"Ben! Move!" I yelled like a possessed Banshee . Ben jumped back at the sudden screech of my voice.

But what I saw the next instant took away all the sanity I had bridled up within myself all these days .

I clamped my mouth shut in horror.

I was numbed of my being when I stared wide eyed at the one or better to call it a thing. Yeah the thing just flew out of the room like a rocket and settled on Ben's shoulder.

I screamed closing my eyes before my brain registered what it was

But my screaming was silenced by a pathetic meowing.

Meowing! Huh? What was that?

I scowled when I saw a small kitten scrambling its way on Ben's shoulder while Ben was trying hard to shake that baby kitten off his shoulder cursing a numerous times.

For a moment I stood frozen not knowing what to make out of all the things that happened.

When it got registered I burst into a fit of laughter and giggle while clapping my hands and flexing my body up down in a rhythm according to the pace and speed of my laughter. Ben cast a stinking look towards my direction for which I glared at him while comforting my laughter to little chortles.

"Relax buddy. I will help you. That poor thing is more scared than you ,thinking onto which mountain I flew and settled down." I said giggling while slowly holding it softly by its scruff and placed her on the back of my palm.

She was so terrified that she viewed me with her wide glaucious green eyes. Her ears flicking at intervals. Her form shivering in fear and relieved when she found that I am not the one who will attack her.

"She is sweet isn't it Ben?" I asked while cooing at her.

"Yeah! I never thought your extra sense has got such cuteness overload" Ben retorted sarcastically while snorting and wiping his face harshly with his palm.

I rolled my eyes and winked at the kitten. It snapped its head and looked at the retreating figure of Ben.

I saw Meena aunty walking towards me from the garden.

"Aunty this kitty seems hungry can you please spare some milk from the pantry for this poor limitless thing" I asked Meena aunty while holding her close to her.

"" ( No need to pamper this thing so much. Cats are the most mischievous animal.)

"Please aunty! She is too small to be impish. She seems so hungry as well. Please give her some milk. For me please" I pleaded with her with my puppy dog eyes.

"Hmm. ( If you ask like this who won't give you. You are more mischievous than this tiny kitten) Meena aunty said smiling while pulling my cheek fondly.

With the help of her I got some milk for this kitten. I entrusted that cute thing with aunty after playing with it for some time. It was real fun playing with it.

Still at times my gaze didn't fail to dart towards the vacant dark room which held something more than just a kitten

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I saw Steeve gesturing me to join him showing his iPhone indicating that I have a call.

"Kat wants to have a word with you kichu. Just listen to what she says" Steeve said seriously when I sat beside Steeve. I took the phone from his hand still stumped of what is happening here in all its actuality.

". ( Kichu don't reply to me. Just listen carefully what I have got to say)Sarah blurted out in a rush when I kept the phone close to my ear.

I nodded like she could see me but realized my folly when I heard no response from her.

"Go on!" I retorted in a barely audible voice. But audible enough for Sarah to understand that it is now her turn to continue with whatever stuff she has in her mind.

I casually glanced at Kanjan and Steeve who were now having a light talk. She seemed a lot better with those smiles which adorned her features.

I pressed my palm on the nearest table while leaning half the weight of my body upon that table while listening to Sarah .

"Well, it is me ,who asked Steeve to be friendly with kanjan. I don't know why you behave this much offended against the idea of Steeve talking to her? Kichu, It is me who insisted Steeve and convinced him to build a friendly relation with Janu. She should come out of whatever situation she is in at the earliest. So I thought who could be a better choice than Steeve in doing so. Don't blame him. He was against the idea so much at the first place. But caved into my request thinking that if that could help a girl to live a normal life what is the better thing than that in this world"Sarah said all this rushing her words in jet speed.

I glanced at Steeve apologetically. He was doing a great thing and instead of encouraging him in this endeavour what was I doing?

Steeve held a wooden and forlorn look.

I had a brief convo with Sarah over the phone updating Kanjan's reaction and progress etc etc.

