I sauntered my way towards the garden. A cold wave of breeze with slight warmth lacing its texture fondled my cheeks soothingly giving a perfect blissful solace.

I filled my lungs with some warm morning rapturous air filling the place in a purging way.

Twirling around happily I viewed the beauteous bloom sprawled ahead of me in a coruscating array of colors giving my vision a treat of joy and euphoria.

After enjoying the splendid magnificence of nature and thereby reviving and mending my inner wounds I decided to provide some refreshment to the beauties who luxuriated in their own place bejewelling the garden in their splendid grandeur.

I took the hose and silently immersed myself in watering the plants which is assigned to me.

Here we kids have small piffling works to be done during our vacation time.

Our parents divide the work among us on the basis of day and how good and prudent we are at that work.

Periyamma and periyappa charted out Ben and my work criterion

Chithi looked after saffy , Sarah and Ahaan's part of job which is like small dusting and cleaning. Saffy is given the charge of cleaning her Library which she happily hopped in with a sweet smile.

Mom and Dad looked after Alvin,Steeve and Dave's progress.

Dad assigned them with keeping the daily papers neatly stacked in place so that at the end of the day the living area will look neat and prim as it used to be.

They are given the task of reading big books which they find boring but in dad's view great fables of all time.

Alvin and Steeve do this begrudgingly grunting and grumbling all the way while sitting in a corner and reading the book. Not enough of it they were strictly given warning of making it a point to submit the essay, to dad, on what they have read.

Only if they have read the book. But no, when dad moves out of the ear shot or vicinity they will get occupied with their lappy or tab. And what all good non sense they do only God knows.

Truly these twins are capable of defrauding even the king of treachery with their mischievous ways.

Ben, Dave and Ahaan are momma's sweet heart of three musketeers who tail around moms day long helping them with cutlery works and listening to their chatting patiently.

Ben is periyamma's cute and obedient boy. He helps periyamma with grocery and other household arrangement during the vacation. Periyamma proudly admits the fact that Ben is an asset to our family. She is very impressed by his works and the way he chooses to keep mum when elders speak.

His greatest virtue is his patience and listening capacity. He is a good listener and a great pacifier to anyone who finds it difficult to cop up with their placed situation.

Chithi is so very impressed by Ahaan's sense of duty and timing. During vacation Ahaan never fails to show up in kitchen and help out chithi in stuff she needs a hand.

He never finds it as a tiring job or anything. He helps Chithi with managing the household accounts and keeps a tab on stationary things and informs Ben when our household is prone to run out of provision

Dave as always is my mom's darling cutie pie. She never expresses her love to anyone that openly as she does to Dave.

.

Dave helps mom with small works like washing plates, talking to her. Dave's innocent prattling always brings a sweet smile on my mom's face.

That makes him my sweet heart of a brother as well.

Periyappa is my mentor during vacation times. He used to give me small tips of life.

He always gives assertion to the fact that be self reliant and vigilant.

He is a sucker for nature and rural beauty. So isn't it obvious for me to have been assigned with this job.

But I never consider this as a job. This gives me immense pleasure and I talk to plants. Yeah crazy part of Pearl gets an exposure when I tend plants.

Saffy is chithappa's pet for the prudence,intelligence and capability she holds within herself. There is nothing under this sun she is not aware of.

She has got explanation for every single trinket of question thrown in her direction.

Prodigy she is. I sighed.

And me being the dumb idiot of this family is assigned with such works which seldom earns any appreciation or admiration from anyone.

Admiration? That too for you? Ha! That person should go psycho or gaga to admire a girl like you for watering plants.

My prankster fairy chimed slapping the back of my neck.

I was listening to music while watering the plants lost in thoughts.

Suddenly I felt a soft movement on my foot making me jump out of my skin with a shriek while throwing away the hose.

When my eyes met that furry exuberance my eyes balled out of my sockets in fear.

"Bruno! What the hell are you doing here? Can't you just keep to yourself when I say stay away from me?" I yelled at Bruno.

But he held a smouldering look in his big brownish eyes.

"Don't show me that gooey look okay. I am not gonna fall for that. Stay away from me" I screamed jumping like a crazy girl while shooing Bruno away.

He is always like that never leaves an instant to snuggle beside me or cuddle with me. Omg how I hate such creatures you know.

He stood up and my mouth fell open when I saw how much he had grown up in this few days time.

