Part 9 Self-Esteemed Girl

Khushi shifted to the new house. She used an electric stove, cooker, and kettle for cooking. The house was blowy because there were a few trees around the house. Khushi liked it very much. Payal and Akash were also satisfied. They settled Khushi and Aashi in the new house and left.

Khushi cooked dinner. Aashi watched her, sitting on the kitchen slab.

"Mom. Are we going to be here?"

"Yeah... we will be here from here on."

"But, you said we will be with Payu and Akki?"

Khushi chuckled.

"Aashu, you should start calling elders, such as uncle and aunty. Stop calling them as I call them."

Aashi flipped her lower lip cutely.

"Why do Indians call everyone uncle and Aunt instead of Mr and Mrs?"

"Calling Mr and Mrs is English culture. In India, people treat everyone as their family. That's why they call others with relationships."

"If they treat everyone like their family, why did we leave Payu... I mean Payu Aunt's house? Why didn't they let us stay there?"

"It's because Akki's brother got transferred to Delhi. He is coming with his family. How could we stay there when the owner wants to stay at their place?"

"So what if they come? Can't we stay with them in their house?"

"No beta, there are only two portions in their house. How could three families stay there?"

"But, Mr. Pazzle's house has many portions. Then, why don't we stay at their place?"

"How could we stay at Mr Puzzle's house?"

"But, we stayed at Payu Aunt's house..."

"Payu is my friend. So we stayed there."

"Mr Puzzle also became your friend..."

"It's different beta..."

"How?"

"Payu and Akki are married. Both are my friends. So, staying at their place would not have been a problem, but we just met Mr Puzzle. He is not my THICK friend like Payu and Akki..."

"Then make him your thick friend."

"Why? Don't you like this house?"

She nodded no.

"Why?"

"I like Dadi and Mr Puzzle"

"But, usually, you won't like anyone so quickly..."

"I like Dadi's story, and Mr Puzzle talks nicely like Nanne Dad."

"We should not be a burden to anyone, beta. This is our life. We should adopt it."

Aashi pouted.

Khushi knew why Aashi wanted to be with Ratna and Arnav. She knew only a few people in India. Ratna and Arnav got a special place in her mind with a DIFFERENT approach. Aashi liked stories and puzzle games. Both quickly caught her mind, presenting them to her. After all, she was a kid.

They heard a knock on their door. Khushi was confused as she didn't know who could come to her house because only Payal and Akash knew her house. She opened the door. Aashi also went with her. Khushi frowned to see the house owner, Lokesh Ram, standing. He grinned ear to ear.

"Is everything comfortable to you?" he entered the house without her permission, not minding her standing and blocking the way.

"Jee..." Khushi moved back embarrassingly.

"You can ask me anything... don't hesitate. I will do anything for you."

Khushi gripped her skirt tight.

As Khushi didn't expect, he dusted her shoulder. Khushi shrugged his hand and looked at him furiously.

"Something was there..." he grinned.

"It doesn't mean you can dust it out. I can manage myself..." she said irritatingly.

"Arrey, I just thought I would help you as you are ALONE with no help."

"No need. I can manage..."

Without giving an ear to her,

"What's your name, baby?" he pinched Aashi's cheek.

"Aashi" She shrugged his hand.

"Like mother, like daughter", he chuckled.

"Sir, if I want anything, I will call you. You do not need to come here unless I call you. "I don't like anyone entering my portion without my permission."

"I'm an owner of this house. Remember?"

"You should not enter my portion like this because you are an owner. please leave"

Lokesh looked at her sharply.

"Madam, you are new to this place. You can't live without my help. You will understand that soon."

"Thanks" She joined her hands.

Lokesh went out of the house without showing a hurry. Khushi closed the door with a thud. Lokesh looked behind and left the place with a smirk.

Khushi squeezed her hands. Nothing seemed good with Lokesh.

"I don't like this man," Aashi said.

Khushi hugged her, feeling helpless. She should not have been hurried in making a decision. She should have considered Payal's advice to get Arnav's help. What could she do now? She had paid one lakh advance to the house, but the contract had not been signed yet. Could she do anything regarding this? she thought.

The next Morning

Payal woke up from her sleep and got fresh. She had to finish cooking quickly because she had to accompany Khushi to admit Aashi to the school.

