Age 21
Dammit, Shravan!
This is the nth time I am ringing him today but this idiot refuses to pick up the phone.
Who the hell is he to dictate what I can and cannot do? I will go out with anyone I want and wherever I want and he won't be able to do anything about it and if he thinks instigating my mother against me is how he will achieve his goal then he doesn't even know what I have in store for him.
Shravan Malhotra, see how I twist things and get you in trouble.
Pissed at his stubbornness, I throw my phone on the bed and march out of my room wanting nothing to do with that asshole of a best friend.
Fine, if this how he wants it then done! I am not picking up his call now.
_______________________________
Age 24
Three Years Later...
Upon entering Malhotra Mansion I am hit with aromatic smells and know in an instant that Nirmala Aunty is the kitchen cooking a feast. Even though I just had my lunch my stomach growl in appreciation and I do what any person would do. I let my nose lead me to the kitchen and hope that Aunty would, as always, give me one or two of the hundred things she would have prepared.
"Aunty..." I say dreamily. "Please, can you adopt me?"
"Suman!" She laughs. "Your mother cooks so much better than me and don't tell her this, but you cook better than her and yet you want me to adopt you? Shouldn't it be the other way round?"
"Hmmm. Okay, you are officially adopted into the Tiwari Family!"
She comes up to me and lightly hits my forehead "Pagal ladki. Accha bata, aaj kahan se aa gayi?"
"Aaj kahan se aa gayi matlab? Har roz toh yahin padi rehti hu!" I say, eyes widening for effect.
"Dramebaaz. Chal ja, garden me betha hai jisse milne aayi hai."
Giving her a giant smile, I swipe two cookies off the plate and run away to Nirmala Aunty screaming my name.
"Thanks, Aunty!" I laugh out loud running to the garden.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Skipping my way to the indoor garden, I find Ramnath Uncle sitting on one of the benches reading a case and discussing it with Pushkar, who was sitting adjacent him.
"Hello, serious person and cartoon!" I say cheerfully, seating myself beside Uncle on the bench.
"Hello, Khooni Chudail!" Pushkar retorts. "Kiska khoon peene aayi hai aaj?" He says with a saccharine smile.
Leaning forward towards him, I give me a sickeningly sweet smile that rivals his, "Yours. As always because you lack in the brain department and I need to quench my thirst."
He makes a gagging sound when Ramnath Uncle laughs out loud shaking his head at our antics. "Tum dono kabhi nahi sudhroge."
I lean back on the bench and give him a wide smile in response.
"So, what's going on? Seemed like you two were having a pretty serious discussion regarding the case. Everything okay?" I asked.
"The case is a little complicated but we've got it handled, no need to worry Miss Not-Lawyer," Pushkar says teasingly.
"Need I remind you the number of times I've helped you in your complicated cases?" I asked, raising one brow to punctuate my question. What I get in response is a sulking Pushkar with his arms crossed over his chest glaring at me.
"Hmm. That's what I thought."
We both continue our bickering with Ramnath looking at us that there is absolutely no hope for us, which might be true for the cartoon case, and trying to find a way to escape when Nirmala Aunty came out with coffee and cookies.
"Shush! Kitna jhagadte ho dono."
"Badi Ma hum jhagad nahi rahe hum baat kar rahe hai."
"Agar yeh tum dono ka baat karne ka tareeka toh jab actually mein ladoge tab pata nahi kya hoga. Anyway, tum dono ke chakkar mein Ram aap ne news toh di nahi hogi."
"News? What news?" I perk up instantly.
"Oh, Suman! Mein kitni kush hu main bata nahi sakti!" Nirmala Aunty gushed.
"Aisi kya news mil gayi aapko?" I asked perplexed and the next statement makes me freeze instantly.
"Suman, mera beta vapas aa raha hai! Shravan, chaar saal baad London se vapas aa raha hai."
"Oh." I mouth.
"Haan! Main tujhe batana bhul gayi thi ki uska call aya tha kal raat ko yeh bolne ke liye ki voh aaj aa raha hai." Aunty said with a huge smile on her face.
"Aaj aa raha hai? Kitne baje?"
"Shaam ko 7 baje tak aa jayega. Priya ko maine abhi-abhi phone karke bola hai aaj shaam ko tum sab Tiwari's yahan aa rahe ho dinner ke liye. Itne time baad hum sab ek saath, kitna mazaa aayega na!" She exclaimed.
Nirmala Aunty was so happy with the news that and I didn't want my sour mood to ruin her's so I quickly finished my coffee and told her that I had to leave for some work but promised that I would here in the evening to help her. As I was walking out the door I heard somebody call my name and turned around to see Ramnath Uncle coming up to me.
