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Chapter 2

1 months ago

_Chaverah_

@_Chaverah_

[MEMBERSONLY]

Chapter 1:

'Remember that I Love You Bitiya.. More than anything and everything.. Khushi, its not what the eyes see define the world you live in.. It is what the heart feels that defines it.. Bitiya, You are an exact replica of your mother, in and out.. The same beauty and innocence but beyond that, the thing that makes you both special is the optimistic way you see the life and the strength with which you fight against your hurdles.. Never loose it Khushi.. It is what that defines you.. Remember, every time you see the sun rise, it tells you of the victory you'v had upon the previous day.. Live your life, Bitiya, with your heart, just as your Amma did..'

Manali

Watching the break of the dawn always brought peace to her scared soul.. Every rise of the morning reminds her of the words her Bauji spoke to her years back..

"Good morning Bauji.. The dawn is up and so is my new day.. Bless me Bauji.. I need to be strong like how your Bitiya used to be.."

And the activities of the Gupta House have begun or atleast, Khushi Gupta had started her day.. Singing along with the chirping birds, freshly bathed Khushi prayed to the divine powers to give her the strength to go through the new day.. Cleaning up the entire Mansion, washing of laundry and tending the huge gardens that adorned the Mansion were the start of her day..

Khushi started preparing the coffee for herself, Nutrient filled vitamin juices for her step sisters and her step mother.. Though they would'nt wake up any time near 8 in the morning, Khushi din't like leaving her other works unfinished giving into the wants of her so called family.. She then set out to make breakfast.. Low fat home made cereal mix for her Reah (the elder step sister) ; Home baked low caloric Bread Mash for Siya ( the younger step sister) and Makhan Aaloo Paranthas for Parmila( the Step Mother).. All of them were to be made by Khushi alone.. Not that they loved the food she made but they wanted her to go through all the tough work.. By the time all these were done, it was already 6:30.

She quickly wiped her self and went to her daily visit of the temple.. By the time she returned, it was 7:00. She wished Jay, their paper boy and stuffed his pocket with a parantha and earned a bright smile as usual.. She then went to her neighbor, Mrs. Gloria Jacob, a widowed Anglo - Indian, Khushi's favorite whom she calls Aunty ji. She made a morning prayer along with her, quickly prepared breakfast for her and took her blessings before rushing off to Gupta Mansion.. 7:45.. Perfect!!!

Khushi made her way through the first floor of Gupta Mansion to the rooms of her sisters and mother handing them their juices..

Half an hour later , as Khushi was preparing the table for the breakfast, she saw her sisters descending the stairs with clothes that seemed to be lesser than what they wore at night.. She had a huge desire to laugh aloud on the type and colors of dresses they wore.. Seriously? Eerie green with pink polka dots? Ah and there was the other, mud brown with grease green stripes?? Who the hell gave them admissions to study the fashion designing?!? God!! Khushi pitied their future boss!

"Stop staring at my dress like that! I know it's too good that you can't take your eyes off it but that doesn't mean you have to look at it with such hunger in your eyes!!" Siya barked as she sat in her chair..

Awesome!! Here she was about to throw up for their dressing and they find it as drooling? God help her!

If people saw her in this attire, they would surely be hungry.. Not for her clothes but what lay beneath that.. Stupid Sisters!!

"Sorry.."

Khushi knew better than to speak back..

She continued serving them when she heard Reah saying..

"Why do you keep wearing such stupid dresses? Look at that.. Nothing except your face and hands can be seen.. What if you have no brains? At least you could learn from us.. You do see what all we keep wearing every day.."

And be the prey of all the stray dogs?! No thank you.. Unlike you, I prefer my salwars.. Besides, who in Manali would prefer to show their legs and shoulders bare with cold severe enough to bite your bones?! And speaking of Brains, look who we have talking about it!! A girl who can't differentiate apples from tomatoes and boasts about finding a tomato sweet when what actually she ate was an Apple!!!

"I'l try."

"Whats going on?"

Ah, there comes the head..

What going on? Well, your sweet daughters are having their morning freshener - Mocking Me...

And, Gracious Lord!! Why the hell is she wearing that?! Yellow!! Of the brightest and stupid shades!!! Heaven save me else I'm sure that someday, I'l start hating colors!!

"Nothing much Mom! Just look at her.. With the amount of material used in the clothes she wears, I and Siya could have ourselves 3 pairs each.."

"I DO NOT want my mornings to be spoiled.. Not with these stupid talks.. And specially not regarding Her!"

