"Annav..." A shrill of cry snapped him out from his self. He instantly left whatever he's doing on his book and looked around for the source of voice.

Since the sweetness lies only on that tone, he very well knew, to whose it belongs. No one except her call him like that.

He jumped down from his bench and walked outside as he could hear some incoherent voices from the corridor including the sweet voice. When his eyes landed on the scene unfolding in front of his eyes, he didn't think twice before jumping forward and hit the boy wrist who's two years elder to him.

"Leave her, she's crying." He warned the boy and tried to disentangle the boy's hold from khushi wrist. He tiptoed to pull the slightly big hand from her small palm and when he failed to do so, he bit hard on his wrist.

The boy shrieked and left his hold. Throwing a disgusting look, he replied "Hey, Who're you? Look I am her cousin, Maanav. I am taking her to have our lunch with me."

Arnav's little brows formed a thin line in confusion. He recalled his memory to confirm the boy's story of being him, her cousin. The face of all khushi family members floated in his virtual mind. When all the images didn't match with the boy standing before him, his face turned extreme aggressive.

"No, you're lying. I know only Siddharth bhaiyya is her cousin. Don't disturb her, you moron." Arnav shouted and pushed him back by placing his two palms on Maanav stomach.

By then, Khushi wiped her tears with back of her palms.

"Hey, you little button keep your shouts to yourself. I am going to complain about you to principal if you're not going to stop your fights and bad words." Maanav warned arnav and immediately felt a small punch on his stomach.

He looked down to see an enraged, flaring small khushi eyeing him with her small red eyes "He's my Annav, not any little button." She declared in a threatening way wishing him to took back his words.

"I'll complain about you to your mum. It's her who asked me look after you and you little munchkin, you're hell annoying." Maanav spitted his dislike on her behavior and felt another bite on his wrist.

"She's my khuchi... Don't dare to threaten her." Arnav warned and held khushi small palm in his small one's and took her inside their classroom.

"He's my cousin only but I don't like him." Khushi declared while entering into the classroom.

"He's bald." Said Arnav agreeing with her.

"It's BAD." Corrected khushi like always.

"Bald." He repeated the same pronunciation.

"BAD." Khushi stressed the word withdrawing her palms.

"Bald."

"BAD."

"Bald."

"BAD."

"Bald."

"Arghh... You're bad Annav." Khushi gave up in annoyance.

"I am goody goody, it's you bald." Arnav throws his hands up in air.

"I am hungly." Khushi announced out of blue leaving her most favourite game of arguing with her Annav in midway.

Arnav also stopped his quarrel sensing her hunger. They both silently took their place in their usual spot. Both sat facing each other. Arnav was the one who first took his tiffin box out. His face was already beaming with joy "What is your luch today? Mine is yummy yummy flied (fried) rice." Questioned he, taking a spoonful of rice and and stuffed it into his mouth.

Khushi pouted at his impatience but nonetheless answered him "Aaloo paratha with raita."

Hearing that arnav made a face "Eww.. Oly(Oily) food. You'll be like Nippon's blobby doll if you eat this evelyday."

Khushi mouth opened wide that an ant can pass into it "Haww... You're a sketon(skeleton). You keep eating unhelthy food, you'll become a... a... " She trailed her words not getting any suitable words to back answer him which made him laugh.

Humiliation brought tears in her hazel eyes.Big fat tears rolled down one by one down her small dimple cheeks. Arnav stopped laughing once for all and mumbled a quick sorry. As if switch was inbuilt in that word, khushi stopped her crying instantly but pouted cutely with a complaint "You always laugh at me."

"I'll not henceforth but if only you write my today homework. Deal?" His small lips crooked a smirk.

Khushi bobbed her vigorously ready to do anything to stop his teasing.

"Arnav..." Their both heads snapped at the stern voice.

Arnav jumped down from his small chair seeing their teacher throwing daggers at him.

"At my office after your lunch." Arnav nodded obediently.

 "Annav, she's going to scold you. That maanav would've complained." Khushi muttered on his ear, clutching the hem of his sleeves.

As soon as their teacher disappeared from their sight, arnav shrugged his shoulders casually "It's ok."

Khushi didn't convinced with his coolness "But..." 

"My flied(fried) rice is waiting for me..." With that arnav sprinted to his place and attacked his favourite lunch.

Khushi could only pout and join him in lunch.

***

"Khushi beta, wake up. You're getting late for your school." Her mother Garima shook her by shoulders. Khushi frowned in sleep only for a minute and went back to her dreamy land clutching her teddy bear close to her heart.

"Khushi..." Garima raised her voice waking her up at the top of her voice.

Her frown deepened as she felt her teddy bear is being taken away from her.

"Wake up baccha..."

"Amma, I sleep. You go. I've no school today." She mumbled in her sleepy voice as she felt herself taken in someone arms who's currently taking her to bathroom.

Her mother wiped Khushi face carefully with water "Today is Thursday beta. There's no holiday for you."

She become fully awake when her mother declared about not having holiday on week day "They didn't give holiday. I took it myself."

"What?" Garima let out a less audible shriek hearing her daughter answer.

Khushi cupped Garima cheeks in her small palms "Amma, they oldered (ordered) Annav to not come school today. Annav hit that maanav becalse he misbehaved with me. So I'll not go school until Annav comes to school. Please dlop(drop) me at annav home amma..." Saying this she sprinted out leaving her mother to gape at horror.

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For all who doesn't know nippon blobby doll, Here it is,