I held my face inside my cupped palms. Dunno what is in wait for me after reaching home.

Periyama will vigour out her anger at me and pounce upon me like a hungry she tiger who was for a long time in wait of her prey to arrive.

And lucky pearl? I am getting the honour to humor her impatience on me.

I stared blankly at the crucifix form my mind whirling and spiraling with so many unwanted and fearsome thoughts

""( why, Kichu seems like she has forgotten her Krishna and is too much busy with Jesus singing duet with him all the way. What happened to you girl? We have never seen this side of you ever. Any serious break up with Krishna or something like that?) Ahaan's taunting voice tossed me out of the painful state I was in.

" ( Don't fly too high. I have no problem with him. Why ,can't I speak to Jesus? God is one and unique. We humans are making them look different by dividing and scattering them into various parts. Otherwise Jesus, Krishna and Allah, all are one. Because they serve the purpose of providing calmness and hope in life equally without any difference of opinion among themselves or doubt like we people do.) I said quietly.

"I never knew that a wired up kichu held the capacity to orate like this. That is one original trait from you sweetie" Ahaan again teased.

I scowled at him menacingly

"( Can't you just leave me at peace. After reaching home your mom is gonna sauté me with her verbose flame and oil. Please give me some space and peace for the time being)I said in a pleading tone holding the rosary in my hands pressed inside my palm.

I didn't feel this much fear engulfing my being when I decided to be with Mother Dahlia.

Now that adrenaline rush has come to a screeching halt and fading point, fear made it a point to creep inside me slithering through my veins and sinking its ghastly teeth in my heart. Making it beat spasmodically.

I could hear the thumping of my heart clearly.

Ahaan turned around and viewed my outmoded state for sometime.

"Pearl ,just take it calm Kanna. Don't feel this low about facing mom's chagrin. She is otherwise a wonderful Lady you know" Ahaan tried to be diplomatic and reasonable.

"Yeah! I know she is your mom na. So you are doing your son's duty well Anna. Save that card for Sarah , okay? It is not at all working with me and to tell you that it sounds every bit blunt and naive won't be an exaggeration. You sound like a momma's boy ,Romie. Just stop with that. I know what to do." I said fuming and smoking with anger.

The one seated on the driver's seat chuckled whole heartedly while drumming the steering wheel with his long fingers.

"What are you planning to do Kichu? In case any specialist opinion I can help you with that" Ahaan offered in a half chickened out and half serious tone.

He still pass out at the thought of facing Periyamma's spleen and that very person is talking about seeking his specialist advice.

"For passing out ..eh?" I sneered in a cranky manner.

He chuckled but the next moment his smile turned to grimace at the thought of Periyamma's fury.

"Look Romie ,For remaining quiet and deaf to what stuff happening around me I don't need a specialist. My ability to shut off the whole arena of verbose south Indian martial art form) is enough. "I huffed turning my attention towards the Rosary mother gave me.

Ahaan took a look at it and returned it to me and I put it safely back into the clutch purse. I loosened the bun around my hair and letting it frame my face.

A cool soothing night breeze hit my face gently fondling its breezy fingers through my hair calming my bogged out nerves for sometime.

"? ( so shall we get going?) I heard the stranger ask playfully almost like cooing.

I wondered what has gone wrong with him to coo like a psycho to two people who are almost overgrown for such stuff.

". ( Is there any need to ask such a question. Get going.) I heard a familiar squeal next to me.

So I am not alone. I have a company here with me on the back seat.

I turned my head to see that lovely little thing smiling,winking and wiggling her eyebrows at me in a cute way.

"Khushi!" I exclaimed while pulling her onto my lap surprised shocked and aghast of my being.

I hugged her tight like I have just found something which I thought to be lost forever.

I kissed her cheeks happily while tears cascaded down my cheeks.

" ( please don't cry sis) She pleaded while wiping my tears with her tender palms.

I hugged her tight in great joy. I never thought she will capture my heart and soul like this.

"Oh my God! Sweetie. It is a serendipity I found you here beside me. I am so overwhelmed sweetie."I said sobbing slightly.

"You like me that much?" She asked doubtfully.

"Like?Nah! I love you so so so much lovely dumpling" I said rocking her back and forth while hugging her with euphoric ecstacy.

I don't know what has got into me but whenever I get to see her, a piece of me is felt like joined together in its all glory.

She giggled while hugging me back.

"Hey! What are you doing here? Your parents must be worried about you darling" I said when suddenly it hit me that she is with us here when her parents may be searching for her frantically there.

