Akshitha woke up the two girls. She went to the kitchen and finished up the pending work there. She then bought all the dishes to the dining table and arranged it properly. There came some non – stop chitchatting sound from the stairs, Akshitha knew that it was Tanya and Tanu.

Both as usual were dressed up and came down. They both saw Akshitha standing in a corner of the dining room, waiting for their arrival to serve them.

Tanu came and sat on her chair along with Tanya by her side.

Tanu: Why are you standing in a corner like that? Don't you know to serve us when we sit here.

Akshitha soon came to them, kept the plates and started to serve them the breakfast. Tanya looked at the plate and showed a disgusted face.

Tanya: (angrily) What is this? Don't you know that we don't like all these kinds of foods.

Akshitha: Ummm...I .... I.

Tanu: (smirking) I know why she is doing like this because she is jealous of us that we are looking so beautiful than her in every ways by eating healthy foods. C'mon you maid girl, whatever you try to do to us we won't fall in your trap.

Akshitha widened her eyes like this as she had never ever thought like this.

Akshitha: No...no...not like that...

Tanya: (shouting)What, not like that. It is like that only, you...

Then they heard some foot steps and everyone recognized who is it, it was Shanthi. She came and sat on the chair to have her breakfast.

Shanthi: What is happening, here? Why are my girls shouting early in the morning?

Akshitha was so scared that her step-mom is here. Shanthi saw her daughters face burning with anger and she knew why they were like that also.

Shanthi: (continuing) Ahhh.... must be because of this girl (pointing at Akshitha) my girls are being irritated early in the morning. Tell me, now what happened?

Tanu and Tanya as if waiting for this moment started their usual complaints against Akshitha. They were talking all the lies as if that had happened.

Tanu: Mom, this maid girl is not listening to us at all. She is doing everything to her wish as if she is the owner of this house.

Tanya: Yes mom, Tanu is right!

Shanthi glared at Akshitha.

Shanthi: What do you think of yourself?

Akshitha: No mom...I .... (cut off by Tanu)

Tanu: MOM... WHAT MOM? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO CALL HER MOM? OUR MOTHER IS NOT MOM FOR ALL THE Servants, HERE. REMEMBER YOU, THAT OUR MOTHER IS MADAM TO YOU. IF NOT, DON'T LET US SAY THAT WHAT WILL WE DO TO YOU.

Shanthi: Okay girls, I will look after about her. Now you both have you breakfast and start to your college.

Tanya: No mom, we can't have our breakfast as this stupid girl spoilt our mood. We are going.

Tanu and Tanya stood up to leave.

Shanthi: Wait, it's not good to stay without having breakfast. Why do you both have to starve because of her? Here, have this money. On the way to the college, have something and go.

Shanthi handed some money to them and they were smiling brightly. Then she turned towards Akshitha.

Shanthi: (angrily) Because of you, my Daughters are starving so you should get the punishment for this. Today you are going to starve without food, till I say you shouldn't touch the plate of food for yourself. I don't want to see your crying face. Get out of my sight! RIGHT NOW!

Tanu and Tanya were having victory smiles on their face. Akshitha couldn't stand there anymore, so she ran away from there.

Akshitha ran to the one and only comforting place in that house, that is the garden behind the house where she had built a small temple for herself. Yes, when she was around thirteen she was mature enough to know that her parents will never ever come to her at the same time she knew that there will be no more happiness in her life. So, she built this temple to herself to pray and to let out what is in her out to the god.

Akshitha was turning ten that day, yes it was her birthday. Not only hers but it was Tanu's birthday too. As every small child Akshitha too wanted to have a huge birthday party as well as wanted to celebrate that day very happily. But from the morning she had to witness how Shanthi was celebrating Tanu's birthday. Early morning Shanthi and Tanya surprised Tanu with so many gifts and wished her happy birthday but no one didn't wish our little Akshitha. Then they asked Akshitha to arrange all the gifts aside. Shanthi made her do all the arrangements that day. Poor little Akshitha was very sad, she remembered how her parents used to celebrate her birthday like a festival. Shanthi was taking her daughters outing to celebrate the day.

Shanthi: Hey Akshitha! We are going out and we will be arriving late in the evening. So, you stay here and look after the house.

Akshitha: (SADLY) Okay.

Tanu: Mom, there is a problem.

Shanthi: What is it darling?

Tanu: You are asking this servant girl to stay in the house. What if she takes my gifts?

Shanthi thought for a while.

Shanthi: You are right, dear.

Akshitha: No, I won't do like that. Please believe in me.

Shanthi: No, I can't believe in you. Okay now, till we come you go and stay outside in the garden.

Akshitha protested and cried but all in vain. The heartless woman locked the house and went away, leaving the little Akshitha.

Akshitha went to the garden and sat under a tree crying, hugging her legs. She then remembered something, wiped her tears with her cute little hands and stood up. Akshitha roamed around in the garden and got some things for her. She started to build the small temple for herself. Finally, after so many hours she built it. Then prayed to the god with tearful eyes.

Little Akshitha POV

Hi god! First of all, I'm so sorry. I couldn't make you beautiful, I tried my best and made a small statue of yours. Actually, my Dad used to say that when he and mom are not with me then talk you and that you will give my message to them. Today I'm really missing my parents today, please tell them I want to come to them.

End of Little Akshitha POV

Akshitha sat there and kept her head beside the God's feet and cried asking for her mom and her dad to take her with them. Unknowingly she slept there. Later around seven, in the evening Shanthi arrived with her daughters. Akshitha woke up hearing the car sound and due to the wind, she was shivering.

This is how Akshitha spent the years in that house. Whenever she felt depressed and sad she used to come to the garden temple.

Today the same happened and Akshitha came there and sat at her God's feet and wept.

Will Akshitha's life continue like this?

Pls do vote and comment...

Love
Sunshine ...(shazu)