Chapter 20

Smile on the faces of kids is like a huge rainbow of happiness spread across the horizon.

The kids at the orphanage were prettily dressed with their happy and smiling faces. They were standing in a semicircle with a smirking Joshan as handsome as ever standing in the centre shocking me to the core of me leaving my jaw open.

But his priceless smirk was such that a broad smile immediately appeared on my face.

The kids started singing “happy birthday to you” and M/s Rachel carried a trolley with cake on it.

My expression changed from disappointment to resentment but I never let the smile escape my face. Although being upset I let the flow of the moment doing the rituals of cake cutting, played games with them like Fire in the mountain and hopscotch. I had never seen this part of Joshan.

He was even kind enough to get lunch for the kids from the nearby diner. My heart swelled at his thoughtfulness. Neither did he locate me but also managed to do something for these children. Still I was upset about the whole thing.

 After doing my bit of serving I excused myself for the washroom as I was no longer able to maintain my disguised face. The fake smile had started to hurt my jaws. I was feeling wrong inside. It made me feel so low that I couldn’t take it any more. Ii splashed water on my face liberally and waited for it to dry up naturally before I left for the kids who were enjoying the scrumptious meal after a long time. Joshan had also arranged for Ice cream as desert which rarely accompanied their meals.

I was standing in the corner of the room watching kids enjoy their meal when two arms extended from behind encircling my waist and hugged me with my back pressing his chest and whispered in my ears, “What’s bothering you birthday girl?”

“Nothing” I replied flatly

“Bad lie” he said hugging me properly now.

“We’ll discuss later” I pushed him to get face to face with him and plastered a fake smile on my face.

“This fake smile won’t help” he shouted

“Yes Mr Sherlock Holmes” I saluted him mockingly

He pulled me to another room which was empty and cupped my face “Tell me Pearly”

“Joshan I am actually not pleased with the entire thing. Don’t aggravate me. You won’t like it” I tried to warn him.

“today aren’t your feisty days?” he said but I frowned at him irritatingly

“For heaven’s sake Pearly spit it out” he was now loud and irritated.

I too could not hold it further and bursted out curtly, “Joshan look I do not come here to celebrate my birthday or cut cake or sing a B’day song. I come here for a purpose. I only come here to give my services. God dam this is an orphanage. The kids are orphans. Most of them don’t even know what their birth date is and to celebrate my b’day is to make them realize about another missing factor in their life. How can I celebrate my b’day with them? How can I give them another dream that they cannot fulfill? I am feeling so bad, so guilty, and so hollow” and I couldn’t help crying.

He pulled me closed to him. I buried my face in his chest and sobbed.

He moved his hands on my back in circles to comfort me and murmured in my ears,” Sorry”

I cried my heart out to him.

 He held me for a while and said, ‘I understand my Pearly pooh. I am honestly sorry. I did not think it that way. But for today atleast join them and let them have fun”

I nodded and followed him to the dining hall and joined kids for lunch. Joshan was great with his one liner jokes meant only for kids and made them laugh every now and then.

Later they were sent for their afternoon nap.

“So what next?” Joshan asked.

“Actually I come here and give my services.” I said fiddling with my fingers. I did not want to share this.

“Like?” he asked.

“Cleaning, washing curtains, managing accounts, filling groceries and so on whichever comes in urgency. Thankyou so much for your attempt. You can leave now.” I said honestly.

“That’s rude” he said hurt.

“Sorry I did not get you” I asked shocked.

“I am gonna help you with all that.” He said easily. I guess he had no idea what he was putting himself upto.

“Are you kidding? I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I tried to convince him.

“Try me” he smirked.

“Whatever’ I said as I left for M/s Rachel and he followed.

“So where do we start?” I asked M\s Rachel

“Two things need utmost attention. One is the school and the other one wash rooms. Where would you like to start with?” he asked giving directions with her hands.

I was fine with anything but for Joshan I asked to start with school and he would eventually leave after that tired and exhausted.

“Very well then you take the brooms and mops, Clair would join you and you know where the classes are” M\s Rachel stated.

We wore our aprons and started with the school, cleaning, dusting, moping removing unwanted stuff and making the classes’ spick and span.

Joshan kept on entertaining with his sense of humor but continued to work.  I was really impressed. Once when I had brought Stacie when she insisted so much, she’d given up in her first hour.

 But with Joshan, we had already spent almost three hours of hard work before we sat for rest sitting on one corner of the class.

‘I hope you are tired by now” I asked Joshan.

“No. why you want to kick me out.” He asked innocently.

“Not really but it amuses to see a billionaire baby doing such a creepy kind of job” I teased him.

“First don’t ever use that term for me” he said displeased about the fact I told him teasingly “and it is a request backed by severe warning. Secondly I am happy that I am doing something on my own for this place. I mean I believe it is the Right thing as said by bible.”

“You are too sweet Josh” I pulled his cheeks. He is so damn cute.

“Please don’t eat me then” he acted mock scared.

“Someday I think I’ll try” I pretended to bite him on his neck as I pulled the collar of his black button down shirt. Did I tell you , he looked amazingly hot and $exy in that

“Why you are planning to turn into some vampires or what?” he started playing along.

“Yeah but only to bite you” I tried to catch hold of him which he escape for he was too strong for me.

“Imagine how much cleaning we have to do then with you being immortal over the years celebrating so many birthdays” he laughed playfully.

“God you think like series of bullets from a sten gun” I said. I was having great time working and joking with him. Best birthday ever!!!

“Imaginations my friend imaginations” he pulled his collars in appreciation for himself.

“Wish your imaginations could clean the toilets too.” I said leaving towards the washrooms. “Come on back to work.”

