Ananya's POV

I brought Radhika out for an ice cream. I knew she was fuming with anger. It was evident in her stiff posture. The ice cream stall was just at the opposite of the orphanage. I used to buy ice cream from Ramu kaka in childhood as well, with my pocket money—mostly secretly, because Baba barely used to allow me to eat ice cream as i had a weak immune system. I smiled at the ice cream seller, "Ramu kaka, 3 ice cream dena zara.. actually 4 de dijiye. 2 butterscotch, 1 strawberry and 1 mango flavour ka."

I knew the favourites of Baba, radhika and even Ramu kaka. He has been here since my birth. He even has a shop in the highway, but he likes to sell like this anyways. Seeing kids, their excitement and everything gives some other satisfaction. I ordered 2 butterscotch for me and radhika, a strawberry flavored ice cone for Baba and the mango flavored for Ramu kaka.

He smiled giving me all four, I narrowed my eyes at him. He is not so innocent to not know for whom i ordered the last one. He took the mango cone back, i paid him. And this time, he narrowed his eyes to me, playfully. He hardly allowed me to pay. I might have been the most mischievous child in this orphanage till date but everyone loved me. 

Radhika interuppted, "we have a serious situation here and you both never stop this."

I replied, "Radhika, we all are worried, okay? But at the same time..for this thing.. we can't let our mood spoil the children's fun as well.. or even the surroundings. You know we will definitely get out of this situation. Together, Radhika. We always did. I think the children are more obsevant than we are, they always catch whenever we are sad. We can't show them like that, isn't it?" I added the last part playfully.

Radhika just nodded slowly, licking the ice cream. I was waiting for any reaction, and I got one. She was finally calming down gradually, but yes.

I sighed in relief, Radhika quickly took her phone out and i glanced at her phone to see that she also transferred 2 lakhs to the orphanage.

We both didn't comment about this. And thus there was a comfortable silence between us as we walked back inside the orphanage, crossing the road. She was the first one to break the silence, "ye kese ho gaya? Itna Sara Paisa? 10 crores?.. amusement park??.."

"Pata nhi yaar, baba, kuch bhi clear nhi bol rhe hain.. kuch to chupa rhe hain..," i replied, getting worried—or finally showing that I was actually worrying all these while.

"Tu kese kar leti hain?" 

"Kya?"

"Ye.. emotions ko hasi k peche chupana, for a sec, i thought tujhe koi parwah nhi hain.. i was starting to doubt you to be honest. But then i remembered.. this is ananya. Who hides everything. Every single thing. Behind that pretty smile. Even if it means getting a smile on someone. Bachpan se. Mein aisa kabhi kar nhi payi."

I smiled slightly. I said, diverting the topic,  "pata hain?.. shayad humey.. U.S. jana nhi chahiye tha.. yeh tab se suru hoa tha.."

"Tujhe lagta hain Baba bolte tab? Agar tu U.S. nhi gyi hoti?"

"Shayad ... nhi.."

We entered the orphanage again, giving baba the ice cream and he accepted it with a smile. He glanced at Radhika to see her relaxed state and nodded approvingly at me.  We talked for a moment before getting up to decorate the place. It was a very special day. And definitely I wouldn't let anyone ruin this day, even that Mr. Khurana who thinks he can snatch my home from me.

Today was the birthday of every children in orphanage. My birthday. The children's birthday. Radhika's birthday. 1st June.

Before i went to Oxford University for my higher studies in literature, our badge started decorating this place as we got enough mature to. I don't know if others in our badge would return or not, but most definitely, they are missing this day too. It was always memorable. Baba always made this memorable.

But this time, I and radhika with few other people decorated the place in fairy lights, balloons, paper cuttings of memories of every badge that passed and a large table at the centre of the room. The children helped us too, if they could, by showing their new cartoon ideas. I have to say they have too many creative thoughts, indeed.

By the time, we finished all the decorations, it was already evening. Many people went to change their dresses.

Radhika turned to me and said, "Let's go, we will go to our respective houses to change our dresses."

Respective houses? Telling like we don't stay at each other's place for months.

"Right, let's go."

I took a final glance at the orphanage, before walking towards the parking lot. Radhika would come with me, as she didn't bring us her car. Honestly, there are times I think I am her unpaid driver. I wouldn't, definitely, mind if she starts paying. But I just know she wouldn't. Never.

After some time, we returned back to the orphanage. But this time, it looked a little.. different. Lighter. Happier. Or maybe, a bit of unsettling that only I seemed to feel.

There was a series of black cars, all parked in the parking lot. There were guards standing tall. I and Radhika glanced at each other before getting out of my car.

We entered the orphanage. Baba was talking to someone. His back was facing me and all I could see from this angle was he wore a black coat and black formal jeans.

Baba looked astonished, in a positive way while talking with that person. Radhika held my hand and dragged us towards Baba.

This time, my eyes widened seeing the face of the person- Arjun khurana. But Here? I saw him in the media coverage a lot, the same person who wanted this orphanage to convert into an amusement park. One of the biggest businessman.

I murmured, "the hell..?"

Arjun finally noticed me and smiled in my way before returning back to talk with baba. The next action shocked me and Radhika more.

He knelt, holding his ears, and said,"Sorry, i shouldn't have even looked at the orphanage, let alone think to ruin the beauty." He signed something to one of his guards and he brought Arjun some papers. It looked like property papers from this distance. Arjun extended the papers to Baba, still knelt down.

He said, "I am very sorry. I already transferred 10 crores back to your account. And 10 more crores to the orphanage..um.. for the trouble I caused."

Strange.
Very strange.
His voice sounded genuine. Too genuine to prevent myself assuming that this was a drama.

I asked, "Sorry to ask, but may I know why the sudden change of heart?..it's not like we don't appreciate it.. but..this..?"

Arjun clearly stumbled upon his words and i now realised he was wearing earpods in his ears. But before i could dwell over it anymore, he finally managed to say, "It's.. it's actually your ..like everyone's birthday here. And i thought maybe I could gift something.. and this was the best thing i could even think of. And more to it, i realised i made a grave mistake."

I nodded, saying, "You are free to join the birthday party." I invited him to the party because Baba always taught that no one should leave the house empty handed. And about forgiving him, that was in Baba's hands.

For a second, i thought he didn't want to join the party, but then he replied,"i will be really glad to."

I shook my head to clear the unsettling thoughts that gnawed in my mind. Radhika smiled at him and welcomed him to the party. The environment around was filled with happiness, excitement and choas.

The children, wearing different kinds of costumes, played different kind of games, even the once I wasn't aware of. I lost in one of the game and others continued to tease me with it. The atmosphere was filled with playfulness, ignorance and innocence.

Soon, it was the time to cut the cake, and i made the smallest one of the house to stand in front of the cake, with the wooden knife.

She was four years old, and needed some assistance to hold the knife properly. And there were group of boys and girls who were very glad to assist her with it. And this is what a home meant, doesn't it? Helping each other in times of trouble.

At the middle of the party, i once glanced to Arjun. He was almost.. nervous. During the party, he was constantly talking through his earpods. I kept my thoughts away, thinking it's just his business issues.

I told him from a distance, not interested in eavesdropping on his conversation,"Mr. Khurana, sorry to interrupt, but it's time for cutting the cake." He quickly nodded and joined us. I stood beside radhika who was adjusting the camera for a group photo. A memory we always took, to preserve it.

_______

That's for today.
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