Ben halted the car in front of my grand palatial family mansion.

Oh !my! Lovely ! How I missed you sweet heart all these days you know!Love you my sweetie dazzle !

How I missed you all these days.

I made a silent conversation with my family mansion and you know I call my oasis and my soul enlivening place Dazzle

I glanced at the golden ornate name plate of our home which read""

This mansion is my safe haven. I always feel a strange kind of peace exuding from this place and enveloping me in its safe and warm hug the moment I step to this place. It is my kind of feeling attached to a place especially with this place. I used to converse secretly with my mansion when I feel lonely.I feel good and relieved when I talk my heart out silently. I never show my pain, secret fear, and resentment to others.

This our secret verbose exchange.

Our mansion is a two storeyed huge building which stood amidst the splendiferous sunflower field with all its magnificence and grandeur. The field was sprawled over to six to eight acres presenting a splendid sight to everyone who passed by and lives here

The main floor stomached 10 rooms with an elegant old fashioned living area with pillared structure. The upper portion settings are kinda homogeneous to down stairs. The upper floor is modernized according to us, kids taste. We have home theatre facility, a leisure room with 10 other rooms.

Yup we kids rule the upper stairs. parents are the rulers of downstairs. And the best part of these days spend here are we were never chided or supervised for what we do. During the vacation our parents allow us full freedom to howl and holler to our hearts contend and enjoy our time without injuring each other.

No rules, No regulations,Just happiness and feeling of oneness and weaving our sweet memories with our harmless and cute pranks.This is the moment I wear the garb of a chirpy nutty Pearl who is never kissed by any pain or fear or failure in life.

But that is just my outer demeanor for my cousins and elders. Real me is deeply hidden within me when I am with my relatives. I told you I am a good actor as well. For my loved ones happiness I have to pretend I am okay and all jubilant.

I got out of the car. I saw periyappa and periyamma standing in the grand porch waiting to receive us

Periyappa's face lit up on seeing me.

I ran to him calling out for him with bubbling spirit and hugged him.

" ( uncle's sweetie pie you came? How are you doing my sweet dumpling)periyappa cooed at me. I looked at him with a beaming smile blinking. He patted my head smiling.

" ( you look like a little lamp my darling child) periyappa again pampered me and kissed my forehead fondly.

"(okay enough of pampering! Here there are so many waiting for pampering you) I heard my periyamma's voice.

I pulled away from periyappa and went up to my periyamma and looked at her grinning sheepishly.

She watched me for sometime. Her eyes glistened a bit on seeing me.

What periyamma and cry? It wont go together. She is this iron lady but what makes her eyes glassy.

"" ( you have grown up so much my darling. You look so pretty and beautiful) periyamma said apprehensively while placing her hand on my cheek and giving a quick peck on my forehead.

I wonder to whom I should listen, Peiyappa or periyamma. Because both held different views about my growth like, Periyappa voted for my ever stagnant and nulled growth and periyamma voted on the never touched area of fast growth label, which hardly suited my tiny frame. Yeah sure plumpy nevertheless.

Help me someone!! I am confused.

""( bro how are you doing?) Periyappa asked in thundering voice to my dad while giving a manly hug each other.

"Hey Maria come. " periyamma padded towards her with this sweet query and hugged my mom and they began to chatter their heart out.

Mom looked really happy and glowing.

".( it is gonna be long since I have seen you sister)" Mom said with a beaming smile and rare twinkle in her teal eyes. It is rare to see mom this bubbly and flamboyant.But I felt good to see her smiling like this when she is with my aunts.

Chithi is no where to be seen. So that means it will take a bit more long for them to arrive.

I looked inside longingly for getting glimpse of my cousins. I thought of exploring my area as elders seemed to be deeply engrossed in catching up with their lives and things so on

I weaved my way towards the garden area and when I caught the glimpse of someone special and close to my heart. I felt a rare surge of bubbling happiness enveloping my entire being.

"Safrin akka!! How are you?" I ran up to a girl who was reading a book silently sitting on the porch swing. I hugged her from behind .

Safrin is my only girl cousin and periyappa's daughter. She is an ardent reader to begin with and also a silent spectator to all commotions and pranks created by cousins group.

She prefers to remain silent and stuck to her books than wasting time for some non sensical pranks according to her.

I wont play pranks with safrin. She is too good for such things. So I spared her from my peevish Pranks.

