The once silent and rigid doll house turned into a real house, full of life, melodic chatter, laughter rolls, and peace resonating in the walls of the house. Time slipped fast like the snap of a finger, 2 hours already passed, and Shashi's family had retired back to their home.
Navya rode Divit back to his orphanage while Lakshman's family and Soma's family stayed till Navya returned.
Hrida had an interesting and friendly conversation with Soma's mom and Lakshman's mom about them, while Soma and Lakshman were listening to their conversation.
Hrida noticed Soma being quiet, she grinned, " Soma, remember when we met first, you were quiet just like this, so do I need to narrate some story again to brighten your mood ?"
Soma confidently replies, " I am not quiet, I was simply observing how you and Mom are so similar, both brave and talkative." Hrida smiles hearing his comment, which evoked a smile on his face as well, " Well, I feel flattered by your compliment. Thank you, Soma."
Soma's mom teases her son, " Of course, it's obvious you can see my reflection in her, after all, we both are passionate, brave, and beautiful. Aren't we, Hrida?"
Hrida nods animatedly, Lakshman's mom tugs Lakshman's sleeve, and she whispers in a low pitch, " Why do feel Kimaya hinting something to her son about Hrida...Oh! Laksh, Soma likes Hrida, right? "
Lakshman nods and whispers back with a grin, " I was suspicious when he later confessed to me that he saw Hrida in the mall after that mall incident but didn't tell me. That day, when he came back from the mall, he was grinning at a bottle.
Then, I knew something was fishy but at that time, I didn't guess the matter was this. And, I heard Shashi's mom and Soma's mom having a playful discussion about Hrida's feelings, they sounded like college girls and not like mothers. I was silently laughing seeing their act. "
Navya returns, Lakshman's family and Soma's family bid farewell but Soma didn't move from his position, he looked kind of nervous and hesitant, so Hrida approached him and asked him with a gentle tone, " Soma, something is bothering you, I can see it in your face. Tell me, I am your friend, I will help you. "
Soma answers with a neutral tone, " I wanted to do something but I don't know would that action might be too much for a friend, that's bothering me."
Hrida encourages him, " Soma, if that person is your friend and if he/she is comfortable with it, then you don't need to think much.
Because if you keep overthinking, then you might never be able to do it. Don't think much, just do it and I am sure he/she wouldn't mind since you are considerate-" She gets interrupted by his sudden hug, her arms wrapped around her neck, his head on her shoulder, she just got surprised but within a few seconds, she returned his hug with a soft smile on her face.
Hrida whispers with a teasing tone, " So you were talking about me. Aughh.Soma, whenever you feel like problems storming your heart, you can talk to me or hug me, I won't mind as I love hugs.
Shashi also loves my hugs, so I hope my hug comforts you as well." Soma just nods and hides his beetroot-red face on her shoulder.
Soma's mom feels happy for her son, she captures the scene in her heart, Hrida separates from him and bids him goodnight with a cheerful hand wave.
Navya took out her patient files and worked on her laptop, reading research papers, which fascinated Hrida, she peeked into her laptop, sat by her side, and read the lines silently in her head.
She can grasp the actual information but only partially and high-standard biological terms raise her eyebrows in a kind of funny way.
Navya snorts seeing her expression and pulls her cheeks while mentioning how adorable she looks when she is confused, Hrida simply smiles at her response.
Suddenly, out of curiosity, she throws a question at her with a teasing tone, " You know, I am your Didi ( Elder sister), so you can be honest and open with me.
I am curious about one thing, so please clarify for me, who do you like, Shashi or Soma or Divit in terms of more than friend?"
Hrida blushes instantly at her question, she tries to change the topic with a shy tone, " Didi, they are my friends but Shashi is closer than those two since we have known each other for years.
Shashi is special, he is always there by my side even when I try to push him away because of my fear for his safety. He is my game partner, my best friend. He is just…so amazing.
Ummm...….. Didi, since you are asking me to be honest, I wanted to tell you something, before this whole Kali incident, I and Shashi was always close like always.
