Siddhesh's POV:

I sat next to her while she still curled up in her bed...She was looking sad and grumpy.

'Ok...Ragini... have you seen the sky today?' I asked her and she didn't turn around...

'Its beautiful you know' I said bending closer to her ears...she covered herself in her comforter. I smiled at this 13 year old's bubbling frustration. But I didn't want to leave her alone. Because she is my only friend here and I want my friend to smile. I couldn't see tears in her big button like eyes.

I took a few steps towards the balcony and shouted a little loudly...
'Ohhhh woooow... rainbow post a thunderstorm is the best thing to watch...so colorful' I said and I saw her slowly popping her head out of the comforter trying to look at me... I was observing her from the mirror.

I smiled.

'It's beautiful...some people will miss this sight but it's ok...'

And next minute she came running to me...
'Where is the rainbow??? Where show me show me' she said and I smiled. I showed her the sky painted Vibgyor and her teary face suddenly light up. Her twinkling eyes shined happily. I love to see her smile. Her tears ache my heart. She began jumping happily but next minute she winced in pain...

'Ahhhhhh.... Mummmaaa' she cried in pain. I held her by her shoulders while I saw tears resurfacing on her face. I wiped them.

Made her sit on the small bamboo swing in the balcony and asked her...
'Shhhh...stop crying... why are you crying'

And I saw her looking elsewhere...
'Go Siddhuuu... don't touch me' she pushed me and I held her shoulders again and said...

'Ragini...you got your periods today correct?' and I saw her pushing me away and a tint of discomfort in her eyes. Her eyes filled up and she burst out crying. She hugged me tightly.

'Raginiiii...yaar....it's natural...you are growing up ..why are you crying' I asked her and she fisted my tshirt collar tightly and continued crying...

'My friends said I'm impure now...I will get this dirty blood every month...now I must behave matured because now I'm a big girl...' and I smiled asking...

'Ok... firstly you don't need to behave matured...you will automatically grow up to be a matured woman and you don't need to pretend it...okayyy' I said pulling her cheeks and her button like eyes filled up again...

'Raginiiiii......see that rainbow there... isn't it beautiful? Do you know how a rainbow appears? When there are raindrops and sunlight coming together it forms this glossy looking scattering light which forms rainbow to human eyes...' she looked at me and the rainbow again...I smiled and continued...

'Basically if there are no rains then how will a rainbow shine? How will you appreciate it? How would sky look this mesmerizing?' I asked and she still blinked...

I held her hands saying ..
'Periods isn't a curse darling...it's just a natural process of your body filtering out impurities...it doesn't make you impure...it makes you a grown up girl...it's a natural process which makes you a woman who can in future bear babies too' I said and her eyes widened...

'You mean I will get pregnant Siddhu??? Noooo I am too young now' she said and I burst out laughing...

'No Ragini...your body is changing...you will soon see other changes in your body too...but all of this will make you look beautiful...I know your stomach may ache but then you can eat dark chocolate those days, you can eat your favourite food too but in limits...you will get free oil massage on your foot from Sushma aunty like how Shalini used to get... special treatment Ragini' I said and her eyes shined.

'Reallyyyy ...you mean I will be pampered??? Like a princess???' she asked and I chuckled a yes...

Now she looked excited.
'But Siddhu mom said I'm supposed to maintain distance from boys... does that mean I have to be away from you also?' she asked innocently and I cupped her face saying...

'No...you just have to be careful from bad touch...be careful so no guy touches you wrongly without your permission making you uncomfortable? Ok???' I asked and she nodded a yes.

'Siddhuuuu...' she whined and said...
'One more thing... Mumma asked me to start wearing something...it's so chiiiii' she said and I looked at her. She looked too sad and uncomfortable to tell me.

'See here.. why are you feeling shy...if Shalini was here. . wouldn't you have told her?' I asked and she nodded.

