Do you even have a heart

Ashwin, Grandma, me, Aditi and her family are sitting facing each other in Ashwin's home.

Aditi's father is sitting with clenched fists, his arms shaking with eyes red with anger, grinding his clenched teeth he is staring at Ashwin.

Aditi's mother is taking care of the injuries on Aditi she also has anger on her face but more than that her worry for Aditi is more apparent, she is her mother after all.

As for Aditi she has been silent from the way back till now she didn't speak anything when I asked her something she either replied with yes or stayed silent, and when I was holding her hand to take her with me she felt heavy like I was pulling a weak and lifeless person, just what did Ashwin do for her to become like this.

"I am sorry, I am really…. really sorry on behalf of Ashwin please forgive him" Grandma apologised to Aditi's parents sobbing and crying, bowing down to them in shame with her hands clasped.

"An apology won't change anything first it was that day and now this, why is he doing this to our daughter" Aditi's father slammed his fist on the table in front making the glasses on it fall.

In shame, Grandma just shrank in herself with her head in her hands.

Frustrated Aditi's father backed off and looked to the other side.

The room went silent with the quiet sound of Grandma's sobs.

"Would you like some coffee or tea" Breaking the silence Ashwin asked an absurd question everyone looked at him in disbelief including me.

Even after everything that happened he still has a faint and innocent smile on his face like a child.

"You do you even felt guilty for what you did" Aditi's father shouted and was about to jump at Ashwin with his clenched fist.

Slap

The sound of Grandma slapping Ashwin in anger reverberated in the room, her eyes were red with anger and tears her old and wrinkled hand was shaking as she slapped Ashwin again and again, even after running out of breath she didn't stop and even Ashwin just stays there without doing anything.

"Grandma please stop" In the end, I have to stop her by forcefully grabbing her hands.

After struggling a little bit she finally stopped herself, looked at Aditi and her parent's stunned face once again and went back to her room with her legs dragging on the ground.

"Excuse me" I called out to Aditi's family "I… it's already getting late and" I looked to the other side running out of words, I just wanted them to leave for now but couldn't get the right words for that.

"We can talk about this later" Understanding my intentions they left by themselves.

"Ashwin?" After I walked them to the door and got back to the room and saw him eating chips.

"What are you doing" In anger I snatched his pack of chips and shouted at him "Do you even have a heart, after everything you did to Aditi and how much pain you made your grandma go through and now you are here eating chips like nothing happened."

"Why are you being so damn loud you are not even a part of my family."

"Wh..!?" I was shocked by his words and his attitude, not even having a speck of guilt.

"And what grandma did and what I am doing is none of your business" Annoyed he stood up and taking the chips back, he went up to his room.

I couldn't process what he just said, what he meant, were 'his' words true, was Ashwin really not a child 'then what was I' Shaking my thoughts off I went to grandma's room because I heard the sound of her crying.

Opening the door a little I peeked inside and there was Grandma who looked tired her eyes were swollen from tears but she didn't stop, she couldn't stop her tears, the tears of someone who had to slap the only family she had left.

I wanted to go inside and support her but then I remembered Ashwin's words.

He was right I am not a part of their family and even if I try to talk to Grandma, my words might not reach her, I couldn't help her in place of a real family member.

Talking my steps back I left the house and called 'him'.

I need 'his' help with Ashwin.

I never wanted to do that to a child but he is not a child and he left me with no choice.

"So you believe me now Sanvi," He said on the phone.

"Yes"