"Kya hua?" He questioned.
"Kya hua?" I echoed.
"Matlab abhi kya hua?"
"Haan to main bhi toh vohi puch rahi hu ki kya hua?"
"Suman," he called out with a deadpan expression which made me laugh out loud.
"Okay, seriously kya hua aapko?"
"Shravan ka naam sunte hi mood kharab ho gaya?" Why is my family friends with lawyers?!
"Kuch nahi, bas yunhi." I said, kicking a pebble away.
"Abhi bhi naaraz hai usse?" He asked gently.
"Haan."
"Hmm. Your best friend was poking his nose in your affairs and from so many miles away managed to ruin your dates and scared guys away. 4 years is a long time to hold a grudge." I can feel the smile in his words and when I look up I see the barely contained amusement in his eyes.
"I get it that what I am mad about is a very trivial issue and 4 years is a long time to hold a grudge but when your best friend does these kinds of things it's not funny. He's miles away from here and I have to move on and make other friends and I have to go out and see what's out there. I mean, I want to experience being in a relationship and he what, expects me to be single forever?"
"Did you tell him that?"
"Have you met your son?" I questioned him rhetorically.
"Stubborn as a mule, he is but so are you." He says, wrapping one arm around my shoulder and turning me around and we both start walking slowly towards my car. "Also, don't forget that you did the same to him but much worse. You told Nirmala that he was "sleeping" around with the girls." He looks at me pointedly.
"Well, revenge is a dish best served cold or better yet, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I still can't believe Aunty actually fell for that." I end on a snort.
"Well, you were so convincing, even I almost believed you."
"Ha! I'll put that on my resume under the talents listed Fooled a well-renowned lawyer into thinking his oh-so-sanskari son was a low-key womanizer." I replied cheekily.
In response, all I get is a raised eyebrow, pursed lips and eyes shining with laughter. Knew it.
I walk the handful of steps, get in my car and drive away, waving to Ramnath Uncle, not planning to go home until way later to escape the scrutiny I know I will be under.
X-X-X-X-X-X
8:00 pm. PCT.
I'm screwed.
I was supposed to be at the Malhotra Mansion an hour ago but when I got a call, while I was loitering all around Delhi, about a huge mix up had happened in a company's order, I rushed to their office, trying to fix the mess that stupid babbling baboon that my second in command, Preeta had made.
"Arre Sumo, ab kyun itni tension le rahi hai? Sab kuch theek ho gaya na."
"I swear if you speak another word I will be going to jail on account for murder and Ramnath Uncle's fee is coming out of your paycheck. I had to sit there for an hour pleading and talking them to not cancel our contract and then another hour lying through my teeth as to why the mix up was intentional."
"Sorry, Sumo."
"Whatever. Just... Go home take rest. I am anyway screwed but I do need to reach Malhotra Mansion."
Locking the door on my way out, I get into the car and prepare myself for the next hurdle.
F*ck my life!
X-X-X-X-X-X
Upon reaching Malhotra Mansion, which took barely 15 minutes, I shut the car and send a prayer to the guy up there who hates me.
God,
You there? It's me, Suman. You know the one person you seem to not like a lot because I keep ending up in situations where I have absolutely no clue how to get out of. Is this your way of punishing me for telling Nirmala Aunty and Ramnath Uncle that their son is a womanizer? You know I said that because I was mad at him, I still am, to be honest. But hey, it is not my fault they actually believed me! They should know their son better, shouldn't they? Anyway, nice talking you and as always thanks for putting me in a sticky situation.
Amen,
The Girl You Hate.
I take measured steps, in no hurry to go inside, and I swear I see the guard smiling. I quickly turn to look at him with my best glare and only to see the smile being wiped away.
Better.
Reaching the door, I can hear the excited chatter and laughter that is being exchanged among both the families.
"Bahadur! Zara meetha le aana please!" I hear Nirmala Aunty's voice above the ding.
What? They are already done with dinner and moved on to desert?
Screw you, Preeta for robbing me of a particularly good meal. I am definitely going to jail now.
I take a few more steps and am standing at the entrance of the house just watching everybody when Varun Bhaiya's relieved voice pulls me out.
"Suman!" And that was all it took for the chatter to stop and now I had sixteen pairs of eyes looking at me. Creepy.
"Uh, hi?" I said lamely. There is silence for a tenth of a second when all hell breaks loose.
"SUMAN!"
"Sumo!"
"Kahan thi tu?"
