It was the rainy season. The rain had been falling continuously for two to three hours. We were standing near our college gate after our classes were over, waiting for the college bus.
At that moment, a stranger passed by in his car in front of the gate. I glanced at him, and he glanced back at me. Suddenly, he stopped his car and waved his hand from the window. I became very worried, wondering why this man was waving at me. Feeling uncomfortable, I went back inside the college.
After an hour, I came out again. By then, the rain had stopped, but our college bus had already left. Another bus was yet to come. Within ten minutes, the next bus arrived, and I got in and went home.
When I reached home, my mother asked, "Why are you looking so dull?" I told her everything that had happened that day. I said I was very surprised because when I glanced at him, he responded by waving his hand. My mother calmly replied, "I think he wanted to offer you a lift since you looked at him. Don't worry. Just be patient. Change your dress and have your tiffin."
I followed her words, went to my bedroom, changed my clothes, and continued with my daily routine. Around 4 p.m., I had my snacks. After that, I prayed a little to God Jesus and then went to my study room. I completed all my homework.
Later, when my father returned from the office, we all—myself, my younger brother, my mother, and my father—had dinner together. After half an hour, I prayed again and then went to sleep.
The next morning, while I was getting ready to go to college with my father, my brother asked, "Why does your face look so dull?" I replied, "Nothing." My father dropped me at college, and I went into the classroom.
All the students were there. They said, "You are looking lovely today. What happened?" I simply replied, "Nothing." Then the teacher entered the classroom and started the lesson. Classes went on every forty minutes, and soon it was 3 p.m. again.
After college, I stood near the gate once more. The same car passed in front of the college. I saw it and turned back, but the man again raised his hand from the window and waved goodbye before driving away.
The same thing had happened again.
I kept thinking, Who is that boy? Why is he looking at me? Why is he waving at me? I was very confused and amazed.
My friend Lina also noticed this and asked me, "Who is that person?"
I replied, "Lina, I don't know who he is."
She said, "Rose, why are you panicking? Why has your face turned red?"
I answered, "Lina, I don't know. He did the same thing yesterday too, so I feel scared today."
Lina comforted me, "No, Rose, you shouldn't feel like that. If an unknown person waves at you, just ignore it. Don't worry. Let's go inside and sit for some time."
We went inside and sat for a while. Soon, the college bus arrived. Lina and I got in, sat together, and went home.
From this, we can understand that sometimes our inner feelings become confused when we see unknown people. We may think about them, question their actions, and feel uncertain. If the person is known, we feel happy. But if the person is a stranger, we feel fear, curiosity, or confusion.
In this novel, Rose is the main character, and Lina is her classmate.
The next day, Mr. John dropped Rose at college. Before she left, Mrs. John said, "Rose, after you come back, we are going to the park in the evening along with your brother. Be ready soon."
"Yes, Mom. After coming, I will get ready quickly," Rose replied.
Meanwhile, her brother said, "Rose, are you interested in playing with me in the park? I will bring all the playthings."
"Yes, yes, brother, I am interested," she answered happily.
Just then, Mr. John honked the horn and called, "Rose, come quickly! It's time for college."
She rushed out and went to college.
After two periods, they had a break. Rose sat in the college garden with her classmates, eating her snacks quietly. Meanwhile, her friends Lina and Lisa came near her.
Lisa asked, "Rose, what happened to you? From the past two days, you are speaking less with us. Tell me."
Lina also repeated the same question.
Rose hesitated for a moment and then said, "No, no, nothing… I was just surprised to see a boy. Whenever I stand near the college gate waiting for the bus, he passes by in his car and waves his hand at me. That's what I am thinking about… Who is he?"
Lina asked curiously, "How does he look?"
"Yes, yes, how does he look?" Lisa added eagerly.
"I only saw his face and head… He looks like a smart fellow," Rose replied.
"Oh, I see," they said.
Just then, the bell rang, and all three of them went back to the classroom. The teacher began dictating notes, and Lina, Lisa, and Rose started writing. After the break, the next class began, and they were solving sums.
However, Rose made mistakes in her work.
The lecturer noticed and asked, "Why have you made the same mistake twice?"
