Posted:
So, I was fretting about one of the sweetest people I know leaving the Forum. While fretting, an idea crept into my head. And it was fine while it was an idea. But, when I started writing it, things got a little crazy.
Still, Avi and Maddy, this one's for the two of you! Avi, you said this would, technically be your last day on IF but it really hurts to think of it as such...It's been nothing short of amazing knowing you and my only regret is that I didn't meet you sooner!*BBB hugs* And please don't go*sobs*
Maddy, you've always been such a darling and I've missed you! It feels so very long, your holiday. Come back soon! And, I've noticed, that whenever I write you into a story, I always relocate you. Last time, it was Germany and this time it is London.😆
And the idea was sparked off by a comment by Avi about her and Maddy being sisters in a past life. So, to these two sisters of a past life and best friends forever.....Avi and Maddy, I hope you like this one.
Thanks Meera for looking it through and proofing it for me. *BBB hugs*
Love:-Nonee
Wrinkles in Time
Part 1
Manav looked around at the paintings in ornate frames, lining the walls of this beautifully preserved room.
The tapestries, although undoubtedly faded, potrayed old teutonic myths and legends, the workmanship more intricate than he had ever seen before. These were tapestries he had read about in books but never dreamt he would be able to see.
There was a massive one taking up almost all the space on one wall. Manav stared at it entranced. He could almost see the characters jump out and act out the legend of Siegfried and the Nibelungens. Were these original tapestries, he wondered? He turned to ask his best friend and found him, predictably, with his nose deep in a book.
"Mayank, come take a look at these tapestries. Remember that ancient myths and legend class I had taken last summer. This was one of…."
"Manav, come and look at these amazing Books," Mayank's voice was full of awe and he was holding the book as if it was a priceless antique that would self destruct even if a slight breeze blew its way.
Manav rolled his eyes and walked towards Mayank.
"Look at this Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. 1818 Manav! Do you know what that means?" Mayank's eyes were shining.
"That you'll torture Avi with this and score better marks on that twenty thousand word essay on Life in the Regency Era."
Mayank smiled. "I am going to take a picture of this and send it to her. I am not going to take a chance and show it to her. I shan't trust her within 50 feet of this book."
Manav laughed, "Shan't trust yourself, you mean!"
"What! Have you lost it?"
"Not me! You, dude! You'll lose it….and while you are staring into her big brown eyes, she'll just take the book away and you'll find out what happened, the next day."
"Oh! Shut up Manav. Trust you to throw that at me all the time. It didn't mean a thing," retorted Mayank, frowning.
"Besides, I was just stating a fact. You've seen how Mr. Jinks is so taken with her that he even allows her to issue 6 books at a time. Which is two more than what he allows me. Or any of us who don't have big brown eyes! The nerve of that chap! I ought to complain. I can't believe no one else has."
"That's because no one else seems to want to borrow more than four books a day," Manav smiled. "Only two people seem to want more than that. And you know perfectly well why you won't complain."
"Why don't you enlighten me since you seem to know better than me?"
"Never mind! Um, Mayank…."
"And she knows it, the little witch. That's why she smiles at him so sweetly. At Jinks! That spotty faced rat! My word. Have you ever seen her smiling at me like that? And I've known her….."
"Since the first day at play school," finished Manav, rolling his eyes. "I know. I was there as well, remember."
"And, Mr. I-need-to-speak-about-Avi-once-every-fifteen-minutes-or-I-will-self-destruct, you seem to have overlooked this little tag up here that says, "For reference only. And see that sign there. Photography prohibited. Poor Mayank!"
Mayank stared back at the sign, looking so woeful that Manav patted him on the back and asked him to cheer up. And discreetly decided not to mention that he'd ignored the part about needing to speak about Avi every fifteen minutes. There was loads of time to pull his leg later.
"What's that book?" Manav asked Mayank, trying to cheer him up. And there was no better way than drawing his attention to another….Book. This one though was small and dainty and to Manav's eye, looked very feminine. If a book could be called feminine.
He reached out to pick the book that had caught his attention, smiling. Mayank had read about this old library in Grosvenor Square, which was open to public just once a week. It was incredibly expensive as well. Which other library charged you for just entering? Trust Mayank to find such a library when they could have easily gone to one of the Public Libraries.
