42. FLASHBACK!

“Are you out of your mind? Why did you take responsibility?”

“I had no choice. If I would let them go to any orphanage then the whole property would also go down the drain.” 

“I can never understand why their parents have to die leaving their burden on us?” 

“So, just treat them as a burden and enjoy the lavish life as from now on we are millionaires.” 

“Ah… just for this luxurious life, I am keeping that brother-sister here.” 

The couple is unaware of the fact that a boy is listening to their argument with tears while holding the hand of his little sister. The brother and sister are none other than Cabir and his little princess Nandini. 

Nandini:- Bhai, why are Chacha and Chachi fighting? Don’t they love each other like Mumma and Papa? 

Cabir:- They are not fighting Princess they were just discussing…

He stops abruptly, making the little girl frown. 

Nandini:- About us? ( Cabir kept silent ) Were they calling us burdens? ( Cutely ) What is meant by “burden”? Am I a burden to you? 

Cabir kneels and holds her hands firmly looking at her with love. 

Cabir:- It is a very bad word, Princess. Promise me that you will never repeat it for yourself or else your brother will never talk to you. 

Nandini bites her tongue cutely and holds her ears making the most innocent face. 

Nandini:- Oops!… Sorry!…

Cabir:- It’s ok! Now, let’s go, I will show you our new room in this house. 

Nandini:- ( excitedly ) Wow!… New room… Let’s run, Bhai. 

Cabir chuckles seeing her excitement but is sad knowing the room is not just a normal one. It is a servant’s quarter. Their Chachi gives them a servant room just to make them realize their place in this house. 

Nandini:- ( Looking around the room with a pout ) Bhai, this room is not like the previous ones. 

The room has nothing but just a cot accompanied by a cupboard, a window, and a pot for water.

Cabir:- Princess, just adjust here for a while and I promise that I will provide you with a huge palace-like bedroom where you can play like a princess. 

Nandini:- Bhai, this room is so dirty I know… but I am happy because you are here with me. 

Cabir smiles and kisses her forehead with a determination to provide her with the royal life that she deserves. 

Nandini:- ( Excitedly ) Let’s clean this room. 

Cabir:- No!… you are a Princess and Princesses don’t work. So, Princess Nandini, you just sit and let your servant work. ( Bows down in front of her, dramatically, making her giggle ) 

X—X—X—

The family lawyer comes home to talk to Cabir and tells him about his parent’s will. 

Cabir:- Uncle, We don’t want to live here with them. ( Eyeing Chacha-Chachi who is sitting at the dining table far away ) 

Lawyer:- Cabir, trust me, you don’t have any other option. They applied for your custody and the court granted it because you have no other family except them. 

Cabir:- Can’t I take Nandini’s custody and move away from here? 

Lawyer:- Cabir, you are a minor. You can’t take care of Nandini. 

Cabir:- ( Sternly ) Uncle, I can take care of my Princess very well. 

Lawyer:- You are not understanding. If you want to be away from here then, you have to live in an orphanage. Do you want your sister to feel like an orphan?

Cabir:- ( Scaredly ) Orphanage? I won’t let Nandini live like an orphan. 

Lawyer:- ( Smiles on his care ) I advised you to stay here until you turn 18 after that I will apply in the court for Nandini’s custody. 

Cabir:- Promise me that I will get Nandini’s custody as soon as I turn 18. 

Lawyer:- I promise, Cabir. You will get all your parent’s properties as well as Nandini’s custody. Then, you can give your princess a castle of her own. 

Cabir:- How is the company doing? 

Lawyer:- It’s facing a downfall because your Chacha doesn’t know how to handle a business. 

Cabir:- Expected!…

X—X—X—

Chachi:- Hey Nandini, didn’t you wash the dishes yet? Are you here to eat for free? Go and wash the dishes, right now. 

Nandini:- ( Annoyingly ) Chachi, I don’t know how to do it and we are not leaving here for free. Bhai told me that our lawyer is paying you a good amount for keeping us here. 

Chachi:- ( Angrily ) Just see her attitude. This orphan is showing an attitude to me. 

Cabir:- ( Calmly ) Chachi, she is not an orphan. I am her brother who is alive so, please, don’t say that again. 

Saying this, he didn’t stay there for a second and dragged Nandini into the kitchen. 