She shook her head in denial.

". ( This is my daddy's car) So no worries" She said with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

I flipped up my head and stared at the stranger who happened to be my brother's friend.

He turned his head and nodded at me much to my relief. The car sprang to life and sped off from the place in a matter of few sec.

"You are not angry with me?" I asked Khushi remembering the talk we had this evening which resulted in a torn and painful way.

"No! You are my pari di.(angel sis) . ( I could never think of having a fight with you. Yeah! I got a bit sad when I heard that all of a sudden but my brother assured me that he is gonna make everything okay) Khushi said giggling slumping her tiny shoulder ad closing her mouth.

I looked at her slightly clueless of what she and her naughty brother were up to.

I knitted my eyebrows together.

"What is it?" I mouthed in a slow whisper.

"First you should give me a hug and kiss then only I will reveal that plan to you. Deal?" She squeaked in her chirpy bubbly voice.

"Is that so? Here you go sweetie pie" I laughed and gave her kiss and hug and pulled away from her tapping her cheek and I raised my chin indicating her to continue.

"( My brother assured that if you didn't come to our home willfully there is no matter to worry over it. Because he is planning to abduct you from this place and bring to our home forever)" Khushi said simplifying the gruesome event by shrugging her shoulder.

My mouth fell open with a low gasp while raising my eyelids slowly to see if there is any listener to our concert.

Believe it or not. My soul jumped out of my skin for a moment and stood outside after sighting a pair of deep blue eyes staring back at me pointedly from the rear view mirror.

I dunno what has got over me but I remained like that for what it felt like a whole perpetuity paralyzed of my being and everything.

Even forgetting to breath.

I felt like I will go through anything in this life but this. This felt like squeezing my soul out of me and making me forget who I am or what I am?

My mouth felt parched and a spasm passed through my chest painfully.

A sense of Deja vu washed over me like something connects me with someone. I don't know how to explain.

Goodness gracious such stuff still exist. I never thought ghosts can haunt like this.

.( sis what happened? You are glaring at something like you have seen a ghost or what)

Khushi said lowering my chin towards her. My eyes still felt reluctant to leave those creepy blue eyes which busted out my good will and everything just like that.

I tore of my gaze from them and stared at Khushi for sometime like trying to gauge out who she is.

Suddenly I felt like a kid who had just stepped to this world afresh and pure like a prim rose.

I tried to focus what is my purpose and why I am here in this place?

Gosh everything is seeping out of my grasp. I closed my eyes and tried to decipher what it was.

"Kichu! Come out! We reached" Ahaan's voice ripped me out of the terrific nightmarish stupor I was undergoing.

I snapped up my head to see Ahaan opening the door to my side and holding his hand out.

I felt immense relief wash over me when I saw my brother standing before me ready to help me out.

I didn't have the courage to turn and take a look at those nightmarish eyes which gave my entire being an electrocuting feeling for say fifteen whole mts.

I took my brothers hand with a relieved smile realizing that how lucky I am to have such loving people around me so that even if I get lost for some moments they are there to bring me back to this world with their loving and caring feel and attitude.

I am cent percent sure when my family is around me I will never feel at a loss or tangled in some pandemonium play.

"Kichu! Keep it calm and cool okay. Mom seems like she is in tearing you up and devouring you alive kinda rage. Please don't take anything to your heart . You know she loves you dearly and wants everything perfect for you. So in that haze she sometimes loses it and pounces upon you with mean words. Don't get hurt ." Ahaan conveyed me in a pleading voice.

"Hey! Don't take it in your head Anna. I am okay and come on she is my mom too. I like to get scolded by her. See, scolding shows how a person cares for you and is keen on every simplest thing surrounding you. And I feel lucky to have periyamma ( Aunty) as my special mom." I said smiling.

Kevin patted my head with a smile.

At that moment Periyamma's chiding spree didn't feel a big deal after what I got to see and experience moments before.

Everything around me felt sane and right apart from that thing.

Those eyes! I shuddered when those pair of eyes popped out of my mind's visual palace.

I inhaled deeply trying to calm my erratic and spasmodic heart beat.

"Oh ! I forgot to introduce to our friend" Ahaan said while slapping his head for his absentmindedness.

I got another hooking and hitching of breath at the thought.

"I am tired Anna. Let me be. He is your friend na I don't wanna know anything more than that. And convey my "thank you" to him for dropping us here this fast" I said completely exhausted and famished of my being.

Never thought eyes held such vampiric powers to suck out the good energy level of a person. Not that I was athletic mode today. But still decent compared to other days.