They were here for a summer exchange program in Arts & Humanities and although they had nearly a month left to submit their end-of-course essays, both Avi and Mayank were already competing for first spot. As usual!
They argued all the time and as Manav considered himself pretty much immune from the effects of their squabbles, having had years of experience keeping the peace between them, he found the whole situation quite amusing.
Especially considering he knew perfectly well, that Mayank thought the world of Avi and vice-versa. He wondered why they had to find themselves at cross-purposes…all the time.
"Did you know this was once a townhouse belonging to the Dukes of Marlborough?" Mayank's voice broke into his thoughts and he turned to look back at him, placing the book back on it's shelf.
Mayank was reading out from one of the pages in Debrett's.
"Really!" Manav's interest was caught. He loved history and art, architecture and music. And he could now understand why this place had caught his fancy from the moment they had walked in.
There were curiously no other people around the street leading to this Library. He had put that down to the stringent protective measures laid down by the American Embassy in the immediate neighbourhood.
But all that did, thought Manav, just added to the atmosphere in this place. And the moment he had walked in, he had felt strangely happy. He wasn't prone to fancies or he would have thought it was a feeling of deja vu. But that couldn't be. He'd never been to London before.
"John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, the 5th Duke of Marlborough. Title established in 1702. He died in 1844. Educated at Eton and Oxford." Mayank sniffed.
"All the nobility had sons in Eton who went on either to Oxford or Cambridge. That's what they did. It isn't like today. Back then, you were just born to privilege," Manav told him.
"Or you had to suffer the indignities of being a commoner," finished Mayank.
"But this Duke guy sure was rich. Look at all the properties he owned, Manav."
"Absolutely dude! No wonder. Look at those tapestries, for example. It's pure brilliance, sheer craftsmanship. I don't even want to think about the cost! Just imagine, all those years ago, this place would have been run by an army of servants, and the lords and the ladies would just breathe in the fresh air and go about their leisurely lives."
"Would you have liked to live as a lord back then?" Mayank asked him with a smile.
"Thank God those days are gone by," muttered Manav, rolling his eyes. "those aristocratic types just lazed around all day, partied all night, couldn't manage an honest hour of hard work and according to whatever we've read and heard, couldn't even dress themselves without a valet."
Sometimes," Manav paused to grin, "three people were required to help a nobleman into his jacket."
"Maybe they were just fat. And their clothes one size too small. Why would anyone require three people to help them into a jacket?" replied Mayank laughing.
"Well, we will never know, will we?" joked Manav. "At least, I don't wish to know that part of it."
"Really! I, on the other hand wouldn't mind some bits. Like you know, Avi would have to maybe curtsey to me, if I was a Duke or something," said Mayank, a little smug smile on his face.
"Not if she was a social equal, my friend," retorted an amused Manav. "You really can't go more than fifteen minutes without speaking of her, can you?"
"What..tt!" stuttered Mayank, "that is not…..I mean, how can…?"
"I've been timing you, Eloquent One! That sentence made so much sense."
"You know," said Mayank suddenly, a little smile breaking out on his face, a sneaky smile. "You've been going on and on about Avi. What about the effect her friend had on you last night?"
"Avi was delirious with laughter when she told me about it this morning. She noticed you gaping at her friend like a fish out of water who suddenly sights an ocean and wishes to jump into it." Mayank laughed.
Manav opened his mouth to protest, thought the better of it and closed his mouth. A strange expression crossed his face and Mayank, who was watching him closely, laughed out loud.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her, you know," Manav said slowly, his thoughts flying back to last evening, "It was like finding some thing precious when you are least looking for it!"
"Geesh! Manav! Cheesy much!" Mayank looked at him appalled. "In just one meeting!"
"But, it…"
"And don't tell me it was like you'd met her before, okay! There are limits to my tolerance. And you're pulling my leg about Avi! Those that live in glass houses..blah, blah, blah…."
Manav shook his head, "Oh! Sod off!"
Avi had been corresponding with this very dear friend of hers in London and had been beside herself with joy when their plans of coming to London had materialized. For now, she could meet her best friend. They had been in touch with each other for more than a year and he could still hear Avi go on and on about her dearest friend in London. "She's like my sister in a past life Manav. She's awesome. You have to meet her." Avi had told him excitedly, a number of times.