Sarah sounded satisfied and smug at the disclosure and she hung up the phone with a happy note.

After handing over the phone to Steeve I threw my hands around Steeve's shoulder and apologized for mistaking his goodness for something else.

"It is okay kichu. Never mind. I must say you are a Tigress when it comes to protecting your friends or family who solely depend upon you. I am so proud of you soldier." Steeve patted my head and ruffled my hair with a pride filled expression.

I felt relieved when Steeve seemed to take my impudent behaviour towards him as lightly as nothing ever happened.

Kanjan was busy having her evening snack so she didn't get a whiff of the talk we had regarding her health and other stuff.

⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅⛅

I darted towards the corridor and stood near a pillar facing the garden which mother Dahlia and kids here together set up very passionately tending each and every plant carefully and religiously.

A smooth breeze didn't forget to fondle my cheeks while hitting my senses and mind awake of every single thing that managed to dwindle my spirit.

The fine and soul purging perfume of flowers kindled up my shimmering spirits once more.

I folded my arms and stood there taking in every single greenery grandeur nature has splendidly offering me with.

" ( How are you doing sweetie?)" Jayashankar uncle's voice tossed me back to reality.

I smiled meekly.

"I am good uncle. How are Smrithi and Sudha aunty? I miss them so much you know. It would have been great if they were with me at home" I said in a low whisper.

He laughed throwing up his head.

"You are still that loving sweetheart of a Pearl, aren't you? I am glad my Rithi won't be left alone as long as you are there for her as her sweet friend and more than that a lovely and loving sister."Jayashankar uncle said as if he had been overwhelmed by so many emotions at the same time. His eyes glistening a bit in the process.

"Don't you worry uncle I will always be there for her till my last breath as a loyal and loving sibling. If not in person my heart and soul will be there for her supporting her" I assured uncle while taking his hand in my hands and squeezing them softly providing strength and hope.

He looked at me through his glassy eyes.He kept his hand on my forehead and inhaled deeply.

"I am proud of you Kanna. Stay like this as what you are. Never for once change your wonderful nature for this world. You are an asset to anyone who happens to be with you not only just to your family. But to anyone who happens to be with you you are a soothing caress and healing. Kenny has got high regard for you. He never acknowledges a person's worth that easily. If you managed to deviate him from his usual way you are a gem and something that have its worth to widest extend. I am proud of you my child." He said smiling fondly at me.

There was a gleam of pride sparkling within his eyes and features when he said this.

I never thought I will be valued and loved like this by my own people. But still it feels good to know that I mean something to them in someway or other and I am not a total waste as I give myself credit to.

Just then his phone beeped indicating the arrival of a message. He motioned me to excuse him for a minute and walked towards a corner and checked the message.

Jayashankar uncle returned with a large grin on his face.

"" ( your friend is not giving the name of ensuring some peace to this poor old man. Now too she was the one to message me. She wants to have a Skype chatting with you on her mom's account. She is adamant to this extend that she started to threaten me with so many stuff. She misses you so much)" Jayashankar uncle said with a slight laugh.

I got excited on hearing about Smrithi eagerly waiting to talk to me.

"I wanna talk to her uncle. Why don't you allow her to come and stay with us and spend her holidays blissfully with my family. It would be a great relief for her as well. She won't have to sit alone at her home like this when you two are away and busy with your business" I suggested sincerely. I always feel sad for her.

Being a lone child is not less than suffering eternally in a purgatory. I have seen her vibrance and charm waning out when I find her alone in her home.

"I am thinking about that Kichu. She seems sulking a lot nowadays. Maybe her adolescence is getting better of her. She never shows her tension or pain openly. Instead she masquerades her agony with her vibrance and flamboyance. Sometimes it scares me a lot to see her behave this mature and understanding. It is not at all normal for her age to remain this composed and silent." He said more to himself than to me.

He seemed a lot worried and tired. I find it funny to see a father worrying over his well behaved and perfectly nurtured daughter.

Actually he should be happy at least she is trying to be normal with everyone though things are not at all easy for her.