"Nothing, ma'am… I wrote it unknowingly," Rose replied nervously.
Soon, the final bell rang—it was time to go home. The three of them stood near the gate. Suddenly, Rose said, "No, I don't want to stand here. I will sit near the inner gate. You both stand here and wait for the bus. If it comes, please call me."
Lina and Lisa looked at her and said, "Okay, as you wish. Go and sit there."
Rose moved away and sat inside.
Meanwhile, the same car approached the gate. The man slowed down his car and looked around, searching for Rose. Not seeing her near the gate, he quietly drove past. This time, he only looked from the window but did not wave.
Lina and Lisa noticed everything.
After a few minutes, they called out, "Rose! Our bus is coming. Come quickly!"
Rose came running, and all three of them got into the bus and went home.
At home, her mother said, "Rose, freshen up quickly." Her brother Max was already ready.
"Let's go!" Max said excitedly.
"Wait, I want something to eat," Rose replied.
Her mother gave her a glass of milk and said, "Drink this and come quickly."
Soon, Mrs. John started the car, and the three of them went to the park. There, they played badminton and enjoyed other games in the garden.
While sitting and relaxing, they met a lady named Grace. She was sitting behind Mrs. John and started a conversation.
"How many children do you have?" Grace asked.
"I have two. This is my daughter Rose, and he is my son," Mrs. John replied.
"What are they studying?"
"They are studying in college," she answered.
As they talked, Grace and Mrs. John exchanged phone numbers and soon became good friends.
While leaving, Grace asked, "Today is Saturday. Will you come next Saturday?"
"Yes, every Saturday I come here with my children to relax for two hours," Mrs. John replied.
It was almost 6 p.m., so both families left the park and returned to their homes as usual.
In this way, Mrs. John and Grace met and became good friends.
The next morning was calm and refreshing.
Inside the house, Mr. John was busy with his usual early routines. Outside, in the front garden, Rose gently watered the plants, humming softly to herself. Nearby, Max was digging the soil, focused on his little gardening task.
Suddenly, a voice called out from the gate,
"Hello! Anyone at home? Hello!"
Rose turned her head and saw a well-dressed gentleman standing near a car. His appearance was dignified, and his presence felt important.
She walked closer and asked politely,
"Sir, who are you? Whom do you want to meet?"
The man smiled warmly and replied,
"My dear, I came here after many years—almost twenty years. I am looking for my old friend, Mr. John. Is this his home?"
"Yes, he is my father," Rose said. "Please come inside. I'll call him."
Max quickly ran inside and informed his father. Within moments, Mr. John came out—and as soon as he saw the guest, his face lit up with joy.
"Grace!" he exclaimed.
The two old friends embraced tightly, overwhelmed with happiness after such a long separation. Mr. John welcomed him inside, and they sat together, talking for nearly half an hour, sharing memories and laughter.
Soon, Mrs. John joined them. Mr. John proudly introduced his family:
"This is my wife, and these are my children—Rose and Max."
Then he turned to his children and said,
"This is my childhood friend, Mr. Grace. We studied together in school and college."
After the introductions, Mr. John asked curiously,
"Where have you been all these years?"
Mr. Grace replied,
"My father moved to the USA about twenty years ago, and we settled there for business. After he passed away, I took over everything. Life went on—I got married to my uncle's daughter, and we have two sons. Just a month ago, we shifted to Germany."
Mr. John smiled warmly.
"I'm so glad you're back. Our friendship began in childhood—let it continue forever."
Mr. Grace nodded happily.
"For now, I'll be traveling out of station for two months with my family for business. But once I return, I'll invite you all to my home."
Mr. John laughed and said,
"No, no! After two months, it will be my daughter's birthday and also my wedding anniversary—on the same day. We will celebrate it here. You must come!"
"Of course," Mr. Grace agreed with a smile.
After a warm farewell, Mr. Grace left.
☀️ Vacation Days
Soon, a short summer vacation began. Rose and Max stayed at home, spending time doing homework and relaxing.
One afternoon, while Max sat in the hall, Rose received a call from her friend Lisa. She needed help with some notes, and Rose patiently dictated everything over the phone.
