“T here they are,” squealed Ishani in delight, spotting the red shoes in the market. “Size 11, please.”
“Certainly, that’s a popular design,” said the salesman, with a smile.
While they waited, Ishani could not sit still. She imagined wearing the same shiny red shoes as her best friend and showing off on the playground. Dakshi and Ishani were best friends since kindergarten and were inseparable — they had to do everything together.
Finally, the salesman returned. “I’m sorry, I don’t have size 11. May I show you some other designs?”
“No,” said Ishani, as she began to cry.
“Don’t be silly,” said her mother, annoyed.
The salesman looked on amused. He was used to all sorts of demands from children — “...green pixie shoes?” “Bouncing shoes?” “Cinderella shoes?”
“Maybe you can wear a size 12 with thick socks. Do you want to try?”
Ishani finally smiled.
“I will soon grow and will not need the woolly socks,” she declared. Her mother was happy that the matter had been resolved.
For the next couple of months Dakshi and Ishani went together everywhere in their shiny red shoes.
“Aren’t they lovely?” said Dakshi. “I’m so glad we have the same-same shoes.”
“Of course we do, we are best friends, and we do everything together.”
Disappointment
One day, Dakshi went on a holiday to Delhi. Ishani was devastated. “Now, who will play with me?” The shiny red shoes gathered dust in the shoe shelf.
After two months, Dakshi was back.
“Dakshi! I missed you! Where…?” she said rushing into her house. She stopped in her tracks. There was something different. Dakshi had no hair. Dakshi burst into tears and ran into her room, while Ishani stood there, wordlessly.
Dakshi’s mother gently said, “Your friend is sick. She has cancer. The treatment makes people lose their hair.”
“Will it grow back?” she asked, unconsciously touching her hair.
“Of course.”
Ishani waited for her friend to come out, but she didn’t. She went home confused and hurt.
“Give her some time,” her mother said.
The next day, Dakshi refused to meet Ishani again.
“She is afraid everyone will laugh at her. I have bought her a wig, but she refuses...” sighed Dakshi’s mother. “She is missing school too.”
That whole week, Dakshi did not come to school. Ishani was sad; she missed her best friend.
One morning, Ishani jumped out of bed with an idea. “Mummy!” she shouted. “Let’s go to the market now.”
Later that day, Ishani went to Dakshi’s house and said, “Dakshi, I have something to show you.”
She was greeted by silence.
Not willing to give up, Ishani slipped a photograph under the door. Soon, the door opened. Dakshi was smiling. “You’re bald,” she said wonderstruck.
“Yes, best friends forever, remember? Now let’s go find your shiny red shoes,” Ishani said, and the duo giggled.
