Chapter 8

2.

Vihaar Villa, Panvel

Maharashtra, India:

There was an anxious environment in the house. On one side Manvi sat, glaring at the two on the other side. The two on the other side were Urmila and Shrutika who were trying to be nonchalant while actually being pretty nervous. Siya sat beside Manvi in order to stop her from lashing out. Chandra stood beside Urmila and Shrutika looking unimpressed with Manvi and Sunaina stood beside Manvi and Siya, looking unimpressed with Urmila and Shrutika but a little more for Urmila. Janak and Kaushal were sitting in the middle as moderators. It was no courtroom setup, but the vibe it gave off was a lot more like a courtroom. Usually, courts never fazed Urmila but this one was not like the others, it was different.

"Manvi, please state the reason why you are angry. Yaad rakhna ki gusse mein agar tumne physical waar kiya toh punishment sirf unhe nahi par tumhe bhi milegi." Kaushal spoke sternly while Janak picked up a notepad and pen. Evidently, Kaushal and Janak were forced into becoming moderators but now that they were in the role, they might as well would take it seriously. Gritting her teeth and biting back how much ever angry she could, she said, "There's a painting that I have been making since the past two weeks as and when I get time. Aaj, when I went, maine dekha ki mere painting pe ek watery greyish colour ka paint gira hua tha. Mujhe laga ki maine hi by mistake giraya hoga. But, Siya didi told me ki these two idiots were lurking around the art room. Didi ko laga ki ve dono mujhe dinner ke liye bulane aayi thi. Lekin mai inki kartuto ko samajh gayi. At the right time, maine inhe range haath pakad liya uss watery grey paint preparation ke saath. They were about to throw it lekin maine use evidence ki tarah confisticate kar liya." After narrating the whole sequence, she released a sigh of relief.

Siya looked incredulously at Urmila and Shruti, who were looking here and there in fear. "Now we would like to hear the story from the perspective of the accused." Janak spoke with as much familial authority as he could muster while being born down by the intensity of the look in Sunaina's eyes and the whole situation in general. "Hum udhar gaye the to get paint so that we could repaint a peeled off section from our bedside table. Gir gaya hoga nikalte samay." Urmila replied with all the confidence she could muster. Shruti just nodded in affirmation without speaking a word. "If that is true hum tumhara bedroom check karenge aur khudse dekh lenge woh peeling off paint." Sunaina said, narrowing her eyes at Urmila. "We did not ask for comments from supporters..." Janak said, being very much absorbed into his role. It was only when Sunaina's glare came directed at him that he realized whom he was talking to and with a meek voice he then said, "But the suggestion is welcome and we shall implement it at once."

They all walked towards Urmila and Shruti's room, the two of them leading the way, followed closely by Manvi and Siya. They were both sharing nervous glances with each other. They couldn't think of an excuse now. "Go on... door kholo aur dikhao humein the apparently peeled off paint..." Manvi spoke mockingly. Siya was anxious for her three sisters. She hadn't spoken a word till now for she was saving her words for the end, when they would really be required. "Y-ya... we-we're doing that only..." Shruti said, her confidence a notch lower than Urmila. She pushed the door open. The family entered and as expected, there was no peeled off paint. In fact, their room didn't even have a place where they would put grey paint. Urmila and Shruti's whole room had a yellow-white colour palette as part of their room's theme. Manvi knew that for she had designed it herself, as she had done with hers and Siya's room. But she wanted to still confirm and be proven right over again.

"Where?" Sunaina questioned straightforwardly. "Ummm... bachho mujhe lagta hai ki tum dono ko apni jaan bachaane ke liye sach keh dena chahiye." Chandra told out loud to Urmila and Shruti who looked a little shocked at first then realized how she was right and went back to normal. But everyone else now focused on them with suspicion. "Girls... aakhir kya khichdi pakk rahi hai?" Kaushal asked them. "Ok fine.... we give up! Manvi di woh paint humne giraya tha, true. By mistake giraya tha, woh bhi true. Humne paint aapke painting ko bigaadne ke liye nahi liya tha. Wohhhhh....." Urmila stopped. She wanted to say it but was disappointed that the matter had reached up to this point. Finally Siya spoke, "Hum mein se koyi tumhe jaan se nahi maarne waale hain. Manvi try karegi magar mai use rok lungi. You both just tell us the truth and end this matter here so that hum yeh unexpected baarish ki holiday ko khushhaali se bitaa paaye." 

Shruti felt the courage and overcoming her lack of confidence, she said, "Di, hum disappointed isiliye nahi hai kyunki hum pakde gaye aur Manvi didi ka gussa bhaari pad sakta hai. Actually, it was supposed to be a surprise. Hum kuchh... bana rahe the. Uss cheez mein grey paint ki zarurat thi aur hum jab use leke jaa rahe the, a little fell on the painting. Humne intentionally nahi kiya hai kuchh." "Aur wo kuchh... tha kya?" Sunaina asked. Urmila sighed. "Abhi surprise rakhne ka koi point nahin hai. Shruti, go bring it." Shruti obligingly brought something from the balcony. It was a white cloth. Without saying a word, she handed it over to Manvi and Siya. 

They opened it and their jaws dropped in surprise. It was a half but beautifully painted pichhwai for Teej, which was going to come in about 2 weeks. They passed it around to the others. "Yeh... tum dono ne banaya hai?" Janak questioned. They smiled and said, "Inki madad se." They side-hugged a smiling Chandra from either side. Chandra had a well appreciated artistic talent and she was the one who taught Manvi to paint in the first place. "I have no words.... yeh pichhwai sirf aadhi bani hui hai, lekin kitni sundar hain! Pehli baar... tum dono ne mujhe prank karne ke alawa kuchh productive kiya hain. Proud of you two!" Manvi said. "Sachh mein! Yeh bohot hi sundar hai. Urmi, Shruti aur khaas karke Chandra bohot hi sundar kaam kiye ho tum teeno." Sunaina said. "Isi pe, ice cream party ho jaaye?" Kaushal questioned. "Haa, kyun nahi! Lekin not for you. Aapko diabetes hai, bhool gaye kya?" Chandra scolded him. They all burst out laughing at Kaushal's plight and shared a family hug. Siya smiled and said, "Ab ye pichhwai hum chaaro behene saath mein complete karenge. Understood?" Siya instructed her three sisters who nodded in obedience and immense love as well as respect for her.

"Accha girls, day after tomorrow humaare yahaan mehmaan aane waale hain Mumbai se. They will be staying for the week of the public holiday." Janak informed. "Tum logon ne SuryaTech ka naam shayad suna hoga..." Kaushal spoke. "Haan! Humaari school mein unke koyi head aane waale hain, holiday ke direct baad, ek seminar ke liye." Siya said. "Aur woh bohot bade par ethical IT business chalaate hain." Manvi added. "Actually uss company ke MD Dashrath mere college ke time se khaas dost hai. Woh, unki patni aur chaar bete aur unki sister-in-law aa rahe hain. Toh be ready for their welcome alright?" Janak added on to the information. The girls looked at each other then Siya responded diligently, "Don't worry dad... hum sambhaal lenge. Shruti aur Urmi ko bhi dekh lenge." Urmila and Shruti sulked a bit at that line. "Hum chhoti bacchiyan hain kya?" Urmila asked. They all burst out laughing at that filmy reference then proceeded to enjoy the rain. The rains were the reason for the holiday on that day and the reason for a day filled with a little suspense and a lot of comedy.

~~~

Hope you have liked it. Will update next soon.

Love,

MusicOfGrace