The Childhood Promise Short Story
Chapter 1 : The Silly Pact
(Flashback to when Arjun and Pooja were 12 years old, sitting on a terrace, eating mangoes and spitting the seeds far away.)
Pooja: “Arjun, I swear, if I turn 30 and I’m not married, I’ll just marry you.”
Arjun: (making a face) “Ugh! That sounds like a punishment.”
Pooja: “Excuse me? I am premium wife material!”
Arjun: (dramatically wiping his hands on his shorts) “Yeah, yeah, just like I’m a dream hero.”
Pooja: “No, you’re more like the funny best friend who never gets the girl.”
Arjun: (mock gasp) “Oye! That’s harsh. But okay. Fine. Deal. If we’re 30 and still single, we’ll marry each other.”
(They do a dramatic pinky promise and continue eating mangoes like it’s the most serious contract ever signed.)
Chapter 2 The Unexpected Call
(Present day. Arjun is lying on his couch in his rented 1BHK, scrolling through internet, stalking his ex’s wedding photos.)
📞 Phone rings
Arjun: “Hello?”
Pooja: “Bro! We’re 30!”
Arjun: “Wait, what? You’re still counting?!”
Pooja: “Of course, I am. Remember our deal?”
Arjun: “Oh god, Pooja. I thought you forgot about that childhood stupidity.”
Pooja: (sarcastically) “Oh yes, I totally forgot about the only marriage proposal I’ve ever had in my life.”
Arjun: “Wow. That’s tragic.”
Pooja: “Shut up. Let’s meet tomorrow. Coffee?”
Arjun: “Only if you’re paying.”
Pooja: “As always.”
Chapter 3: The Reunion
(They meet at a café. Pooja looks like a CEO of some fancy company. Arjun looks like he just woke up from a nap.)
Pooja: (laughing) “You still look like a college dropout.”
Arjun: “And you look like a corporate villain.”
Pooja: “Thank you. Now tell me, are we getting married or what?”
Arjun: (choking on his coffee) “What? You were serious?!”
Pooja: “Of course not, you idiot! I just wanted to see your reaction.” (laughs)
Arjun: “For a second, I saw my whole life flash before my eyes—me cooking noodles while you scream at me for burning it.”
Pooja: (mock serious) “That’s accurate. But dude, I’m so glad we didn’t turn into those desperate people who marry out of pressure.”
Arjun: “Yeah, imagine us actually together. Disaster.”
Pooja: “True. You’re still figuring out life. And I’m still figuring out how to take vacations without my boss noticing.”
Arjun: “So basically, we both suck?”
Pooja: “Yup. But we suck together. As best friends.”
Chapter 4: The Reality Check
(They take a walk, reminiscing about their childhood, laughing about old crushes and stupid school fights.)
Pooja: “Arjun, have you ever felt… I don’t know… like maybe we’re supposed to love people in different ways?”
Arjun: “Deep. But yeah. Love isn’t just about marrying and having babies. It’s about having someone who knows you inside out and still doesn’t leave.”
Pooja: “Like how I know you still sleep with a teddy bear?”
Arjun: “HEY! That’s Mr. Snuggles to you!”
Pooja: (laughing) “And that’s why we can never be a couple.”
Arjun: “True. But at least I have you, my sarcastic, overachieving, corporate villain of a best friend.”
Pooja: “And I have you, my lazy, overdramatic, still-figuring-out-life best friend.”
(They high-five, knowing that not every love story needs a wedding to be real.)
Life Lesson:
Love is not always about romance. Sometimes, the strongest love is just having that one person who never leaves—no matter how messy life gets. 💛