And Manav agreed with her. She was awesome. She had walked towards them as graceful as a ballerina, her face breaking out into a lovely smile as she saw Avi. The two girls had hugged each other for at least ten minutes. He hadn't thought it was so long but he had heard Mayank grumbling.
So like Mayank! He complained about Avi all the time she was with him and the moment she paid attention to someone else, he started complaining again. Honestly!
And then she had turned and held out her hand for him to shake, that gorgeous smile on her face. ("Hi, I'm Madhuri but call me Maddy.") Her voice had this innate sweetness in it that made him want to just sit and listen to her. And look at her.
Manav had just stared back for a full twenty seconds before a cough from Mayank had alerted him to his predicament and he'd proceeded to greet her normally. At least he had thought it was normal. Now he wasn't so sure. He was so sure that Maddy thought he was crazy.
Normally, he never let a girl affect him at all. He was Manav. Girls ran after him. Not the other way. But, to date, no one had ever affected him like Maddy had. It wasn't just the way she looked, although he had to admit that she was absolutely gorgeous.
But, the way she spoke, her opinions on the various topics they had discussed over dinner, her wit and sense of humor, he could go on and on. And there was this feeling that had settled over him when she had smiled at him. It was so familiar. So comforting! So lovely!
The next time they met, and he would make sure there was a next time, even if he had to bribe Avi with something, he would ensure that she thought of him as awesome as well.
Manav and Maddy! Even their names sounded so perfect with each other. Like they were made for each other, he thought, extremely glad Mayank couldn't read his mind.
Such cheesiness was unprecedented for Manav. In fact, he had been trying not to think of her since morning but the moment Mayank mentioned her name, it all came at him, flooding his mind, as if it was hiding behind a little curtain, just waiting to be beckoned."
He caught Mayank smirking at him and decided to change the topic. And wipe that smirk away!
"The day Avi bows to you is the day I eat my hat," he told Mayank.
"You don't have a hat."
"And I don't intend to get one either," Manav winked at him.
"I'll hold you to it," said Mayank, looking sulky.
"Don't hold your breath," replied Manav, smiling.
"There were some good points to this whole being a Duke thing," Mayank said, still looking sulky. "No one would argue with me, not you, not Avi. Imagine that! If Avi doesn't argue with me, my life automatically shifts into a realm of peace." He grinned at that bit.
"If Avi doesn't argue with you for more than ten minutes, you deliberately pick up a fight with her," Manav told him, shaking his head at him, "Come on dude, admit it. You're crazy about her."
"And you're just plain crazy!" Mayank told him, rolling his eyes.
Manav ignored him, his attention caught by a most beautiful painting. One that he had only seen in print. "Oh! My! God! Mayank, look at this. It's 'The Night Watch'! Isn't it beautiful!"
"Copy, Manav. The original is in the Rijksmuseum, remember."
Manav turned to look at him, nodding his head and looking almost sad. "Got carried away! But this is such a fantastic copy." He bent to closely examine the painting.
And saw the little ornate niche below it, epitomizing the baroque influence that characterized the room.
Mayank looked up from a book he was reading. "You have to admit this was an awesome idea. Now, my essay…."
"Our essays, Mayank!" Manav raised his eyes skywards.
"And I wouldn't be so confident if I was you, you know," he added. "Avi is perfectly capable of coming up with better research material. For all you know, she's already been here and made notes."
"She couldn't have been…"
"Relax Mayank! Just keep it in mind."
Mayank scowled again, a memory striking him. "I really wouldn't mind the whole aristocratic life, you know. Sometimes, it's good to have people agree with you, for a change."
"And yet, if Avi suddenly were to agree with whatever you say, you'd be super bored," Manav told him and suddenly started laughing.
"Oh! Try me," said Mayank. "And why are you laughing like that?"
Manav continued laughing, holding his sides. "Sorry, sorry," he said, looking at Mayank's expression.
"Just remembered something. Your mum still has our kindergarten tapes, you know. The other day, we were watching that part where we were learning to write our names." He started laughing again and the scowl returned to Mayank's face.
But in a flash, the scowl was replaced by a smile. Then a laugh. "You know, Manav. I was just thinking about that."
"Today, we will write our first alphabets. Can anyone come here and write 'A' for me?"