"Hi, I am Omnath" I heard that familiar deep voice in front of me as if it came from a far off distance.

Sure for a dwarf girl like me it will sound faroff because he stands as if in heaven and me as always in the deep pit of hell.

"Pearl"I curtly introduced myself not having the courage or strength to look upwards as to see what is in store for my fluttering imagination.

"What about having a shake hand" He again pestered much to my annoyance.

I raised my eyelids at the impact those words had on me.

And that is the greatest folly I would have ever committed in my life considering the way his gorgeous pair of sapphire iris twinkled against little beam of light which came from the car and spotlighted only that part of his face like wreaking vengeance upon me.

I flinched and jerked away with a small whimper escaping my mouth on seeing the nightmarish sight.

"Kichu! What happened? Is everything okay for you? " Ahaan asked concern etched over his words. He felt my neck forehead with his palm to check whether I am okay.

"Yup! Very much. Come let's enter the house. Periyamma is waiting near the main entrance." I said with a thumping heart.

Though I had bravely said that I will come out of Periyamma's chiding spree just like that still it scares me a lot to stand before her and hear whatever that is in store for me.

Ahaan walked a head and I realized that Om is still holding his hand out for a shake hand.

"Sorry, I never shake hands with strangers. It is against my custom. So ( Indian greeting). Please do come to our home. And thank you for taking the pain to drop us here." I rushed my words like my tail is on fire without even giving it a thought to take a look at him or his damned eyes.

God! From where you get the idea of creating such stuff that scares the hell out of a person.

I stormed towards the courtyard to see the most beauteous sight I have ever seen.

The whole garden , our home and sit out were drenched in the beauty of lamp light.

My eyes and soul danced in mirth when I got to relish this spectacular scenario bloomed in its eternal grandeur before my eyes.

"Wow!" I exclaimed exuberantly.

A smile crept up my features radiating its glow all over me like the splendidly lighted garden I was witnessing in its glamour.

Ahaan held a huge grin on his face while spreading his arms like welcoming me.

I held a clueless look while the smile remained on my lips without faltering for once.

"What is going on?" I asked while taking small and hesitant steps towards the main courtyard whilst the background was filled with Khushi and Om's squeals and quirky talks.

I caught the glimpse of Periyappa (Uncle)and Jaquie who were in the garden area. Jaqueline was bouncing like a bumblebee seat in Periyappa's arms when she saw Ahaan.

"!"(Dad!Dad!Dad) She squealed and squeaked all the way while slowly sliding out of periyappa's hand teetering and tottering slightly towards Ahaan.

"Hey! .( Dad's butter cup)Princess! " Ahaan cooed and took Jaquie in his arms and swirled her around while slightly tossing her up and down. She giggled.

Periyappa bolted towards the house when he made sure that Jaquie is safe with Ahaan.

She held my hand when she took notice of me. I smiled while fondling her cheek with my knuckles softly.

"!" (Mom) She pointed towards the main entrance with her tiny finger. she was swinging her legs while singing a song of her own lyrics and music direction while cradled in Ahaan's arms securely.

When I turned my head I saw saffy and Sarah lighting the lamps while talking and laughing at each other's folly. I had to smile at the sweet sisters-in-law who had been bonded in a wonderful way like sisters who had grown up together.

When Lina took notice of my presence she nudged saffy with an exuberant smile making my presence notified before her attention.

Saffy and Sarah jumped up together from the half kneeling position and ran towards me like small kids.

They hugged me and tickled me making me laugh.

"Hey! What is the Ocassion? Lighting lamps? Laughter, mirth, hugs, tickling what is going on ?" I enquired completely unfazed of the situation.

"First come with us and inspect our art work and give the feed back on how the *has turned( *Kolam (rangoli)-An Indian religious art work drawn with colours to make God happy and thereby acquire great blessings and fortune from God.Mainly this is the practice in Hinduism.) I did it with the help of Saffy." Sarah chattered as she dragged me along with her while pointing her other hand towards the main entrance.

We have the habit of decorating our mansion with lighted .( clay diyàs )

It is an Indian Hindu custom. I am from a christian family. But we follow every culture and also anything that brings happiness and glory to our family.

Now it is kinda a family get together after a long time so may be they chose do this to make the ambience and our home more glorious and gracious.

So lighting oil lamps is must to make our home look more lovely and glorious.

Chithi ( aunty) taught Sarah how to draw Rangoli. Chithi is very much in touch with such practice as she resides in north India and every festival there demands her participation along with her other Hindu friends.