"Hey ! You came !(darling). Come let me have a look at you" saying so safrin (Sis) made me stand before her.

"Wow! girl you grew up a bit. You are taller than the previous time" safrin Sis) mused taking a closer look of me.

"I don't think so" I said quietly glancing at my sorry self and pitiable height.

Safrin snorted shaking her head.

"Come with me" Safrin ordered pulling me along with her.

"Hey! Akka! Where are you taking me?" I squeaked while scuffling to get out of her grip.

She took me to backyard. My eyes roved around the milieu trying to figure out the real deal behind this hasty visit to this place where so many bitter sweet, pell mell memories are buried within still get a great awakening when we cousins are the ones who invade this place.

Everything looked the same except for some new touch ups with painting and stuff. The place still holds the same nostalgic warmth as of my childhood golden reigning days.

The ghost of our boisterous laughter, the way we quarrelled with each other and got glued up to our sibling even before we knew that such a war phase has overtaken us.

I smiled at the emollient remembrance that always brought a sense of incandescent jubilance to my being.

The memoir of our past selves giggled and ran about before my eyes making me smile even wider.

"How beauteous those days were na. Ah! There was much bliss and solace even when we quarrelled recklessly like insipid beings." Safrin said turning around with her arms spread wide and inhaling deeply like cherishing those grandeur moments of our childhood days.

"You are right Saffy. I miss being a kid." I sighed looking around.

The beauty of my glorious childhood days vanished from my sight, leaving a painful void and bitter truth of my present life, tears threatened to spill off from my eyes

" Don't be Kichu, whatever we have grown into or in whichever disposition we are dumped into we still have each other's back like in those days. Be grateful to god for that gift. And I assure that I will never leave my little sis come what may. I have that much love and care for you kanna." Safrin said caressing my hair and holding me close to her like a mom.

I felt a bit relaxed hearing her.

" And me too. Till my last breath I will always tail you like a faithful sister. I will snatch away the harm that is hurled at your direction. You can trust me that much " I declared genuinely.

Safrin glanced at me stilled by my sudden declaration act.

" There is no need for such verbose assurance from you darling. You have always proven your loyalty towards your sibling during every waking hour of your life. And I owe you one for that" Safrin said without taking off her eyes from me.

I remained ingrained to my position when reality hit my senses with double bass.

"Um... why are you dragging all that stupid things now out of nowhere. Just leave it akka. And tell me why you brought me here so hastily" I flipped the most haunting and hounding subject and tried to turn her attention.

And to tell you that it wasn't that hard won't be an exaggeration.

"Oh that! You see those markings there." Safrin pointed her finger towards the kitchen wall that was visible from here, backyard.

I nodded. And surveyed the wall more keenly.

"Wow!" I breathed out when my heart travelled back to those days when we were kids.

I saw our childhood mischiefers standing in a row according to our height, our back pressed against the kitchen wall.

Periyappa was doing some marking works and appreciating everyone for growing a few inches taller than the previous time.

When he came to my side there was a deep long sigh to accompany him.

"You are still there little one. When are you gonna grow up darling pie?" He asked kindly patting my tiny head with his large palm softly.

Others were having the greatest laugh of their life at the cost of my incorrigible height.

I still remember I cried my eyes out in pain and frustration that whole day without giving my face to anyone.

It took every ounce of my cousins effort to bring me back to normal chirpy elated mood.

Also they didn't forget keep up their taunting tabs on to throw at me at every possible intervals.

And that made me immune to the way I am and it really didn't affect me much how I look or appear to others. Because beauty and grace lie in the eyes and goodness of the beholder.

Yeah at times I feel sad because of my shorty look. Yeah you can harangue splendiferously to others about not bothering about anything because it is not behove to be like that, right?

Still well are humans and we feel a bit disparaged at times the way we look. I think every single human will because this society has reared them in that way that one can't remain happy or satisfied with the way they are.

How clumsy of those bitter poisonous thoughts people inflict upon each other in the name of affected concern and care.

"Kichu? Kichu?" Safrin's voice pulled me out of my thoughts where I had made myself tangled up with.

She waved her hand in front of my face and flicked her fingers.

" Earth to Pearl" She chimed.

I smiled slightly tracing the wall of out kitchen.

"Stand here! Let me check" Safrin said pushing me towards the wall. I hesitated a bit.

But obliged to her will when she glared at me just like Periyamma.