Good! I forgot only I am the one who is damned with shorty height for eternity all the others have fast growth even our pet dog towers over me.

That is really a shame when it comes to me. Even small beings outwit me in height or anything .

"Bruno! Shoo! Go away" I backed away shooing Bruno ,my insane brother, Ben' s pet. I dunno how he has got a love for such things.

He likes to pet this stupid being like this creature is his own son. I don't think If he will ever look after his own son with this much passion.

Everything is good. But why Bruno is always interested in showering his love on me when he knows well that I gets a heart attack followed by an irate attack at his very own sight.

I don't like dogs. I like puppies. They are cute and sweet and main thing is they are the only things which are smaller than me.

May be I used to pet Bruno when he was a small pup.

I think he remembers that till now and wanna show his gratitude or something like licking my foot Eww..

"Stay away...Ouch" My head got a massive hit from the wall behind me.

I rubbed my head while moving to my side still shooing Bruno away from me flailing my hands .

But what I got to see through my peripheral vision hit the wind out of my system.

"Om!" I exclaimed when I found him standing by my side with a smile and gesturing Bruno to join him.

To my immense relief Bruno went after Om wagging its tail and sliding out its slightly trembling and shivering long tongue.

I clutched my chest heaving out a sigh of relief.

I closed the tap and sat on the step of the garden sit out laying my hands limp to my sides .

I sat still staring simply ahead relieving my stress by letting in the soothing green richness invade my vision thereby conjoining my torn self.

Om and Bruno's voice served as a BGM for my predicament.

"Di, I love you" A pair of chubby tiny arms wrapped around my neck with this sweet declaration bringing about an effortless smile on my face.

"Love you too sweetheart" I said while giving a quick peck on khushi's smiling face.

I felt at ease when I saw her beaming innocence. Still goodness prevails in this world. I thought with a sigh.

I pulled her to my lap and encased her into a tight and warm hug while she twaddled about every single thing that captured her amusement.

I listened to her childish prattling with a smile. She got out of my lap and stood before me.

"I will show you my dance steps" saying so she twirled around like a bellerina princess and began to take graceful and childish dance steps which for sure is her choreography. I laughed at her babyish attempts to make me smile.

"It is working" I said looking at her and she held a knowing smile of her own while glancing sideways

I turned my head to see Om winking at her with his thumbs up. When he noticed my eyes discovering his tomfoolery he brushed the thick fringes of his raven hair with his fingers turning around while whistling some rubbish tune.

"Like brother,like sister" I said while tickling khushi. She laughed giggled while trying to break away from my tickling frenzy.

"( Kichu mom wants to see you. Moms group have settled upstairs)" Alvin called out for me while jogging towards me.

"Go and see what those girls are upto. I am sure . ( Your trap is all set sweetie) All the best" Alvin conveyed very mercifully while taking Khushi in his arms and cooing at her that too sarcastic cooing.

God! No one can save him from the sarcastic hell he has created for himself.

I rolled my eyes while huffing.

"So thoughtful of you Anna.(big bro) You are a sarcastic trophy any girl could achieve as a gift for her predicament.Well done for that" I retorted spitefully with a wry smile while storming out of his view before he could even come up with a reposte to my words.

" Hi, . " ( Why? Where are you vamoosing with this haste without even paying a heed to your friend)" Om asked me while walking by my side.

I shot a side glance quietly.

"Please stop being adamant Pearl. What did I ever do to deserve this kinda treatment from you?" Om asked desperately.

I slowly took my steps while thinking of the talk we had that day in the woods.

"You are in no way wrong,Om. It is I who am wronged in every way. Sorry, if my silence made you sad. But this is best for our friendship. I need to attend the lecture my moms have fixed for me. Please let me be" I stated hurriedly while taking slow and hesitant steps towards the porch.

I saw Saffrin and periyamma seated on the porch swing.

She was talking something to saffrin. I am one hundred and ten percent sure Periyamma is feeding her with some gnana oli ( divine light of knowledge).

I drooped my head low and was about to step inside my home.

"Hey Pearl! Wanna visit the home for kids along with us?" Om asked suddenly making me stop dead on my track and turn around in surprise.

I flexed my eyebrow up quizzically at him.

He just wiggled his perfect eyebrows at me like how was that idea?

I rolled my eyeballs and shook my head. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly confused.

I pointed my eyes at Periyamma and looked at him with a sigh like do you think my aunty will grandiosely allow me to go out with you?

