Chapter 1

"Look, this dress is so nice. It's perfect for you. Why don't you take it? You could wear it for Christmas eve!"

Khushi glanced at the dress morosely and shrugged. "I think I'll go for something simpler this year. After all, I'll be spending the whole night going from bed to bed.

Martha ogled at her in shock. "Okay, that sounded really weird."

"I'm sorry," Khushi giggled, clapping her hand on her mouth. "I wasn't thinking. Uhh... I'll be serving people the whole night. Does that work?"

"Still creepy."

She sighed. "I volunteered at an old age home and they asked me to come in on the night of Christmas Eve. Good?"

"Much better."

***

"Anything else for you, sir?"

Dwayne McGregor turned bright pink and shook his head. "No, but thank you, miss. No one has called this old man sir' in ages."

"Miss Gupta is always so nice to us. Aren't you, Khushi?" Markand Singh beamed at her as she blushed too and smiled shyly. He patted his new friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry, McGregor. You will be at home here. Bring us some eggnog, Khushi."

She nodded curtly and headed for the kitchen, hiding her tears. It was so terribly heartbreaking to see all these old people living here, away from their families but she also understood that sometimes, there was no other option. Some, like Mr McGregor, came here of their own accord because they did not want to burden their children. Some were too sick for their children to look after them, like Mrs Norris, who was suffering from Alzheimer's; she never recognised her children and got terribly scared of them instead.

It was so heartening, though, when the residents received visits from their families. The happiness that lit up their old faces warmed her heart. They looked like children on Christmas morning every time. But as of yet, she had herself not witnessed Mr Singh receive any visits. She had heard the staff members talking about a grandson of his who visited every time he was on holidays but she had never actually met with him and the rest of the family usually came for New Year's but then she was not working. According to the others, Mr Singh had been lived in Birmingham for around fifty years now. Recently, his family had moved to London but he had refused to go along because this was the place where he had started with life with his wife, and this was where she had died. He wanted to die here, close to her memories.

Later, when she had given the men their eggnogs and left them to chat, Khushi stood by the window and watched the snow fall. It was such a beautiful sight. At some point, she perceived a dark figure open the little gate and enter the yard. She realised it had to be a late visitor. Usually at this time, they would not be allowed but the rules were bent on Christmas Eve. She hurried to the door and opened it, just before the person could press the doorbell button.

"Hi, come in," she chirped, moving to let the visitor in but he stayed frozen there, for a few minutes before awkwardly stepping in. "How can I help you?"

He stared at her, completely disoriented. Khushi raised an eyebrow but waited patiently. The cold could do that to people... maybe? He confusedly dropped his gaze to the package he was holding then back at her.

"Oh? Uhh... yeah... I am here to meet... Mr... Mr Singh?"

A smile promptly tugged at her lips. So this was the grandson everybody was talking about? She should have guessed it by his looks, silly her. However, he did not seem as smart as everyone had described him... Weird. The poor guy looked lost.

"This way," she grinned, leading him to the room where all the residents were sitting in little groups with the staff or some family members. She heard several surprised gasps and cheers from those who recognised Mr Singh's grandson. While walking, she turned slightly to look at him. He nodded and waved politely at every one, even stopping to wish them a happy Christmas. And she lost some of her breath, yes. He was quite attractive and the respect he was showing to the elderly people only made him more and more endearing. Not to speak of that lopsided grin and adorable Christmas sweater...

Khushi frowned. She needed to focus on the task at hand.

"Mr Singh," she called softly as she reached the old man.

He was still laughing from a joke Mr McGregor had been telling him and when he saw the younger man, even Khushi could not help smiling profusely. The happiness just blossomed on his face and got up quickly to hug his boy.

"Arnav," he chuckled heartily, pulling away finally. "Tumne bataaya bhi nahin ke tum aa rahe the!"

The grandson helped him sit down. "Aapko surprise jo karna tha na, Nanu?"

Mr Singh smiled widely at the three people surrounding him. "This is my grandson, Arnav, my daughter's oldest son. And Arnav, this is McGregor, new resident. And Khushi, she's a volunteer. Very good girl."

Khushi bit her lip as Arnav gave her a brief smirk, trying hard not to redden. One of the staff members joined them.

"Hello, Mr Raizada. How are you?"

"Good, thank you. Uhh... Ma'am, I brought some chocolates for everyone. I hope you don't mind distributing them," he said as he handed his huge packed to Miss Watson.

She gasped. "Aww, you are such a sweet man, Mr Raizada. Thank you."

When she left, Mr Singh turned to Khushi cheerfully. "Bitiya, can you bring some eggnog for the young man too?"