Still it does scare me to hear such a thing about her.

"She suffers much Kichu with her parents working and left alone for herself for a fair share of time at home. You know her cousins and my siblings are not that open and loving as your family. They have their prejudistic and crazy selfish ideas of world. They find family bonding and cousin bonding as a waste of time and utter monotonous for their least liking. Sudha is a lone child just like your mom so no such goodness or bad aura from her side. But still I find it a privilege to be in touch with your family. My daughter didn't get herself lost with the harsh flow of this world without understanding the true meaning of family and bonding." Jayashankar uncle said while wiping his eyes with his hanky.

I never saw this soft and fragile side of uncle ever in my life. For me he was always an unbreakable solid officer who maintained his rigid demeanor through any course of weather let it be bad or good.

But today I am viewing just an opposite side of uncle. A very weak yet caring side of Uncle as the father of a daughter.

"It is okay uncle. We all are here for her. She will never be alone when I am there for her. Also our family frame gets completed only with her chirpiness and exuberance." I said in assurance holding uncle's hand.

"Thank you so much sweetie. You always successfully lull down the tension I undergo when I think about my only daughter. I am obliged to you for everything you do for my family and for my Rithi" Jayashankar uncle said in an overwhelming tone.

"Don't be uncle. She is my sister and family. How come, I not be with her when she needs me. So please don't degrade my intentions and love for her by thanking me" I said firmly.

"Okay! That was entirely my fault. I am sorry for that. I shouldn't have thanked to my own daughter" Jayashankar uncle said with his hands raised in surrender.

"Apology accepted. Always remember uncle you have two girls to stand by your side and to protect you. Also a son who will do anything to keep your peace and smile intact where it belong."I reminded him and he nodded quietly but still his face didn't give a relieved look from his grief and tension.

"Uncle, what do you think about the whole food poisoning thingy that occurred to this place?"I asked trying to turn his attention from whatever that is picking on him from inside. He seemed very much worried and perturbed.

"You are really good Kichu. Your intentions are always good. God bless you child" Jayashankar uncle complimented and blessed me with a beaming smile.

"That is not the answer to my query uncle?" I notified him.

He seemed to be thinking.

" Pearl, don't take it personally but every information I got regarding this is highly confidential. I can't let out a single piece of it to anyone. As the recipient of the information I gathered can be cast into life hazardous situation. So for now I would like to keep them a very secretive affair. I hope you got my point. Only one thing I would like to let out is that the end result and conclusions we got or will get won't be that nice. Anything can happen. Tables can be turned and you will never know what or who the real culprit is and the motive behind it can turn out to be another horrendous truth anyone could have ever imagined." Jayashankar uncle said seriously and enigmatically.

I nodded and kept my inquisitive mind at check.

Jayashankar uncle at times threw sideways glance towards my dad and Kendall uncle.

They were discussing something serious standing near the main office entrance.

All this pent up situation provided me with a spasmodic and erratic heart beat alongside shaggy and ruggedly painful breathing.

I saw Kanjan and Steeve having a comfortable chatting seated near the garden area.

A smile slowly made its way to my lips as I view them getting along with each other so easily which I interpreted before as nearly impossible.

"I guess you are friends with that girl?" Jayashankar uncle's voice brought me back to reality. I fluttered my eyes while nodding my yes to his query.

We talked about Kanjan for a good deal of time. Uncle kept on asking different stuff relating to Kanjan and her life.

As I am a total dumb bie when it comes to her personal life other than her present condition. I had to shake my head helplessly quite a few times when he inquired about her family and past life before stepping in here as a ward to this place.

Again uncle excused himself with his phone and returned before I knew.

" ( child Rithu's call for Skype chat is on cue. You talk with her meantime all this tension and pent up ambience will lull down. You carry on sweetie)" uncle said while handing me his iPhone.

I nodded and waited for the caller to come online while uncle excused himself to deal with his duties.

Smrithi's face came to the screen. She was wearing a red turtle neck top with the teaming up of a flared white skirt.