Happy Onam to all wonderful people here. May your day be blessed with all memorable events to be cherished.

The song given here is just to create the mood of Onam. This song is not connected to this chapter. This chapter is entirely a different one.

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"What is she specialized in?" Om asked while walking beside me through the deserted path of our native place.

"Hello! Earth and sense to Pearl ! Come back darling pie! My query is unanswered. It hurts to know that the gorgeous girl of this place is ignoring me" Om's taunting words brought me back to reality.

I stared at him perplexed for a moment before frowning at him.

"What?" The question was meant to be a soft textured one but it rather chose to come out as a rude snap.May be because I was too preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn't find time to check my modesty and politeness scale that much.

Om flinched a bit when he heard my snapping voice. He smiled and continued with his explanation.

"I asked you what is she specialized in?" Om made his point clear with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"Um..who?" I asked not fully getting the meaning of his query .

"Your patron saint. We are now gonna pray to her. So I wanna know her area of specialization" He said casually with animated expression.

"Specialization?" I scoffed thinking that he is mocking at our patron like all the others of our age do.

I scowled at him with pent up agitation.

"Hey calm down (buddy). Every saint is a patron of something or other. For instance st. Maria Goretti is the saint of virgins. Because she gave up her life preserving her dignity and virginity. St. Teresa, the little flower, is the patron of the garden of Vatican city, a patron of suffering people and also a patron of Florists and gardeners. So that is why I asked you in my way what is your patron's area of specialization?" He explained all this with immense patience.

"Wow! You know so much about saints and church. I am impressed" I said excitedly.

Om flexed his eyebrow in a questioning manner.

"I didn't learn all this to impress anyone. I used to spend my quality time with gran everyday. And she used to narrate the stories of saints their sacrifice in the name of Jesus Christ. Now Tina is taking up that duty of listening to gran as I have pretty much collected a bulk of precious fables from her. Now it is Tina's turn. I make it a point that she is taking after me in this. Actually, nowadays no one finds time to look inside themselves or know the God and his followers in a right way. Some bike stunts and other stuff will be warmly welcomed by girls of your age. So guys are making it a point to learn such tricks. And when they will reach heaven and become patron of such stuff only good lord knows. I am in no way wanna impress anyone with such stupidity or prove how cool a guy I am. If the girl rightly belongs to me she will come my way on her own in a providential way. " Om said looking straight into my eyes.

A tingling chilly feeling pricked my spine. Since this morning I am getting this weird feel. I tried to shirk off this uncanny feeling from my mind

I felt weird but I tried to forestall the talk with some random conversation.

"So you don't know to ride bike?" I asked wryly evading the constricting and nauseating feeling which built up within me like searing bubbling hot lava.

Om smiled revealing his dimples with a shake of his head.

"I do know to ride bike but I hate doing bike stunts just in the name of humouring and impressing ones girl friend. Also my one doesn't like bike rides. Shakthi is very simple and modest. "Om said spreading his hands out and closing his eyes like receiving some warm experiences into his being

I walked keeping a good distance from Om. Because the way he is now behaving will earn nasty and inquisitive glare from my people.

He will be back to his place in a question of few days. And it is me who will be left as a girl with questionable character just because I accompanied him.

Ahaan,Dave and Sarah walked ahead of us for giving a convincing explanation just in case someone happens to question Om's affliation to our family.

A few people passed by us didn't fail our expectation. They rose high above our assumption and enquired about Om and what he is doing with a spinster of Xavier's family.

Ahaan and Sarah explained some stuff which my ears failed to perceive correctly but those who have perceived it correctly had a satisfying and appreciative smile on their face when they watched Om.

Some even patted Om on his shoulder and blessed him with some Tamil beatific words.

" ( Fair well child! Live long in good health! May st.Lucy bless you)

St.Lucia's other name is ( Goddess of eyes) in this place

"Om you were asking about St.Lucia, weren't you?" I suddenly asked and he stopped dead on his tracks.

He simply gazed at me for some time before nodding at me encouragingly to continue..

