Are you stupid?!"

His anger exploded which made me flinch and take a step back abruptly, "Had I not held your hand in time, you would have hurt yourself severely!"

I was astounded by how quick the table turned and how I ended up in a situation like this.

Hearing his loud voice, the other three came running towards us. "What happened guys?" asked Keshu who looked at us with concern written all over his face.

"Aaru? Sanam? What's the matter?" questioned Somu Di who appeared extremely puzzled and worried. Whereas Samar jiju watched us with a silent-tensed look.

This situation feels so identical to the one when I met him for the first time.

I looked at Somu Di with a thought that she might calm down the bursting volcano in front of me, "Di-" but before I could say another word he cut me off in mid and began to scold me again.

"I am talking to you, Arpita!" he snapped.

His stern voice sent shivers down my spine. I was shit scared!

"I-I was. ." I didn't know what to say.

'Wait a minute. . . it's not even my fault! I was running after 'you', you know! So it's actually because of you that I missed a step!'

If only I dared to say that on his face. Duh!

"Do you have any freaking idea how dangerous this could have turned if I hadn't grabbed your hand? Why can't you be more careful when you know you're so clumsy?" He kept on scolding me for the next several minutes.

He was dead serious while lecturing me but through his seriousness, I was able to discern a hidden emotion— care.

There was concern in his words disguised by anger which unfolded in front of me.

To be honest, it actually reminded me of my mother. His behaviour was so strikingly similar to my mum's when she used to scold me whenever I acted recklessly.

When this thought crossed my mind, my lips tucked up in a soft smile.

"You are smiling now? I can't believe this!" he heaved in exasperation shaking his head in complete disappointment.

I tried to wipe out my smiling face and look serious but instead ended up smiling more stupidly.

'How can I not smile when you are being so ridiculously cute and motherly?' I said in my head.

"Fine. Keep smiling. Do as you please. I'm done!" he stormed away and went to the dining area.

I left out a sigh after he was gone, 'I pissed him again.'

"What was all that about? Why was Sanam so furious?" asked Keshav.

"Yeah, and why we're you smiling? You added fuel to the already burning fire by doing so." Soumya di sighed as she added another question.

"I.. Umm.. I was rushing down the stairs and I skipped the last one.. But thankfully he got me on time and saved me." I explained shortly, scratching the back of my neck in embarrassment.

"Oh my God!" Keshu gasped, "Are you alright? Or did you get hurt?" he questioned worryingly.

Giving him a reassuring smile I answered, "Yeah, I am fine. As I said, he saved me on time." He left out a breath in relief after hearing me.

"Gosh! That explains why Sanam was so indignant all of the sudden." Soumya Di huffed and shook her head at me.

"Exactly!" Keshav exclaims, "And the look on his face was so dangerous! It kinda scared me too." He chuckled.

Dangerous?

But all I was able to see, was genuine care concealed behind the armour of anger.

"But the good part is that you are okay, right salisaheba?" said Samar Jij who wrapped his arm around Keshu's neck, gave me a knowing smile.

Of course, he understands his brother more than anyone!

I smiled back and nodded at him.

"Anyways, let's have lunch. Aren't you people hungry or something?" Di asked us and the rest of us cried '

'yes' in unison.

We settled on our respective chairs, I purposely sat across Mr Puri who was still in a sore mood. His gaze was so sharp as if he would murder me in the next minute.

Knowing the reason behind his resentment I averted my eyes from him knowing that if I kept looking at him I would break into a smile again and it will piss him even more. So instead of him, I ended up smiling cheekily at Keshu who took the seat next to me.

Samar jij settled on the chair next to Keshu at the square dining table and beside him sat Somu di. We helped each other while serving food, although Mr. Angry-Bird-Puri didn't let me serve or pass him anything. Instead, he did all by himself before I could even attempt. He behaved as if I didn't exist.

I huffed feeling defeated by his stubborn attitude. However, I found his actions surprisingly adorable. This was an entirely different side of his that I discovered. It was very intriguing actually.

