𝐀𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀

f o u r t e e n

❦

"I R E A L L Y D O N ' T W A N T to go to work today"

Razia brought a glass of water for a sulking Aaina dragging her feet to her room.

"Shashi didn't come today, so I came back early. She always informs if she is not coming though"

"She must have taken ill then"

"Perhaps. I'll go meet her tomorrow then. But I have to assist tomorrow's order as well" Aaina sat on the bed with a huff. Work has been keeping her too busy these days. Ever since Kaki had left for vyapaar, their warehouse had been piling up with new design orders for a new house, temples, and one was from overseas. As much as she was happy about them flourishing, she alone could not keep up with managing such big tasks. Especially when it also consumed her time that she had allocated for her errands at the Chakradhan Hill. But she realised that was more out of selfish desire than her duty. Hence, she had to weigh the priorities for the moment.

"Why don't you work from here today? I'll get the raw materials from the warehouse"

"Really? Thank you, Razia!" She fell on her for a hug.

It wasn't even half an hour, and Razia had already gotten the raw materials from their warehouse at the back. No sooner did it arrive than Aaina proceeded with her sculpture. There wasn't anything more interesting than art for her. She reveled in it like a swan did as it swam. Her focus and feelings were all directed just to the art afore her. The whole world faded when she did what she loved, and it ended up in her completing every task on time.

Mansingh's daunting footsteps echoed outside the room, and he knocked.

"Someone is here to meet chhoti maalkin"

"Who is it?"

"He says his name is Milan"

Aaina looked up from her hands immersed in mud, surprised. "Oh wait, I'll come downstairs"

It was a surprise to have Milan at the gates of Hira Ghar out of nowhere but it wouldn't be a surprise when Mansingh reports it all to Kaki in Jodhpur and she gets in trouble for mingling with firstly, any man from anywhere without kaki's supervision and secondly, someone from Chakradhan Hill which already held a bad reputation. But Aaina didn't want to care. A girl could have friends, and he was just a guard with no business in her personal life. Besides, Milan was a gem of a person. He called her 'Aaina behen' for God's sake.

She hurried downstairs as quickly as possible and found Milan standing outside the door, looking fresh in his beige shirt and dark trousers, ready to go out.

"Good morning, Aaina behen"

"Good morning, Milan. Tum yahaan?"

"You forgot your bag at the maka-"

"Oh, I didn't realise" She grabbed it from him a bit too restlessly, hoping Mansingh wasn't around to hear their conversation.

"It was lying somewhere in the kitchen, and I was headed this way, so I thought I'd return it"

"That's so sweet of you Milan"

Mansingh returned to his position outside the gate whilst giving them side-eye.

"Why don't you come inside?"

"Are you sure? You look busy" he glanced at the mud on her adma.

"Well, I'm in desperate need of a break, and you might as well not bore me then"

He chuckled. "Alright"