Chapter 33: chapter 33

SRUTHIPreschool is a place where I feel like I can be myself without putting up any strong walls or acting all tough. It is a place where I am not judged or expected to behave like a responsible adult. I love this place and the kids. I have a degree in political science and history but I wasn’t interested in working as a politician or archaeologist. I am not cut out for the arguments of the politician or for digging mud. I wanted to have a safe job and chose to become a preschool teacher. Yep! Not a great professional choice but it satisfies my job expectations. I love the kids who are innocent and curious. They bring joy and hope to my otherwise sad and depressed life. Their antics and playfulness take my mind off many things and I love playing with them. This job too has its demerits but I am okay with it. It is been one whole week since my marriage to Madhav. I am done moping over Praveen. I knew staying in that big house all day would only push me more into depression. So, I decided to rejoin the school. To my very luck, the school hadn’t found any replacement for me, so, I got back my old job. I did inform Madhav about the job. I expected him to tell me to stay in the house for safety reasons but surprisingly he agreed to it. After that conversation where I confronted him about his dream girl and settled on an arrangement, things changed between us. Our conversations have turned polite and civil. I am not scared of him anymore. I know he is a killer and there is blood in his hands but it is impossible to remember those things when he talks with me. He respects me and my wishes. I didn’t expect this from him. I don’t think I will fall in love with him. It is going to be impossible for me to love someone who kills people but I will at least give this marriage a try. I don’t expect us to fall head over heels in love with each other but I hope we will find a common ground.“Look who is here,” a shrill voice pulls me out of my head. I am suddenly surrounded by toddlers. Their smiles are contagious and I forget all about Madhav and the talk we had in an instant.“Why are you here?” a little girl with pigtails asks me. “Aren’t you happy that I am here?” I ask patting her head.“I am happy but you told us that you are going away somewhere with that coat suit uncle,” she says. I laugh at her description of Praveen. “Did you not see TV?” asks another girl with curly hair. “She is married to the gold shop uncle. You would get all those jewels for free, right? Can you give me free jewels too?”I smile at the innocent interpretation the kids have made about my life. Being with them makes me realize that life is simple but we make it complicated. It gives me a break from the complications of the adult life. I wish I had stayed a kid with blissful innocence. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“My parents do not love me,” Neetu complains with a pout. She is the naughty one of her class. There is never a boring day when she is with you. She is a curious kid with a vivid imagination.“Why do say that?” I ask crouching to her level. It is two in the afternoon. Every other kid has gone home with their parents or guardian. Neetu is the only one left. I can leave the school only after she goes home. Both of her parents are working and they usually come late to pick her up. I understand why she is feeling like that.“They always do work. They don’t want to spend time with me,” she says folding her hands and puffing her chest. She is wearing a bright yellow frock with yellow accessories. She looks cute and I can’t take her seriously when she is looking like a sunflower.“Did you like the new Barbie doll that your parents got you for your birthday?”“Yes, I love it.”“If you want a Barbie doll or gifts like that in the future then your parents have to go to work. They love you so much that they want to give you everything that you ask. But, for that they have to go to work,” I say patting her cheek.She puckers her lips in thinking and then says, “But, they don’t play with me. They are always busy looking at their phone.”“Hmmm, I will ask your parents to play with you,” I say.“Will they listen to you?” she asks in a sceptical tone. “They will,” I promise her. “If they listen to you, then, I will share the Barbie doll with you. Deal?”“Deal,” I say high-fiving her little palm.A throat clearing takes my attention off the little girl. Squaring my shoulders, I turn around to face the child’s father to give him a piece of my mind and some much-needed advice for not playing with his daughter.“You are supposed to be an hour early to pick—” my voice falters as I come face to face with Madhav. He is in a white shirt and jeans. His hair ruffled like he ran a hand through it. God! He looks like the darkest sin in that shirt. His collar button is undone revealing his tanned skin. The shirt fits him like a second skin and I can see that his gym efforts have paid him off.  “I know, I know, I am sorry. I was held up by the traffic,” Madhav says raising both his hands in surrender. That makes his sleeves go down and I stare at his muscled forearms. I don’t realize I am staring until I hear him clear his throat again.FREAK! WTH? Haven’t you seen a man’s arms before? Why are staring at it like a stalker? Get a grip on you.Before I could ask him what he was doing here, Neetu beats me to it,  “You are that jewel shop uncle. You come in the ad saying that your shop is the best.”Madhav’s focus shifts from me to Neetu who is staring at him with wide eyes. And people, to my utter surprise, a soft smile pulls his mouth up and a gentle look enters his eyes. He walks to Neetu and oh! Be still my heart. He kneels to her level and says, “Yes, I am that jewel shop uncle.”“What are you doing here?” Neetu asks the question on my mind. He ruffles her hair and answers her question in a gentle tone, “I am here to pick up your teacher.”Neetu looks at me and then back at him before bursting into tears. It is hilarious to see Madhav’s panicked face as he stares at the sobbing Neetu and then at me like a puppy who just got kicked, “Did I offend her in any way? Why is she crying?” He turns to Neetu and apologises in a sincere tone, “I am sorry yellow. Why are you crying?”“I am not yellow. My name is Neetu,” she says through sobs.“Okay, Neetu, why are you crying?”Neetu looks at him and then runs to me. She wraps her small hands around my legs and looks at me with a pleading expression. It breaks my heart to see her like this. I lift her in my arms and rub smooth circles on her back, “It is okay, baby. I am here. He is not going to do anything to you.”“I am not afraid of him doing anything to me,” Neetu mumbles putting her head on my shoulder. “Then why are you crying?” Madhav asks still puzzled.“You love my teacher, don’t you?” she asks Madhav. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