A decade and a year ago---
In a park, all the children were playing. Unlike other public parks, it was a private one. Unlike any other park there weren't many kids, only couples of kids. Some were playing tag games, while the other ones were either sleeping or reading. But the ambiance around them was very cheerful but also very private.
In contrast to them, there was a girl sitting far away from the group, alone on the bench where no one could see her, but she could watch them all the time. In fact, that's the only thing she was doing all this time.
There was an unknown smile on her face, as if she is the part of the group, until someone patted her shoulder to get her attention.
"Hello, girl." The old man walked and sat right beside her.
The little ten-year-old girl politely bowed her head and greeted back. "Hello, sir?"
"Why are you not playing with them?" He asked.
She felt awkward talking to an unknown person suddenly. But his aura made her feel a little comfortable as she replied to his question. "So that they won't go away."
"What do you mean?" The old man slightly frowned by her reply.
Hearing that question she nonchalantly looked down to her art book and continued the conversation. "If I join them they would leave this area to play somewhere else."
"Why?"
"They don't like me."
"So you would stay away and watch them only?"
"That's enough for me." She satisfactorily nodded.
The old man couldn't help but feel angry towards those adults because of whom he is here today. His fist tightened as he saw how just a ten year old girl is all ready to compromise whereas those adults shamelessly expect her to do so.
Caressing her hair he gently asked. "Would you like to come with me? I have a playroom for you."
The girl was still busy with her art book, and didn't bother herself to even look up as she simply denied. "No."
"Why?"
"Because my teacher told me that one should not talk to any strangers. They aren't good people." She politely said word to word.
"Well I am not a stranger. I am a friend of your grandfather."
"Ohh." She nodded but of course her expressions were still against him. It clearly said that she doesn't believe him.
The old man gave a light chuckle on her calm ignorance towards his words. "Why that expression girl? You don't believe me?"
"No."
"Even if I show you your grandfather's picture with me?"
"You do have that?" She gave a firm scrutinized gaze at him.
"Of course." He firmly replied.
Before the old man could even take out his phone from his side suit pocket, the girl replied. "Then I believe you."
"... Hahaha. Good good." He finds her very interesting but lonely too. Resting his back at the bench, he smoothly continued. "So you like me now?"
"Me liking someone?" She confusedly looked at him. This is the first time that she got this kind of option even. "... This question shouldn't be asked to me."
"What do you mean?"
"You are a friend of my grandfather."
"So?"
"He doesn't like me, so you can't either." She simply replied with a understandable smile. For her the old man only made a mistake and she needed to correct him. Saying such words wasn't hard for her. She already accepted all the differences she had with them long ago.
"Why would you say that?" Although he knew the story behind such a plot, but he was curious to know what that girl think about her family. The family who neglect her presence all the time.
She closed her book and looked straight to the man and answered his question truthfully. "My mom and dad, my sister, my grandfather, they all don't like me. And just like them, their friends also don't like me. They always ask me to stay away in my room or just disappear somewhere for the time being regularly. So..." The girl looked at the ground with a reluctant gaze and didn't continue.
She wanted to play with those kids too. With her sister or her cousins or her friends. But isn't allowed to do so. She wants to be with them but has given no right to. All she can do is to feel a bit of happiness just by watching them laugh from far away.
The old man's, Ajay Mallaya's, anger kept increasing. If it was his family, he would never allow such insolent behaviour around him. But with them all he could do is to take her away from them. And that's what he is going to do now.
"What if I like you and play with you? And actually want you to come with me where everyone will like you. Will you come?"
Her eyes brightened up instantly. "That's possible?" She asked expectantly.
"Of course it is. It's just that you have to live with me from now on. And have to leave this place for a long long time. Can you do that?" He seriously asked.
"..."
"Why? What happened?"
"How can I leave them for you so suddenly?" She dumbly looked at him.
He himself finds it a little funny to ask for it, but today he only came here for this. He doesn't know how to talk in a roundabout manner. All he could do is to ask directly.
She was in the middle of thought with the Ajay Mallaya when another man walked to their side and completed the conversation with his order. "What if I ask you to leave Pearl? Can you leave?"
Pearl and Ajay Mallaya both got paused with their movement. Where she was all scared to look up to her grandfather, Ajay gave a stern look at that man. He couldn't understand any reason given to him by that man. What possible reason could make someone lose their basic morals?
The old man didn't mind any of those stares by Ajay nor the reluctance the girl had towards him, as he calmly walked to their side before taking his seat to the other corner beside Pearl.
"Tell me Pearl will you leave?" He mercilessly asked again.
Hearing that question the girl finally had the courage to look at her grandfather. Seeing his adamant look for her, she again felt sad. No matter how much stronger she believes in herself, one uncaring gaze from her family makes her lose all her self confidence in a second.
With a meek voice she asked seriously. "...Grandfather, do you want me to leave?"
The old man left no consideration for her emotions and thoughtlessly answered. "Yes. You have no use over here anyway."
Pearl stared at that face for a few seconds before nodding in affirmation. "Okay. I'll go with him... And won't come back." Saying that she silently left their side.
---
"Aren't you too insensitive? Your son already showed his lousy behaviour. But why are you also doing this to her?"
"She has got no place here Senior. In fact she will never have her place here. Everyone will disregard her presence no matter how much she tries."
"You can't even protect your granddaughter from those people? What future can you even secure for her? I am highly disappointed in you."
"I never meant to protect her. If she wants to live in our world, then she has to fight for it. If she wants it then get it on her own."
"Where your other grandkids are receiving all love and care from your son and daughter in law, you want the other one to fight for it?"
"She doesn't need to live for love. There is no love for her. All she needs to do is to become strong. And that's all I want from her, Senior."
Ajay squinted his eyes at him. He couldn't believe in what he was hearing. Pursing his lips he tried to control his anger. Taking few deep breath he spoke. "If I took her away, then I'll keep her with me forever. Only my deathbed would separate us."
"I won't mind. These people won't even remember to call her back."
"I still want you to think again. The way we are using her, will make her become worse of you all."
"She should then."