Someone new enters her life

lt's awkward sitting in the bus. Sophie beside me and Ryan in front to me. People came near me, gave me their condolences and pity glances and went sat in their seat. Now I was feeling extremely low hearing them discuss about the accident and thinking how I would lead my life now. I felt like crying all over again.

I'm not used to so much attention. Only when Jason tried some stupid prank on me, people notice me. But no one really bothers me in school except Jason.

A girl from junior high who is known as the gossip queen came near me cleared her throat.

"Hey Alicia, sorry about your parents.. so how are you coping up?

"Its Amelia, and she is fine" said an irritated Ryan.

"Now that your parents are dead, I'm so worried for you. If you need any help from me just ask me. Where are you staying now? Have some relatives around?"

I'm already feeling low and the way she is bombarding me with questions like if I'm waiting to get adopted or about my chances of adoption. All the students in the bus are now looking at me intently waiting for my answer. And I feel like I made a big mistake coming to school.

"Back off Gina, it's none of your business. And No she doesn't need your help." replied Sophie.

Gina went to her seat and sat with pissed off look. I noticed Jason sitting next to Gina. I looked at him and he simply gave a smirk to me in response.

Now the whole bus is in laughter seeing Gina scratch herself and crying with embarrassment.

"What did you do Jason" Gina shouted at him.

"What did I do? I'm just sitting here, and why are you scratching yourself like a monkey who didn't shower for a decade." He acted innocent.

The whole bus erupted in laughter.

"I'm fine till you came, but after that I am feeling itchiness all over me."

That must be Jason's itching powder which he uses especially for me. Did he use that on Gina now? My mind started to question and did he do that for me?

I looked at him in awe, just then Jason looked back at me and I soon averted my gaze from him,with a smile on my face.

I can still feel his gaze on my face, but chose to not look at him. I felt Sophie nudging me pointing that we reached school.

Few people asked me how I was doing and some gave me pity glances. During lunch, Dylan walked over to our table.

"How are you?" giving me a hug.

"I'm fine" I smiled at him.

"I got so worried for you."

"It's okay. I'm fine now."

I pulled from the hug. I looked straight to see Jason glaring at me and Dylan. Jessica talking animatedly beside him but I can see that his concentration is not with her right now.

The day passed quick. I went by bus to Browns Residence with Ryan .

As we walk into the living room, I notice Kristina and Peter sitting in the living room with a stranger.

"Hey mom, hey dad" ryan greeted them.

"Hi. you kids are back? How's your day Amy?" Kristina asked me.

"Fine" I replied her.

"Come sit here" saying she patted the space next to her on the couch.

I noticed that the stranger, in his fifties 5'11" black hair, and heavily built and his almond colored eyes looks familiar. I looked at him curiously, while he kept straight face and looked at me.

"Amy dear, this is your uncle Mr.Raj Kashyap from India. We have contacted them about Rob and Priya's demise. He came to meet you."

He is my Uncle Raj from India. Meaning mama's  brother. 'Hitler' I remembered the nickname mama gave him.

I heard about him from my mother, he is mama's elder brother. She always feared him as he is very strict with her. He always opposed her coming to US for her studies but somehow she convinced her family. But once she told them that she wants to marry Dad, he is the one who reacted in  worst way possible, breaking all ties with her.

"Um Hi Mr.Kashyap" I say nervously.

He is making me extremely nervous and uncomfortable with his scrutinizing gaze. No one is speaking. Ryan is still standing like a rock, rooted in his spot and looking at my uncle and me with much interest. I looked over at Kristina for some help.

"I think you are tired from the long flight Mr.Kashyap, Martha will show you your room, We will call you down for dinner. You can talk with Amy then" Kristina is the first one to break the silence. And I thanked her mentally. Because finally he averted his gaze from me. I can't help but sigh in relief.

"No Mrs Brown, I can stay at hotel, I will take your leave. I will come tomorrow to meet Amelia."

"No I insist you have to stay, you can stay in the guest bedroom."

Seeing him deep in thought Kristina nudged me to say something.

"I  I would like it, if if you stay here Mr.Kashyap" I told him trembling, God I'm not able to even speak properly in front of him.

