Walk home
He just grabbed and held her hand as she wandered into traffic, as they walked the 6 blocks from his parents house to his
He appeared wildly angry
“Kya kar rahe ho Pradyut main chal sakti hoon”
“Really? Taara? He missed u by an inch”
“I am fine” she grumbled gently pulling on her hand
“It takes half a second for the wheels to run you over” he was super mad
“Jaanti hoon” she pleaded
“It was your idea to walk so you should be careful”
“I never asked you to walk with me”
“Were you hoping to get abducted?” he challenged pausing
She didn’t look up at his face
“From one abductor to another I guess….”
“Glad your mind works in sick ways” (If u believe I am a serial r—ist)
They began walking again, her hand still held by him
“I mean I am here on a conditional make believe wedding marriage arrangement right?”
“Don’t Taara… uve said enough”
“I did not SEE the car OK?” she began to cry
He was apologetic
“Fiiiine”
“Bachaane ka shukriya”
“Enough!!”
“Mera haath chhodo”
“When we get home”
“Hold my food bags then” she handed him the giant picnic bag of leftovers Sumedha had packed for them
“Gladly” he grabbed it grunting
“I am not going to Pia’s”
An invite had come to them and Sr Munjals for a grand party in her palatial Jor Bagh bungalow
“I thought so”
“Tum chahte ho mera mazaak udaye wo?” No don’t answer that”
“I thought u were confident and self assured to hold ur own”
“U can mock me, but I don’t want to see her”
“Tell my Mum that then”
“Tum nahi kahoge?”
“Did u want me to start taking all ur decisions?” he paused and grinned grimly
“This is not a battle about our egos, I am being respectful to ur Mum…. And Dad”
“Then tell them you don’t care to go”
“U know what forget I even brought this topic up” “Ur darling sister can do no wrong”
“Oh no…. oh no…. Taara I am not falling into that trap again”
“YOU said a week ago “I am not going to shun my only sibling”
“I did because you were expecting me to not answer her calls, assuming you are the reason she even calls me”
“Nahi karti hai meri complaint?” Taaruni’s turn to freeze mid way
“Not answering her call is not going to make her stop”
“Tum sun na chahte ho mere baare mein kya kehti hai, that’s the……… umm….” “U enjoy the dirt”
“U think I need Pia to build ammunition against you?” his eyes were like glassy chips
She pulled on her hand at that exact moment
He wouldnt let go
“No you don’t!! I know you have enough diabolical fire power to take me on individually, but she calls you to complain about me”
“HOW do u know that? Are u tapping my phone”
“NAHI…. Mujhe jitney baar bhi mili hai who she has told me verbatim my magical hold on u will not last long”
“Oh really?” He hissed
“Pradyut mera haath chhodo”
“Let’s get home and sort this out”
“No…. Pradyut” she threw a hissy fit
“taara I am tired, we have 3 blocks to walk”
“I am not asking me to carry me” she rolled her eyes
He turned to her and gasped in amusement
“Huhahahhh” he laughed and laughed
“Mazaak tha” she said softly
“I know” he nodded calming down
“Do u ever wonder if our paths hadn’t crossed we would be spending evenings completely differently”
“Not walking home with someone who loves to do that u mean, either because of her heels or because she loves Delhi February” he scoffed
“ITNI bhi sardi nahi hai huh?” she rolled her eyes
“When did u start ur eye roll?”
“Cant remember” she mumbled
“Ur turn” he lobbed it back to her
“Umm.. I don’t know what to ask you” she sighed audibly
He held her back to cross a street
He put his arm out to indicate they wanted to cross
“What was the name of your first girlfriend?”
He threw his head back and laughed
“Ha… her name was Priyamvada”
She felt the twist of a sharp object when she heard him utter it
The stress on PRIYAM and the loose “wada”
“Hmm” was all she could come up with
“That’s it?” he turned to her with a smile
“What?”
“No comment?”
“Oh Here is where I ask “Was she hot?” she smiled sweetly too irritated by the banter
“U cud ask that (shrugging) sure!!”
PRIYAMVADA? That’s not even a great name!! TAARUNI is different… its RARE
I don’t know of any Taaruni except myself
She thought smugly
Not paying any attention to what he was saying
“So there’s that!!” he finished, walking into the building
“So 10/10? That’s awesome”
“That’s not at all what I said” he grinned squinting his eyes in confusion as he hit the elevator button
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