Two little hands went promptly into the air.
"Okay, Avi, come and write 'A' for us," Mrs. Robinson beamed at the little girl in pigtails, who almost skipped out of her seat with excitement.
"But, Mrs. Robinson," the little boy seated next to Avi, scowled, "I put my hand up before her. You should ask me. Besides, I can write better than her."
"You can NOT," the little girl stopped on her way to the teacher's desk and glared at him.
"I CAN!"
Mrs. Robinson sighed. They always wanted to sit together but they always ended up fighting.
She smiled soothingly at Mayank. "Let's be chivalrous this time, eh! Mayank. Let's give Avi a chance."
"Chiv…what?" Mayank wanted to know and Mrs. Robinson sighed again. She had spoken without thinking.
"Shi….Val….Rus," chanted Avi, sticking her tongue out at Mayank. She had no clue what it meant but at least she could repeat it.
She turned back to the teacher and opened her eyes wide. "Mrs. Robinson, my name begins with A. So, I should write it first. And I can write all the way until…."
"Show-Off!" Mayank said loudly, making a face at her and everyone started laughing.
Except Avi, of course. She looked at the teacher and told her, "He's just very rude. His mother always says so to mine."
"She does NOT," Mayank stood up, his ears red and Mrs. Robinson quickly handed a marker to Avi, leading her to the little board, before she could retort again.
"Class, Avi will show us how to write 'A'. And Mayank, come here, dear boy," she smiled at Mayank, "Mayank will write 'M' for us."
"But Mrs. Robinson," little Avi tugged at her teacher's skirt, beaming proudly, "I can write 'M' as well."
Manav turned and looked at Mayank who was smiling and shaking his head ruefully. "You know, I should have interrupted at that moment and said, "But Mrs. Robinson, my name begins with 'M' as well. May I write 'M' please?"
Both of them laughed.
Manav turned his attention back to the ornate niche in the wall below the painting.
"What are you looking at?" Mayank asked him curiously. Manav put his hand into the niche and felt around the corners.
A sudden creaking noise filled the room and Manav pulled his hand away, startled. He looked back at Mayank, who was staring at some point beyond him, his mouth open.
He turned back to look at whatever was holding Mayank captive and froze.
......
Still, Avi and Maddy, this one's for the two of you! Avi, you said this would, technically be your last day on IF but it really hurts to think of it as such...It's been nothing short of amazing knowing you and my only regret is that I didn't meet you sooner!*BBB hugs* And please don't go*sobs*
Maddy, you've always been such a darling and I've missed you! It feels so very long, your holiday. Come back soon! And, I've noticed, that whenever I write you into a story, I always relocate you. Last time, it was Germany and this time it is London.😆
And the idea was sparked off by a comment by Avi about her and Maddy being sisters in a past life. So, to these two sisters of a past life and best friends forever.....Avi and Maddy, I hope you like this one.
Thanks Meera for looking it through and proofing it for me. *BBB hugs*
Love:-Nonee
Wrinkles in Time
Part 1
Manav looked around at the paintings in ornate frames, lining the walls of this beautifully preserved room.
The tapestries, although undoubtedly faded, potrayed old teutonic myths and legends, the workmanship more intricate than he had ever seen before. These were tapestries he had read about in books but never dreamt he would be able to see.
There was a massive one taking up almost all the space on one wall. Manav stared at it entranced. He could almost see the characters jump out and act out the legend of Siegfried and the Nibelungens. Were these original tapestries, he wondered? He turned to ask his best friend and found him, predictably, with his nose deep in a book.
"Mayank, come take a look at these tapestries. Remember that ancient myths and legend class I had taken last summer. This was one of…."
"Manav, come and look at these amazing Books," Mayank's voice was full of awe and he was holding the book as if it was a priceless antique that would self destruct even if a slight breeze blew its way.
Manav rolled his eyes and walked towards Mayank.
"Look at this Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. 1818 Manav! Do you know what that means?" Mayank's eyes were shining.
"That you'll torture Avi with this and score better marks on that twenty thousand word essay on Life in the Regency Era."
Mayank smiled. "I am going to take a picture of this and send it to her. I am not going to take a chance and show it to her. I shan't trust her within 50 feet of this book."
Manav laughed, "Shan't trust yourself, you mean!"