He took in my challenging visage and took two steps back.

"What if I make her says yes?" He asked challengingly. I felt an urge to guffaw at this childish query of Om.

"I think pigs might fly If that ever happened, Om." I replied with a sneer on my face.

"So get ready Pearl " Om said hurriedly.

"For what?" I asked clueless of what was reeling in his mind.

"For viewing flying pigs! Simple" He said with a slight shrug of his shoulders and jogged towards periyamma.

Before I could stop him he sprouted before Periyamma with an unbelievable smile on his face much to my dismay.

By the time Periyamma saw me as well slashing the idea of taking an escape route for myself.

"Good morning Om. How are you today kanna?" Periyamma asked in her rare sweet voice.

"Good morning Shyla aunty. . (I am spectacular) " He said politely with happy smile.

"Hey Om!" Safrin said timidly while waving her hand at him slightly

"Hey Elly! Looking gorgeous as ever" Om greeted Saffy with a compliment winking at her appreciatively.

Saffy smiled lowering her gaze from him.

Safrin's middle name is Ellianne and Om just chose to call her Elly for what reason I don't know .

He seemed to have established a good rapport with other members of my family more easily than any normal stranger would have done.

That amazes me to no extend.

"Thank you" She said in low whispers yet beamingly.

Periyamma flared her nostrils a bit while her eyes seemed faded of any emotion just vaccumed space they seem.

Danger zone! Gosh you are a goner Pearl! My prankster fairy as always chimed.

I scowled inwardly at that creature who hails herself as my fairy.

"What is the plan for the day Om. Are you free today?" Periyamma inquired while her eyes slowly came in search of her victim that is me. I was snapped out of my la la world the instant Periyamma's words fell sharp on my ears.

I swallowed the large chunk which formed inside my throat at her glare which held so much of warnings and threats.

I forced out a smile from my dried lips.

".( yeah I just came to convey you that stuff) May I Shyla aunty" He asked politely.

"Go ahead Om" periyamma said with an encouraging nod and smile but somewhere she doesn't seem happy or at ease.

"Today I have some work to be done at home for kids for which I am here. So I thought of taking Pearl, Alvy and Steeve with me. Only if you allowed me to do so ma'am. Your words matter the most" Om weaved the web of neatly woven words in a polite and genuine manner just in the outer frame.

"Why not Om. You can take them along with you. " ( By the by the whole day they just sit here and sulk or moon around the house. So instead of that leaving those three of them with you I see no qualms in doing so) Just make it a point to drop Pearl here before sunset. I can't tolerate the thought that my child is out even at the night time. Please Om, I hope you will understand my dilemma and will respect my feelings." Periyamma pleaded

I was shocked beyond explanation when I saw the pleading look on my Periyamma's face which is kinda never to happen sorta phenomenon.

My mouth slightly parted aghast.

"Sure Shyla aunty. She will be at home before you know. This is my promise" Om assured pinching his throat.

"Pearl change your clothes and be done with your breakfast before you accompany Om and your brothers. Krystal will come with you" Periyamma said as a final verdict after a moment's thought.

I knew it Periyamma will never allow me anywhere with men outside our family without someone trusted in the family tagging along with me.

Krystal seems the best choice as per Periyamma's view,I guess.

"Pearl! .( come upstairs after half an hour. I need to have a word with Rani and Maria meantime.) " Periyamma said looking at me. I nodded silently.

Om wiggled his eyebrows at me with a smug smile when my gaze accidently fell upon him.

I scrunched my nose up while turning my attention to periyamma again

"Saffy whatever I have been trying to convey you ,should have embedded that to your mind by now. I will talk to you later after all this morning hassle settles on." Periyamma said as a final word while standing up to go.

She nodded quietly while stroking the spine of the book she had in her hand. Her gaze down and she held a timid stance.

I noticed that saffy's face has turned into ghost white.

"Well, we are very much impressed to note that how Surili di and Dadi praise you to the skies and back. We really hope you will keep that notch of goodness high up in coming days as well." Periyamma said seriously while my mom and chithi nodded in approval.

Chithi beamed at me. She sat next to me slowly caressing my hair in an endearing way.

"( You look very gorgeous and beautiful sweetie. Surili sis likes you so much and Grannie is so much impressed that she couldn't keep off herself from praising you.) Chithi conveyed with a broad smile adorning her features.