After that, Lisa asked casually,
"How are you? What are you doing?"
"Nothing much," Rose replied with a smile. "Just talking to you."
Lisa then reminded her,
"This is already the third day of our vacation. Only three days left before college starts. So… what about the kitty party we planned?"
Rose laughed softly.
"Yes, I'm ready. I'll contribute whatever amount is needed."
Lisa then listed the items Rose needed to bring. Rose carefully noted everything and said,
"Don't worry. I'll ask my dad to buy these things. We'll meet on Monday at college."
"Okay, bye!" Lisa said.
"Bye!" Rose replied.
🤔 A Curious Question
Max, who had been quietly listening from the hall, looked at Rose with curiosity.
"What is this 'kitty party' you're talking about?" he asked.
Rose smiled and replied,
"It's just a small get-together… with my friends."
Rose smiled and explained,
"We are all first-year students. Since we joined college just two months ago, we are planning a kitty party—a small get-together with our friends."
Hearing this, Max's face lit up with excitement.
"That's a great idea!" he said. "I'll also ask my friends. We can arrange a party too!"
Without wasting a moment, Max rushed to meet two or three of his friends and shared the idea. They happily agreed to organize a kitty party on Monday in their college as well.
Soon, both Rose and Max sat together, chatting happily. It was almost lunchtime when their mother called them to the dining table.
They sat down, and their mother began serving food. While eating, they eagerly asked,
"Mom, what kind of things do you like in a kitty party? Can you suggest some items? We'll prepare a list and ask Dad to buy them."
Their mother smiled and suggested a variety of snacks, sweets, and cold drinks. The children carefully noted everything down.
Excitedly, they said,
"Our friends will be so surprised when we bring all these things to college!"
After lunch, they sat together and continued their homework.
🎨 Evening Preparations
By evening, around 5 p.m., Mr. John returned home. He noticed his children sitting on the ground, busy with something.
"What are you both doing?" he asked curiously.
Max replied,
"I'm painting a welcome banner, and Rose is also making one."
"A welcome banner? For what?" he asked.
They both replied together,
"We are organizing a kitty party in college on Monday. These are preparations for our friends. We will decorate the classroom with banners and colorful designs."
Mr. John smiled.
"Oh, I see."
They handed him the list of items they needed. After reading it, he said,
"Alright, I will arrange everything for you on Monday morning before you go to college."
The children were overjoyed and thanked him warmly.
That evening, the family gathered for prayer. Later, the parents sat together in the hall, talking, while Rose and Max completed their homework in the study room. Thus, the day passed peacefully.
🎉 The Big Day at College
After a couple of days, the college reopened. Early in the morning, Mr. John bought all the items from the list. By 9:30 a.m., he dropped both Rose and Max at their respective colleges, handing over the items they needed.
They thanked their father with gratitude and excitement.
As Rose entered the college gate, she saw Lisa waiting for her. Lisa greeted her warmly, and together they carried the items inside.
Classes began, and soon the lecturer gave some instructions and guidelines to all the students. After that, they were allowed to prepare for the gathering.
The students decorated the hall with colorful banners, paintings, and creative designs. By 11 a.m., everything was ready. A small dais was arranged for the principal and lecturers.
The program began with short speeches by the lecturers. Soon after, the get-together party started. Students shared snacks with one another, happily serving and enjoying different dishes together.
The principal then gave a short and inspiring speech about student life, encouraging everyone to enjoy their college journey while staying focused on their goals.
The atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter. Students came forward one by one—some sang songs, some told jokes, and others spoke a few words on the mic. The event turned out to be lively and memorable.
Finally, the vote of thanks was given to the principal, lecturers, and all the students. The function ended on a happy note.
🚌 A Quiet Curiosity
As the day ended, students began leaving for their homes. Rose and Lisa stood near the college gate, waiting for the bus.
Rose looked around, glancing left and right, as if searching for something.
Lisa noticed and asked,
"What are you looking for, my dear?"
Rose quickly replied,
"Nothing… I'm not searching for anything."
Soon, the college bus arrived. Both of them got in and sat together, heading toward their homes—carrying memories of a beautiful day.