"What! Have you lost it?"
"Not me! You, dude! You'll lose it….and while you are staring into her big brown eyes, she'll just take the book away and you'll find out what happened, the next day."
"Oh! Shut up Manav. Trust you to throw that at me all the time. It didn't mean a thing," retorted Mayank, frowning.
"Besides, I was just stating a fact. You've seen how Mr. Jinks is so taken with her that he even allows her to issue 6 books at a time. Which is two more than what he allows me. Or any of us who don't have big brown eyes! The nerve of that chap! I ought to complain. I can't believe no one else has."
"That's because no one else seems to want to borrow more than four books a day," Manav smiled. "Only two people seem to want more than that. And you know perfectly well why you won't complain."
"Why don't you enlighten me since you seem to know better than me?"
"Never mind! Um, Mayank…."
"And she knows it, the little witch. That's why she smiles at him so sweetly. At Jinks! That spotty faced rat! My word. Have you ever seen her smiling at me like that? And I've known her….."
"Since the first day at play school," finished Manav, rolling his eyes. "I know. I was there as well, remember."
"And, Mr. I-need-to-speak-about-Avi-once-every-fifteen-minutes-or-I-will-self-destruct, you seem to have overlooked this little tag up here that says, "For reference only. And see that sign there. Photography prohibited. Poor Mayank!"
Mayank stared back at the sign, looking so woeful that Manav patted him on the back and asked him to cheer up. And discreetly decided not to mention that he'd ignored the part about needing to speak about Avi every fifteen minutes. There was loads of time to pull his leg later.
"What's that book?" Manav asked Mayank, trying to cheer him up. And there was no better way than drawing his attention to another….Book. This one though was small and dainty and to Manav's eye, looked very feminine. If a book could be called feminine.
He reached out to pick the book that had caught his attention, smiling. Mayank had read about this old library in Grosvenor Square, which was open to public just once a week. It was incredibly expensive as well. Which other library charged you for just entering? Trust Mayank to find such a library when they could have easily gone to one of the Public Libraries.
They were here for a summer exchange program in Arts & Humanities and although they had nearly a month left to submit their end-of-course essays, both Avi and Mayank were already competing for first spot. As usual!
They argued all the time and as Manav considered himself pretty much immune from the effects of their squabbles, having had years of experience keeping the peace between them, he found the whole situation quite amusing.
Especially considering he knew perfectly well, that Mayank thought the world of Avi and vice-versa. He wondered why they had to find themselves at cross-purposes…all the time.
"Did you know this was once a townhouse belonging to the Dukes of Marlborough?" Mayank's voice broke into his thoughts and he turned to look back at him, placing the book back on it's shelf.
Mayank was reading out from one of the pages in Debrett's.
"Really!" Manav's interest was caught. He loved history and art, architecture and music. And he could now understand why this place had caught his fancy from the moment they had walked in.
There were curiously no other people around the street leading to this Library. He had put that down to the stringent protective measures laid down by the American Embassy in the immediate neighbourhood.
But all that did, thought Manav, just added to the atmosphere in this place. And the moment he had walked in, he had felt strangely happy. He wasn't prone to fancies or he would have thought it was a feeling of deja vu. But that couldn't be. He'd never been to London before.
"John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, the 5th Duke of Marlborough. Title established in 1702. He died in 1844. Educated at Eton and Oxford." Mayank sniffed.
"All the nobility had sons in Eton who went on either to Oxford or Cambridge. That's what they did. It isn't like today. Back then, you were just born to privilege," Manav told him.
"Or you had to suffer the indignities of being a commoner," finished Mayank.
"But this Duke guy sure was rich. Look at all the properties he owned, Manav."
"Absolutely dude! No wonder. Look at those tapestries, for example. It's pure brilliance, sheer craftsmanship. I don't even want to think about the cost! Just imagine, all those years ago, this place would have been run by an army of servants, and the lords and the ladies would just breathe in the fresh air and go about their leisurely lives."
"Would you have liked to live as a lord back then?" Mayank asked him with a smile.
"Thank God those days are gone by," muttered Manav, rolling his eyes. "those aristocratic types just lazed around all day, partied all night, couldn't manage an honest hour of hard work and according to whatever we've read and heard, couldn't even dress themselves without a valet."