In between munching the food and conversing with Keshu who was telling me some funny shooting experiences, I managed to steal short glances at him. He hadn't spoken a word with me and was just replying to others with a plain 'yes', 'no' or 'hmm'.

Come on don't be so quiet!

Once the water flowed above my head exceeding my tolerance level, I couldn't sustain his ignorance anymore. Secretly, beneath the dining table I lightly kicked his feet in order to catch his attention.

What a childish act!

But it worked.

Although I presumed that I succeeded as he looked at me for a fraction of a second before getting up (I swear my breath was caught up in my throat). "I'm full." He said nonchalantly before walking out of the dining area.

The others being confused, watched him leaving mumbling 'what's up with him?' whereas I lowered my head in embarrassment certainly knowing the reason why.

I forced myself to finished the food on my plate and excused myself as I went to look after Mr. Angry-Bird.

This is going to be really troublesome!

Or so I thought...

~~~~

I was starting to enjoy my time here after the time I got to spend with Arpita in the storeroom and also the comical conversation in her room, I was almost convinced that this was going to be a fun picnic.

But how can things ever go my way?

I sat on the couch under the shade, alone. I had closed my eyes to calm my nerves after the sudden outbreak of rage that took place inside.

As a few moments passed and my anger cooled down, my brain automatically recalled today's events. I couldn't help but smile when her petrified-yet-cute face came flashing in front of my closed sight when she saw that tiny lizard on the wall and the way she held onto my hoodie tightly out of fear. I also remembered how her eyes twinkled gleefully when she talked about her family and her childhood and how she looked so angelic while drying her wet hair with towel.

Dammit, she's taking over senses again!

Although with each vision, my smile only grew wider until when someone poked my arm popping the bubble of my thoughts as I opened my eyes abruptly to meet a pair of caramel orbs that belonged to the one sitting beside me. She gave me a sheepish apologetic smile before saying, "Hi".

I averted my gaze trying to hide the smile that's threatening my lips. She poked my arm again, "What do you want?" I turned to her with a sulking expression as I tried to sound annoyed although the truth was contrary.

"Your forgivenesh (forgiveness)," she says using a sweet-childish tone.

My eyes widened in surprise as she sounded exactly like a little kid. But I quickly covered my expressions as I blinked and looked away, "I didn't hear you saying 'sorry'."

"Hawww! Since when do friends require to apologise to each other?" she questioned, I saw a look of hurt pass over her face as I glanced at her from the corner of my eyes.

"When did I ask you to apologise?" I asked her in a matter-of-factly way.

"You sounded like you wanted me to." she countered.

"Like I said earlier, do as you please." I shrugged.

She pouted angrily, "This isn't fair you know!"

I somehow managed to pull off a neutral face while all I wanted was to crack up laughing madly.

"Why should I apologise when it was your fault that I slipped on the stairs?"

"Woah! What?" My eyes widened in shock and confusion at her unexpected accusation as I stared at her, "You were careless. How's that my fault?" I said defensively.

"Oh really?" she gave me a sarcastic smile, "Main kiske pichhe bhaag rahi thi? Kon mujhe chiddhakar bhaag raha tha? Huh." She battled her eyelashes acting all innocent.

Baat toh sahi hai. But there's no way I'm gonna accept that?

"Uhh.. Haa toh? I didn't ask you to run after me." I tried to be more reasonable.

"But then you shouted at me in front of everyone." The sad look on her face pricked my heart like needles.

"I.. I didn't mean to yell.. I was just-"

"Worried?" she finished the sentence for me unsurely, a slight smile appeared on her lips as she looked at me with hopeful eyes. I couldn't help but smile softly as I nodded.

"You know, " she began, "Your anger kinda reminded me of my mom."

"What?" I gaped in surprise, "I remind you of your mother? That's kinda strange. . ." I scratched the back of my neck feeling slightly embarrassed by her remark.

She giggled shaking her head, "I meant when I used to act recklessly and get myself in trouble, my mum too used to scold me just like you did. But behind her anger, there was only care for me."