But, this journey awoke some weird and strange emotions in my heart whenever we are together, it just feels different but good. I mean, I don't know why but I feel a just tiny bit shy around Shashi nowadays.
I mean I feel comfortable but whenever he comes closer, I just feel like my heart racing like a horse or just breathless. I kind of know what I am feeling but I don't whether I am correct or just assuming things.
I don't know, Didi, earlier, when he used to smile at me, it felt good and comfortable but after this whole Kali thing, whenever smiles at me, I feel like my heart is somehow melting, and I know what these signs indicate towards but I am afraid to assume it wrong."
Navya was now confident in her theory, she embraced her with motherly warmth and uttered with a warm smile, " My dear, don't fret too much, just let your heart feel and don't try to deny it, cause regardless, your heart finds its way to home.
And, just enjoy these feelings, these moments are meant to be experienced and treasured because, in the future, they might someday become part of your beautiful life.
And to give you a hint, you are not assuming it wrong, whatever you feel is right and beautiful, but don't overthink or worry about it, cause it will naturally unfold even if you don't know what might happen next.
So, cherish and nurture these feelings and just stay with him wherever he goes."
Hrida nods with a soft smile on her lips, thinking of someone familiar in her head. Hrida informs her with a cute tone, " Didi, I and Tapish are going outside, to relax in our house garden. I feel like stargazing at the moment, don't worry, we will be back to bed soon. Love you, Didi. " Saying this, she kissed her cheek and ran outside with Tapish.
Navya just chuckles, she stares at their figures disappearing and mumbles with a fond tone, " Thank you for coming into my life, Hrida. You bring liveliness back into other's normal life, just like your name, Hrida ( Made of Heart)."
Hrida sat, relaxed on the soft grass while gazing at the stars, whereas Tapish was staring at her face with a kind of fondness, which she noticed, she grinned," Tapish...You also think that I am adorable, right? I know, after all, I am your younger sis.
Tapish, you know, I have realized and learned so many things about life, this whole incident was terrifying, hurtful, and bitter but I am grateful that it led me to more beautiful people in my life.
Tapish, I almost lost my control when I saw you brutally bruised by those silly adult girls, aughhh.. however, I am glad, you got better, safe, and sound.
Tapish, next time, don't ever scare me like that, okay?"
Tapish lets out an apologetic 'meow', then jumps on her lap, rubbing his head on her torso, Hrida cooed in awe. She gently lifted him in the air, slowly laid down on the grass, and swayed him playfully from side to side, Tapish let out a happy 'meow'.
Hrida placed him by her side on the grass and stared back at the moon, something struck in her brain, a playful smirk playing on her lips, Tapish flashed a mischievous smile as he gazed at the sky.
The blanket of blue sky decorated with fluttering stars and moon sets a mysterious yet enchanting spell over the world, gravitating the humans into a deep slumber, remaining blind to the poison truth stuck in their guts in each person.
Due to getting familiar with her poison truth, she just lightly smirks at her past and hums a specific part of her self-made lyrics in a playful tone;
Used to love playing with pretty dolls,
But my parents loved playing with their own dolls.
I don't want a doll house anymore,
I don't need a dollhouse anymore,
Because I am not a doll anymore to play with.
Dollhouse is a living truth of mine but a poisoned one.
A small little girl,
With small hands held her first doll tight,
Didn't know she would have nothing left to hold tight.
I don't want a doll house anymore,
I don't need a dollhouse anymore,
Now only poisoned truth, that I am holding tight,
Not like the small girl, who held a pretty doll tight.
It is not a dollhouse anymore,
Cause I don't need a doll house anymore.
Anymoree...…..
She stops humming and whispers in the air with an ' I know it ' tone, " There is no more a doll house, only poisoned truth remains, which can be digested safely when ingested properly, otherwise, it can shutdown/take over your whole system of a body or world.
A poison can be a cure or just remain poison itself. The choice is yours, choose carefully.
Aren't I right, Tapish bro? " Hrida ends her last statement with a playful wink at Tapish, in response, Tapish flashes back a wide full toothy smile.