Adrita's Pov

An amusement filled chuckle leaves my lips when I notice six of the sunshine kids lined up in a row holding chits in their hands, while Maithili held a glass bowl in hers.

"What's going on?" I ask.

Grinning, Maithili goes to each child and the kids put their chits in the bowl. Once she collects all the chits, she turns to me and says, "We are playing a game. Everyone could not come as some are gone to work and some have exams to prepare."

Confused, I look at Anirudh, the one who brought me here.

He merely shrugs at me and announces in a nonchalant voice. "You decide here. I will be leaving now and most probably will be back in an hour or so." Saying that he turns and starts walking away.

"What decide? I don't understand anything. Where are you going?" I exclaim after him, but he pays no heed and waves me away.

I turn around to sight the wide grins playing on the faces of Maithili and the kids. I step back, a little scared of their unusual expression.

Do I look like this when I smile endlessly? The thought scares me.

Maithili steps towards me and places the glass bowl with all the chits inside in my hand. I raise my eyebrows and she gestures towards the bowl with hers.

I sit on the floor comfortably and place the bowl on my lap. Maithili and kids mimic my stance and sit on the floor, encircling me.

"Read the chits out aloud and don't respond till you have read them all," Maithili commands.

"I loveeeii youu."

Piku. (11)

"You are the cutest."

-Sonu(14)

"When I grow up, I want to be just like you."

-Rohan(16)

"You are our best friend. Right now you are the one helping us but, whenever you will need us we will be ready at your doorsteps. Always."

-Ayesha(16)

"When I first met you, I had reservations against you, but when my parents refused to let me be a member of sunshine kids and you stood up for me. Convinced them by meeting them personally, you won my heart. So now I have sworn, whatever I become one day, I will take care of at least one kid's education just like you and Maithili Di."

-Shan(17)

"I hated how much you smiled. And all those stupid optimistic lessons. For me, you were a rich sheltered brat who had no idea how tough life is. It was like you were living in your fantasy world with no idea how life is. I didn't want to live in your rainbow land. But there is something about the untainted hope in you that drew me in. It made me see another side of life. Seeing your smile is like seeing hope. Never change."

Ruhi(18)

I feel my eyes brimming with tears as I complete reading the last chit. My heart fills with love when I look at the heartwarming smiles adorning the faces of my people.

Maithili hands me another chit. "This one is from me."

"We love you because you are you. As simple as that."

I feel so loved. A single lone tear slides down my cheek when I realise I have found myself in such a beautiful family. And they love me just the way I do.

Maithili hugs me and soon everyone joins the hug reaping a sob out of me. Maithili wipes my tears away and whispers in an amused voice, "It's a shame Anmol couldn't be here. He loves you to the moon and back. Can fight anyone for you."

A snort breaks out of me. What a mess I am! Laughing and crying at the same time.

"Woahh...Can I have my lady back? Or do you guys plan to keep her forever?" The familiar voice of Anirudh brings us out of our lovely bubble. Breaking the hug, I wipe my cheeks and smile at him.

"Ooh, she is all yours." Maithili teases, eliciting a giggle out of the teen kids.

"Come on." Anirudh prompts, forwarding his hands to me, and tugs me up to himself.

*****