Quick recap because it has been years.

Shravu's mum and dad are getting a divorce. He is being bullied. Devansh is worried. Prakruthi is concerned. Santa Claus aunty is busy taking care of her grandson. Uttara had a fight with both her dad and her girlfriend.

---***---

"When aunty told me you're here, my heart sank a little." I made a show of licking my donut.

Gross? Yes.

But absolutely necessary when Uttara, the food snatcher, sat beside you.

"Thanks, Deva! Love you too." She said. Not a hint of love or any other emotion in her tone. Borderline creepy.

"See, everytime you're here, it's either because you quarelled with your dad, or almost ended things with your girlfriend." I noticed that she hadn't touched her donut while I almost finished mine. Honestly, it's concerning. "Uttara, what's going on? You look worried."

She took a bite, though it looked like she did it just to have something to do. "My dad thinks I brought shame to my family, both living and dead. If I dug my ancestors' graves I'd find them rolling inside. No, seriously."

"What's his problem now? I thought he agreed to look at this from your point of view." I knew her father back when they lived here. He was overprotective. A typical baby boomer who loved his children with all his heart, but seldom cared about their emotional well-being.

He didn't have a problem with lesbians per se. He just hated that his daughter was one.

He had his reasons though.

One, he wanted grandchildren.

Two, who would do masculine chores like opening tight jars, cutting watermelons and stuff, if there was no 'man of the house'?

Three, what would the society say?

Uttara took another bite. "I took him to meet Radhika. He--"

"Whoa! You made them meet? That's progress, dude."

"Yes, it is. At least it was, until my dad subtly hinted that Radhika is the main culprit in turning me into who I am today. Didn't go well with her. To her credit, she didn't yell at him. Just stood up and left."

Did he seriously use the word Turning? What did he think his daughter was? A werewolf?

If only he had just opened his phone and did some research instead of sending silly good morning messages on group chats. "I... I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. No one knows what to say."

"Did you speak with her after this, er, fiasco?" I knew her dad was a lost cause. At this point, her focus should be on making damage control and end whatever quarrel she had with Radhika.

"She thinks I should stop trying so hard. He'll come around when he'll come around." Uttara's superhuman effort to not tear up filled my heart with a rare combination of pity and admiration, if that was even possible.

"Listen to her. There's just no pleasing him. Accept that he will never come to terms with it." I advised her.

Harsh? Yes.

But absolutely necessary.

Someone had to drill this through Uttara's thick skull, that she was hurting the person who did nothing wrong, by waiting for her father's approval.

"Go, live your life. If in a few years he relents, it will be a pleasant surprise. The bar is low. But hey! Still better than expecting something and only feeling disappointed in return."

I felt satisfied with my speech. If this was an essay my teacher would have given me an A+.

Speaking of teachers, I haven't seen-- Whoa! Were those tears in Uttara's eyes?

"Hey! You okay?" I squeaked.

She blinked them away, staring into mid distance like David Tennant.

I knew I had to say comforting words. But all my useless brain supplied was 'cheese pakodas'.

She frowned at me. Before I could offer to get some for her, a car stopped at the gate.

Shravan and Prakruthi were here. Before I could wave at them I caught a glimpse of his face. Something was wrong. His eyes were red. It was then that I noticed, he was an hour early. In a teacher's car, no less.

"I'll explain. Let's get him settled down first." Prakruthi led him inside without waiting for us to invite her in.

Uttara brought him a glass of juice while I took his backpack off his shoulders and set it aside. My heart was thundering against my chest. Something terrible must have happened. Why else would he come home an hour before, escorted by a teacher?

"I called his grandmother. She said she is out of town. She'll be here tomorrow." Prakruthi wrapped her arm around him. "Couldn't reach his mother."

"Yes. But, what exactly happened?" Uttara asked her.

"His father was here." She replied. "Drunk. Made a scene in front of the staff demanding to let him take his son home." She added.

Uttara looked like she was about to punch the wall. "Take him home? That man already lost the custody battle. He doesn't even deserve visitation rights. He is a mons--"

Prakruthi shook her head violently and gestured towards Shravan with her eyes. Uttara nodded. Ever since the divorce had been finalized we have been very careful what we say around him.

"The reception staff didn't know he is not allowed to visit without notifying Shravan's mother. He faked a family emergency and they called Shravan. He would have taken him away. Fortunately I had some errands to run in that office. I stopped them from leaving."

I squeezed the sofa so hard my knuckles turned white. What if she wasn't there at the right time? Shravan would have been kidnapped by that drunkard.

"Did he try to hurt you?"

She hesitated. "Er... the receptionist lady called the main gate security who led him out."

"He yelled at teacher. Called her bad names and threw things at her." Shravan spoke for the first time. Though his lip quivered, his voice was steady. Which somehow felt worse than his tears. It was like he decided not to be vulnerable even in our presence.

"It's alright, Shravan. You're safe now. That's what matters." His teacher comforted him.