And before she could reply, his grandson was already complaining. "Eww! Nanu, you know I hate that!"

"What can I bring you then?" she giggled, perfectly understanding his disgust for the drink.

He shook his head. "Nothing, thanks."

Khushi nodded. "Okay. Anyway, I will be leaving soon so happy Christmas."

The two old men raised their glasses to her and wished her too but Mr Raizada blinked at her, once again confused. She tried to not frown as she moved away from them and wished everyone on her way. She pocketed the chocolate bar Miss Watson handed her, secured her scarf around her neck and headed out, only to hear someone running after her. She stopped, turned around, and fell over in a heap of fresh snow, such underneath someone's heavy weight.

"Oh shit! I am so sorry!" she heard a vaguely familiar voice mumble as the weight shifted off her. A pair of hands caught her by the forearms and hoisted her up on her feet and immediately started brushing the snow off her. "I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?"

She had to blink several times to clear her vision but when she did, she could have fallen down again, this time, out of shock. Young Mr Raizada stood next to her, red like her cardigan and attempting to dust the snow particles out of her hair. Her heart beat accelerated for some silly reason, but she managed a nervous giggle.

"What are you doing?"

He met her eyes with his own, open so wide she could practically see him cursing himself. "I... I'm getting the snow out of your hair... Sorry, I didn't mean to fall on you. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am," she blushed. "It's fine. Thanks. Was there something you needed?"

Arnav frowned in confusion. Again. "Pardon me?"

She chuckled. "You were running after me, weren't you? I thought you needed something."

"Oh!" his face cleared and turned redder. "No... I just... I was just... leaving... I thought... uhh... I thought I could walk with you..."

"Oh..." she looked away uncomfortably, just as he did - although, she did not really notice that. So far, she had probably not made a great impression on the one guy in real life that she could possibly feel attracted to, and now she was sure that, if her image in front of him was not already ruined after her fall and the following dishevelled look, it would surely be soon... His presence made her feel so acutely self-conscious. Stiffly, she made her way to the little gate and opened it, feeling him close behind her.

"Do you live far from here?"

She almost jumped out of her skin. "Huh? Oh... no..." He nodded silently and kept walking beside her. She started feeling itchy everywhere suddenly. "How come you are leaving so early? You just got here."

"What? Oh... Actually... Uhh... It was a pretty long drive from Manchester. That's where I am studying."

"Oh... nice..." she bit her lip, cursing her mindlessness. Was that all she could say? Oh lord, his voice! "Where will you be staying for the night?" she mumbled before biting her tongue hard. She was clearly losing it.

He smiled. "Our old house. Nanu said it's near where you live so... I reckoned I could walk with you..."

She nodded meekly, feeling like she could literally throw herself down in the snow and cry until the earth swallowed her up. Who knew she could be such a jerky idiotic moron? But wait, she was the only one trying to kindle a conversation here. He wasn't even trying, he was only answering to her. Well, if he wasn't that interested in talking to her, there was no use in investing. She crossed her arms on her chest and stared at her side of her road intently. Idiot!

They reached a busier street with the shops still open and people walking around and Khushi felt slightly more comfortable. It looked like a scene fit for a postcard, she smiled. As she was looking around, her eyes fell on him and she caught him looking at her strangely. Her smile fell off and something dimmed a little on his face. She felt her heart lurch in her chest. Argh! This could well be the worst Christmas ever! She looked away again and went on, even walking faster, but he caught up easily. Of course it would be easy with those abominable long legs...

He walked a couple steps more before realising she had stopped. "What's wrong?"

Khushi loosened her scarf around her neck and tilted her head to the right. "I'm home."

"Oh..." There was such a pitiful look of disappointment once again on his face. She could have smacked him. Why did he keep doing that? They were walking side by side along and he had not said a word all by himself and then he came up with this tortured-puppy face. He was, hands down, the most annoying guy ever, right now. Or maybe she was imagining all this in her head? Maybe he wasn't remotely interested with her and she was thinking he might be because she was crushing on him? Because look at him. He had the looks and the money, and apparently, he also had the brain, whereas she was just a plain little goblin... Yeah, maybe it was just... the design of his face?

"Goodnight then," she shrugged coolly and moved towards her house. Just before opening the door, she paused and, without thinking, turned around. Arnav Raizada was still there, frowning slightly and his eyes on her, making her uneasy. She frowned too and immediately, a small smile appeared on his handsome face. He took his hand out of his pocket, waved at her and resumed walking. And irritated, she stomped inside the house.

"Who was that?"