Third

Neelu was happy to go out with her maasi.... She rarely gets a chance to go out and even if it meant for her to go to a near by general store... She gets happy...

She looked up at her maasi who was buying pooja items in the shop opposite to the temple.

As soon as Anu purchased the Pooja items, she held her niece's small hand who was still looking around everything and anything keenly...

She felt bad for her...

But she can't even blame lakshmi...

She knew how much stress she had been taking to make sure that they have a proper shelter over their head and food to eat... If it was not for Lakshmi, Anu wouldn't be able to survive another day in her soo called relatives house...

As soon as she heard the poojari chanting mantras, she snapped out of her thoughts...

She closed her eyes and started chanting...for all her neices, nephews and her didi.

She felt a tug on her dhupatta and looked down while praying... She questioned with her eyebrows at her neice who is clutching her dhupatta.

" I go see ? " she asked softly and anu thought for a while... She can't let Neelu go...

" my friend is there " Neelu said pointing at a little girl who waved at their direction... Neelu again asked for anu's permission and Anu nodded looking at her friend and their mother .

Neelu ran towards her friend and greeted her mom saying " namasthe ".

The lady smiled at her and asked her son, daughter and Neelu to stay together until she finishes the Pooja.

That boy ran away the moment his mother left but not before warning his sister and Neelu to stay in the same place... Neelu being Neelu had already started walking along with her friend pihu till the gates of the temple.

These two are little devils of their class.

Soon Pihu left saying that she will get phone from her mother so that they can take photos and Neelu stood near the stone wall waiting for her...

The adventure genes of her mother activated in her and the next second she was out of the temple. She mounted down the steps taking one at a time slowly so as to not to fall.

She looked at a big man who is covered in a brown torn shawl with torn clothes underneath who is sitting on a step, leaning on to the wall.

Her enthusiasm took her to a next height and she squatted infront of him to see his face. The man looked up at her and she didn't know what to do...

Like her mother does...She gave a small goofy smile...

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After work, Arjun came out of the building. He looked at his watch and sat inside as soon as the driver opened the door for him.

The car stopped in a small alley and he got out after changing his clothes. He looked around at the streets bustling with people with his blank orbs...

Nothing fascinates him anymore..

He is deaf to all the pleasures

He is blind to all the beauty

His life is blank...

The driver came out and looked at his Master's retreating figure among the people... Though he never knew his master perosonally nor his master ever talked to him in his 10 years of service except for giving orders, but the silent bond in between them made his heart ache seeing the once valour and pride filled Man is now on streets....

Under the setting sun , he reached the temple and sat on the stone steps with a bowl infront of him. He looked down..

He never bowed his head for anyone before but now he is weak...

Emotionally and physically exhausted....

He dares not repent for all he has done... Because he knew that his sins are far more bigger than what the word 'repentance' could bear...

After some time, the poojari came out and gave Prasad to all the beggars and needy people who are infront of the temple.

He looked at the Pulihora in a leaf cup placed infront of him in his bowl. He gazed at his lap....

Years have passed by, but the pain never faded away seeing the way he was offered in front of the temple...

But she didn't even get that....

What is he waiting for?

He dosen't know....maybe he wants to feel what is it to meant be without nothing..... But be couldn't feel that...

because he saw the life of everyone around...no one is sad here...everyone has accepted the way their life is....

Suddenly he saw 2 small feet adored with anklets infront of him. He lowered his head and looked at his bowl.

As soon as he saw those feet coming more near to him, he lowered his head more.. He didn't know why he did that...

But soon he saw an angelic face of a little girl who is peeping underneath, to get a glimpse of him...

And when she did, she stared at him for a few seconds before giving a small smile....

" eat " Neelu said looking at the Prasad in his bowl. He nodded a 'no' after lowering his face. Though he wants to stare at her for few more seconds. But he didn't dare to stare...

He dosent know why....

" you no hungry? " she asked him in her baby voice and arjun didn't respond....

