Chapter 42

Supergirl & Spiderman

“Do read superhero comics” he asked Apoorva earnestly

“Dhruuu” Mrunal pulled on his shoulder

“I do”

“Who do you like?”

“Umm…” Apoorva smiled sheepishly

“Aatreya texted “Storm” “Supergirl”

She said those names

Jai’s eyes widened in approval

“Which one is your favorite

“Well… I have MANY” he said with a sigh “But I have to say spiderman… If I can DO THISS” he bared his wrist, and waved, and made sounds and ran in circles and flew like a ballet dancer

“WOWW”

“I could fly very high u know” he promised

She giggled audibly

“Really? How many could there be?”

“There are many superheroes you know” he nodded sagely

“Oh wow… you have to teach me”

“U can come to my house” he said blue eyes sparkling like gems

“You have pretty eyes”

“Eeeww”

She laughed again

“Why?”

“GIRLS have pretty eyes, my MUM is pretty”

“Dhruuu Dhruuu….purese kripya thambava (enough please stop)

“She has blue eye too” Apoorva thought she was making a point

“I know” he rolled his eyes at her as if she was a 5 year old

Apoorva looked up at her brother and could not contain her laughter

Mrunal became defensive

“We have to go” she muttered

“Aaai can I open the bag?” Jai begged her

“Nakko” “Sshhh”

“I am sorry he is absolutely totally cute, I mean I cannot believe my brother could have such a” Aatreya squeezed Apoorva’s hand

He wanted Mrunal to feel safe

“I mean… he is SO CUTE” Apoorva finished

Jai looked at Aatreya  and asked “Does she know how to make dart smileys?”

“I am afraid not” he bend down to speak

“I am tall too” Jai bristled

“Oh yes” “Sorry” Aatreya smiled

“HE IS THE MOST ADORABLE THING” Apoorva stage whispered to Mrunal

“Thanks”

“Can we please go to dinner?” Apoorva begged

“We cant eat out” Mrunal nodded nervously

“Are you fasting?”

“Umm no he has allergies so I am afraid”

“Oh yeah sorry sorry”

“And he umm.. and he” Mrunal didn’t say he got in trouble at school yesterday so no eating out”

“I can cook, I cook a lot” Apoorva declared

“That’s OK”

“I am only here for three days can you please say yes?” Apoorva begged

“Aaai can I read my book?” Jai pulled her hand

“He has school tomorrow”

“I promise my brother can drop you”

Aatreya was busy unwrapping the wrap around the book, the ribbon the bows the paper, Jai was delirious

“Aaii can I go sit in the car?”

“No… no”

“Please”

“Umm” Mrunal looked at Aatreya

“We don’t have to meet this weekend” Aatreya offered

Mrunal took it as “ME and YOU”

“I meant me and Jai” he said

“Oh yes” “OK” she nodded

“Then yes?”

“Umm.. only for one hour”

“yayyyy” “Can I ride in your car?”

“I don’t know his house” 

“Umm… how about… I can text u my address and you guys can follow me?”

“Are we going to his house?” Jai asked

He tried not to touch his crotch as he had to go to the bathroom

“Umm.. thamaa”

“May I ride with you?”

“Hmm”

They got to his flat, Mihir was even more friendly, though sneezing a lot

He observed Jaidrith closely

He was not as tall, he was handsome with a moustache and glasses

“I have comic books” Jai told him right off the bat

“Arey wah” Mihir smiled

Mrunal just leaned on the shut front door

“Hello Mihir Bhat, I married his sister” he laughed

He extended a hand

Mrunal shook it carelessly

Jai was squirming

She whispered in his ear

“Umm..”

Apoorva was in the kitchen Aatreya was helping her Mihir was answering a call

“Its OK” Jai was even more awkward going to the bathroom

Aatreya came out with water

“He has to use the bathroom”

“Oh sure… sorry, let’s go” he extended an arm

Jai went to hold it

Mrunal was terrified she followed

“Its right here and there are no tunnels inside” he muttered

“Hmm” she nodded relaxing

“U shud have told me” Aatreya muttered

“We cant go at home, we have a ghost” he said

Aatreya was absolutely shocked

“Whoaa?”

“Its in the toilet, every night”

“HUHH” he was baffled

“U don’t use it?” “At night?”

“No Aai locks the door”

He showed him how the soap did not need to be squeezed just put a hand underneath

Jai was relaxed and happy he sat on the floor near where his mother stood and and pulled a book out excitedly from the bag

“Sit on the sofa Jai” Aatreya offered

“No” “I am OK” he wanted to be by his mother who was fidgety and checking her phone every 5 seconds

The kitchen was already smelling of food she thought

Good delicious food

Apoorva came out with a plate of sliced mangoes

“want some”

Jai’s favorite… mango anything

“Don’t sit on the floor, aap bhi baitho” Apoorva spoke broken Hindi

“Hmm” Mrunal sat on the edge of a couch

Jai sat comfortably, his legs stretching out from the edge

“Jai Pustaka paaha” she warned (watch the book)

“What all is he allergic to” Apoorva asked her gently

“Many things, not to rice, vegetables, and beans, and besan and rice flour”

“Oh no”

“Hmm”

“Apuuu” Aatreya gently pulled her back into the kitchen

“can I get u something to drink?” he asked Mrunal

“No… its 8 now, we can go at 9? No?”

“Sure”

“He cannot stay at night” she said suddenly

“I understand” he nodded

“Umm.. thank u” she nodded preoccupied

“Can I ask u something?” he whispered

“Umm?” yeah? She looked up at him

“Want to step aside?” he offered

“Leave Jai here?” she panicked

“How about 10 feet away in the same room?” he offered

She nodded

It was a gorgeous flat, tastefully decorated

“Will you be telling him soon… the whole thing?” he asked

“I can… I mean…”

“I want you to”

“OK” she nodded like a child

“He looks great you’ve done a fantastic job” “I don’t know how you did it” he said in complete awe

“OH?” she was stunned

“He is funny and opinionated and smart” he sighed

“OK”

“Have u heard of thank u?” he chuckled

“Yeah?” she nodded

“Great” he smiled at her cluelessness

She was SO afraid she wasn’t getting a joke