"AAKASH.... STOP IT.... I SAID.....STOP IT." Nakul shouted at the boy making him go cringe because of his voice sounding rough and loud.

"Chachu is bad... Chachu is bad... very bad." Aakash cried out loud and ran up to his room.

Nakul caught his head in his hands. He was drowning in the sea of frustration and this was just an outcome of it.

On the other hand, Ambar couldn't believe what had just happened.
How could he do that?
Though he was grumpy with anger residing on his nose but he had never dare to inflict it on his small shot.
It was hard for her to digest.
Unable to stop herself, she moved towards him and let out the words, catching his attention.

"You shouldn't have done that to a small kid... he's missing his dad.... I know, he was being recalcitrant but this was not the right way to deal with him." Ambar gave him an earful.

"Don't tell me, what I have to do or not." He snapped in irritation.
'Mr. Grumpy!'.

"Why shouldn't I?" Ambar narrowed her eyes.

"Because I'm your employer, I'm not paying you to listen to your crap and stop ordering me. You don't even know what kind of mess, I'm currently dealing with. So mind your own business." Nakul sneered, going beyond the unexpected.

Ambar flared her nose.
This was the least she had anticipated from him.

An insult! Though he was her boss but her self respect was more important.
She got reminded by her Dida's spoken words.

"Anger can bring out the worst in you."

And now she was ready to give him the taste of his own medicine.

"Mr. Suri, this is my business. Haven't I told you that earlier? Though you're my boss but there's one more relationship which we share. That's friendship which you've already forgotten and my dear friend, if you do something wrong then it's my duty to correct you. My job is to take care of that boy and his happiness and you can see how much elated he is right now." Her voice was laced with a bit of sarcasm.

As he was about to say something, she forwarded her hand to stop him.

"I haven't finished yet." Her tone was clipped.

"The mess you're talking about is not greater than the trauma, he's currently dealing with. He lost his mother already. I mean, he has just turned five. Losing his dadda is something which he can't take it at the moment.
There's no greater sorrow than the pain of losing someone and we both are clearly aware of that affliction, aren't we?" Tears threatened to spill out but she didn't wanted to cry.

Nakul knew she was right and she also sounded more sensible at that moment.

His features automatically softened and he rubbed his temples due to guilt eating him up.

He regretted whatever he had said or done earlier.

"I..." He was about to say sorry when she cut him off again knowing what he was going to tell her.

"Save it. Your apology. I'll just get back to my job or in your words. My business." She set forth and walked past him towards Aakash's room.

And with that, another sort of contrition had filled in him.

Not only he had hurt his small shot but also his friend.
His only friend.

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Ambar entered his room. She could hear his miffed sobs.

'Oh Kiddo!'
That was the most tear jerking sight ever to see the boy clutching his parents photograph close to his heart. It was like a wave of flashback hitting her again when she missed her parents terribly.

Indeed Mr. Grumpy had harrowed more amount of distress this time rather than reducing it.

She paced towards his bed and took him in her embrace immediately. She let him cry in her arms as he held her tightly.

"Chachu is bad... bad... Chachu..is bad." He bawled and she couldn't stop herself.

"He's not bad. Your Chachu is stupid..." She huffed while patting him. Aakash turned his chin up to see her scowling.

"Stupid?"

"Stupid and also an idiot." She muttered and he giggled, surprising her.
At least, she could make him laugh. She quickly fished out a tissue paper from the box and wiped his face.

"Amy is mad." Aakash let out a titter.

"Hey!" Her eyes bulged before he finally completed his sentence.

"Mad at Chachu! Amy is mad at Chachu!" He chortled.

"Yeah! Hopping Mad." She added and he smiled.

"Then you're in my team?" Aakash asked her.

"Your team?" She quirked her brows before he diffused her confusion.

"Mad at Chachu team!" Aakash said and she laughed.

"Yeah definitely." She bobbed her head and he grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Why can't I meet him? My Dadda!" Aakash asked her after a couple of minutes and she blinked down at him.

"Because your Dadda will get disturbed." She replied.

"I will be a nice boy, I promise... then he won't get disturbed." Aakash implored.

