I could feel his eyes on me.

staring, watching.

Then he began inching closer. too close.

I froze. My hands trembled slightly over the page.

suddenly he said, "No, that's not right," and reached over to erase it.

and just like that, he wrapped one arm around my back-- and his hand began to move. touching me.

In a way I had never been touched before.

In a way I knew wasn't right.

I didn't say anything.

I couldn't

"Ok, now you're doing it right," he said softly, taking the notebook from my hands and finishing the question himself. Then he shuts the notebook without warning.

I looked at him, unsure of what was happening, unsure of what to do.

"That's enough for today," he said.

and then-- he leaned in again. Pressing himself closer. His hands brushing over me again, slower this time. purposeful.

I was shaking, I still didn't say a word. But the tears fell on their own.

I finally pushed him away, grabbed my notebooks, and ran. down the stairs, and out into the corridor.

I sat there for a while, crying silently. shivering, and in that moment.... I thought of Kathy.

And strangely... of her mother too. The connection didn't make sense at the time, but it came flooding in.

after a while, once I could breathe again, I stood up, wiped my face, and walked back to our apartment.

I knocked softly.

My mom opened the door with a curious smile.

"So, tell me, Daisy--- what was he saying? was anything important? did you ask your doubts?"

"Hmmm..." I mumbled-- not really an answer, just something to make her stop asking,

I just walked straight to my room, locked the door behind me, and collapsed onto the bed.

My head spun, my hands still trembled, and I just lay there thinking about it.