Minutes passed but Pranav's unfinished sentence didn't reached its end. It was, as if, after all these years, someone had cut him off before he could speak.

Both the boys released a sharp breath. Their hot breaths fanned Vayshali's neck, and caused a shiver. These two were not going down. Someone else would have to do this dirty job, but who? Bringing out all the memory files stored in that brain of hers, she searched and sorted through the names. Three names struck her mind. Without wasting a second's time, she rushed inside the room. Arms thudded on the table. With frantic motions, her long dirty fingernails rumnaged through the mess lying atop the table.

Soft plastic material met her rough palms.

Picking the cheap white ball of plastic, she sprinted across the room to the balcony. The smell of dead fish twirled her senses once the door opened. One of her eyelids drooped low. With acute precision, she aimed at her target and hit it with all her might.

It made a knocking sound. Soon, the three young boys that lived across her were outside. 

Vayshali, hidden behind a blue pillar with it's color wearing off, observed them. Astonished and appalled, they looked around the house. With lips parted and brows furrowed, they looked around all the corners. Even the stairs were checked. That was, until one of the boys crouched on the ground. When he stood up, he had the ball secured in those olive palms. This was the right time to call out to them. Leaving her comfortable spot, she found herself near the railings.

"Psst." She failed her arms around.

Her efforts to attract their attention we're not gone to waste. Heads were turned in her direction.

With bizarre expressions, they looked at her in the anticipation of an explanation. Her hands clutched at the railings. This action, like all the other actions, too, had consequences. Red turned the skin of her hands, and a wince was released for one of her fingernails had been bent by the force of her grip.

Fate was in her advantage.

In the alleyway she lived, the houses were placed together in a constricted space, and hence were close to each other. You could reach out your hand to the one living across you. And they would be able to grasp it.

True, it made it hard to walk admits that narrow street, garbage-riddled street. Now wasn't the time to complain.

Swinging her ribs forth, she urged them to come closer too. One of the boys took the hint. Mohit. He leaned in, copying Vayshali's posture. Those shaggy hair with golden highlights fell down on that thin skeleton face of his. For a moment, Vayshali pitied him. Using them felt unfair now that she looked at those hollow skulls in the name of faces.

Looks of malnutrition were so evident on the faces of people her. Maybe her face was like that too.

After all, staring at the vanity for more than a few seconds was a luxury. A luxury that life denied to offer her. Letting go of all those complaints and regrets, she leaned down more. 

Once she was close enough, a whisper left her.

"Someone is inside our house. Can you please check?"

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