Man! I really am sorry there is no other way out. You are directed to join the work tomorrow itself" Druv said apologetically handing over an envelop to Om.

Om took it and just toyed it in his hands. His eyes all the time roaming around the place aimlessly yet thoughtfully.

"Don't be Gaith. It is not the fault of yours. Duty calls and I should report to the office tomorrow itself. No forestalling the event. Still I didn't anticipate it this soon." Om said still undergoing a series of comprehension and contemplating moments inside his head.

I stared at the brown envelop which was in his hand.

"You are suppose to join the Indian branch of Florenza that too in Kerala,as per your wish and request." Druv conveyed much to my shock.

Why does a handsomely paid pilot of US urgently needed a replacement to India that too in Kerala considering the fact that he is of north Indian stock and also his family resides there, he should be trying to get a placement in north Indian branch, shouldn't he?

Then what has got into him to apply a placement to a place which has got nothing to do with him or his family. I stared at Om suspiciously.

Om glared at Druv flaring his nostrils and raising his eyebrow warningly.

As if double sense hit his brain Druv spread his eyebrows when he spotted my presence lingering around them like a ghost presence.

Druv held out a nervous chuckle. He eyed at me awkwardly rubbing his neck with a sheepish grin.

"What are you doing here sweetie? Go and help Krystal in packing. Her sister will be arriving anytime soon. " Druv said bluntly.

I shrugged and stormed out of the room not before glaring menacingly at Om.

I heard thumping of fist upon the table and crashing of so many stuff at a time and deep chiding remarks floated past my ears.

Like, is that very much necessary to detail everything.

You are a dumb idiot.

Can't anything remain clenched to your stomach.

Why your mouth is so hollow.

Like this it went . I shook my head while bolting towards my room.

I entered the room allotted for Krystal, Saffy and me. I saw Krystal arranging her clothes and getting ready to leave the place as soon as her sister arrives to take her.

"May I help you with anything?" I sulked standing near the bedside table.

She was seated on the bed and was folding her clothes.

A big bag was placed in the middle of the bed, open. Half of the space was filled with clothes which was neatly stacked in.

"No Kichu, it is almost done. Thank you" Krystal said absent mindedly.

I felt a tinge of grim and graveness enveloping my being at the realization that every single second ticking off means my time with Krystal is gonna reach a screeching sad halt.

My heart grieved. I recollected the day when she came here with a happy news of her long stay a week before.

How happy I was when I got her company unexpectedly that day. Now marking the end of that happiness she is leaving the place today .

How I wish to turn the time and go back to that day and relive the beautiful and friendly moments.

". It is gonna be a week since they had arrived.She desperately wants to see me. Just so I could be a helping hand mom send me here. Jasmine akka yesterday made a call to me asking me to call on her. See, it gonna be a long time since akka came down here after her first delivery" Krystal tried to explain while folding her clothes and keeping it inside the bag.

" You should go Krisy. No need to give any explanation to us. You have full rights to do what your heart directs you to do." I said with a forced smile. Krystal nodded quietly.

"Still I will miss you like anything krisy. You bejeweled and vibrated this place with your sweet presence all this while. It is heart breaking to think that you are going back." I said between my sobs.

Krystal was too shocked to respond.

"Hey, don't be so sad sweets. I will try to come back soon. You too are important a person for me" Krystal tried to sound sensible and fair but nothing seemed to wash away the burning feeling I was enduring in all this.

" ( You get dressed I will take care of arranging the clothes) I said elusively when I noticed that Krystal is still in her casual home attire.

She nodded without a word and got inside the bathroom. I got myself engaged in arranging clothes and other essentials which lay scattered outside.

"Everything ready krisy" I chimed after zipping shut the bag.

Krystal smiled morosely at me .

"Will miss you dearly Krisy"I held out my hands and hugged her.

I felt heavy and torn. This happens always when I had to part with someone close to me.

"Hey don't be sad Kichu. I will be back before you know." Krystal tried to pacify me.

I pulled away from her. She checked her luggage and I gave her the space to be on her own for some time.

I took my cluch purse and fished out st.Lucia's statue from it.

I kept it beside my bedside table and glanced at the statue for sometime while slumping down on my bed.

"Eppo nokkialum enganae chirichu mattullavarkku paniyum koduthu irunnaal mathiyallo. Enthariyanam? Ividae ariyunnathum anubhavikkunnathum ellam mattullavarallae?( you have only one job just sit and smile and have fun. Watching others having the greatest pain and agony of their life. What else do you have to know? Your job is to make others aware of the agony and make them suffer) I mumbled and muttered under my breath glaring at the statue of Krishna.