She explained how the headmistress felt it wasn't safe for Shravan to stay at school till evening and decided to send him home with the teacher, accompanied by a security personnel. We decided not to call the police before his mother and grandmother were here.

If it was up to me, I would have dragged him to court, citing this incident as the reason for denying him what little visitation rights he had. But that would mean taking Shravan's testimony. And given his current state of mind it would upset him further.

"Go, get changed. I'll help you with the  dance practice." I tried cheering him up. This year he was going to be in the centre of the dance group and rightfully so. He was crazy talented.

"No. I quit. I will withdraw my name tomorrow." Shravan's announcement, though normal for a kid his age, came as a surprise.

"You can't. You are the main performer. You... you love dancing. What about the best Navratri performer award you so badly wanted last year? The... you're..." Great! Right when I need to say something motivational, my words ditched me. I suck at speeches. The earlier one was a fluke.

"My friends know. My class teacher kept discussing it while I was packing my bag. They heard." He said in a serious un-Shravan-like tone.

'No. You are not supposed to sound like this. You are the goofiest kid I have ever known. You cannot sound so dejected.' I wanted to scream.

"Who cares if they heard?" Uttara asked, despite knowing the answer. Shravan. That's who.

"They will make fun of me throughout the practice" said Shravan.

"You should learn to ignore them. If you don't react, they will lose interest in annoying you and find something else to do. I know it is hard. But if anyone can handle this it is you. And if they cross a line, we are always here to help you." I really hoped I said the right words.

When he looked at me he had a strange expression on his face. Such sadness shouldn't be allowed on his beautiful face.

"Easier dead than done, Deva." He mumbled.

I glanced the ladies to check if I heard it right. Prakruthi tilted her head in confusion. "Come again."

"Easier dead than done, teacher." He repeated.

Despite the situation, I couldn't help grinning. This was the little devil I held in my arms mere days after his birth. No matter how grave he tried to sound, he would never lose the ability to make me smile.

"Said, Shravu. Not dead." I ruffled his hair. "Honestly, who taught you spellings and pronunciation?"

"You did." He glared at me, which made me laugh harder. Even Prakruthi and Uttara joined me.

After we calmed down a bit, I continued. "Look, Shravu. I have no one to help me with the resort and estate management. I have to make big decisions on my own all the time. Very scary. But I don't back down. I don't let it intimidate me. A little bit of bravery is all it takes."

"No. You are not brave." He argued.

"I am." I practically whined before I could stop myself.

"You always come with me to the park when I play cricket with my friends. You did it all summer."

"What if you get hurt and start bleeding? Someone should be there to help." I countered.

Through the corner of my eye I could see Uttara and Prakruthi looking amused by this conversation.

"You always come along when I have to buy something from the shop." Shravan continued.

"What if the vehicles hit you? Someone should be there to shield you." I replied.

Uttara and Prakruthi started grinning.

"You never pick up the phone when your parents call you."

I didn't realise what he was talking about, until I opened my mouth to say that my parents were dead.

Uttara looked horrified while Prakruthi frowned.

"Shravu! Stop it." Uttara held his hand and made him stand. "Go, wash your face. I will serve you some snacks."

Shravan obeyed. Uttara invited us to join them.

Suddenly I felt the need to get away from there. I needed some air. I tried to politely refuse but I didn't trust myself to form a sentence.

"I would love to. But I have to join my cousin at the cafe. Some other time." Prakruthi saved me the trouble of speaking. "Why don't you come with me? My treat." She offered. I nodded.

It was only when we reached her car that I found my voice again. "Thank you."

She said nothing. After a few minutes of driving, we found ourselves waiting for the signal to turn green.

"I'm guessing it is a sensitive topic." She said. Her eyes never left the signal. "We've only been friends for a few weeks. But if you need to talk I'm here to listen."

I stayed silent. I never knew Shravan observed me so keenly. I obviously couldn't tell him my backstory. He wouldn't understand. And if he saw me ignoring their calls...

"He's talking about my biological parents." I blurted out.

She glanced at me before turning back to face the road. The vehicles started moving. She started the car. "I didn't know you were adopted."

It started raining. She turned on the wipers. I felt cold. I rubbed my palms together for warmth. It didn't do much.

"It wasn't a happy memory. They just gave me away. My life turned out good enough. But I can't make peace with it. Keeps haunting me." I smiled. "And it doesn't help that they keep trying to reconnect. I don't know what to do. Answer the phone or keep ignoring them."

We reached the cafe. She waved at the hippie kid, who sat in a corner.

"Maybe talking to them will give you a closure. That might bring you peace." She suggested. "You could ask them why, if answers are what you're looking for."

"I should. But I couldn't."

"Why is that?" Her tone was gentle.

"Because easier dead than done." I started walking towards the hippie kid and Prakruthi followed me. And I was really grateful that she didn't push it any further.

---***---

I know I am late. But I have a toddler to take care of. My ever playing, never sleeping little hurricane won't let me find time for writing.

I hope you understand.

Don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you.