20-10-2025, 04:31 PM
(This post was last modified: 24-10-2025, 10:58 AM by lee.jae.han. Edited 2 times in total. Edited 2 times in total.)
## Update 13: The Jealousy, the Compliment, and the Unexpected Summons (Avi and Family)
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 in the main room.
Meena Chachi smiled softly, folding the laundry in her lap. “How are your studies going, Avi?”
“They’re going well, Chachi.”
Seema Chachi nudged Meena with her elbow, a sly look in her eye. She leaned toward me. “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 loudly, delighted by the reaction. “What? I just asked how his Madam is and how she teaches him.”
“Madam teaches well,” I confirmed quickly, wanting to shut down that line of talk.
Seema Chachi pressed, unable to contain her curiosity, her eyes wide. “Why did your Madam invite you for dinner yesterday?”
I shrugged, frustrated by the focus on the event. “How would I know? Maybe she was lonely.”
Meena Chachi sighed, shaking her head at Seema. “Didi, why are you bothering Avi?”
Seema Chachi waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, fine, forget it. 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.”
I countered immediately, smiling to reassure her. “No, Chachi. It was a little less good than yours. Yours is the best.”
Seema Chachi asked, her face splitting into a satisfied smile. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Yes, Chachi.”
Just then, my Chacha walked in from the yard, wiping his hands on a towel. He gave us a tired look. “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.
He yawned loudly, stretching his arms. “Okay, it’s time to sleep. 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, making me stop halfway to my room.
“Yes, Chachi?”
“Your Neha Bua has called you over. Go to her house tomorrow evening.”
I nodded, feeling a flicker of apprehension settle in my gut, remembering how easily Neha Bua would scold and hit me. “Yes, Chachi. I’ll go.”
She repeated the command, rubbing her hands together anxiously. “Remember to go. And... nothing, just go to sleep.”
“Good night, Chachi.”
I walked to my room, the domestic ease replaced by the cold unease of the upcoming visit. *Neha Bua never calls me unless she wants something, or wants to be cruel.* My stomach cinched into a tight knot, already anticipating her sharp words.
---
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 in the main room.
Meena Chachi smiled softly, folding the laundry in her lap. “How are your studies going, Avi?”
“They’re going well, Chachi.”
Seema Chachi nudged Meena with her elbow, a sly look in her eye. She leaned toward me. “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 loudly, delighted by the reaction. “What? I just asked how his Madam is and how she teaches him.”
“Madam teaches well,” I confirmed quickly, wanting to shut down that line of talk.
Seema Chachi pressed, unable to contain her curiosity, her eyes wide. “Why did your Madam invite you for dinner yesterday?”
I shrugged, frustrated by the focus on the event. “How would I know? Maybe she was lonely.”
Meena Chachi sighed, shaking her head at Seema. “Didi, why are you bothering Avi?”
Seema Chachi waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, fine, forget it. 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.”
I countered immediately, smiling to reassure her. “No, Chachi. It was a little less good than yours. Yours is the best.”
Seema Chachi asked, her face splitting into a satisfied smile. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Yes, Chachi.”
Just then, my Chacha walked in from the yard, wiping his hands on a towel. He gave us a tired look. “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.
He yawned loudly, stretching his arms. “Okay, it’s time to sleep. 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, making me stop halfway to my room.
“Yes, Chachi?”
“Your Neha Bua has called you over. Go to her house tomorrow evening.”
I nodded, feeling a flicker of apprehension settle in my gut, remembering how easily Neha Bua would scold and hit me. “Yes, Chachi. I’ll go.”
She repeated the command, rubbing her hands together anxiously. “Remember to go. And... nothing, just go to sleep.”
“Good night, Chachi.”
I walked to my room, the domestic ease replaced by the cold unease of the upcoming visit. *Neha Bua never calls me unless she wants something, or wants to be cruel.* My stomach cinched into a tight knot, already anticipating her sharp words.
---
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