" oh

Mumma say that we no throw food. ( she said looking at the Pulihora )

So....I will eat it! ( she said in excitement looking at the Prasad) "

She sat beside him and took his bowl in her lap. She held a morsel in between her little fingers and pushed almost all of her fingers inside her mouth to make sure that none of it falls...

As it is Prasad.

Arjun smiled looking at her....

Her messy eating habits reminded him of someone... 'She used to sit in the same way in an Indian style on a chair and stuff her mouth with food...' he thought...

" what is your name uncle? " the innocent little girl asked looking at the big man beside her.... She felt too small beside him...

" I'm Arjun

and you? " he asked looking around to find the parents of this child...

How can they be irresponsible like this? Leaving behind their child and it has been quite a lot of time that this child has spent with him...

" my Mumma say to not to say my name to stateger "(stranger) she said and arjun smiled at her pronunciation...

" then your mother said it's okay to eat from an Unkown man? " he asked and she looked at him for a few seconds...

" no

ummm....

she didn't..

But she said that if we get food, we have to eat....no waste " she said in a soft baby voice and stuffed another morsel while looking at his face with her doe like eyes...

A smile tugged at the end of his lips looking at the little girl... Surely she interpreted her mother's words the way she wants...

The whole time the little girl was eating and arjun kept staring at her..

After she was done, she looked up and smiled at him while cleaning her mouth with her small dhupatta.

" where is your home uncle? " the girl asked looking at his unkept beared..

" if I ask you the same, will you say? " he asked her and she looked at him with her confused .

" no naughty fellow " she said remembering the way they respond in movies and giggled...

Arjun was shocked for a minute listening to the girl calling him

' naughty fellow ' . There was a full blown smile on his face looking at the little girl laughing...

' Why is she laughing by the way? '

He thought...

"I will share my box with tumrow." (tomorrow) she said in her baby soft voice while looking at his bowl...she felt bad that she ate his food...

" take this phiphty " she said giving him 50rs so that he can buy something... Arjun immediately said "no" but she didn't listen to him and pushed the 50rs note in his shirt and ran away from there...

He removed the note and looked up at her running away. He noticed her running towards a lady who was looking around anxiously. As soon as the little girl stood infront of her, she took her into her arms and kissed her with tears filled in her eyes. Soon she started scolding her and all the while the little gave no heard.

As if she dosen't care what her mom is saying....

Before getting in an auto, the little girl looked at Arjun from a far and waved her hand in the air before leaving while arjun just stared at her...

After doing morning pooja, I rushed kids back to their room.

I started applying body paint that the school has sent. I let it dry on Rudra's body and helped utkarsh get into his clothes. I ran to kitchen and called anu for help as I'm already short of time... I prepared 25 vadas and 10 idlis, heated sambar of previous night. I started feeding them while they started wearing their dresses.

Anu took Advaya to her room to get him ready. Ibbu being the anchor of the skit , it was easy for him to get ready. I looked at Neelu who is sulking while sitting on the bed . I said sorry to her multiple times while getting all these boys ready... I will make her look extra good today...

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After the boys were done, I went towards Neelu who is standing near the bed with her clothes in hand. I can see that she is about to cry...

Oh god...

" Neelu, you will look more beautiful than any other girl in the school.

I promise " I said to her rushing while collecting the items and she nodded .

I arranged the wig on her head and curled it up a little. I applied a lot of makeup as she is portraying a Devi. After I was done draping her saree,

she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled...

" you really look like a goddess " I said and she smiled showing me all her teeth...

I pushed all of them outside the home and started taking their photos as many as I can, Abhimanyu and Advaya stepped out in their clothes with Anu behind them .

I looked behind Anu to see a small figure looking at everyone keenly by standing near the main door , holding on to the wall. I bought a traditional dress stitched for her too so that she can enjoy along with her siblings....

I smiled at her and asked her to come. She stepped out and came slowly towards us in her baby steps.....

I took a video of her...

She looked at Neelu not even blinking her eyes even for once...

" how is your sister noor? " I asked her and she kept on staring at neelu who is holding onto Ganesha . She went and touched her saree with her wide eyes.