A painful smile took over her lips as she reminisced the old memories of her mother but it got quickly covered with a happy one when she looked at me and it was the kind of smile that surprisingly eased my heart in an instant.

"When you lost your cool in there, it kinda made me happy. Because we scold only those who we care about, right?"

To her words, I couldn't suppress my true smile any longer. "That's.. That's true, " I spoke turning my head away from her so that she doesn't catch me grinning like a dork.

"So now that you are no longer mad at me, why don't you just stop acting so stiff and sullen?" She nudged her elbow on my arm.

"I am not 'acting' stiff or sullen, okay!"

"Oh really? Then why are you hiding your smile from me?" she peered at my face suspiciously.

"I'm not even smiling!" I looked at her, "See!"

She giggled, "You cooled down way before I even came here."

"How can you be sure?" I gave her a challenging look.

"I'm your therapist, in case you forgot that. I can read your thoughts just by looking at you like I did earlier, " she smirked confidently.

Although I know that her words had no hidden meaning but still my heart thumped hard against my chest after hearing her.

"Is that so?" I quirked my eyebrow with a slight smile on my lips.

"Uh-hmm. Try me, " she nodded.

"Then tell me what's on my mind right now?" I changed my position and faced her completely as I pressed my chin on my knuckles which rested over my thigh. I looked into her eyes intently as she started back in mine.

At first, I was just testing her confidence but before I even realised I was drawn deeper into her soft but fearless gaze. Her chocolaty eyes gave me a sense of familiarity which was strangely soothing to my heart. For that moment my mind seemed to be blocked although my heart kept fluttering inside my chest.

What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn't be starting her like that.

Thinking that I forced myself to avert my gaze but as I did she abruptly grabbed my hand saying, "Wait!"

I looked at her in confusion. She lifted her hand and it moved closer to my cheek. I hesitate as her face inched a little bit closer to mine, the tips of her index finger and thumb made a contact with my skin a little down from my eye as she picked a fallen eyelash. The sensation of her fingers mare touch on my face gave me goosebumps. My face was flustered and undoubtedly red.

It was just an eyelash. I thought she. . .

"Here, make a wish!" she grinned gesturing to me to put forward my palm.

I giggled lightly, "Don't be ridiculous. You seriously believe such stuff?"

"What do you mean?" She frowns.

"You are a psychologist. Don't you guys always think rationally and logically?"

She huffed a sigh, "Life is too short to be wasted on only figuring things practically. Agar life me sirf logic hi rahega, toh life se sara magic hi chala jayega. Sometimes it's good to do things that make no sense because at least they give you few moments of joy, right?"

Being amazed by her wise answer I stared at her with a half-opened mouth. "How do you do this?" I asked in amusement.

"Do what?" she asked in confusion.

"Saying something so intricate in such a lenient way!"

She just laughed hearing my reply, "It's something I call 'perks of being a psychologist'."

I chuckled shaking my head signalling her to keep the fallen eyelash on the back of my palm. As she did, I closed my eyes to make a wish.

"So. . . What do you want, Sanam?" I wondered for a second before I found an answer to my very own question, "I hope she stays by my side even after these therapy sessions end. I don't want her to go away from my life after her work is done. I want her to see me as a friend, not as a client." I blew the eyelash into the air and opened my eyes. A small smile playing on my lips.

"So, what did you wish?" she asked being all excited.

"Bata dunga toh wish puri kaise hogi?" I smirked.

She pouts thinking about it, "But you are Sanam Puri. Apki wishes kaise Puri nahi hogi?"

I blinked as I looked at her, "Wow. Your jokes are even worst than mine."

"Aaruisms," she corrected and we both cracked up.

"All right. Now that you are back to your previous self, I can go and help Somu di with evening preparations," she said.

"Yup, I will also help Samar and Keshu with the bonfire and stuff."

"Cool. See you later, Momma." she got up and ran away while laughing, leaving me dumbfounded at my place.

😜 😎

😒

😒

☺️

😆

😘

🙈 😉❤️❤️