"I know, you will... but he's sleeping right now, dear. Let him sleep once he will be up, he would definitely come and then he would also play with his Aakash." Ambar said.

"Will he?"

"Yes! For sure. You just have to pray and wait for that day." She smiled at him which he returned to her with a biggest one.

"Good boy." She ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead.

"Small shot!" Nakul sneaked inside, interrupting them.

Aakash glanced up at Ambar and she whispered something in his ears. He chuckled slightly before getting back to his earlier frowned expression which didn't go unnoticed by Nakul who was amused to see both of them murmuring something.

"Small shot! I'm sorry.... Chachu is sorry." Nakul had both of his hands on his ears.

Aakash quickly averted his gaze.

"Small shot. Please!" He clasped his hand to seek his forgiveness.

"Amy! Can we play with my toys? I'm bored." Aakash asked Ambar.

"Okay Kiddo! Anyway, even I'm bored." She replied.

"Small shot... Sorry... Sorry Sorry..." He sang but Aakash ignored him to the highest peak.

"Ambar! At least, you can help your friend here, please." He pleaded turning to her.

"Aakash! You need my help." Ambar queried, ignoring him.

"Yes Amy! I'm getting annoyed. Very annoyed here. Let's go somewhere else." He gripped her palm as they started moving out.

He instantly blocked them.

"I said, I'm sorry. Please please forgive me, both of you." Nakul apologised.

"Sorry is not enough..." Aakash blurted out.

"And by doing this, you're aren't getting it any sooner." Ambar gritted referring to him blocking their way.

He moved aside before they walked out leaving him alone.

Nakul sighed.

'This isn't going to be easy, Nakul Suri."

------------------------------

"Okay! See what I've got for us." He smiled like a devil when they both were busy playing with the ball.

"Dark chocolate icecream with roasted almonds." He pulled out and Aakash gulped but still ignored him.

"Aren't you both hungry? How about, we have our dinner out tonight?" Nakul enquired.

"Aakash! Let's go, Mrs. Melanie has cooked a fantastic feast for both us and we'll also have caramel pudding for dessert." Ambar said and Aakash licked his lips.

"Yum. Yum, Let's go Amy!" He squealed.

"What about me?" Nakul asked and they both stopped on their tracks.

"Actually the food is only for us. Anyway, you're going out for dinner, enjoy it with your own grumpy self." She said and he rolled his eyes as she back faced him.

"Stop rolling your eyes. Instead try something else so that we can forgive you." She uttered before dashing towards the dining table with Aakash.

His eyes widened and he cursed under his breath. "Surely not enough... Fuck!"

His phone rang and he instantly answered the call.

"Till how long are we going to stay like this?" Aakash asked Ambar eyeing Nakul who was busy on the call, standing near the door.

"Just wait and watch." She served him some noodles on his plate before doing the same for herself.

Nakul ceased the call after few minutes and strolled towards them.

"Okay! You won." He bend forward.

"What should I do?" He asked but didn't get a reply in return.

"Small shot?" Nakul turned to him and smiled while he just turned a deaf ear to his uncle.

Nakul sighed and sat next to him.

"Okay! You wanted to go on a trip, right?" Nakul asked and this time, he caught his attention.

"Are you serious?" Aakash asked and Nakul nodded with a small smile.

"Yes but only if you'd forgive me, wouldn't you?" Nakul interjected. Aakash glanced at Ambar who saw immediate desperation in the boy's eyes.

"Okay!" She signaled him and Aakash nodded facing Nakul.

"Fine... I will forgive you if you're taking us for a trip." Aakash said and Nakul smiled.

"Why me?" Ambar was startled hearing the word 'us' and Aakash peered at her.

"I won't go without you, anywhere. Amy!" He replied and she felt her heart swarming with pride and love for the boy.

"Okay cool, then pack your bags, we're going to Amritsar tomorrow."

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Hello fellas.

How was the chapter?

Why did Nakul chose Amritsar?
(A city in Punjab).

What is he upto?

What is stored in for them?

You'll find out... in the upcoming chapter.

Stay tuned.

Please vote and comment.

And thank you.

Happy Reading.

♥♡♥

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