" eeyiool " (beautiful) noor said a little loudly with excitement while touching neelu's hair... I smiled at her baby words and adoration for her sister while she is jumping on her small feet. Neelu smiled blushing and said 'thankyou'.

Aww my kids are soo beautiful...

Soo cute soo pretty... I took multiple photos of them and videos too...

Not even a second did noor leave Neelu's hand... I was more shocked with Neelu being 'okay' with it...

I was scared that she will scold noor but she is holding onto noor too....

Cab soon arrived and I gave him extra money because it's 9 memebers that we are talking about here...

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As soon as we reached their school I looked around at all the children who are dressed.... I feel like I'm in a fairy land... The cuteness here is over loaded...

And the day went on with me hooting unnecessarily for my children and they banging their heads with their little hands with shame and shy...

Did I tell you I did that wantedly?

Hehehe,

I have to keep up the name of Indian parents embarrassing their children...

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The day soon ended and we all slopped back on the couch as soon as we arrived home... It's soo tiring...

Not to forget that tomorrow is ethnic theme for them...

Why ain't the cultural day and ethnic day same?

" Mumma, I want to go to temple " Neelu said sitting beside me...

" I'm tired Neelu

Why don't you ask Anu maasi? " I asked turning my head towards her and she nodded while going to Anu . Anu agreed after alot of perseverance and requests and pouts from Neelu. I would have agreed to go with her but my body is already exhausted....

I should have refrained myself from jumping around here and there in their school.

" Neelu! atleast change your clothes kanna ! " I screamed looking at her while seeing her step out in her drama clothes along with anu....

" no!

I want all to see me " she said...

No use of talking with this girl. She will do what she wants...

I waved my hand indicating her to do whatever she wants and she left. Wait...what was that box in her hand?

(In Mansion)

Arjun smiled while his PA was telling him about the details of the next project. This didn't go unnoticed by his parents who were sitting on the other side of the sofa while one was reading newspaper and other was sipping her tea. His PA was trembling in fear seeing him smile.... Thinking whether he has done something wrong or if his boss was thinking of killing someone... Except for these 2 situations, nothing can make his boss smile....

They looked at each other and as soon as his PA asked for sign, he absent mindedly signed it... Before his parents could ask, he was already near the mansion entrance and left as soon as the car stopped in front of him.

Veer and Anita too followed behind their son's car with confusion. As usual, he got out of the car dressed in tattered clothes started walking away on the street....

As soon as the couple reached the temple entrance, they saw their son looking for someone... They both were perplexed as to who made their son react... It's been years since he behaved like a normal person with emotions...

They saw their son smile and eager for someone...

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Arjun had been waiting since an hour sitting in the same spot waiting for the little girl...

Her presence made him feel like none to anything... It was warm...

But slowly his mind drifted off to what if she won't come... He laughed at himself to want to see the little girl soo eagerly... He dosen't know as to why...

Soon he heard the sounds of anklets and he looked up to see her running towards him....

he was mesmerized for few seconds looking at her attire... She is in a white saree dressed up as goddess and.....a steel box in her hand.

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Neelu successfully made her maasi sit in a bajan followed by a pooja. She knows that her maasi will not open her eyes anytime soon.

She covered her mouth and giggled thinking of how her maasi is going to take advantage for her.... It wouldn't have been possible if her mom would have come...

All the people were staring at the little girl in awe as she was dressed up like a little goddess. It was as if her little presence has blessed them.

She went out to the other entrance and as soon as she spotted the uncle she met previous day, she ran to him with a box in her hand. She asked him to get up and took him to the backside of the temple which is a plain land with patches of grass here and there and few trees. She sat under the tree and held the box in her lap while he sat beside her silently...

" how I look? " she asked looking at him with her innocent eyes... Unknown emotions stirred up in his heart seeing her...

" you look ethereal " he said softly gazing at her...

" huh?

et...ethel? " Neelu asked confused looking at the big man.

" I mean beautiful " as soon as he said that , she blushed like a red tomato..

His heart missed a beat looking at the little girl infront of him...he felt a surge of emotions wanting to protect her from this whole world...