"She is the goddess of eyes. Any eye related disease can be relieved and cured miraculously just by praying to St.Lucia. She is hailed and known as ( Goddess of Eyes) to her ardent devotees.I have experienced this miracle with my life. I know it may sound insane to non believers. But this theory is applicable to those who are ready to experience the blessings of St.Lucia. She listens to the prayers and biddings of kids easily. Experience speaks. I used to pray to her when I was small and innocent. Any prayer and offering by me was answered readily in those days. Now I don't know, I think I have become much corrupted by floating with this fast frenzied world. But I assure you that if you ask something to st.Lucia with dedication and purity she will definitely answer" I said with teeming enthusiasm in my words and gestures.

"Wow! That is great to know . I have never heard of her legend. Yeah gran used to share the story with me. But now by spending a long spell on run to catch what is not mine I have lost everything I had owned once. Everything." Om said suddenly becoming all cryptic. His last word but a mere yet an accentuated whisper which showed his torn and pained self.

I looked up at him that is when I noticed his rare eye colour again.

From the day one they never left a chance in creeping me out.

"Hey it is really rare to possess such an eye colour for an Indian. " I mused pointing at the stuff which was creeping me out all these days whenever I had to make an eye contact with Om.

The rare colour which can be hailed as a result of mutation can only be seen mostly in Europeans. Om is everything but European.

Yeah he has handsome and Greek god like features but he is very much Indian in every aspect except for the eyes. It is sparse as hen's teeth to find such hue as of his eyes, in a pure Indian born person as of him..

"Ogling at my eyes darling?" Om asked coyly much to my embarrassment.

The sudden change in his demeanor amazed me to no bounds. He seemed pained and in agony moments before.

But now he is all coy and cocky.

"See, I am not blind, my vision is perfect by the grace of Lucia matha ( mom). It is pretty much difficult to ignore such prominent feature that screams at anyone look what is going on?" I huffed unbridling my chagrin against his accusation.

Om raised his hands in surrender and gave me a lop sided grin before proceeding with his explanation.

"I get this always,Pearl. Actually I got a bit annoyed when that question was shot towards me from an unexpected source, that is you. You know, my co workers just stare at me for hours trying to make out what kind of a creature I am in all honesty. Because before them I am an Indian and my eyes deceive that point.My lineage has to be blamed for this rare hue my eyes have and Tina possesses this sparse as hen's teeth trait as well.She too gets a lot of questioning look and bullying from her peers for possessing such beauteous and innocent vibrant blue eyes, . To think that all that nasty garbage comes out of tiny impy things of five I feel like crushing the whole world down with my bare hands. " Om said through his grit teeth while fisting his big palm trying to get a grip over his rage.

I could see hurt in his eyes. I didn't want to continue this talk anymore.

"Om I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I am sorry to inflict the pain upon a forgotten gash" I sincerely apologized, my eyes lowered in shame.

"It is nothing Pearl.People are sometimes weird and they go overboard in proving some eccentric thoughts of theirs. But in all this they forget one thing that they are terribly hurting and stampeding their fellow human's feelings.I always face such adversities in my life. But now I am more or less accustomed to such kind of acts. Still it hurts like hell when someone intentionally and purposefully pick on such things. Tina is having a hard time in her life copping up with the way of this terrible world" Om paused drawing in a deep breath staring ahead blankly.

I walked silently beside him listening to his inner wailing. It was a surprise for me that even people with good looks undergo painful trauma of bullying just because they look nice and exceptional.

Om cleared his throat before he continued to speak out his hidden pain.

" I couldn't take or stand even a tiny droplet of tear parting from my darling sister's eyes. She is my treasure. It is agonizing to see her in pain and wailing, whenever she returns home after school, just because she has beautiful and unique features.. Kids nowadays are just monsters and jealous creeps. " Om said quivering with rage. He clenched his jaw in brooding anger.

I stayed silent to his mutterings taking in every pain he had stored within him all these days.