Krystal at times jerked from her work and looked at my direction to check that if I am not talking to her or has gone insane enough to mumble everything to myself.

Tears slithered down my cheeks.

"Hey! Don't cry Kichu. I am not going to US. Just a few yards away from your home that is to my place to see my sister who has come down to call on us after a long spell. I will be back before you know" Krystal tried to pacify me.

But nothing felt nice or good. A bad feeling was creeping around my mind like a thorned creeper all the while battering and bruising my inner wounds viciously.

It may sound childish but I hate being parted with anyone I know or bond with.

It is like ripping my whole soul away from my own self.

"Marry my Anna soon ,Krisy. Then we all will be together always." I said childishly.

Krystal smiled glumly while stroking my cheek fondly yet dolefully.

"Hey! Don't get too attached to anyone kichu, you are pure at heart and child-like that is why you can't take the pain that comes along with the bye-bying of your loved ones. Learn the truth that we girls are not meant for one place, Kichu. Learn to be more detached and prudent with people around you. Be practical" Krystal said in a matter of fact tone squeezing my shoulder like providing me some courage.

In an outer look her words will definitely feel like heartless and impassive blubbering of a stony cold girl.

But when you view them on a closer look everything she said will make sense.

I nodded suppressing the sob that came up to my throat.

Krystal seemed to be at the brink of her happiness and charm. I didn't want to spoil her happy moments with my tears and listless mumblings.

"Leave it Krisy. I think I will survive. Tell me how things are with you" I said forcing a delighted smile out and enacting the happy kichu garb out.

"I am so happy Pearl. ( Sis is coming home after a long gap). The best part is their angelic babe,my loving nephew is with them. Eager to see him. It has been a long time since I had seen him. You know he is five now." Krystal went on talking about her sister's family and how nice a people they are.

But whenever she talked about them I could see her face undergoing a plethora of emotional spiel.

In a customary way Krystal chooses to remain quiet and sombre. But today she seemed to be at her best full on spirit.

Though her sober side didn't fail to make its way out of her happy facade a tenor of cheery garb remained with in her like an uncreased silk clothing.

" Yeah I met her sister-in-law,Kathelyn aka Bella , today at Karunai Illam. She is a nice person to be acquainted with." I said reminiscing my strange meeting with Kathy and her parents.

"You are right there pearl. Bella is one gem of a person in Jasmie's family. We are not that close. Still from what I have managed to gather from Jasmie, Kathy is a bundle of positive qualities and sweetness. Most importantly she is a kind and beautiful soul" Krystal said looking at me and I nodded my approval to her statement.

"How is Jasmine akka now. I am sure she is just as beautiful as you. I would love to see her. The memory of her face seemed to have lost its real texture from my mind and started to fade and fog out. It is so sad that I couldn't attend her marriage due to some exam or illness thing. I really don't remember the real issue that time. " I said grimly hiding the real reason.

"You were just ten when akka (sis) got married. I was twelve then. You know I made a whole lot of mess more than my mom when Jasmie had to leave after marriage . Jovian anna had to pacify me that he will leave akka the next day itself. The way he convinced me was one funny thing to reminisce till date" Krystal smiled thinking about her childhood days.

"Really?" I asked my eyes widened a bit.

"Yes, Really. You can say I ended up as an adamant cry babe" Krystal said laughing.

"Tell me about that" I said leaning forward interested in listening to her story.

"" ( sis! Please don't go away. I don't have anyone except you. My mom is really bad sis. You are everything to me. Please don't go sis.)Krystal cried like she had lost her mind and goodness in all the hullabaloo taking place before her.

Krystal held a shocked Jasmine tight by enveloping her hands around her midriff and crying her eyes out.

Jasmine tried her best to make her understand the situation but everything fell on deaf ears.

Krystal wailed,whined and whimpered much to the heart break of those who were present there.

Everyone tried their luck to talk some sense into a crying child's innocent heart but all went futile when her wailing reached the paramount.

"ERM..oh! My! Such a beautiful young lady crying like a banshee. My bad, I shouldn't have married your sister."A deep chiming made her stop her wailing for sometime.

She wiped her tears while letting her hands fall listlessly to her sides.

"Why do..you think ...like that? My sister is the best...you ...will never get another girl as great and beautiful like my sis" Krystal said hiccupping between her sobbing and wailing. Her voice hoarse and broken.

Jovian knelt down beside her to reach her level.

