"Hey champ! What's up?" Akshit greeted Pia with a smile as she stood near the door on the sultry Sunday morning.

Wearing a blue frock which made wanton gambles with the wind she said with a bright smile, "Ready for the match?"

"Yes, of course, Little Princess," he said, smiling lovingly at her.

"Promise me that we will eat ice cream," she commanded.

He knelt down and laughing lightly. "You seem to have a special liking for it."

Pia nodded her head innocently. She didn't know why but somehow she had started trusting him and looking up to him. He always fulfilled her wishes and treated her like a princess. A bond had corded itself between her and her bhaiya. The bond of faith which shone brightly on their faces as they enjoyed each other's company.

To Akshit it seemed really enjoyable and relaxing to spend time with Pia. He had spent his entire life with his nose in the books. Even after becoming a child psychologist he had never met such a hopeful child like Pia. Her heart was filled with the golden rays of hope which emitted their positivity in her vicinity and captivated one and all. He was still in awe. He had met many children who were depressed or suffering from post traumatic stress disorder but she was totally different. She had this aura of innocence around her which attracted everyone's love towards her.

"Will you keep on staring at the wall or will you take out the video game?"

"Sorry, Little Princess. I will be back in a jiffy," he said, suddenly recovering from the charm she had cast on him.

"We will play Sonic, okay?" she said with her voice full and deliberate which made it clear that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.

"Okay milady. Anything else?" he said fake saluting.

All he earned in return was a glare.

"Are you sure you are only eight?"

"Yes, of course," she said deadpanned.

"No, I mean you act like you're 20."

With knitted brows she said innocently, "You have fun in teasing me, don't you?"

Laughing he said, "Obviously."

With pouting lips she said, "Are you going to continue with your teasing? I will go then. I had come to play."

"Okay, please don't go. We will play the game now."

She sure knows how to shut me up- he thought.

After two hours of swaying from side to side and leaning back and forth, with sore fingers the two idiots got up.

"I am hungry," she said pouting.

"Okay, what will you eat?"

"Ice cream."

"Pia you can't eat ice cream alone. First eat something else."

With knitted eyebrows she said, "But I told you that I will eat ice cream."

"Yes you will but first eat something healthy. Okay, let's see. Do you like pulses?"

With a sad expression she said, "Yes but which one?"

"Yellow one."

"Oh God it's pulses not crayons. Tell me the type."

He stared at her dumbfounded.

"Do you know the types of pulses Pia?"

"Of course," she said deadpanned.

"Okay, so how about Tur Dal?"

"Okay."

"Fine it will take me half an hour to cook food. Till then watch TV."

"But I want to help you in cooking."

"You're not helping me missy. Now sit and watch some cartoons."

She knew from his tone that he would not listen.

Dropping on the sofa with a thump she started watching Disney. After every five minutes she would turn back to glance at the clock. She was getting impatient by the second. For the umpteenth time she turned around to see that 30 minutes had passed.

Marching towards the kitchen she said, "Shrey bhaiya, half an hour is over. Come on. Lunch should be ready by now."

"It's not yet ready Little Princess. You sit on the dining table. I will bring it soon."

Pouting she went and seated herself.Akshit set the dining table in silence as Pia stared greedily at the food. As soon as Pia lifted the lid of the casserole she was astounded to see her favourite dish, Paneer Butter Masala.

"You know how to cook it. It takes such a long time. How did you prepare it in half an hour?" she asked surprise clearly evident in her tone.

"It's a secret Little Princess. Now eat it before it turns cold."

After eating the delicious lunch it was finally time for the best part - Ice Cream.

"Let's go bhaiya. I can't wait to eat Ice Cream," Pia said excitedly.

"We won't go out Pia. It's really hot outside. The loo is blowing..."

"But you promised me..." she said glaring.

"We will eat homemade ice cream."

She was totally opposed to the very idea.

"Can ice cream be prepared at home?" she asked.

"Of course. I prepared chocolate ice cream today because I knew you like it."

"But will it taste like the Kwality Wall's ice cream?" she asked sceptically.

"Eat it and then judge."

After eating a spoonful of the ice cream she said, "It's so tasty. Are you fooling me? I maybe a kid but I am not a fool."

Laughing hard he said, "No, I am telling the truth. I prepared it myself."

"Wow! I love it. I will tell Princess to learn from you the recipe."

"I will always make it for you Little Princess. Why to trouble your Princess?"

"Thank you, bhaiya," she said with a heart warming smile.

Her words seemed to have knocked at his heart asking for entry and he had happily obliged. Who could deny the plea of such a lovely child?

"Okay, now sleep for some time. Saumya will be back soon. At least have some rest till then."

With a pout she said, "But I want to play Sonic."

Sighing he said, "Okay, but only for an hour. Then you will have to sleep."

"Okay," she said clapping delightfully.

Her eyes shone with happiness as she spent another hour playing Sonic.

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"Princess, I had so much fun today," Pia said excitedly in the evening.

"Really? So what did you guys do?" Saumya asked while caressing Pia's messy hair.

"We played Sonic and then ate Ice Cream and Paneer Butter Masala. After that we again played for an hour after which I slept."

"So you had fun with Akshit. I see. You know his mom will be going out of town tomorrow to meet some relatives. She will come back in a few weeks."

"Really. It's so sad. I will miss her cake." This made Saumya chuckle as Pia continued, " And yeah it was so fun. I have so much to tell you..."

Suddenly Saumya's phone started ringing and she went to attend the call.

When she returned with a smile, Pia asked, "Who was it?"

"It was Bua. She said that Esha would be coming here next Monday."

"Yay," Pia squealed with excitement. "We will have so much fun together right?"

Saumya nodded in reply.

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