Sometimes a silent support and unsaid words hold a strong power than thousand endearing utterances

I looked at him and silently conveyed that I can understand what he is going through.

Om stared back at me gratefully.

"She used to cry to sleep whenever she undergoes emotional trauma just because of some big nasty bullies in her school. I know they are just jealous of my beautiful sister. But she is too small to understand her worth. She was torn like anything in the initial days of her kindergarten. See, it may seem too much for an outsider. But she is the much celebrated kid in my family as she is the sweetest , cutest and youngest member who bejeweled our family with her angelic presence. To see that precious child undergoing the pain and trauma due to some mean people's petty act of inflicting scurrilous remarks makes me go all ape over again." Om seethed.

"Didn't you register a complaint to the school authorities. It is a crime to bear bullying or even remain a silent spectator to such earth less and groundless activities strewn against the victim." I suddenly got agitated at the thought of all this happening to a baby of five that too by her peers.

"You think we didn't try our hand in this. They are just hell bent in proving those monsters as angels directly from heaven. Those nosy imps are such hypocritic brats you know. And now she is taking small therapy classes from Kat." Om conveyed much to my shock.

This is a new information for me.No one informed me about this before.

" The main purpose of our visit here is to get Tina out of all her rootless and illusory thoughts about herself. Along with some motivational and inspiring classes from Terry. We are now trying to make her believe in herself and her power not in her external beauty. We are trying to build up her confidence and she is responding positively." Om said looking ahead at his sister who is having a fun time with Sarah.

She was asking her so many things in her babyish bubbly and boisterous way.

Khushi responds to her with a charming and vibrant spirit at times retorting sarcastically and at times playfully.

"After coming to this place I am viewing a positive and good change in Tina. She smiles often and never remains quiet or alone as she chose to be at home.She got easily blend with the beauty and togetherness of your family. Especially she finds a special happiness when she is in your company.It is like She has found her personal angel in you. thank you for everything Pearl." Om conveyed gratefully.

"Hey!Dont be. She is my safe haven. It is she who filled the hollow coast of my mind with her angelic presence. She is my personal angel.She is one gem no doubt about that fact. She has that undying spirit within her to reach out of every situation life offers. It is the elders duty to keep the flames of courage intact within her without shimmering or dwindling." I said with a forlorn look on my face. My mind wandered to so many untrodden paths of my memory alley way.

"She is for sure. Not only Tina. Every single individual is precious in his or her own way. And that can't be measured just by taking a view of outer look or achievements they have in their lives. It is not the way to see things. First off, one has to understand how much time one has braced himself or herself together while meeting the fall terribly. A person should be admired and acknowledged for his or her iron steel will and unyielding perseverance they show in their life. Not upon the transitory beauty or handsomeness which is destined to become dust and ashes. Beauty, fortune , success all these are God given boon for the hard work we do. Some fail terribly at times to reach their destiny and some reach their destiny before they realize it. So it is just foolish to measure a person's worth according to some luck and shallow factors" Om gave me an on going lecture on how it is like to accept a person what he or she is from inside.

"Woah! You should be a teacher or lecturer in some school or college considering the philosophical delivery you just gave me. Instead you became a pilot. Huh? Our educational system has to be blamed. .( What a break neck lecture buddy!) Awesome!" I said playfully while clapping my hands gleefully.

Om laughed seeing my playful side.

"You know how to be humorous as well" Om retorted laughing.

" ( If you are done with the giggling and chuckling shall we get inside the church? Need to have some pious moments inside the church .)Sarah said sarcastically looking at our laughing forms.

Ahaan held her hand and asked her to get inside the church with a smile.

I gestured them that we will follow them.

The church was pretty much big one with marble flooring, covering the entire church. And wooden flooring made the alter. At the centre was the crucified form of Jesus Christ. A 5 foot 6sinches statue of St.Lucia stood next to Christ in all her charming grace and splendid beauty.

I pulled out the scarf from my hand bag and covered my head with it before entering the church.

It has been a while since I came to visit my patron.