Gauri parked the car outside Naira’s house, It was a chawl basti..

Naira came out of the car and went to Gauri’s side

“you don’t want to come in?” she said

“I’ll wait here you go ahead..” said Gauri

“hmm I don’t blame you.. ok hopefully i won’t be too long” Gauri nodded to her.

“Naira walked down a little alley, there were kids playing around..

“Naira beti..”

“Hi Vijya masi” Vijya masi wasn’t her blood relation but in the chawl everyone knew each other, a few more people waved at her and she gave them all a smile, this was her hometown and she was born in this chawl. She finally climbed the stairs and got to her front door.  Her little brothers opened the door, letting her in.

“Didi” they both shouted with excitement, closing the door and then  pulling her to their level and both tried to hug her at the same time.”

Naira laughed “ok..ok calm down” she put her bag down and hugged both of them.

“we missed you”  said Mohan..

“yeah where did you go?” sulked Kirtan

“my darlings I went to find a job..”

“wow that’s great di” they said in unison

“did you find?” before she could answer Mohan’s question her papa came wheeling in Saurabh Singh, was working for a newspaper factory something went wrong in an accident.. of course he was compensated but could no longer work and life became hard in a wheelchair luckily by then Naira was old enough and had started to do jobs here and there to provide for her family but studying and working became too much for her and she could only concentrate on one thing, and her papa decided for her to just concentrate on her studies.. Her father was gifted on his writing  he learnt a thing or two whilst working in the newspaper factory, and even now he provides for the family by writing articles here and there for a magazine which they appreciate and he gets paid for, its not a lot but it keeps them going.

“beta when did you come” he stopped his wheelchair brake midway smiling at his daughter.

“papa” she got up from kneeling, and both boys held each hand, walking with her.

 “I just came now” she bent down and rested her head in his lap, both boys went to her bag, they saw a plastic wrapping.

“didi what’s in here?” Naira and her papa turned to them..

“take a look its for you both only” Mohan opened it..

“be careful Mohan don’t drop it maa will be angry..” Kirtan helped him open.

“wow its chocolate pastry” they both yelled in excitement.. Naira smiled seeing their happiness and she exchanged a smile with her dad.. he patted her head lovingly.

“Beta you didn’t need to do that”

“nai papa I wanted to.. I want to give them treats now and then, I know we can’t really afford but every child deserves a sweet dish at least once a month.

“god bless you beta, I heard you went for a job interview?”

“yah papa and I was successful”

“I knew you would be” he smiled

“Naira you’re my pride, like the elder son I never had but I’m happy I was bless with a daughter. Naira become emotional hearing him speak like that.. the boys ate the chocolate pastry with delight with mixture of jumping and making noise.

“oh for god sake what’s all the noise about..” she came into  the small living room she saw Naira. .

“oh its you.. finally you got the time to come see your family fursat mil gay rajkumari ko..”

“hi ma how are you?..”  Kaushaliya just ignored the question

“tell her the good news" said her father, she got  on her feet but the boys beat her to it.

“ma didi found a job” Naira was thankful for her brother’s, they were her half brothers but she didn’t treat them any different she loved them to bits.

“thek hai thek hai.. no need to make such a big deal.. she adjusted her big bun.. Naira didn’t speak she just stood next to her dad.

“what is the job anyway?” asked her step mum.

“yah beta, we didn’t even discuss that..”

 ‘oh papa.. how do I tell you, what will your reaction be if  you know it's just a baby sitting job'

She knew for sure her step-mum will mock and laugh at her so she said what ever came in her mind.

“Secretary at..at Goenka enterprises" lied Naira

“wow beta that is a big company well done my laali” 

“thanks papa.. the place isn’t far from Gauri’s so its ok if I spend the night at her house?”

“no way.. who will do the house work if you go.. I take care of your father the whole day..

“Kaushaliya  try to understand its her job.. fine with me beta you can stay at Gauri’s house tonight.

“yeah mum cleaning even you can do.. you don’t work anyway”

“chup kar Mohan, you have no manners talking to your elders..and this is all your didi’s fault, growing up in her shadow!

“Enough.. enough Kaushaliya any opportunity you get you upset my Naira ! Saurabh shouted. The boys looked  on seriously.. Naira caught on to them.

“papa bas.. its ok ma is just teasing haina ma?” she hinted it was not just the 3 of them, and Kaushaliya saw her frightened boys.

“Exactly Naira beta you know me.. I was just joking of course you can go to your friends house, Kirtan , Mohan come on have your dinner it will get cold.. boys became at ease seeing the happy atmosphere again.

“ok ma” they said in unison

“didi your going when will we see you?”

 “yeah didi when you don’t come we miss you” frowned Kirtan she came to their level.

“soon my darlings, I will come don’t worry, go have your dinner ma will get angry otherwise go.. go”

“bye di.. the twins hugged her tightly. She kissed both their cheeks and let them go on their way.

“ok papa I will leave too.. “

“why beta.. have some dinner and then go”

“nai papa.. I’m not hungry.. anyway will have some at Gauri’s her mum is always welcoming.

“sorry beta, I wish I could do more.” He felt really helpless..

“nai papa, please don’t say that you have done enough now I want to provide for our family”

“oh beta.. he held her hands and kissed them, like she was little kid again.

“ok I’ll go now” she wanted to leave before she bursted into tears. She quickly left.. and raced down the stairs.. Gauri saw her come, Naira came and sat down in the car she was alittle quiet..

“what happen.. did you finally see the wicked witch’s broom stick..

“Gauri, don’t call her that.. at the end of the day she’s my brothers mum.

“ok fair enough.. shall we go?”

“hmm, actually can I drive I could use some diversion

“sure” they switched seats and Naira drove them out  of the basti.

 “by the way mumma is making your favourite..”

“gulab jamun?”

“yah” said Gauri

“I love your mumma” squealed Naira, her mood already felt better.

*
“Naira walked quickly into the kitchen opened the fridge and got a baby bottle out.

“at this time, its 10pm she won’t have now.. now she will have in the morning only” He shut the fridge door, he was in sport wear bottoms and a black t-shirt.

“oh ok then I will leave now see you in the morning.” she made a little distance from him..

“wait what is this you didn’t even apply ice on your wound.. Naira looked down feeling silly she completely forgot about it. .. she touched her lobe it felt sore..she winced in pain.  Kartik looked at the shy babysitter.. “This is not done come here.. he pulled her by the hand  and she looked up at him in surprise, he opened the freezer door. Naira waited.

“come..”   He held her hand and she let him? He took a piece of ice and began to rub it on her lobe, the cold ice made her feel a bit better, the pain was slowly disappearing.

“do you feel better?”

“alittle” she replied. he smiled at her, his eyes penetrating hers..

“good, I’m feel better now. knowing your better” he replied

“why?” she asked.. her eyes locked with his.. “shhh” he pushed a few soft hair strands out of her face.. his finger brushed against her soft skin.. she felt a  appetizing chill go down her spine. she was lost in his eye then he gently began to blow on her earlobe.. her eyes fell on his lips and she was completely caught up in this moment.. what was happening, she lost all sense.

Tbc 

How is it going? 👇🙏🙏🙂

Compared to my other stories it's a bit slow but it will pick up paced I want to try and update this one everyday and bring it up to speed.. what say?