Safe haven [Yourstoryindia]

#Chapter 3 : New Friendship

Hi guys,
Here is an update. Hope you enjoy this chapter... happy reading..😊

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Anusha got up late the next day as she slept in. Since it was Friday, which is an official holiday in Qatar, everybody wakes up late.
She brushed her teeth, took a shower and put her purple kurti and black leggings and went to Rashi's home.

She had a small kitchen, and all the basic supplies in her room, but she barely cooked there. Rashi always cooked extra for her friend and insisted to eat together.
Rashi never let her cook and eat alone in her room. Anusha helped her in kitchen whenever possible.

As she opened their back door, she heard Ninnu's giggle from the living room. The sweet giggles made her smile herself.
She entered the kitchen to found Rashi cooking dosa and  Sambar.
The aromatic smell of the sambar made her stomach growl.
'Good morning Anu, how are you this morning?' she asked with a with her concerned mom tone in her voice.

'Yep yep, all good, at least up to next month.' she replied with a smile.

She helped to set the table and poured the fresh tea in cups and went to look for Ninnu. Anusha loved this cute little girl who started to call her name in her cute imperfect words 'nnu' which never failed to make her smile. and warm her heart. She was expecting to see Akki and Ninnu in the living room, instead she found a grinning Alvin and a squealing Ninnu in his arms.
She was a bit surprised by seeing him there unexpectedly, before she could scoot, Ninnu saw her and tried to jump into her arms, calling her 'nnu' which made her giggle. She took Ninnu in her arms and cooed to her and smiled at him.
' Good morning Anusha..how are you? Looks like your cramps are all long gone..'
'Oh yeah..all good now.' She said and flushed immediately, her jaw slightly opened and colored like tomato.

'God..how did he know? How humiliating ' she didn't want to meet his gaze.
'Wait...was it that obvious?' she asked dubiously to him who was in shock himself.

' Why did he ask that?He doesn't even know her..so
much for an introduction.' he frowned himself for putting themselves in such a situation.

He cleared his throat before answering her.
'I am so sorry, it came out like that. I just wanted to know that you are okay. And it wasn't that obvious, it is just that I grown up with twin sisters, that made my instincts sharp.. sorry to make you uneasy' he said with a pleading eyes.
It wasn't that, she was shy about it, but a perfect stranger, noticed that, made her feel uneasy.
He sounded genuine enough, so she shrugged off the topic there and replied a curt' it's ok' and retreated to kitchen.
Akki came back shortly, and they had their breakfast , Alvin joined them. The food was great, and they talked and laughed together but still she felt awkward around him.
He felt the same. So before it became more awkward, she went back to her room.
Fridays were destined for cleaning , so she changed her sheets and put it in the machine. Then cleaned her kitchen, dusted the room. She liked her room clean and tidy and properly arranged.
After that she returned to Rashi's, before she started cooking lunch.
Akki and Ninnu were out with Alvin. They decided to make some chicken fried rice.
While she chopped the vegetables, Rashi told her that she could go to church with Alvin's family, as they are planning to go to church in the evening.
She nodded but decided to take a cab instead. She had gone with John uncle's family before. But they used to go to the church in the morning,and she liked to slept in. So after a few times, she opted to take cab. And today, she had a good reason to go alone, since it was awkward around the new guy, she just wanted to avoid him.

Anusha made raitha while Rashi cooked fried rice. Rashi was a great Cook. Her recipes made her miss her mom more. Anusha lost her mom when she was twelve. She missed her everyday. She has an elder sister, Ansa, who was married and settled in Chennai.
Ansa was a strong woman unlike Anusha who was more emotional. She wasn't close with her dad. She was mostly a mom's girl, so they did not talk much even though she called every week. Dad was a man of few words like Ansa. More practical more focused. Some times she felt like an outsider, a burden they don't seem to care.