Chapter 5

*Neville Pov*

I groaned walking all around the room another time before sitting on the small bed present in the room.

There is no air conditioner and then the room is too small along with the bed. There is so much dust too.

And to top of all these, I am hungry. I rubbed my stomach and stood up immediately. I am their guest and I can just ask them without suffering the hunger while sitting here.

“Anybody here?” I asked climbing down the stairs and then looked around until I smelt something from one side of the house.

“This is kitchen?” I asked myself before walking towards that direction.

“I am hungry and I need something to eat.” I said entering the kitchen only to stop in my tracks looking at my Mom near the stove.

“This early?” I heard a voice and turned to see Kalyani Aunty coming inside the kitchen from another door and I can see some trees from that door.

“Yeah! I even skipped breakfast thinking I would eat something Indian reaching here.” I replied shrugging and walked towards the Kitchen slap before moving a few things away.

“This is nice!” I mumbled remembering how I used to sit on this while Mom used to work.

“Are you going to sit there?” Aunty screeched.

“Any doubts?” I asked and sat on the slab before closing my eyes.

“Now, I need some food.” I said folding my hands.

“Don’t you have manners? And there is still time for lunch.” Aunty said shaking her head and walked towards Mom.

“Well, I heard that Indian Mom’s does everything to not let their children stay hungry.” I said in a low tone making both of them stare at me.

“Give this to her, Kalyani.” I heard Mom’s voice.

“But Bhabhi…” Aunty started saying but huffed before walking near to me with a plate consisting of some Roti’s.

“Nice!” I said, taking it away and started eating it.

“Give a prayer to the god.” Aunty said with anger eyes.

“You do it for me, Aunt. You are also my family right. You are actually my Step-Aunt.” I said smiling at her.

“By the way, how many steps do I have to get on?” I asked after finishing one roti.

“What?” Aunty asked.

“I mean to say, how many relations I have with a prefix ‘Step’.” I explained and glanced at Mom to see her having a smile covering her face which she hid immediately.

“Did you learned to talk like this from your Dad?” Aunty asked folding her arms.

“Actually he would scold me just like you because I learned this from my Mom.” I replied and Mom immediately turned towards me in shock.

“Bhai!” Aunt said in a surprise and I turned to see my Step-Dad standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

“Did you hear this, Step-Dad? You asked me not to talk about my Dad and your sister is doing it for herself.” I said staring at him  too which he sighed.

“I am going to work.” He said looking at my Mom and Aunt to which they both nodded.

“Where do you work and what?” I asked before he could step out of the room.

“What?” he asked, frowning.

“Yes! That’s what I am asking. I should know at least that right and see whether it is good for my Mom.” I replied with a serious tone but hiding the smile completely.

“I work in a cloth shop.” He replied before walking away and I laughed when he finally reached away from listening power from the kitchen.

“How dare you to insult my Bhai?” Aunt said moving towards me.

“She doesn’t know all this, Kalyani.” Mom said stopping her.

“Can I talk to you, Mom?” I asked nervously placing the plate away from me.

“No! She will not talk to you. Will you, Bhabhi?” Aunt asked, turning towards Mom and I stared at Mom hoping she would talk.

“I have some work.” That’s all she said before leaving the Kitchen while Aunt stared at me with a smirk.

I composed myself pushing down the hurt and grinned at my Aunt before taking another piece of the Roti.

“Do you know something, Aunt? You are completely failing at it.” I said, shaking my head.

“At what?” she asked frowning.

“At the way you are trying to compress your age and behave like a Queen B in a college if you know what does that  mean.” I replied to which she frowned at me while someone gasped from beside me.

“You called my Aunt a Queen B? You are going to die when I tell this to Yash.” I heard Lakshmi’s voice and turned to see her rushing outside the Kitchen towards the main door.

“What is the meaning of Queen B?” Aunt asked when I got down from the slab.

“Do you really want to know?” I asked, folding my arms.

“Yes! Tell me right now.” She demanded.

“It means you should stay away from Mother and Daughter and mind your own business and you will never be that.” I said shaking my head and walked away.

I stepped outside the house after taking a blazer from my bag and checked the phone whether it is switched off or not.

Why is this so hot? I thought, rubbing my forehead and started walking towards a small building attached to this house.

“No! We are not going to meet her.” I heard an old man’s voice.