Oh, I'm honored!! She doesn't like her mornings to have me? Wonderful!!! Then why don't she make the juices, breakfast and laundry all by herself? That would save her from me..

"Have you finished serving?" Parmila continued not looking at Khushi..

"Yes" came Khushi's short reply.

"Do you need a TV announcement to get back to your work?"

Khushi was more than happy to have been dismissed.. Hell with them! God, watching them eat with table manners no less than pigs, it took her at least half an hour to get back her appetite and have her own breakfast..

A little later she was called in again..

"I want Italian Pasta and Cheese Macaroni for dinner today.."

"Make that two" added Siya.

"Actually make it 4.." Busted in her mother..

Well well well.. So another new pig is going to add up! Wonderful!!!

"I'l be in only for dinner.. I want you to rearrange my wardrobe and clean my room.. Prepare the dinner, make the table and leave the hall before I can see you.. I'l be having guests today and you'l make sure you'l be no where seen.."

"Okay"

And finally, she was home.. All alone.. With the silence and solitude she needed.. Solitude made her feel better than the company she shared with her family..

By 9:40, Khushi was walking her way up to the huge building situated 15 minutes away from her home in a baby pink salwar and a white shawl with her bag loaded with paintings..

This 15 minute walk everyday always helped her to come out of the morning mockery sessions.. The lush and tall green pine trees, the steep silent valleys, the smiling pink winter roses, the merrily playing kids, the thick white reminders of the previous night's coldness, the glistening sparkling warmth of the Sun, the melody of chirping birds and her memories.. These are what that entertain Khushi through out that 15 minute travel - the short, sweet daily schedule in her broken life..

Before the building lay a board that read 'Art and Paint Gallery of Manali' (sales open from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.)'.

"Ah, Khushi, I was just thinking of you.. Come on in.."

An elderly voice greeted her as she went into the building. The sweet voice laced with love and concern are all that Khushi needed to make through her day..

"Aunty ji, I need to leave home by noon.. The house needs some cleaning.."

Khushi asked hugging Mrs. Gloria and placing her bag on the table..

But the wise old lady knew there was much to it than Khushi was revealing.. Her child is always like that.. Never lets anyone know what she actually goes through not even if the knew..

"Khushi.. This gallery is as much yours as it is mine.. You can come and go as you wish.. You are my partner remember?"

A strong voice cut their talk..

"Khushi jiji.. How are you? Here.. The wind is really cold.. This tea will make you feel better.."

"Thank you very much John.. How's your college?"

"Your brother made it the 2nd topper for this semester Jiji! Holidays from yesterday."

"Good Lord!! That amazing! Congratulations Johnny.. Here.. My gift.."

"Rasmalai!!!! You made it!!! Thank you so much Jiji.. You are the best!!"

God bless her! She's got hell to worry and she finds happiness in other's success.. What have you planned for her future, Lord? I pray she gets everything she deserves and even more..

As the excited chatter went on, Mrs. Gloria couldn't stop smiling at the 2 youngsters before her..

"Okay okay.. before we go into further celebrations, John, Khushi's brought her paintings.. Ask Ramu to display them in the exclusive section.. Yeah, okay fine, after you have a thorough look at them.. Now, go.."

After a very happy and excited John went to Ramu to finally have a look at his Jiji's new paintings, Mrs. Gloria turned to Khushi who was busy checking the previous day's accounts..

"So, What stupid things you went through this morning?"

"Nothing unsual Aunty ji.. Going to have some guests this night, I guess.. Have to do all the cleaning and arranging of Parmila ji's room.. Well, one thing I'm happy is that at least, they din't want me to make different dishes for each of them.."

"You keep feeding them, child.."

"I can't leave that house, Aunty ji.. It's my home.. Memories are within it in every nook and corner.. If I leave, the next minute they are going to demolish it and move to else where.. I can't let them do it.."

Finishing the accounts and updating the files, Khushi continued

"So, if I have to safeguard my Bauji's home, the house I grew in, I'l have to feed them.."

"I am really proud of you Child.. God bless you!"

"Thank you Aunty ji.. I need to get going back now.."

Delhi

"Sir, here is the file regarding Ms. Gupta that you'v asked us to investigate."

"Thank you."

"Our pleasure, Sir.. Hope we do meet again."

Arnav traced the file with sweating hands..

Anticipation and nostalgia...

How is that sweet, smart kid who could always bring up a smile to his lips, now?

"Khushi..."