45/100. I had always imagined that I would be a mom to a little girl. A little girl who loved Enid Blyton and scones, whose karate kicks would be as graceful as her pirouettes would be strong, who would talk back as many times as she would do what I told her to. But, God decided that it would be a little boy who would brighten up my life instead. And so it was.

I had lots of little girls around me as well. Girls I watched with love and interest. But a turn on life’s journey meant that I and those little girls did not share the same space anymore. I missed them, I did… And I missed more the wonder of watching them grow up.

But, then, the same turn led me to another little girl to know and love. Rayna. She loves reading, plays soccer, and the piano. She collects dolls and Hot wheels cars with equal passion. And my son loves her so. Like the sister the universe owed him… So close are they despite living thousands of miles away. Every time I look at her, I thank God for ensuring that Rayna radiance touched our lives.

But God wasn’t done. Along with Rayba, he gave me two other young girls as well. Rather, he gave me back Rituparna and myself. For, when we are together, we are young girls again as much as women of the world. Our giggles over the silliest of jokes are as endless and loud as when we were sixteen. We bond over trifles add troubles. And we laugh and laugh and laugh together, just like yesterday. The only difference? It’s now edged and embellished with the silver of similar experiences shared even though we had lost touch.

Whoever is a part of my life these days is, by default, part of the pact. So, it was with a set agenda of wearing sarees and getting photographs taken that they spent their last Sunday in town with me.

Rayna’s wearing a saree that’s twice her age and has already featured in the pact – a dusky rose crepe print that epitomises delicate strength – just the way I see her. Rituparna is wearing a favourite of mine which has featured on the pact earlier. This georgette in purplish black with hand-drawn batik motifs in soft pink and powder blue perfectly epitomises her strength and her softness, along with the arty individuality that is so Rituparna. She is wearing it with a black cotton kurti. My saree is a Benarasi jamdani on heavy georgette – bought from the byelanes of Purani Dilli, is 13 years old and was chosen to go with the colours Rayna and Rituparna were wearing. I think it completes our circle of girl love beautifully.

So, here’s to celebrating little girls everywhere. And the young girls who still live on in us. Ladies, let’s keep those giggles and those laughs coming!