"Edin!" I exclaimed in a muffled voice closing my mouth with my hands and eyes widened like a big sea shell.

Edin stood in front of me with a complacent smile yet there were traces of perturbation and uncertainty painting patterns on his features.

"I came for my princess!" Edin said with a shrug of his shoulders like it is the usual thing all lovers do.

May be this is the kinda thing, but I haven't seen many lovers of this kind to make a remark that staunchly and assertively.

"Hey Ed! What are you doing here?" I almost shouted, throwing my hands up in the air dramatically , not being able to bottle up the excitement brimming within me.

"Gosh! Soldier! Slow down!Don't scream your head out like this."Edin closed my mouth with his free hand and shushed me down.

He held a cute and pretty big bouquet in his other hand keeping it close to his heart like his dear life clung upon solely keeping it safe and sound.

Of course, it should be for Safrin, who else is in this home to receive his romantic token other than our Safrin.

I glanced at his face with high regard and admiration. I felt happy and sad at the same time.

Happy that Safrin is getting a real gem of a man in the form of Edin who cares for every simplest wish of hers.

Sad. because my sister is not realizing what she is missing out in all the hassle created by her petulant act.

Edin glanced at me

I nodded and silently approved to remain quiet signalling with a flutter of my eyes and curt nod. He took off his hand and glanced at me dubiously.

"Continue" I whispered curtly ,waving my hand and signalling him positively to continue with his story

He took in a large chunk of air before explaining his purpose behind this lightening visit.

"I told you that I came here for my princess. It is time to bring my beauty to life, whatever it takes I am ready for that" Edin said determinedly fisting his palm and swishing it in the air sternly like he will act out his talk.

I felt a bit relieved to see that even though Safrin has left the hope of pulling back the loosened ends of this relation Edin is so into making it work. His resolute look shows that.

"Saffy is really lucky to have you in her life." I said smiling at him blinking my eyes.

Edin laughed a bit loudly like he had just heard some joke.

"I don't know how lucky a girl she is to have me. But indeed, in its full art and splendid meaning, I am the luckiest one here to have my sunshine streaming down upon my life with all her scintillating grace and radiating aura of goodness." Edin said his chin a bit raised dreamily with his arms wide and giving a breathless look glancing at a vacant space like Safrin is standing there like a Greek goddess.

A giggle escaped my lips upon witnessing this weird antics Edin is exhibiting in the name of love.

Edin snapped out of his seemingly profound dazed stupor mode and stared at me flexing his one eye brow up and keeping his one palm over his hip and adopting a chiding stance.

"Enjoy i.( Are you having the great fun time of your life viewing me blubber like an insane idiot? Girls are always like this. They will create a web with their love around us and enjoy the view of men writhing and struggling like the worst jokers in their dripping and searing love) Edin remarked sarcastically like the crap hero of movies.

I wondered what really happened to him? He was better than such stupidity.

"Actually girls are really good. The problem is men misinterpret our goodness for something else and start waltzing around chanting the mantra.Love !love!Love!"I said in a sing song voice.

"Tiger!I never thought you had this much fables hidden within you! My Goodness!Manh! This girl has got real spirit! I think your man has got a real tough game in the form of you. God alone can save him"Edin mused in wonder and amusement.

I simply stared at him for the remark he just made about me and the jerk, who can be hailed as my man!Huh! Really?My man? That thought alone brings a nauseating feeling.

"Come back child! Don't give me that look. It gives creeps and chills"Edin said over anxiously.

I blinked away the dazed look I had on my face and forced a feeble smile.

"Eddy! My Teddy!" A sudden, sharp shrilly exuberant squeak chimed rhymingly. This made me jump a bit out of my skin.

Edin rolled his eyes with an adoring and endearing smile when he gauged out the source.

"Hey Bengal Cub! What's up Chubby Cubby " Edin said delightfully in a sing song voice whilst dumping the bouquet of flowers in my arms and grabbing hold of the bundle of joy, that is our Khushi.

I glanced at the flowers in my arms. I smiled when I found that it is Safrin's favourite peach colour roses. Edin knows every single like and dislike of Safrin.

Khushi's loud chirpy voice brought me back to reality.

"You know something my Eddy!" She exclaimed exaggeratedly with adorable display of enthusiastic expressions.

Edin nodded and exhibited his eagerness to hear her.

"I missed you soooo much !" Khushi lisped cutely closing her eyes.

