YOU NEVER WALK ALONE

19-Shopping

SARAKSHI'S POV-

After breakfast, Mr. Rude went to the office to complete some work before evening, as we planned to go shopping later.

As usual, I was silent during the breakfast. Part of me felt happy that he at least acknowledged me as Pichu's mumma, but I was also upset that he didn't properly apologize. How could he just say, "I take back whatever I said"?

And why did I accept that? What else was I supposed to do? Argue with him? Yes, I should have stood up for myself against his false allegations. But I know myself—I can never talk back to anyone. I never even replied to my mother, so how could I reply to him? I'm all talk, but only to myself. I can never say what I truly feel.

But now I have Papaji, with whom I can share everything without hesitation. I couldn't say these things to him directly, but I can certainly complain about him to Papaji.

"Where are you lost, Bache?" Papaji asked, tapping my head gently.

"I was just thinking about you" I replied sadly.

"About me?" he asked, pointing to himself in surprise.

"Yes, I want to rant about your son. I hate him so much. Sorry for saying this about your son, but it's his fault, Papaji. He is so bad" I said, folding my hands and pouting my lips in anger.

"What happened? He did apologize to you, right?" he asked.

"What happened, Bhabhi?" Rakshit said, looking at me with wide eyes.

"He apologized, but who says sorry like that?" I whined. "I felt like he was talking to the refrigerator. He said so much to me yesterday, but when it came to apologizing, he just said 'sorry' simply and nothing else."

They listened to me silently as I continued, "You know what he said to me? 'I take back whatever I said.' Someone needs to explain to him that words can't be taken back like that."

"I seriously hate him. I'll never talk to him again" I huffed.

"Why didn't you say all this to him?" Papaji asked, holding my hands.

"I can't say this to him. That's why I'm telling you guys. I'm scared of him, Mr.Rude is scary" I said, whining like a baby.

"Aap bhai ko Mr.Rude bulate ho" Rakshit said laughing loudly and I glared at him. I was in no mood to laugh right now

(you call bhai Mr.Rude)

"Your brother is rude and I'll call him that only" I said, sulking.

"Scared of him? What will he do? You don't have to be scared of him" Papa Ji reassured me.

"I don't know, I'm just scared of him" I replied, looking down at my feet.

Rakshit and Reyansh just shook their heads and remained silent.

"And Mr. Rude makes such beautiful paintings. He could at least give me one as an apology gift" I said, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Oh! So you want a gift from Bhai?" Reyansh said, acting all innocent. I instantly shot him a glare, and he looked away, pretending to be scared.

"I don't want a gift, Anshu. I was just suggesting how he could apologize" I said, lightly hitting his arm.

"Yes, yes, Bhabhi, we get it. You continue, we are listening" he said with a serious face, though I knew he was teasing me.

"I'm done. That's all I wanted to say" I mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"We know he is a brat and sometimes acts very rudely, but don't mind him. Moreover, we are here. You can tell us if he troubles you, okay?" Papa Ji said, cupping my cheeks gently.