I was lying on the mattress that I'd spread on my terrace, gazing at the stars, and enjoying the cool breeze sweeping against my body. I've this habit of sharing my happiness and agony with them.

Stars are one of the wonderful creations of God. I don't know why, but I find peace gazing at those bright stars dazzling in the dark sky, as if assuring me that you are not alone in the darkness.

It's because of my grandfather, I got attached to these stars this much. Mostly we used to go there during my summer vacation. I used to sleep beside him on the lawn, gazing at those stars and listening to the tales he used to narrate. I miss cuddling him, miss the stories which he used to narrate, going to our farms with him, everything. I'm a big foodie just like him. Everyone who knows my amma's father used to say that I'm his carbon copy in most of the aspects.

He was the one who introduced my little angel to me. She was a tiny baby of a few hours when I saw her for the first time. My thathayya(grandpa) brought her to me and placed her in my lap. She was so tiny and all pink. She was wrapped in a pink towel and looked so cute. My cute little angel. It was my 4th birthday that year, we were all enjoying my birthday when my attaya got a sudden pain in her abdomen. I have never known that one day I would deeply fall in love with her. It's true, we never know what's written in our fate. We are just like those pieces of chess where God is the player.

No-one can replace the place of grandparents in our life, me and Maya are quite close to them, so I can understand how she must have felt today. She was a 6-year-old when her grandmother died.

Let me tell you, when she was with ammamma(grandma/nani) she used to do all naughty things, and she did not even use to allow me and our cousins near her. I still remember, how she used to pull Arjun's hair and hide his homework book if he used to sleep in granny's lap. Poor boy, his teacher always used to complain that he wasn't doing his homework properly, and sometimes he used to get beaten too. When he used to come to scold her, she used to give her famous toothless grin and share her ice-cream with him, melting all his anger. She used to roam around ammamma like a bee holding her pallu.

Today when I saw her looking at Vansh and Varsha with lots of emotions who were playing with thier grandparents, I know she must be missing them. Even I remembered my old days with them, so I consoled her by saying that they are always with us in our hearts giving their blessings from up. But she started crying more. Her tears are always my weakness. When she hugged me, I was shocked at first, but then I hugged her back. With her in my arms, I felt home.

I was on cloud nine when she asked me would I hold her hand forever. I didn't knew how to express my happiness, so I just hugged as my life depends on her. But, when she asked me if I would leave her I felt a pang in my heart. I can feel that she is feeling insecure, but I don't know why. The way she hugged me, as if I would disappear and behaving like a child reminded of those old days when we were kids.

When Chytra asked me whether she could talk to Maya in private? I was unsure, because I don't trust that girl. She pushed Arjun to a extent that it took months for him to come out of that trauma. Though he smiles, put a I don't care look, we know the pain behind that fascade. I'm glad that he is moving on and accepted Diya whole-heartedly.

So I followed them without letting them know. I trust my bunny but not that girl. Though I didn't listen to everything, but I heard her blaming Maya for trapping her brother. Before she could utter more Arjun slapped her and shouted at her and dragged Maya from there. I guess, he knew about it. I just moved from there with lots of thoughts running in my mind, but I can't come to a conclusion without knowing the whole thing.

When my amma asked me where I was, I just lied to her that I got a call from the office. In return, I got scoldings from her, she strictly warned me I shouldn't do any office work today. Then we moved to have dinner as it's getting late. As most of the guests had left, it was only us who didn't have dinner. I moved inside along with Veeru and Tara, after filling our plates. All our cousins were there having fun, except her who was looking dull. Sravya was trying to cheer her up but failing miserably, I think she knew everything. I sighed looking at her playing with the food. I was eating my food silently when Siri asked me where I would take her sister to the honeymoon. I and Maya coughed badly listening to the question. I said that we didn't plan it yet. Her next question was so embarrassing, she asked how many niece/nephew's we were planning to give her. Oh God, why doesn't she behave like a 16-year-old? Maya was just looking at her plate all this while without raising her head. Thank god, Arjun came in time otherwise I didn't know what stupid questions she would have asked. How is Anju atta bearing this daughter of her? Kids of these generation are too fast. They all left, giving us privacy. There was alot to talk, but I just told her to take care and left from there. I just need some space, and she needs hers to process everything. I didn't know when sleep consumed me, I just slept thinking about what our future had sorted for us.

I woke up with the buzzing of my mobile. It's from the office. Actually I have a meeting today which I've forgotten with all the happenings. I quickly moved down to my room taking the mattress and blanket. I got freshened and moved down to have breakfast. My mother and attayya are cooking in the kitchen, dad, mamayya and Yash are watching news, darling is having her juice, my cousin is running behind those twins who are nagging to have food. Arjun is missing, where is that guy?

***************

"Mamayya, where is Arjun?" I asked, sitting beside him.

"He stayed back there only, he said he wanted to spend his time with his little sister", said Mavayya.

Well, as I expected. He would definitely attend the wedding too from her side only.

"Breakfast is ready", said amma.

(Jai Ram - Vani's brother

Janaki - Jai Ram's wife

Jai and Janaki are Arpita and Arjun's parents)

"Vansh and Varsha stop running and come here right now, otherwise no chocolates and ice-creams for a week", Arpita said, running behind the twins.

Instead they ran to their father and hided in his arms. They are complaining to him about their mother cutely. Aww, how cute they are looking with that adorable pout. I too want kids like them in future. Cute, chubby and naughty like my bunny. Shaking my head I looked at them

"Nanna, I don't want to eat those veggies. They taste yucky", he said cutely to his father in his baby language.

"Yesh nanna, they taste blah", said Varsha.

"So, what do my muchkins want?" He asked them, rubbing his nose with theirs.

"Ice-cleam", she said, getting excited.

Looks like she inherited it from her pinni(aunt). My girl's obsession with ice-cream is something we can never understand.

"Varsha who eats ice-cream at break fast", Arpita said sternly.

"Me", she said, battling her eye-lashes cutely and climbing on her father like a monkey.

"Vansh, Varsha, if you guys listen to your amma and eat breakfast, then in the evening I'll bring you your favourite ice-cream and chocolates", I told them.

Listening to this they immediately ran to their mother asking her to them feed breakfast. Seeing them, I just chuckled.

"Maa, I'm going, I've a meeting and will have lunch with them, so don't send me food. I might come late as I've work to finish", saying that, I moved out.

It's gonna be a long day ahead, as I have back to back meetings.

Keep smiling and take care.