A few years ago-

She hummed tune after tune of her favorite old Hindi songs. She seemed happy and the bright yellow flower in her hair just added onto it. She swirled around in the kitchen with a spatula in her hand and continued humming.

"Gam, are you alright?" I asked out of curiosity

"Of course, baby doll," she smiled all too brightly.

"Spill the beans, gam. You just called me a baby doll and despite your low blood pressure you continue to swirl your hips like shakira...so tell me what's the deal." I hissed.

She laughed," Oh Kalsi, even your general sulking won't affect my inner diva today, she knows your plain mean".

I stuck out my tongue and continued to read my book ignoring her regular nonsense. But she made it a point to distract me with her antiques.

"Kals..."

"Hmm..."

"Kals..."

"Hmmmmm..."

"Kalsi..."

"What gam?"I finally hissed annoyingly.

"Come bake some cupcakes with me...I need to freshen up."She mused with a wicked smile.

I sat up and couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Gam, is Mr. Fernandez coming over." I teased.

"You little rascal, zip it John is a great friend. And no he isn't coming over but I do expect company, "she scolded

"Gee, hold your horses, I'm on it..."

After about 45 minutes of whisking and beating and tasting different batters, I poured the first batch into the tin and sat on the counter licking the empty batter container.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

I skidded excitedly to open the door and meet the person gam was fussing so much over.

I probably looked like shit and smelled of chocolate and flour but who gives a damn. Straightening my chocolate stained shirt and shorts I opened the door.

"Ummm yes."I muttered with a puzzled expression as I opened the door to find a guy with outgrown floppy hair and the brightest set of eyes I've come across. He looked completely homeless with luggage resting at his feet. Lost. He was lost I thought and was about to offer him help when his innocent face gave me a once over and a bored smirk replaced his expressionless face.

"Do you always look and smell funny Miss." He remarked.

My face fell I was gobsmacked by his remark, "Excuse Me." I stuttered not believing my ears.

"Excused!" he said haughtily and pushed me aside to enter the door with his overstuffed bags.

I stood there for a minute to collect my thoughts; I then understood the phenomena of hate at first sight. That asshole dared to check me out and judge me on my appearance, how sick and vain could you be.

********

I sat on the counter peeking once in a while in the living room to see that sicko sitting on my spot of the couch already looking cozy. Gam came in after a few minutes of our encounter and introduced him as Joshua D'costa, her grandson who would be staying with her hereafter. I took a moment to take the entire information overload and ran into the kitchen as the microwave started beeping. I saw gam hugging Josh and talking to him animatedly while I waited for her in the kitchen to pounce on her for hiding such important news. More than anything I was deeply hurt and insecure. Gam was the closest thing I had for a parent and losing her to some grandson who conveniently decided to drop in my life and claim my position in gams life was not fair and I couldn't just sit there and do nothing. Finally, gam walked into the kitchen and unknowingly l almost yelled at her,

"How could you gam, who the hell he is and what he is doing here, you didn't even tell Me."

"Excuse me; watch your tone when you're talking to my grandma..."

"Joshua darling it's okay, Kals is a little upset and let me handle this", gam explained.

I was beyond annoyed at this asshole for invading my life and treating me like an insignificant creature. I controlled my emotions and just glared at him only wishing looks could kill. He too had a scowl on his face.

"No Ma, she can't talk to you like that, "he said pointedly.

My temper snapped and I yelled back, "shut up, I will talk to her the way I want, she's my gammy too and you can't just waltz into our lives and start claiming things and barking orders do you get that."

Now he looked pissed, with his nostrils flaring he spoke, "Oh really, you don't have to tell me what I should be claiming or not, this is my house and you are the one whose intruding in my personal life and relationships...Ma you don't have to justify or explain anything to an outsider."

"You...You are sick", I barked

"Shut up you two", gam cut me off. "Look at you idiots fighting over me, Josh get your ass back on that couch and Kalsi calm down..."

"But gam..."

"But Ma..." We spoke at the same time and looked at each other irritatingly.

"No ifs and buts, go to your rooms and sleep on it, we'll talk first thing in the morning, "

I walked towards the counter and grabbed the tin out of the oven. I made my way towards the door and looked back at gam, she had a pleading look on her face and I knew she was dying to eat my cupcakes,

"Kalsi..."She called out.

"No gam, even you don't get my cupcakes, Laters, good night..." with that I slammed the door and walked into my apartment next door."Psycho!" I heard josh mutter before I could enter my apartment.