Sometimes," Manav paused to grin, "three people were required to help a nobleman into his jacket."
"Maybe they were just fat. And their clothes one size too small. Why would anyone require three people to help them into a jacket?" replied Mayank laughing.
"Well, we will never know, will we?" joked Manav. "At least, I don't wish to know that part of it."
"Really! I, on the other hand wouldn't mind some bits. Like you know, Avi would have to maybe curtsey to me, if I was a Duke or something," said Mayank, a little smug smile on his face.
"Not if she was a social equal, my friend," retorted an amused Manav. "You really can't go more than fifteen minutes without speaking of her, can you?"
"What..tt!" stuttered Mayank, "that is not…..I mean, how can…?"
"I've been timing you, Eloquent One! That sentence made so much sense."
"You know," said Mayank suddenly, a little smile breaking out on his face, a sneaky smile. "You've been going on and on about Avi. What about the effect her friend had on you last night?"
"Avi was delirious with laughter when she told me about it this morning. She noticed you gaping at her friend like a fish out of water who suddenly sights an ocean and wishes to jump into it." Mayank laughed.
Manav opened his mouth to protest, thought the better of it and closed his mouth. A strange expression crossed his face and Mayank, who was watching him closely, laughed out loud.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her, you know," Manav said slowly, his thoughts flying back to last evening, "It was like finding some thing precious when you are least looking for it!"
"Geesh! Manav! Cheesy much!" Mayank looked at him appalled. "In just one meeting!"
"But, it…"
"And don't tell me it was like you'd met her before, okay! There are limits to my tolerance. And you're pulling my leg about Avi! Those that live in glass houses..blah, blah, blah…."
Manav shook his head, "Oh! Sod off!"
Avi had been corresponding with this very dear friend of hers in London and had been beside herself with joy when their plans of coming to London had materialized. For now, she could meet her best friend. They had been in touch with each other for more than a year and he could still hear Avi go on and on about her dearest friend in London. "She's like my sister in a past life Manav. She's awesome. You have to meet her." Avi had told him excitedly, a number of times.
And Manav agreed with her. She was awesome. She had walked towards them as graceful as a ballerina, her face breaking out into a lovely smile as she saw Avi. The two girls had hugged each other for at least ten minutes. He hadn't thought it was so long but he had heard Mayank grumbling.
So like Mayank! He complained about Avi all the time she was with him and the moment she paid attention to someone else, he started complaining again. Honestly!
And then she had turned and held out her hand for him to shake, that gorgeous smile on her face. ("Hi, I'm Madhuri but call me Maddy.") Her voice had this innate sweetness in it that made him want to just sit and listen to her. And look at her.
Manav had just stared back for a full twenty seconds before a cough from Mayank had alerted him to his predicament and he'd proceeded to greet her normally. At least he had thought it was normal. Now he wasn't so sure. He was so sure that Maddy thought he was crazy.
Normally, he never let a girl affect him at all. He was Manav. Girls ran after him. Not the other way. But, to date, no one had ever affected him like Maddy had. It wasn't just the way she looked, although he had to admit that she was absolutely gorgeous.
But, the way she spoke, her opinions on the various topics they had discussed over dinner, her wit and sense of humor, he could go on and on. And there was this feeling that had settled over him when she had smiled at him. It was so familiar. So comforting! So lovely!
The next time they met, and he would make sure there was a next time, even if he had to bribe Avi with something, he would ensure that she thought of him as awesome as well.
Manav and Maddy! Even their names sounded so perfect with each other. Like they were made for each other, he thought, extremely glad Mayank couldn't read his mind.
Such cheesiness was unprecedented for Manav. In fact, he had been trying not to think of her since morning but the moment Mayank mentioned her name, it all came at him, flooding his mind, as if it was hiding behind a little curtain, just waiting to be beckoned."
He caught Mayank smirking at him and decided to change the topic. And wipe that smirk away!
"The day Avi bows to you is the day I eat my hat," he told Mayank.
"You don't have a hat."
"And I don't intend to get one either," Manav winked at him.
"I'll hold you to it," said Mayank, looking sulky.
"Don't hold your breath," replied Manav, smiling.