"You are just like Periyamma. The same stern bold self. Iron Lady to be exact." I rambled on and on whilst she was engaged in checking my height at times smiling at me fondly giving an approving nod to my rants.

"You really have stretched a few inches up. I told you my eyes never betray me" Safrin said happily whilst marking the level of my height.

I too felt happy nonetheless some change is there.

"Really ?? I thought I will never grow up." I said pouting.

"You are funny sometimes my kichu" Safrin said pulling my cheek softly

We walked back to the garden and settled down on the swing

We shared so many things about our lives in our respective hometowns. I very tactfully avoided any talk that related to our previous experience here.

"Where is Romie and family?" I asked looking around.

"They will be here tomorrow. As Katrin has some urgent works regarding the school to be done. So they will arrive tomorrow morning. They are on their way" Safrin (Sis) said looking at the book in her hand.

Katrin aka Sarah is Ahann's wife.Ahaan aka Romie is Periyappa's elder son and our eldest cousin. Don't mistake him to be a grumpy serious person for being the eldest in our group. He is the most exuberant and vibrant member in our group. Even after marriage and becoming a dad he didn't change to slightest bit.

I would say he became more ,open to cousins ,a bit mischievous and cordial in nature after his marriage. May be Sarah's effect. She is equally bubbly and jolly a company for us. We never felt that she is a new added member to our family. She behaves like we have known forever and grew up together. That is a great blessing for us cousins.

Without her it feels so bleak and vacant.Her flamboyance and chirpiness adds light and sparkle to our gang

"It would have been great if they were here with us. Missing Kat so much" I said looking around casually

"!!!" A disastrous shriek made me jump out of my skin and swing akin. I fell on the meadow and looked up to see

Sarah smirking at me while high fiving with saffy with the accompaniment of a boisterous laugh. I put a poker face and sat there with my legs crossed like a stubborn child.

".(what did you think princess mangamma only you are the one here capable of all pranks,isn't it? But ,you see ,darling we too know how to make fool out of a person. mind you)"Sarah said with bubbling spirit as always. I tried to get up but fell in the process. I rubbed my hip and winced slightly . Kat looked a bit pale when she saw me wincing.

"."( please help me ya. I am finding it pretty much difficult to get up) I said with a puppy dog eyes while raising my hands for help. Now reached the peak of panic mode thinking that she hurt me.

" (oh my goodness does it hurt that much sweetie) "Sarah asked becoming pale and green while holding my hand leaning forward towards me. Saffy too held my other hand to help me up on my feet.

An evil smirk crossed my features when they earnestly tried to help me. They looked at me totally flummoxed. Even before they try to figure out what I am up to, I pulled down both of them with much force beside me. They lost their balance and fell beside me with double thud and screech.

They were shocked to respond for a moment while I laughed my heart out rolling over the meadow.

"" ( you are becoming so untamed and junglee for a girl ) saffy and Sarah said in unison. I smirked while shrugging my shoulder.

"That is) pearl's style. Without this you won't be able to see the pearl you wanted to see.Am I right ?" I said playfully pinching Sarah' s cheek, but there was an undertone to this statement.

I force all these vibrance and prankster nature out of me when I am with my cousins. This not the real pearl and no one will ever like the real face I have hidden within me.

I sighed while looking ahead with a bleak and fogged mind.

" princess is dreaming it seems. "Sarah said playfully while pinching my cheek and bringing me back to real world.

I smiled at her and resumed with my skillful acting.

" Hey! Say about you my queen sis. How is life? How is everything going with periyamma? Everything okay?" I asked while her face fell.

So something is stirring high with daughter in law and mom in law.It is real hard to cop up with periyamma's strict and stern nature. Sarah is trying her best to adjust but at times she finds herself at a loss as to what she should do or how to react?

I looked at Saffy. She nodded at me.

" Kat , wanted to visit her home before coming here. But mom foiled her plan with a stern glare. That is why you know? " Saffy said quietly while I heard Sarah inhaling deeply with a forlorn look in her hazel brown eyes.

Her shoulder length hair left open floated attune to dancing of wind.

I stood on my knee and smoothly ran my fingers through her luscious burgundy shaded hair.Sarah smiled looking at me while taking my hand in her hand and holding my hand close to her cheek. Her eyes still held a vacant and blank expression.

" Do you want me to have a word with her? " I asked her while placing my free hand on her shoulder.