Does every house have a problem of its own? I thought and turned my direction to the other side and saw a big Shop at the corner of the road.

The Roy clothes! Wow! Is this where my dear Step-Dad works? Definitely not bad thing! I thought, shaking my head and glanced around the area.

I finally found the park and rushed there saving myself from the vehicles and settled on the bench before leaning back.

Why is she not talking to me? I didn’t do anything right? Or is she still scared to talk as her husband asked her not to?

I just need to talk to her and then leave from here after knowing at least a little that she loved me and didn’t want too leave me completely and fighted to stay with me.

You just need to tell me these and I will leave from here completely, Mom. I will leave and that is a promise! I thought closing my eyes.

*Yash Pov*

“What?” I asked, getting up from the chair when I heard Lakshmi’s voice.

“Yes! She entered after you left and made Mom cry so much after she walked into her room. She is supposed to be my sister, I guess. I thought to wait until you return, but I can’t after she called Aunt with that word.” Lakshmi explained.

“She made Revu cry?” I asked with more shock.

“Yeah! Mom cried too much and Dad didn’t say anything at all. Please come and throw her out, Yash.” She replied, dragging me away from my office table.

“Let’s go! How dare her to make Revu cry and talk bad to my Mom? She will not stay in our house after I have done with her.” I said, taking out my bike keys and walked outside the cabin.

“Where are you going and what is she doing here?” I heard Uncle asking and turned to see him checking the stock.

“That… she is asking for ice-cream, Uncle.” I replied, to which he frowned at Lakshmi.

“You are getting married within a month, Lakshmi. And you want ice cream?” he asked, shaking his head and walked away.

“Why did you book me before me? Even that girl did the same.” Lakshmi asked grumbling, but I shook my head walking away.

“Where is she?” I asked, entering the house and saw Mom sitting on the chair frowning to herself.

“I don’t know, but what is Queen B of a college, Yash?” She asked frowning at me.

“It is not a right word, Aunt. She scolded you and said a bad word.” Lakshmi explained making Mom gasp.

“That girl! I will not leave her when she enters the house.” Mom said fuming.

I walked outside the house and walked near to the road looking around. I will not spare her for hurting my family at all.

Revu is the best person I have ever seen and she loved me like her son. I will not let anyone hurt her at all.

“Our servant said she walked towards the park.” Lakshmi said walking near to me.

“Then it is better to settle it there instead of near Revu.” I said and we both walked towards the park.

“Hey! Move from my sight.” We heard a shout and turned to see some girl throwing the ball.

“You just made me give them a wide. Are you deaf, stupid?” She asked, picking up the ball and again walked back.

Lakshmi and I moved back while she threw again and this time it hit the wickets making the player lose his wicket who is non other than a small kid.

“She is the girl.” Lakshmi whispered and I frowned at the person.

“See? We Australians are the best at this.” She said smirking and started walking towards the kid.

“Yeah! We can see how you can prove your ability before a small Indian kid only.” I commented to which she turned to stare at me.

“Are you saying the Indian players are kids before the Australians?” she asked, smirking and laughed when I couldn’t say a word.

“And now, you come here.” She said, kneeling on the floor and the small kid walked near to her.

“So what they are not letting you play? You can play amazing on your own or can play with amazing people like me.” She said winking at him.

“Don’t cry again because that will bring nothing but sadness which is a bad thing.” She added and the kid nodded before hugging her.

“Thank you, Di!” he mumbled and walked away smiling.

“Now, are you the Yash who is here to kill me? Well, let me call the police to make them note the attempted murder.” She said taking out her mobile.

“What?” I asked her frowning.

“What? Lakshmi said those words.” She replied, shrugging and I turned to glare at Lakshmi who immediately walked away.

“Well? I am waiting.” This girl said, tapping her fingers on her chin.

“I am Yash!” I said forwarding my hand.

“I am Neville, but you can call me Nev because you like me.” She said and I jerked my hand back hearing her words.

She laughed in my face before holding my hand again, saying, “God! You are all so serious. I am just joking.”

“Now what?” she asked when I just stood there not knowing what to even say.

“Ok! I will finish this conversation.” She said hugging me and took a step back.

“Thanks for welcoming into India.” She said winking and walked away while I still stood at my place before shaking my head with too much force to come out of everything and to understand what just happened.