"There were some good points to this whole being a Duke thing," Mayank said, still looking sulky. "No one would argue with me, not you, not Avi. Imagine that! If Avi doesn't argue with me, my life automatically shifts into a realm of peace." He grinned at that bit.
"If Avi doesn't argue with you for more than ten minutes, you deliberately pick up a fight with her," Manav told him, shaking his head at him, "Come on dude, admit it. You're crazy about her."
"And you're just plain crazy!" Mayank told him, rolling his eyes.
Manav ignored him, his attention caught by a most beautiful painting. One that he had only seen in print. "Oh! My! God! Mayank, look at this. It's 'The Night Watch'! Isn't it beautiful!"
"Copy, Manav. The original is in the Rijksmuseum, remember."
Manav turned to look at him, nodding his head and looking almost sad. "Got carried away! But this is such a fantastic copy." He bent to closely examine the painting.
And saw the little ornate niche below it, epitomizing the baroque influence that characterized the room.
Mayank looked up from a book he was reading. "You have to admit this was an awesome idea. Now, my essay…."
"Our essays, Mayank!" Manav raised his eyes skywards.
"And I wouldn't be so confident if I was you, you know," he added. "Avi is perfectly capable of coming up with better research material. For all you know, she's already been here and made notes."
"She couldn't have been…"
"Relax Mayank! Just keep it in mind."
Mayank scowled again, a memory striking him. "I really wouldn't mind the whole aristocratic life, you know. Sometimes, it's good to have people agree with you, for a change."
"And yet, if Avi suddenly were to agree with whatever you say, you'd be super bored," Manav told him and suddenly started laughing.
"Oh! Try me," said Mayank. "And why are you laughing like that?"
Manav continued laughing, holding his sides. "Sorry, sorry," he said, looking at Mayank's expression.
"Just remembered something. Your mum still has our kindergarten tapes, you know. The other day, we were watching that part where we were learning to write our names." He started laughing again and the scowl returned to Mayank's face.
But in a flash, the scowl was replaced by a smile. Then a laugh. "You know, Manav. I was just thinking about that."
"Today, we will write our first alphabets. Can anyone come here and write 'A' for me?"
Two little hands went promptly into the air.
"Okay, Avi, come and write 'A' for us," Mrs. Robinson beamed at the little girl in pigtails, who almost skipped out of her seat with excitement.
"But, Mrs. Robinson," the little boy seated next to Avi, scowled, "I put my hand up before her. You should ask me. Besides, I can write better than her."
"You can NOT," the little girl stopped on her way to the teacher's desk and glared at him.
"I CAN!"
Mrs. Robinson sighed. They always wanted to sit together but they always ended up fighting.
She smiled soothingly at Mayank. "Let's be chivalrous this time, eh! Mayank. Let's give Avi a chance."
"Chiv…what?" Mayank wanted to know and Mrs. Robinson sighed again. She had spoken without thinking.
"Shi….Val….Rus," chanted Avi, sticking her tongue out at Mayank. She had no clue what it meant but at least she could repeat it.
She turned back to the teacher and opened her eyes wide. "Mrs. Robinson, my name begins with A. So, I should write it first. And I can write all the way until…."
"Show-Off!" Mayank said loudly, making a face at her and everyone started laughing.
Except Avi, of course. She looked at the teacher and told her, "He's just very rude. His mother always says so to mine."
"She does NOT," Mayank stood up, his ears red and Mrs. Robinson quickly handed a marker to Avi, leading her to the little board, before she could retort again.
"Class, Avi will show us how to write 'A'. And Mayank, come here, dear boy," she smiled at Mayank, "Mayank will write 'M' for us."
"But Mrs. Robinson," little Avi tugged at her teacher's skirt, beaming proudly, "I can write 'M' as well."
Manav turned and looked at Mayank who was smiling and shaking his head ruefully. "You know, I should have interrupted at that moment and said, "But Mrs. Robinson, my name begins with 'M' as well. May I write 'M' please?"
Both of them laughed.
Manav turned his attention back to the ornate niche in the wall below the painting.
"What are you looking at?" Mayank asked him curiously. Manav put his hand into the niche and felt around the corners.
A sudden creaking noise filled the room and Manav pulled his hand away, startled. He looked back at Mayank, who was staring at some point beyond him, his mouth open.
He turned back to look at whatever was holding Mayank captive and froze.
......
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