A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

14: New guardian

Khushi was brought to the office by her mentor. Looking up at the director, she noticed him laughing and talking to a woman sitting opposite of him. She looked to be in her late thirties, with deep set sunken eyes and thin lips, her lazily tied hair falling over her right shoulder, a faded white clip attached with it. She wore a pale blue salwar kameez, accompanied by a sleek silver watch on her wrist. A handbag rested on the chair near her.

"Ah, there she is" the director pointed at the girl, gesturing the mentor to leave.

The presence of the woman and the director alone with her made Khushi feel uneasy.

"Khushi beta, meet your new parent! She has come all the way to adopt you! How exciting na?!" He exclaimed, pushing a set of papers towards the woman.

She removed her bag from the chair and directed the girl to seat beside her.

Khushi obeyed.

"And here goes your sign madam, and here, oh also here, and here too" The director pointed his finger at the various ends of the papers.

The woman signed them quickly, her calloused fingers tracing down the paper.

"There we go, all done" The director placed the papers in a clear file, "The counseling is over, the online form is here and the verification is done as well"

"And the court?" She asked.

"Court? Ah madam! Who has the time to go hear court proceedings and waste their time? Take the child and end the process, that's all what adoption means! There are lakhs of adoption centres in this country doing the same, times are faster now you know?"

The woman sighed and turned to the child.

Khushi squirmed.

"So your name is Khushi?" She patted the her greasy hair, "Splendid name"

Khushi became suspicious. The director had mentioned her name before, there was no reason for her to ask her name again.

"Achha, we'll leave for today" The woman got up from the chair, folding her palms.

"Yes madam, Radhe radhe" the director bid them farewell, feeling relieved that the troublesome child was not his responsibility anymore.

The lonely house stood idle in a desolate street. It was a hot afternoon, the usual humid weather which prevailed around the end of August. There were a few houses across the road, packed with municipal bins in the front. A cat had mistakenly upturned a bin, the sound making Khushi jump.

The woman unlocked the main door which creaked open. She noticed that it was not an apartment but a simple two storied house. Lemon and chilli hung near the entrance. Inside, there was a hat stand near the door, an umbrella bin and a shoe closet. There were only two pairs in the closet, a set of chappal and heels, one upturned.

Further inside was an arrangement of high iron stools and a comfortable looking sofa in the right, a high table holding different assortment of glass mugs and cups and a cupboard behind it. Khushi noticed a mini kitchen and a fridge inside, a washroom and a series of stairs that led up.

Feeling odd, she inquired, "This is where you live?"

"Yes" her new guardian kept her tote bag on the sofa, "And from today, you'll stay here. Name's Aditi, by the way. Don't call me 'Mummy' by accident, aunty is mean too"

The girl walked a few steps ahead to inspect the place. A peculiar smell wafted in the room. She turned back and inquired humorously,

"I think we can drink together once I'm legal"