I stopped and asked him honestly “You can leave if you don’t want to. Really….”

“I ain’t a quitter.” He said determinedly earning some more respect from me.

“Lots of ammonia” Joshan said as he entered one of the common toilets that we were supposed to clean.

“That’s all we have within”. We mocked and laughed and cleaned finally putting fresheners to each and every washroom giving them a glistening shine.

We were dead tired after that and headed towards home after bidding good byes to all the kids out there.

“What are your plans next? Sleep” joshan asked tired. I guess he’d really jump into his bed and end into a deep slumber instantly.

“Nah. Family dinner” I told him. It was our every year ritual.

“B’day party” he asked raising an eyebrow

“No just me mom and dad” I said. I never celebrated on my birthdays. It felt very childish an dmore over I would get tired after working whole day at the orphanage.

“Well I’ll drop you home” he offered.

“I have my car.” I denied.

“My chauffer would get it.” he took the keys and handed it to his chauffer before I could say further.

I sat on the passenger seat and Joshan drove when I got a call from my parents asking me to meet them at the diner itself. The moment they realized Joshan was with me, they were relieved and requested him to give me company till then and join for the dinner later. Joshan agreed as he’s always overprotective when it comes to my driving alone at night.

“You go home, take a bath and I’ll wait for you at my place.” I said.

“I am fine. I needn’t leave” he did not agree. Silly protective.

“Joshan you are stinking. Go I’ll wait for you.” I insisted.

“I want to talk to you” he pouted.

“We will. Come soon. Its just 8 and my parents won’t come before 10. So we have ample time.” I suggested.

“As you say.” He said as he threw his hands in the air out of forced agreement.

“Joshan wait”

“Now what” he asked exasperated.

“I took both his hands in mine, squeezed them tight, stared into his browns and said “Thanks”

“No. I cannot thank you enough for the pleasure I got in giving.” He said. I could see honesty in his eyes.

“You are too humble” he rubbed my cheeks with his thumb making me feel charismatic. And added“I swear when I was about to start the clean up I felt you are such a stupid thing I mean why do it when we can easily hire men to do it but once the task was done, I felt contended inside. I felt very peaceful.”

His innocent eyes were gleaming supporting the truth of each and every word spoken by him.

“May your stinking dirty best friend leave?” he asked feeling embarrassed all of a sudden doing a non bro-code thing.

“Yeah come soon and be careful” I smiled at him.

He gave a thumbs up and left leaving me staring into the direction of his car.

I took a hot bubble bath and dressed myself in my green shirt that matched the emerald earings that my mom gave me in the morning and blue denims.

“Beautiful” I heard some one speak and jumped.

“Since how long have you been staring?” I asked holding my heart trying to steady my heartbeats

“Not before your indecency” he smirked “Did not see anything I shouldn’t have”

I blushed at his words.

“You need not clarify. I trust you. But how did you get inside?” I asked as I remember I do not keep keys under my mat. It goes very obvious and a bit risky too.

“Remember I opened the door for you when you were busy collecting those account sheets you have brought for verification” he explained.

“oh I see”

“Ready” he asked.

“How do I look?” I asked feeling under dressed as he looked extremely smart in white hugging t shirt showing off his toned muscles with blue jeans.

“Birthday girl clean and yes clean and hygienic after the cleaning you have done” he smiled his innocent smile that makes my heart beat faster.

Time for Bestfriend- no flirting Alert!!!!

“Done with the mocking?” I asked faking annoyance.

“No I’ll continue till dinner” he teased.

“My parents don’t even think before inviting” I murmured to myself.

“You hurt me” he pouted.

 Again his adorable pout!!!!

“Really. I did intend to.” And he ran after me with our favorite game of chasing each other.

“Wait I am thirsty. Let me drink some water” I took a break and he obediently helped me with a glass of water.

“Lets go” he pulled me out of the house.

“Where? We still have time” I said. I hated waiting and I knew there was any chance that my parents would make it before time.

“Yeah there’s a pool behind the restaurant we will sit there for a mean while.” He offered.

I followed him to the car. He was driving me as my parents would ride me back home.

We went to the restaurant almost an hour early and Joshan took me to this open air swimming pool which was the hotel’s property with a bar. However it was closed with no people around as pool timings were done’

We did not sit on the chairs instead we lied on the lush green grass ground tired of the day’s labor staring the stars in the sky.

“How did you get me Joshan? I mean…” I asked as I helped him the access of my traces of long blonde hair so that it doesn’t hurt while he plucks to play with them.

“This orphanage” he confirmed as he continued playing with locks of my hair, he loved to do it.

“Yes. I am sure Stacie and Cairo did not help you.” I asked curious.

“Neither did your mom” he added

“Then?” I asked anxiety was eating me.

“I got to know your account is in this cooperative bank. I had my cousin working in it. I got the last records checked that every year a cheque is issued on your birthday to this orphanage and I collected two and two to get a viable information.” He revealed getting me amazed at his intellect.

“You are going to make an amazing businessman” I appreciated him honestly.

“thanks”

He stayed silent for some time and I could feel there is something in his mind. I turned to him sideways and e too instantly turned to me.

“Pearly you missed your grandma today?” he asked.

“Yes”

“That was the reason of your outpour?” he asked.

God he was digging into my soul.

“She would take me to this Orphanage on my birthday in the morning and we would have a grand party in the evenings till my 14th birthday when she fell sudden sick in the evening and expired next morning”, tears were building up in my eyes but Joshan squeezed my ands in a I am here gesture.

“Here’s your gift.” He gave me a silver box with a red ribbon attached to it.

I took it lovingly. But his company for the whole day was a gift enough!!! Everything else faded in comparison to that.