Walking towards her car she sighed blissfully as the wind soft through her black locks. The cool breeze was definitely a mood lifter. She loved to sing in such a happy weather but somehow she couldn't. It had been a long time since she last sang. Also the fact that she was standing in the hospital's parking area lowered any prospects of singing. She was happy that it was finally Saturday evening and she had all the time tomorrow to clean the house and spend time with Pia.

Reaching her house she saw that the lights of her house were on. Until a few days ago she would have been shocked at the sight. However in the past few days a lot had changed including the fact that many times Pia would come home with Akshit to take her books. She had tried to make Pia understand that this wasn't right but she was stopped by Savita Aunty who seemed to love Pia a lot.

She was brought out of her musings by the sudden opening of the door. There stood in front of her Savita Aunty. She was a bit shocked and was still trying to think what the special occasion was all about.

"Namaste Aunty."

Smiling lovingly at her, Aunty said, "Namaste beta. Come in. Please don't do such formalities."

Reciprocating her smile Saumya walked in to see Pia sitting on the couch playing ludo with Akshit. To her it seemed quite awkward to converse with him after the incident.

"Saumya you should try to do what you used to do until a few years ago," advised her heart.

"Are you mad? Have you forgotten about the wall that you had created around yourself you stupid heart," reprimanded her mind.

"Beta go and freshen up. Dinner is ready."

Aunty's words brought her out of her trance and she said, "Aunty please don't strain yourself. I could have cooked, right?"

"Oh God. Do you have a problem eating the food cooked by me? Look at yourself. You have grown so thin. You have dark circles. It's not good. You're young. The glow has faded from your cheeks. We will go to the spa where I usually go. You need to take care of yourself too."

His mom's words attracted his attention and so Shrey and Pia sat staring at the duo eager to know who would win.

"But..." she protested.

Raising a hand to shut her up she continued, "I am hearing no more of it. You will come with me to Cherub's Spa and we will have a girls day out. Call your friend too if she is free. One should take a lot of care during pregnancy. You haven't met Sanyukta yet. She will also go with us. Now go and get changed."

With a pouty face Saumya said, "Please Aunty. I hate spas and all."

"Have you ever had a spa?" Aunty shot back.

With a crestfallen look Saumya shook her head. Akshit and Pia high fived. Finally the mighty Saumya who always used to emerge victorious was defeated. However Saumya was too busy to pay attention to the two idiots.

"Then how can you say you hate it? At least try it this once."

Keeping a hand on her shoulder, Aunty said, "I wouldn't have forced you but I know you wouldn't have agreed then. Please take care of yourself too."

"Oh My God," Akshit said with wide eyes. "My mom has forgotten that I am her son too. Pia do they teach you how to bring back memory in your school."

Pia innocently shook her head while Savita Aunty only glared at him. Saumya was staring with a blank look.

She didn't know how she could thank her Aunty enough. Even though her words had triggered old memories Saumya didn't cry. She was never the one to cry in front of anyone not even her own mom. She never figured out if it was good or bad but it had been her childhood habit. She had always smiled cheerfully. Her childhood was full of sweet memories and she always believed that childhood was the best part of her life. She wanted to give Pia a happy childhood too. She wanted Pia to smile when she remembered her childhood days. However she had suffered a lot at this age. Saumya could only try to make her forget her sufferings.

"Saumya go," Aunty said for the umpteenth time that evening.

After freshening up she went out to find Pia and Akshit staring intently at the ludo board. Giggling a little she went to the kitchen.

"Back soon huh. You must have seen those two idiots. They are playing ludo as if their lives are at stake," Aunty said shaking her head.

"Aunty what else can you expect from idiots?" Saying this, Saumya started laughing.

"What has gotten into you Saumya? Are you mad? Stop laughing this instant," her brain chided her.

"Lets have dinner. You can play later."

The dinner finally came to an end with an intense staring match between Saumya and Akshit.

Pia and Akshit resumed their game while Aunty and Saumya were in the kitchen.

"Yay," Pia came squealing happily.

"Pia wait there is the counter. Your hand will get hurt," Saumya warned too late.

With a pouty teary face Pia started crying. Saumya immediately went and kneeled down beside her to check her already sprained hand.

"Pia look at me. Shhhh stop crying. You are a strong girl, right? It will all be good. You are a big girl. Shhh let me have a look."

Slowly she seemed to relax as Saumya examined her hand.

"It's nothing. The pain is because of the sprain. I will get you iodex, okay?"

After gently applying iodex Saumya asked, "What was the reason behind your squeal? Why were you so excited?"

Immediately a smile adorned her face.

"I won. As per the condition now I will get to eat ice cream."

Furrowing her brows Saumya asked, "What condition?"

"Actually Shrey bhaiya promised me that if I won he would give me some ice cream."

"Pia you know your throat is still not well. Just a few days ago you had fever."

"But..." started Pia.

"No ifs and buts Pia you are not getting any ice cream," Saumya said with a tone of finality.

"Saumya she had fever two weeks ago. She is alright now. Moreover it's just a bit of ice cream."

"Aunty..."

She was forestalled by Akshit who had only then gathered up the strength to walk up to the kitchen.

"It's alright Saumya. Let her have a bit of ice cream."

"Since there's no one on my side I will go to buy some ice cream."

"But it's so late..." Shrey interjected.

"It's only ten. It isn't so late. I have returned from the hospital many times at midnight. I can handle," Saumya said rolling her eyes.

"Saumya you aren't going alone. That's final. Akshit you go with her."

Sighing Saumya said, "Okay."

"Do we need a car or is it nearby?"

Saumya stared at him incredulously.

"It's nearby. We don't need a car."

Nodding Akshit headed towards the door and Saumya followed suit.

The cool breeze was so relaxing and Saumya couldn't thank Pia enough. Had it not been for her she wouldn't have gotten the chance to make such wanton gambles with the wind. However the silence that engulfed the two was quite uncomfortable.

Somehow Akshit was surprised by the sudden urge to protect Saumya that had surfaced in his heart.

"So how is the hospital treating you?" she asked awkwardly.

"Good I believe. The students are quite cooperative. What about you?"

Somehow he had a feeling that this was going where he was thinking.

"It's great. Sometimes though the interns tend to make mistakes. That's when we have to teach them right? So yeah I don't mind that."

"So you seem to have enjoyed playing with Pia. She seems to like playing games with you."

"Yeah she is thankfully not a cheater."

With a frown she said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I knew a girl when I was in first grade who used to cheat a lot while playing. Once my feet got tangled in her bottle's strap at her home and I fell. Instead of me she was crying because I had touched her precious belonging."

Saumya knew exactly who he was talking about.

With a pout she said, "I was only 3 back then."

"Who said that the girl was you?" he said with a lopsided grin.

She only glared at him before the two fell into fits of laughter. Though it had been only a week since the two had laughed with each other to them it seemed like an eternity.

"If I remember well when I was 4, there was a boy who always used to try making two pigtails. He would always leave my hair in a mess."

With a smirk she turned towards Akshit only to find him staring at her. Somehow she found herself entranced and drowned in the sea of black.

The horn of a car broke their trance.

"So which ice cream flavour do you like?" Saumya asked looking straight ahead slightly conscious of her appearance.

"I love chocolate."

Smiling widely she said, "Me too."

He was walking ahead of her, his manly stride definitely longer.

"Will you walk fast Saumya?"

Rolling her eyes she replied, "It's not a race Shrey. I can walk at my pace. Let me tell you that I always walk briskly."

"Whatever lets you sleep at night."

Shaking her head she tried to walk faster.

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