"Really?How much ,Liza?"Edin asked playfully.

Khushi tapped her chin thoughtfully for some time

"Thissss muchyy!" Khushi chimed spreading her arms as wide as as her little hands allowed.

Edin was having the greatest time of his life talking with this cute bee.He laughed mirthfully forgetting everything even this world viewing the angel of bliss and solace conversing with him.

"Love you bhai" Khushi squealed.

"Love you too my chubby cubby" Edin said smiling happily.

Khushi bounced up like a bumble bee cradled in Edin's arm. She locked her chubby arms around Edin's neck and kissed him infinite times on his cheeks.

"Ow! Just stop it Bengal cub! You are turning out to be an Imraan Hashmi than a Cub! Chubby!" Edin howled and whined feigning dismay before holding his reddened cheek and pretending to be in pain.

In fact he was enjoying this. But wanted to pull the strings of danger alarm of Khushi.

And to think that it did work favourably won't be an exaggeration.

Khushi pursed her lips and puckered her eyebrows staring at him with a cute pout.

"Hey! Star! I was just joking my cutie Cubby chubby."Edin tweaked his hand a bit jerking Khushi out of her pouty mode and gave a soft peck on Khushi's cheek.

Khushi wiped away the kiss with the back of her baby palms and stared at Edin with her tear filled dolly eyes.

"Hey come on! Little star! You are my Bengal tiger! And Tigers won't cry for such tiny whiny stuff" Edin said playfully bringing up a bright smile on her face.

"Then what do they do?" Khushi asked curiously easily distracted.

"Grrrrrr....They roar like this. Come on!Now show me, how my Bengal cub is gonna roar" Edin added playfully

Edin kissed her and had a cute chat and roaring competition with her for sometime before letting her out of the room to play with others.

Before she got out of the room she turned around and glanced at me as if some realization has dawned on her

"Di" Khushi enveloped her arms around my waist and hugged me , looking up smiling at me as brightly and cutely as ever.

"Yes darling!" I held her face in my palm and queried softly.

"I love you di" She said giggling adorably.

"Love you too Sweetie" I said hugging her tight and letting her free to go and play with her cousin, Harsha. My cousin Davien, Ria and Jovian's son Ruben.

Three of them stood near the door in wait of our princess Khushi.

She happily hopped towards them and joined them with a squeal and roar before turning to their usual merriment mode.

Edin just stood still and peered at her observing each and every move of her with a grown up brother's concern,love and care.

"Huh! She is the beam of our family. A beautiful and cute thing. Really a few minutes spent with her take away all our tension and frustration. She is just a fresh ray of goodness,hope and positivity. It is at times like this I feel that goodness still prevails in this world in one form or the other. " Edin said sitting on the couch with a calm smile playing across his features.

He closed his eyes and rested his head on the head rest.

"Ed... What should I do?" I asked hesitantly not knowing what am I to do with the bouquet I have in my hand.

"Oops! Sorry sweets! Just pass it to me. I will find a way to make it up to Saffy Shine" Edin said getting up and taking the bouquet from my hand

"Pearl ! What are you doing here girl...." Om stilled when he saw Edin standing with me.

We both grinned widely at Om.

"Man! You made it up to here. You are one kinda person, I must say. ( Great lover)"Om said like a joke yet seemingly impressed by Edin's arrival.

" (No bro, It is not the coruscating magnificence of Agra's colour that is sprinkled within me but the real sparking vibrance of my Saffy shine's love which has submerged within me dragged me here tonight with all its magnetic force) Edin said closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath.

"The magic of love is making its mischievous toll on you I can see that." Om said glancing Edin up and down like surveying his every move .

Edin grinned sheepishly hearing Om's words.

"You didn't care to inform me, do you?"Om accused.

"Hey!Don't take it your heart man!Even for me it was a decision made at the finality of the moment. In fact I didn't have any control or hold on myself when I drove to this place.I don't have any idea how I reached here. Only my Saffy shine's face was playing before me when I did so"Edin explained the situation which led him to this place tonight.

"."(Come on! Leave it ya buddy! I was simply fooling around"Om said sportively.

Om smacked appreciatively on Edin's shoulder before pulling him into a tight gentlemanly hug.

"Now things will work out wonderfully in both of your favour. I am sure. Elly is not that positive. But hopefully she won't push you away once she happens to see you in person" Om said optimistically smiling broadly.

I nodded eagerly with a smile.

