A Caring Friend

Junaid and Jessica were neighbours and were studying in the same school. There was a strong bond of friendship between them. Junaid was  elder than Jessica. Jessica was studying in class-2 while Junaid was in class -5. Jessica's mother Kristina was a working woman and she always use to pick up and drop her daughter at school while Junaid  had started riding a bicycle to school. school was just 200 meters away from their home so Junaid and Jessica's parents selected this school, for their children. Junaid was and Jessica were the single child of both the parents. 

Junaid considered Jessica as her younger sister and they use to study together, paint art-book together and use to play with neighbourhood kids together. Jessica would always ask to Junaid if she faced any doubt in the study. Jessica found solution of every problem from Junaid. Jessica's mother didn't encourage this clean and innocent phase of friendship because she thought Junaid was from a different caste and culture and he cannot match Jessica. 

one day an incident changed Jessica's mother perceptions. jessica was ready for school while Jessica's mother told her to wait for just 15-20 minutes after school timings. she said," Jessica, today you be careful and stay safe inside your school gate as I will be late by few minutes. I have to do your birthday shopping dear." Jessica smiled and listened to her and took a note of her mother's advice. Jessica's mother then dropped her to school. 

In school all subject periods were very boring today so Jessica was uncomfortable whole day. she enjoyed little bit of recess time with classmates and of course Junaid.

In the evening after school time Junaid was busy solving his doubts with mathematics teacher Gupta sir and Jessica was as usual waiting for her mother to pick-up her up. It was already half hour passed and Jessica was just tired waiting outside the gate for her mother. just at this point of time one man on a motorbike with a black coat and blue pants and a big size- helmet stopped near school gate. He saw Jessica waiting outside the school-gate.

He politely said to Jessica, " hey, are you Jessica ? Jessica replied positively. he again added," your mother Kristina madam is stuck with some urgent work. She has sent me to pick you up and drop at your home. so dear child, please have a seat on the bike ". Jessica felt some doubt but the next moment when the man opened his helmet cover and smiled kindly to her, she was convinced that my mom would be really busy and I am tired so let me take a lift on the bike and return to home. Jessica was just about to sit on the bike at the same time Junaid was taken out his bicycle to go home and saw Jessica sitting on the bike of some stranger. just a flashback of two months back kidnapping of classmate sunita came in the mind of Junaid and he took a wild and prompt step. Junaid picked up a big stone nearby and just threw it on the head of the biker. the biker lost his balance and Jessica also fell down. within a minute biker stood up and leaving Jessica on side he ran as fast as he could on the bike. Jessica could not understand what had happened but she had few injuries on her leg. 

junaid went there and helped Jessica to clean the wound and at that time Jessica's mother came to take her daughter home. Jessica narrated the whole story to her mother and she could not control her tears and said thankyou to Junaid. She said "Jessica dear, I was having severe headache today after returning from shopping I so took a pill and decided to take a small nap and when I woke up I was already late so I missed your school timings. sorry, dear baby, I am a careless mother, I will never repeat it again ".  Junaid replied," Don't worry Aunty Jessica is safe. I have noted down the bike number and I think he was the same person who kidnapped Sunita 2 months ago. Jessica is like my sister so I will always take care of her in your absence. kristina was very pleased and obliged. Today a small boy had taught her a lesson of kindness and care.

 Next day in the morning Kristina went to Junaid's home with lots of gifts and inviting the whole family to Jessica's birthday function.