20-10-2025, 04:31 PM
## Update 13: The Domestic Quiet and Neha Bua's Call
After coming home, I told the Chachis I was going to the ground to play. Once again, Mona and her group didn't show up. Maybe they were scared, or maybe they had found a new place. I played for a while, then returned home. With no homework to distract me, I joined the Chachis.
Meena Chachi smiled softly. "How are your studies going, Avi?"
"They're going well, Chachi."
Seema Chachi nudged Meena with her elbow, a sly look in her eye. "How is your Madam?"
Meena Chachi immediately turned and lightly slapped Seema's shoulder. "What are you asking, Didi? He's a child! Just ask how she teaches him."
Seema Chachi rubbed her arm and laughed. "What? I just asked how his Madam is and how she teaches him."
"Madam teaches well," I confirmed quickly.
"Why did your Madam invite you for dinner yesterday?" Seema Chachi pressed, unable to contain her curiosity.
I shrugged, frustrated. "How would I know? Maybe she was lonely."
Meena Chachi sighed, shaking her head at Seema. "Didi, why are you bothering Avi?"
"Oh, fine, forget it," Seema Chachi conceded, waving a dismissive hand. "Avi, how was the food, at least?"
"It was very good, Chachi."
Meena Chachi crossed her arms, a playful pout on her face. "The food we make is better."
"No, Chachi," I countered immediately, smiling. "It was a little less good than yours. Yours is the best."
"Are you telling the truth?" Seema Chachi asked, her face splitting into a satisfied smile.
"Yes, Chachi."
Just then, my Chacha walked in, wiping his hands on a towel. "What are you three talking about?"
"Nothing, Chacha," I replied smoothly. "We were just talking about studies."
He scoffed, dropping the towel onto a chair. "I don't know anything about studying. You should ask your Chachis."
"Yes, Chacha. My Chachis always help me with my studies," I said, catching the grateful glances they shared.
"Okay, it's time to sleep," he said, yawning loudly. "We have to get up early for the fields."
"Good night, Chacha."
"Avi, wait a minute," Suman Chachi (the eldest) called out from the kitchen doorway, her voice suddenly nervous.
"Yes, Chachi?"
"Your Neha Bua has called you over. Go to her house tomorrow evening."
I nodded, feeling a flicker of apprehension, remembering how easily Neha Bua would scold and hit me. "Yes, Chachi. I'll go."
"Remember to go," she repeated, rubbing her hands together anxiously. "And... nothing, just go to sleep."
"Good night, Chachi."
I walked to my room, the domestic ease replaced by the unease of the upcoming visit. Neha Bua never called me unless she wanted something, or wanted to be cruel.
---
After coming home, I told the Chachis I was going to the ground to play. Once again, Mona and her group didn't show up. Maybe they were scared, or maybe they had found a new place. I played for a while, then returned home. With no homework to distract me, I joined the Chachis.
Meena Chachi smiled softly. "How are your studies going, Avi?"
"They're going well, Chachi."
Seema Chachi nudged Meena with her elbow, a sly look in her eye. "How is your Madam?"
Meena Chachi immediately turned and lightly slapped Seema's shoulder. "What are you asking, Didi? He's a child! Just ask how she teaches him."
Seema Chachi rubbed her arm and laughed. "What? I just asked how his Madam is and how she teaches him."
"Madam teaches well," I confirmed quickly.
"Why did your Madam invite you for dinner yesterday?" Seema Chachi pressed, unable to contain her curiosity.
I shrugged, frustrated. "How would I know? Maybe she was lonely."
Meena Chachi sighed, shaking her head at Seema. "Didi, why are you bothering Avi?"
"Oh, fine, forget it," Seema Chachi conceded, waving a dismissive hand. "Avi, how was the food, at least?"
"It was very good, Chachi."
Meena Chachi crossed her arms, a playful pout on her face. "The food we make is better."
"No, Chachi," I countered immediately, smiling. "It was a little less good than yours. Yours is the best."
"Are you telling the truth?" Seema Chachi asked, her face splitting into a satisfied smile.
"Yes, Chachi."
Just then, my Chacha walked in, wiping his hands on a towel. "What are you three talking about?"
"Nothing, Chacha," I replied smoothly. "We were just talking about studies."
He scoffed, dropping the towel onto a chair. "I don't know anything about studying. You should ask your Chachis."
"Yes, Chacha. My Chachis always help me with my studies," I said, catching the grateful glances they shared.
"Okay, it's time to sleep," he said, yawning loudly. "We have to get up early for the fields."
"Good night, Chacha."
"Avi, wait a minute," Suman Chachi (the eldest) called out from the kitchen doorway, her voice suddenly nervous.
"Yes, Chachi?"
"Your Neha Bua has called you over. Go to her house tomorrow evening."
I nodded, feeling a flicker of apprehension, remembering how easily Neha Bua would scold and hit me. "Yes, Chachi. I'll go."
"Remember to go," she repeated, rubbing her hands together anxiously. "And... nothing, just go to sleep."
"Good night, Chachi."
I walked to my room, the domestic ease replaced by the unease of the upcoming visit. Neha Bua never called me unless she wanted something, or wanted to be cruel.
---