"And kid! What are you doing here? Go and meet Georgie papa. You never listen to your elders." Om said in a feign chiding tone.

"And you are not my elder at any cost" I snapped at him playfully making faces at him.

Edin laughed seeing this.

"Don't try to dictate her,cousin. She is beyond anyone's imagination or grasp. Just put a mental note now on to be at your check when she is around."Edin remarked looking from me to Om.

"Yeah!I got the taste of her mauling capacity this evening. And you know something Jeet bhai,I have my ways to tackle such she tigers with a snap of my fingers. Only thing is I am just waiting for the right time to pounce upon. No one ever escaped Om's ghastly and lethal clutches after leaving a scratch on my body or ego" Om said like a warning rubbing his wrist and glaring at me in a villainous way.

I scoffed when he displayed his attitude like this.

"I thought we fixed that issue?" I stated it more like a question to myself.

"It is beyond any repair or mending, Pearl. I told you, you will definitely have a huge price to repay for the pain you have inflicted upon me. (I won't forestall or ignore things that easily.) You can expect the treat in an unexpected time, precious Pearl" Om said sarcastically narrowing his eyes at me in a scornful manner strumming the dangerous ballad notes of my patience.

"And Hey You! (I just left you unscathed this time because I can't tolerate the pained look on Surili aunty's face if something bad happens to you. But don't you remain in a shadow castle thinking that you can save your skin from me because of Surili aunty . I stopped being merciful for her sake.Next time I won't think about Surili aunty. you will have your eternal damnation marked right there itself,when I unleash my war tactics upon you" I said pointing towards his chest locking the fingers of my left hand together and twisting them in the air indicating what I am really capable of.

Om's eyes sparked dangerously and evilly when he heard me.He smiled wickedly at me. I grimaced and turned my gaze away.

Edin who was getting to view this show in all its spicy flavour cleared his throat enticing Om's attention towards him

"My sweet and spicy cousin.Just put your temper fairies in lock and chain. That is the way things work, if you don't know seek the advice from the known." Edin pushed Om back. Om looked like he was having a hard time dealing with his anger demons.

I rolled my eyes at the thought and locked gaze with Om giving a mock look at him. I folded my arms across my chest and looked away with a snort.

"He is quick tempered and hasty in his action when emotions control him. Soldier! don't blurt out any thing which will flare up his nerves and veins and keep them under fire.He can be an insufferable person when rage consumes him." Edin whispered standing next to me.

I glanced at Om who was shaking his left hand staring out through the open window. His jaw clenched together and the vein near his temple protruded and throbbed

"I will be careful. Don't worry about me,Ed." I assured in a soft low voice when the tenacity of the whole ordeal sunk into me.

"That is better Soldier!"Edin said looking relieved.

I peered at Edin. He put his palm on my forehead in the gesture of endearing and smiled at me.

"Bless you!" Edin said smiling. I smiled but my mind was blank and numb.

A clearing of throat made me snap out of my temporary trance. I turned my head to meet Om's calm gaze.

He looked calm and peaceful. Moments before he just wanted to snap me like a twig with his bare hands now he is putting up all mister cool act before me.

"Pearl I need to discuss some stuff with Jeet. I hope you wont mind allowing some space to these cousins"Om said in a polite tone. I was totally amazed and confused by this sudden change of demeanor showcased by Om.

But I didnt show it openly.

"Sure!I will be in the main hall with Saffy" I readily agreed and turned to go.

"Don't let Saffy get a whiff of my arrival here. I wanna make it to be a surprise for her" Edin reminded me calling out from behind.

I nodded in understanding turning my head and glancing at Edin. Edin smiled.

I returned a polite smile at his direction before scurrying towards the main hall not even sparing a second glance at Om.

***********

The Main hall was flocked up and packed with my cousins, both grown up and small ones.

The growing number of members in our home made the splendidly large and capacious Hall look like a small room. But it was fun to have such a lot of noise and voice of your loved ones in perfect harmony. I felt like I am listening to my favourite music.

I suddenly felt beaming with exuberant jubilance viewing them.

At home, in Kerala, I was kinda all alone. Dad will be busy with his publishing and other official work in his study and mom never cares to give me a second glance. Ben used be always absent because of his studies and other personal reasons.

So that void remains constant when I am at home but here the whole story is mirthfully different. No one ever gives the space to breath or sit alone. some or the other will be always around me filling my mind with sweet, frolic and happy thoughts.