That was when she heard a calling bell sound. Payal was supposed to go to open the door, but she stopped to see Akash opening it. Payal and Akash were shocked to see their brother at their place because he was supposed to come to their place in the evening, but they didn't know how he would reach Delhi early in the morning.

"How is my surprise?" Akash's brother Akhilesh asked.

Akash and Payal stood motionlessly.

"Reena, didn't I say my brother and Bhabi would be statue seeing us?" Akhilesh laughed.

Akash looked at Payal helplessly, who was tensed. They had already sent Khushi from their house, and now they were in a situation where they could not accompany her to school. Khushi had no one in Delhi to help her.
Why did this Akhilesh come earlier than he said?

RM

Arnav came out of the washroom, finishing his morning shower. He took his mobile as it rang. He smiled, seeing Akash's name on the mobile screen.

"Hi, Akki, how are you?"

"I'm not well, Arnav"

"What happened? Did Payal hit you?" He teased.

"She will if you don't help me."

"Me... do you want me to supply you a shield?"

"No, I want you to accompany Khushi to the school."

"I didn't get you," Arnav said, becoming serious.

Akash told him about his awkward situation.

"Please, Arnav. Khushi has no one in India except we THREE. Payal feels guilty. She feels like she left Khushi alone because Khushi came to India in the hope of us."

"Ok... I will take her... ask Payal not to be worried."

"Thank you so much, Arnav. You have no idea what you have done to me" Akash smiled.

"Don't be formal. From where should I pick up her?"

"She will come to our hospital at 10 o'clock. You can pick her from there."

"Ok, I will take her to the school" Arnav disconnected the call.

Quickly dressing up, he headed to the hospital.

Arnav saw Khushi waiting with Aashi in the hospital. Aashi saw him and smiled brightly.

"Mom, Mr. Puzzle is here"

Khushi looked at Arnav and stood up.

"Arnav, you here? Is Aunty all right?"

"She is all right. I came here to take my friend to the school for her cute daughter's admission."

"But..."

"Akash requested me to..."

"But why? Is everything all right?"

"I think no. We will talk on the way to the school... let's go," Arnav walked out.

Khushi and Aashi followed him.

Arnav started the car.

"What happened, Arnav? Why Akash and Payal don't come?"

Arnav said about Akhilesh's surprise visit. Khushi sighed.

"I'm sorry for troubling you", Khushi regretted.

"Troubling? You are sitting on the car seat only... why are you talking like you are sitting on my head?" He asked seriously.

Khushi looked at him for a few seconds and laughed.

"You are so mean, Arnav."

"Relax... I told you already. Don't hesitate to ask me anything... please don't feel awkward..."

Khushi was silent.

"Do one thing..."

"What?" Khushi asked.

"I will go to London in a few years..."

"Oh..."

"I need your help at that time."

"Sure..."

"Just think I'm compensating your future help now."

Khushi rolled her eyes smilingly.

"Relax ok..."

"May I ask you for help, Mr. Puzzle?" Aashi asked unexpectedly.

Arnav looked at her, raising his brows and pressing his lips.

"Please..."

Khushi looked at her surprisingly. She didn't know what help Aashi would ask him.

"Sure Ms. Smile... at least you considered me..." Arnav smiled.

"Could you find a GOOD house for us?"

Arnav's facial expression changed.

"You guys shifted to a new house yesterday, right?"

"I don't like the house..." Aashi said, pouting.

Arnav looked at Khushi, who was suffocating.

"Why beta?"

"There is a man... I don't like him..."

"Man? What did he do?"

"He came inside our house without Mom's permission."

Arnav looked at Khushi, who looked down.

"Who is he, Khushi?"

"The house owner. He came to check if everything was comfortable."

"Khushi. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you feel anything wrong."

Khushi was silent.

"Do you understand what I said?"

Khushi looked at him.

"I know why you are hesitating. You are a SELF-ESTEEMED girl, but understand one thing. You can ask for my help instead of making the kid uncomfortable. Giving her a pleasant atmosphere is important. Think about her." Arnav said in a serious tone.

Arnav was not wrong. It was more important to make Aashi comfortable than to think about her self-respect. Everything was right, but what did Arnav know about her when he addressed her SELF-ESTEEMED girl? Khushi could not understand.

To be continued...