He said 'okay' and left to the guest bedroom.

I walked off to my room with Ryan trying to catch up all missing classes and making notes.

Martha came knocking my door, calling us for dinner. After Ryan left, I took a quick shower. Put on my yellow tshirt with hello kitty print and cotton black shorts with yellow polka dots.

I walk down towards the dining, and saw Jason entering.

"Hey kitty is wearing kitty" he exclaims and I just kick him on his leg.

He pulls my hair tie and lunges to the dining, I run after him, we run circles around the dining,  and suddenly stop dead in my tracks seeing Mr.Kashyap seated at the table with a angry expression on his face. Jason saw that I stood rooted in my spot, then he too looked over at Mr.Kashyap.

"Hello Mr.Kashyap" I smile at him. But he gives me a disapproving look looking at my shorts and then at Jason.

"You can call me Uncle" he replied with straight face.

Well that is a development. He said a full sentence to me.

"Let me introduce my sons to you. This is Jason my elder son, in highschool and that's Ryan my younger son,he is in Amy's class." Said Peter.

"And this is Raj Kashyap, Amy's uncle from India, he is Priya's elder brother" continued Peter.

"Hello Mr.Kashyap, its nice meeting you " Jason said extending his hand.

The dinner is awfully quiet. Kristina made the chef prepare Indian food. I finished my dinner first. Well I only had few spoons of rice with chicken curry. I excused myself and went to the living room. My appetite  didn't return to normalcy since the accident.

Ryan came with fresh fruit cut into cubes and offered me.

"No,I dont want to eat. I'm already full."

"You have to eat nutritious food. You look so weak" Uncle Raj spoke surprising me.

I grabbed the fruit plate from Ryan's hand.

Peter and Kristina joined us in the living room.

"You look so much like your mom, you remind me of her in her childhood. Your grandparents will feel so happy to see you." Said Uncle Raj

"That would be lovely to meet them." I smiled at him. I never thought I can meet my maternal grandparents.

"I would like to take Amelia to India with me, she will continue her education there. I will take care of all the legal procedures." He just declared to Peter and Kristina.

The colour drained out from my face. I can't go and live my life in India, with some strangers. They maybe family but  practically they are strangers. I looked at Peter and Kristina, and noticed the same expression mirroring their faces.

Peter looked at me and then again at Uncle Raj.

"I dont think it will be easy for her to live in India, all her life she is raised here in California. Let her stay here with us. She can visit you in holidays. She already went through alot. " he told now looking at me hopefully.

"Why would she live with strangers when she have her own family. We can't come and stay here to look after her, so it would be best if she moves to India to live with us. And change is good for her to forget everything. "

I noticed everyone in the room flinch with the word stranger. I can see the hurt and tears forming in Kristina's eyes.

"I'm sorry to say but we are not strangers Mr.Kashyap, we are friends. Robert is my best friend. Priya is like the sister my wife never had. We always treated Amy like our daughter. Our kids practically grew together." This time Peter spoke with slight anger in his voice.

"Yes you may be close, but you are not family. Remember blood is thicker than water. Only we have the right over Amelia. And I'm taking her with me. And I'm planning to sell all the property here. So that there wouldn't be any reason for Amelia to come back here." He replied in a similar tone to Peter.

"Its not for you or me to decide Mr.Kashyap. It depends on Amy. "

My head felt heavy. I lay in my bed thinking about the future. Everyone retired for the night. It's way past midnight but sleep is never near my eyes. The thought about moving to India and living there my whole life made me anxious. I walked out of my room to the garden, sat on the swing staring at the tulips infront of me.

With the cold breeze, I felt my body shiver, so I wrapped hands around my body to keep me warm .

I felt something warm around my shoulders to see Kristina near me. She wrapped a shawl around me and sat next to me on the swing.

We sat in silence for sometime. She broke the silence saying

"The final decision is always yours Amy. I dont want to force you in staying here. But I would feel content with you right infront of my eyes."

"I don't want to move to India. I don't want to live with some strangers. You are the only family I know, so don't believe anything else. I would always choose you guys." I replied her.

She hugged me immediately. And I could only feel motherly warmth radiating from her.