'Its in the cupboard...she told me to wear it to school too' she said and I walked towards her cupboard and saw Sushma aunty had left a pair of brassiere for her. I suddenly felt uncomfortable looking at it but then Ragini was a kid. I knew her stupid friends would only make her more uncomfortable and feed her more misogynist information and Sushma aunty was a old fashioned lady...i couldn't expect her to explain Ragini these things like a friend...so I calmed myself down first. If Shalini was here it could help. But she is also on her honeymoon so I decided to be her buddy. Her true one.

I behaved casually. So there is no discomfort on this topic.

'So??? Big deal everyone wears it!!!' I said and she looked at me and my chest then said...

'But you don't wear it...why only girls and women...why only women get periods...why are guys not going through all these...this is not fair' and her innocence almost left me tongue tied. She was one big question bank. I had to tell her the way she understands.

I sat explaining her...
'Because nature gives woman a upper hand. Men can do anything except giving birth to another life. And because women give birth they also have the power to feed a child...Only a female can do it...Men aren't that strong...do you know the amount of pain a woman goes through when she delivers a baby is much much more than the pain she goes through during their periods. Almost 45 percent more...Do you remember I had a fracture last year??? A labour pain is more painful than breaking bones too...I couldn't handle a fracture you think I could handle delivering a baby or even feeding it??? we men are weak...we aren't as strong as women are...we can't handle a simple kick between our legs you think we can give birth???' I said and I saw her eyes twinkle...

'Siddhu you mean although you have this big big biceps...I am stronger than you?'
she asked innocently and I smiled saying ..
'Ofcourse...all women are strong...much much more stronger' and now she looked satisfied.

'But I don't like this aunty strap thing mumma gave me to wear...it is chiiiii and in school if it comes out of petticoat they make fun you know...I saw my senior girls teasing their classmate' she said and I turned her around...

'Ragini...look here...your senior girls also wear it... every other woman does...it's like your any other undergarment...there is nothing to feel shy about it...it will help you to participate in sports and events comfortably...' she looked here and there and said...

'It is not comfortable' she looked irritated..

'Ok if it is not...you can tell mumma to buy you the one which is comfortable...but you don't need to get bullied or feel shy ...this is normal Ragini...your friends or seniors are too silly if they laugh at you...over the years they will realise how silly this is...it's all so natural.. infact you must be proud... women are powerful and special'

She looked much more confident now...
'Then why am I sad??? I should celebrate na??? Bring me the biryani Siddhu let's partyyyyy' she said jumping and I giggled.

That day my Ragini grew up into a stronger girl. I was proud of her. Mine and Ragini's bond became unbreakable.

2 more years passed and I completed my graduation. I told Sumanth uncle that I wanted to do my MBA in London. And even Sumanth uncle agreed. I went to London and completed my MBA simultaneously started learning things about business. Natalie and Ryan became my family during that time span as Ryan was a kid who reminded my of Ragini and they were homeless. I needed someone to take care of me and cook food for me. We became family to each other.

After my MBA I decided to visit India before taking over dad's business which Sumanth uncle was handling till now. I decided to go home that year. After all I needed vacation and two months from then was Ragini's 18th birthday. I was very excited to see my little friend. We had almost lost touch as she was not permitted mobile phone and because of the time gap between UK and India we could hardly get to talk to each other. She called me often but I was too busy. Gradually we lost touch.

It was again the rainy season and it felt so nostalgic going back home after 2.5+years...

My flight landed in Mangalore and like every year... Mangalore was roaring rain and thunderstorms...

Sumanth uncle had sent a car to pick me up from the airport and I reached home by evening 5pm. It was still cloudy... sky was a tint of golden and orange and slightly drizzling...I stepped out of the car and began unloading my luggage...while suddenly my eyes fell on a girl who was standing on the terrace .. open air ...with her arms wide open.... enjoying the drizzling rain...

Her blue dupatta was half wet yet flying for the gushing wind...she was lean... attractive... although I couldn't see her face due to sky turning dark and very less sunlight...I was curious to see who it was ...