"I know girly. But I don't like beautiful girls crying and weeping staining their beautiful cheeks with yucky tears. Yew! That is gross child!" Jovian said playfully with animated expressions while wiping her tears away.

This brought a beautiful small smile on Krystal's face.

""Someone's eyes are pouring and lips are beaming at the same time. Who is that beauty?" Jovian again teased Krystal making her smile and laugh through her tears.

"Anna I don't want to part with my akka. She is my mom,dad,sister, brother and everything" Krystal said helplessly. This brought tears in Jasmine's eyes. Jovian sighed defeatedly.

Jasmine held her little sister close to her by enveloping her hand around Krystal's tiny body.

"I will bring her back to you,I promise. Everyday she will talk to you. She will look after you and care for you like before. I promise" Jovian said pinching his throat.

Krystal looked at him dubiously sniffling a bit .

"Pinky Promise" Krystal stuck out her tiny pinky and asked innocently.

A trace of skepticism was enveloping her features considerably.

Jovian smiled ruffling her hair and locking his long pinky with her tiny pinky.

"Pinky promise kanna. ( your sister won't go anywhere leaving you) Jovian promised with a genuine smile.

Before returning to US he gifted her A laptop and taught her how to use Skype facility.

It was hard for both Jasmine and Krystal to stay apart. But skyping was a blessing for those grieving sisters who were destined to stay apart.

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

"At first I used to make Skype call every single hour of the day. You know her marriage was during the summer vacation . But after getting tangled with my school works, projects, assignments and exams. Slowly Jasmine akka became a faded memory for me. She too got busy with her new world and life style. My parents too were not that in favour of me spending my fair share of time on computer. At that time even using Tv was considered as a big time stealer and brain bulldozer by parents. In that case how could they entertain using Skype the whole day on and off . All these factors brought a crevice in our sister bonding. And the last time I saw her was when she came for her delivery" Krystal said sighing.

I listened to her keenly. I could relate to her as Safrin is now all ready to leave the place after marriage.

"Jasmine akka changed a lot after her marriage. It was a good change after all. She seemed to be a little distanced and kept aloof from me. Actually not only me but with every family member. The whole day she kept worrying about her husband's welfare like did he have his breakfast on time, did he take his materials along with him to his work place. A thousand stuff like that. And I understood one thing for sure after that was,we girls are not meant for the place we have known for our whole life time. Changes overtake us like flood water washing away every trace of the memories that place hold within us . Jasmine akka's marriage was an eye opener to me. I began to see world in a new light. I became more responsible and abandoned the habit of clinging on to others. I learnt that depending on others and unnecessary attachment with people will lead to eternal agony and pain. "Krystal said with a forlorn look on her face.

I touched her hand feeling the pain along with her.

" Jasmine akka was the one who took great care of me. May be because of the huge age gap we share. She always looked after me as if I were her own daughter. Still she says that I am her first child. My nephew is very much annoyed with this statement. Whenever we skype chat we just tease him by saying I am her real daughter and we picked and brought him from the wayside. You should see his face at the mention of these statements."

Jasmine is happy and having a great time with her family. And that is what I really want- my akka to be happy. All the other things seem dwindling and shimmering before my sister's happiness." Krystal said smiling.

I don't know why but I felt really exuberant when I came to know that Jasmine still remembers me.

"Krystal take this along with you" saying so periyamma entered the room as stern and rigid as ever.

She had a stack of packages stockpiled in her arms.

"No Jovelyn maami. It is okay. I can't take this" Krystal refused politely yet a slight shrouding of fear encircled her features.

"This is not for you. This is for Jasmine and...and her family" Periyamma said sternly yet she paused a bit before continuing but now her features softening a bit.

Krystal took the package quietly with a nod mumbling a small thank you. She knows it better that fighting with periyamma is like summoning the demon himself.

"My love and regards to....." Periyamma's voice trailed off crackling a bit. She resumed her wooden stance when she noticed my presence.

"....Roselyn akka ( Roselyn sis) give this to her." She resumed her iron stance before anyone knew.

But her tone brittle and features slightly creased with the trace of grief. Krystal glanced at her sympathetically.

I looked from Periyamma to Krystal confused and clueless of what is happening.

"Ben will walk you to home." Periyamma said with her stern attitude.

I looked from Krystal to Periyamma in utter conundrum.

Periyamma glared at me before turning to leave the room.

" Periyamma! Sreeni uncle and family arrived just now along with Moraelson uncle and Roselyn aunty" Ben barged into the room suddenly with this notification.