LETTERS
ANIKA
Hi Aarav,
It’s okay here, I guess. We live in this huge house now, and there’s even a swimming pool, though I’m not allowed to use it.
Oh, and guess what? I suddenly have two more siblings, two brothers—Gaurav and Kabir.
I don’t like either of them much. They act like they’re kings of the world, always bossing me around.
It’s exhausting. And I can’t even paint here.
All my art supplies are finished, and Mumma says I shouldn’t ask Papa to buy more because he’ll just scold me.
Honestly, sometimes it feels like nothing is really mine anymore.
School’s boring too. I haven’t managed to make a single friend.
I think it’s your fault, you know. I got so used to hanging out with you all the time that now.
.. it’s like I forgot how to talk to new people.
My social skills have officially died. Nobody seems to appreciate my lame jokes like you did.
(And don’t even lie, I know you liked them—even if you didn’t laugh, your ears used to turn pink.) I miss you, Aarav.
I miss being at your house, sneaking those extra puris from Aunty, and playing stupid games with Aditi.
Oh, and please tell Aunty and Aditi that the dress they gave me fits perfectly—I love it so much.
Thank them for me, okay? I’m really hoping you’ll write back soon, even if it’s just one word.
Please. I just need to know how you are.
And Aarav... I’m really sorry for leaving like that.
But you’re still stuck with me—in spirit at least. (Not like a ghost spirit, you idiot, haha.)
Anyway, I’ll be waiting for your reply.
Bye, Aaru. (Go cry about it—you can’t even pull my hair now.)
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
I didn’t get any letter from you yet, Aarav.
I’m trying not to overthink it, but you know how my brain is.
I hope you’re okay. If you’re angry with me, can you just tell me?
But please... don’t ignore me. Pretty please.
You know how I am—if you don’t say anything, I’ll just assume the worst. (Yes, this is emotional blackmail.
So take the bait and write back already.)
Still no progress on the friend-making front. I just go to school like a robot now. But on the bright side, I’m finally allowed to use the pool... though only on Sundays. Who even makes that kind of rule?
Lately, I’ve been missing Ajit Uncle a lot too. And his chole bhature—nothing tastes as good here. Mumma looks so tired all the time, and no matter how much I tell her to rest, she keeps pushing herself. I hate that Papa never says anything about it.
Oh! I made a new joke today, and you have to hear it:
What did the orange say to the apple? 'You’re the apple of my eye... but I’m the ‘orange-inal!'
Get it? If you don’t, you’re officially dumb because it’s seriously simple.
Okay, enough rambling. I’ll wait for your letter, Aaru. Please don’t keep me waiting too long.
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
Why are you doing this, Aarav? Ignoring me? Your best friend? You do realize that if it comes to an ignoring contest, I will win hands down, right? And then you’ll regret it because I can be really stubborn.
I’m trying not to be mad, but it’s hard. I miss you guys every single day. How are Badi Maa, Aditi, and even Rudraksh Bhaiya? Does anyone still remember me? Do you? Honestly, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I even miss your weird, unreadable handwriting.
It’s summer vacation now, and I begged Papa to let me visit you all. But he said no before I could even finish asking. My brothers get to go to their Nani's place, but I’m stuck here. Life’s unfair. Papa even scolded me for asking too many times, and Mumma just looked helpless.
I can't even swim anymore—not after my so-called brothers threw soup in the pool and blamed me for it. Papa, of course, believed them. Big surprise.
Anyway, here I am, bored to death, wondering what you’re up to. I even started thinking about math, Aarav. Math. That’s how bad it’s gotten. I really wish you were here to teach me because at this rate, I’ll be lucky if I even pass.
Please write back, Aaru. It’s time you forgave me already.
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
I’m officially angry now, Aarav Malhotra. If I were there, I swear I would’ve given you a good smack—and you know I don’t even believe in violence. That’s how mad you’ve made me.
Why are you doing this? Have you forgotten me already? You were the one who couldn’t even say goodbye properly when I left, and now you’re just pretending like I never existed.
Please, Aarav. Just tell me you’re okay. Even if you don’t want to talk to me anymore, at least let me know you’re alive and fine. Until you write back, I’m not telling you anything about what’s going on here. You don’t deserve to know.
Yours truly (and very, very angry),
Anu
◆◆◆
I’m still waiting, Aarav. It’s been eight months. Eight. Months. I’m starting to think you’ve completely forgotten about me. I’m hurt, Aarav. Really hurt.
I thought we had something real—a friendship that would survive everything. I’m not even asking for a whole long letter anymore. Just a tiny message. "I’m fine, Anu." That’s all I want.
But you’re just... silent. And it’s starting to feel like maybe I was just someone you spent time with because it was convenient. (I just learned the spelling of 'convenient.' You can look it up in the dictionary if you don't know it.)
It’s not easy for me here. I’m struggling every day to fit in and to make friends, and I miss you more than I can even explain. Please, Aarav. Please write back.
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
I’m trying so hard to stay positive, Aarav. I keep telling myself you’ll write back someday. But the longer you stay silent, the harder it gets.
I see your silence, and... it feels like you’ve moved on. Like you don’t need me anymore. And that thought... it hurts more than anything.
I thought what we had was stronger than distance. You promised me you’d always be there. That you’d protect me, even when we were apart. But maybe I was just being stupid, believing in promises.
Still, I’m not letting go that easily. I’m holding onto every memory we made—every laugh, every fight, every silly moment. Even if you’ve already forgotten.
Please, Aarav. Write back. Please.
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
I think I’m starting to lose hope now, Aarav.
I’ve written so many letters—poured my heart out over and over—and you haven’t answered even once. It feels like I’m just shouting into a void. Like I’m just a silly little girl who doesn’t know when to stop.
But the truth is... I can’t give up. Not yet. Not on us. Not on everything we shared.
I’m holding onto the tiniest bit of hope that maybe someday you’ll write back. Maybe someday we’ll be okay again. But until then, I’m just stuck here, wondering what I did wrong.
Except for moving away—and I already apologized for that a hundred times. If this is your way of punishing me, Aarav, I think I’ve suffered enough.
Yours truly,
Anu
◆◆◆
This is it, Aarav. My last letter.
I’ve been writing to you for two years now. A year of pouring my heart out, waiting, hoping. I don’t even know if you remember me or not. Maybe our friendship wasn't even a friendship to you. But for me, you were the best part.
My mother has been the one posting my letters all this time, even though the post office is so far and she’s been working herself to the bone. I can’t keep asking her to do that anymore—not when you don’t even care enough to reply.
So... I’m giving up. On you. On us. On everything we were.
I thought our friendship was something special. Something that would last forever. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe you really have forgotten me.
I’m letting you go now, Aarav. I hope you find happiness, wherever life takes you. I hope you find new friends—better ones—who’ll love you for exactly who you are. You deserve the best, Aarav. I really, truly mean that.
Goodbye, Aarav. You were my best friend. And so much more.
Signing off,
Anika