Meera was very sad. Her best friend Meena was going away. Meena’s father, Uncle Suresh, had been offered a big job in another city, and was moving. Meena and her mother, Auntie Rina, were going with him.

“Why does Meena have to go?” wept Meera. “I won’t have anyone to play with if she leaves!” Mummy, Papa and Rani tried to explain that Meena had to go, she couldn’t stay back without her parents, but Meera could not stop feeling sad. She would really miss Meena.

But Meena didn’t seem to mind so much about going away and leaving Meera. She was quite excited at the thought of a new house and a new school and lots of new children to play with. “Meera, I promise I’ll write to you every week,” said Meena. “I’ll tell you all about my new school and my new friends.” But despite Meena’s promise, Meera could not feel happy.

Soon it was Friday, and Meena’s last day of school. Meena came to school with a big happy smile on her face. She was carrying a large bag that seemed to be heavy and full of something.

“What is it?” asked Meera.

“Chocolates for all the other children in our class, as a goodbye gift from me,” said Meena. “Will you help me give them out?”

Meera nodded. Of course she would help Meena, even though she was feeling so sad it felt as though she could never smile again. 

Meena gave out the chocolates to the other children after school. Everybody gave her a hug or an extra loud ‘Bye’. Meena waved cheerfully back. Only Meera stood in a corner with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t be so cheerful.

Mrs. Ray, their teacher, gave Meena a big hug, and a storybook with ‘For Meena, with love from Mrs. Ray’ written inside in beautiful letters. Even Mrs. Ray was feeling a little sad. But Meena hugged her back and promised to write, and Mrs. Ray soon cheered up again.

That evening Meera didn’t feel like eating any dinner. The days would be so boring without Meena, she thought. And she was sure Meena wouldn’t write, or even remember her once she made new friends in her new school. She was sure Meena wouldn’t miss her at all! She was happy to go away, not sad at losing her best friend! And Meera sobbed and sobbed into her pillow.

Mummy came and hugged her, and Rani even brought out her best doll for Meera to play with. But Meera wept and wept.

Papa came into the room. “Meera, there’s someone here to see you,” he said, with a big smile on his face.

“If it’s Meena, I don’t want to see her,” said Meera crossly, through her tears. “She doesn’t even care she’s going away!”

But Papa laughed, and gathering up Meera into his arms took her out into the living room. There sat Auntie Rina, and a very quiet Meena.

Meena came up and hugged Meera hard. “I’ll really really miss you,” she said. “You’re my best friend in the whole world, and you will always be. Even if I get ten new friends.”

Auntie Rina smiled at Meera. “Look after Meena for me, Meera,” she said. “I’m leaving her with you for the night because she wanted to be with you and wouldn’t stop crying till I said it was ok.”

Meera looked at Meena, who looking as though she would start crying again any minute. And suddenly Meera wasn’t feeling so angry with her any more. “You will miss me!” she said.

“Of course she will miss you, Meera!” said Rani, with a laugh. “You’re best friends aren’t you?”

But Meera and Meena weren’t listening any more. They had run off together into Meera’s room, and were busy deciding who was going to sleep where.

That night Mummy did not insist on Meera going to bed on time. She let her play with Meena till as long as the two little girls could stay awake. It was almost midnight when they fell asleep, tired but happy once again.

The next day was Saturday, the day Meena and her parents leaving. Meera drove with Papa to the airport to see them off. She felt sad again as Meena waved goodbye, but very soon she cheered up again. Meena had promised she would write the very next day, and Meera couldn’t wait to get her first letter.

On Monday school seemed very quiet without Meena.

Halfway through the morning Mrs. Ray came up to Meera, leading a little girl by the hand.

“Meera,” said Mrs. Ray. “This is Neha. She is new. Today is her first day, and she is feeling very lost. Do you think you could take care of her till she finds her way around?”

Meera nodded. “Yes, of course, Mrs. Ray,” she said, smiling at Neha. Neha smiled back and skipped over to Meera’s side.

Meera showed Neha all the interesting things they could do in school, and very soon the two girls were happily chattering away. Meera told Neha all about Meena, and Neha told Meera about her new baby brother.

“Maybe Neha could become your best friend now,” said Mummy that night, as she tucked Meera into bed.

“Of course not!” said Meera. “My best friend is Meena, forever and forever, even if she has gone away!” She felt a little cross with Mummy for saying such a thing. Except that Neha was fun. “Maybe she can become a new friend,” said Meera after thinking for a bit. “But just a friend, not a best friend,” she explained.

“Very well, then, just a friend,” said Mummy smiling and kissing her good night.

Soon Meera was fast asleep, dreaming happy dreams about her two friends, her best friend Meena, and her new friend Neha.

The End