Nandini:- ( Curiously ) Bhai, who is the orphan? Me? In school, the bully gang calls me that daily but I don’t know what it means.

Cabir:- Why didn’t you tell me that before? 

Nandini:- I know you will get worried. ( Smiles sheepishly ) So, I kept this a secret. 

Cabir:- Next time when they call you that then, punch them with your full force. 

Nandini:- ( Excitedly ) I can punch them? 

Cabir:- Yes!… but only when they misbehave with you. 

Nandini:- ( Thought ) So, I can punch anyone who will misbehave with me. 

She comes out from her thoughts when she notices her brother is washing used dishes. 

Nandini:- Bhai, it’s my work. Chachi told me to do this. Why are you doing my work? 

Cabir:- You are my princess. So, how can I let you do this work? 

The little Nandini smiles cutely and hugs her brother from the back, making him chuckle. 

Nandini:- I love you, Bhai. 

Cabir:- ( Teasingly ) I Wish I could say that too. 

Hearing his answer, Nandini punched him and yelled. 

Nandini:- Now, I hate you!…

X—X—X—

The cute brother and sister are lying on the floor and gazing at the stars while having random conversations. Mostly the chatterbox is the one who is asking question after question and her caring brother is just answering. 

Nandini:- Bhai, are you tired? 

She looks at her brother whose eyes have dark bangs because of sleepless nights. His hands which were soft once upon a time are now tough like a rock because he washes the clothes, wipes the floor, and even washes the used dishes as instructed by their Chachi. But he won’t let his Princess even lift a used cup. 

Their parents always treated them like a prince and princess but after their sudden demise, he won’t let her feel that she is not a princess anymore. He makes sure that she won’t feel any void but he forgets that her sister also loves him the same way he does. 

She is dealing with so much behind his back but is not saying anything to him. 

Cabir:- I am not tired, Princess. 

Nandini:- ( Mischievously ) Bhai, you got two horns on your head. Mumma always said that when you lie you get two horns. It’s a god’s punishment for lying. 

Cabir looks at her with wide eyes and covers his head, nervously. 

Cabir:- I didn’t get horns. You are imagining things.  

Nandini laughs seeing his expressions and he understands that his sister is playing with him which makes him angry. 

Cabir:- You are very bad…. I won’t leave you. 

But before he could strangle her, she runs while laughing hard at his poor expressions while chanting one sentence again and again. 

Nandini:- Bhai got horns…. Bhai got horns…

X—X—X—

A lady:- ( Seeing a diamond necklace ) Wow!… This necklace is very pretty. You are very lucky that you got this from your husband. 

Seeing the necklace, Nandini pouts angrily and whispers to her brother who is pouring tea into the cups for the ladies. 

Nandini:- Bhai, that was Mumma’s necklace so, how can Chacha give it to Chachi? 

Cabir:- Leave it, Nandini. These Kitty party ladies are like this. They just show off their wealth by displaying others’ things. 

Nandini nods and he walks out to keep the tea on the table with some snacks which he cooked as instructed by his Chachi. 

A random lady:- Who is he?

Chachi:- He is Cabir, our new servant. 

Cabir looks at her but doesn’t say anything and walks out of the house into his room. Well, In the kitchen, Nandini fists his hand and tries to control her anger. She can see or hear anything about herself but she can’t see anyone insulting her brother. 

Chachi:- Cabir…

Cabir was not in the kitchen that’s why Nandini walked toward the ladies’ group while making a bad face. Seeing her, Chachi rolls her eyes. 

Chachi:- Where is your useless brother? 

Nandini:- ( Controlling her anger ) He has some work so he left. 

A lady:- Who is this girl? 

Chachi:- She is a servant too and same as useless as her brother. 

Nandini:- ( Sternly ) BHAI IS NOT USELESS. You are useless just like your ( Pointing at the other ladies ) kitty ladies. 

The blood rushed down Chachi’s cheeks, making her embarrassed in front of her friends whereas Nandini was nowhere to move back because of fear. Since childhood, she was a strong-headed girl always supported by her dear brother. Her parents always taught her to never bend her head in front of anyone who is wrong. And here, her Chachi is wrong because she dared to insult NANDINI’S BROTHER WHICH IS ONLY HER RIGHT. She can insult or tease her brother anytime, anywhere but she didn’t give the right to anyone to do the same. 

To be continued…