"Phone kyun nahi utha rahi thi?"
"CHUP!" I shouted and once again silence descended. Thank God. "Please, aaram se ek-ek karke question pucho," I said calmly. Damn the stupid headache.
"Puttarji, kahan thi tu?" Kamini Chahi asked worriedly.
"PCT."
"Aur phone kahan hai tera? Show piece ke liye kharida tha kya? Phone kyun nahi uthati?" Mom asked next.
"Phone?" I murmured and frantically searched my bag and found it in the bottomless pit of my hell that is my bag. I press the centre button a few times and realize that it's dead. Just like I am. "Dead. Sorry." I said sheepishly.
"Kitna pareshaan ho gaye the hum. Voh toh shukar hai Preeta ko "
"Ek minute. Preeta ko call kara tha?"
"Haan. Ussne bola ki koi zaroori kaam aa gaya tha aur tera hona bahut important tha." Ma added.
"Hmm... Ussne yeh nahi bataya ki yeh "important kaam" uski vajah se hua hai?"
"Matlab?"
Giving them a closed-lipped smile I just reply all the while thinking of ways to murder that woman. "Kuch nahi. Aap logo ka 20 questions ho gaya ya abhi bhi yeh game continue karna hai? Aur agar karna hai toh kya mein at least aandar aa sakti hu?" A quick nod from everyone I come inside the house, rolling my eyes at their antics. "Thank you so much!" I reply sarcastically.
"Arre! ---"
"Mata please," I interrupt my mother. "Please aur jhik-jhik mat karo mere sar main phele se hi bahut dard hai aap apni running commentary se mat badaho."
I plonk down on the sofa beside Pushkar and put my head on his shoulder, heaving a deep sigh. "Let's irritate Suman with questions today din bana kar rakha hai." I muttered. The shaking of Pushkar's shoulders clued me in that he had heard what he said and with literally no energy left in me to talk, I simply punch him in his stomach which makes him wince and clutch it pain all the while laughing more loudly.
"Isse kya hua?" I heard Lalaji asking.
"Lalaji aapko pata hai na ki aapke bete ka upar ka mala khaali hai. Pagalo ki tarah kabhi bhi hasna shuru kar deta hai."
"Haan. Yeh, toh tune bilkul theek bola puttarji." Lalaji replied all serious which resulted in Pushkar shutting up and the rest laughing.
"Tujhe toh mein baad main dekhta hu." Pushkar muttered.
"Bhai abhi dekh le! Tere bagal main hi baithi hai." Varun Bhaiya called out.
"HA!" A snort-laugh escaped me as I gave Varun Bhaiya a high five.
All the while I was talking, laughing or simply putting my head on Pushkar's shoulder again I could feel a pair of eyes watching every moment closely, gauging me every move. I knew it was Shravan and I really wanted to go to him and hug him but the petty part of me was still mad at what he had done so letting the petty side of me win, I continued to ignore him.
You're failing so badly, Sumo.
The sound of my stomach grumbling brings me out of my musings and I realize I haven't had anything since lunch. "Aunty, is there any food left?" I asked pleadingly.
"Haan, v-- "
I don't even let her finish her sentence and up from my spot on the sofa and almost to the kitchen in search of food. I'm going through the leftovers from tonight's dinner when I sense a presence behind me. His presence to be precise. I could never understand how I could just tell whenever he was around me, it's not like he announced it or anything, I just knew. I continue to ignore him while a make a plate for myself when I hear him clearing his throat. I ignore him again when he clears his throat again. This continues one more time before I bang the spoon on the kitchen counter and turn to him.
"The house hasn't changed in the last four years so If you have a bad throat, you are definitely in the wrong part of the house to get the medicine."
Rolling my eyes at him as he continued to stare at me, I turn only to be stopped by his next statement.
"Are you still mad at me?"
I turn back around, leaning my back against the countertop, my arms crossed as I give him the silent treatment.
"That's it? That's your answer?" And all he gets in reply is a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I should be mad at you too!" He tries again, trying to provoke me to talk but this student forgot that I am the master of this game.
"Seriously, you aren't going to respond to anything I say?"
I hop on the countertop, pick up the plate and take the first bite all the while glaring at the stupid best friend.
Damn! Those pictures on Facebook did no justice to him. Look at that face!
Sumo! Focus! Do not get distracted by his beautiful face.
But... But look at that face! Those eyes, that nose, those lips... Sigh!
SUMO! FOCUS!
"Sumo? SUMO!"
I'm pulled out of my inner thoughts only to see to Shravan standing a few feet away from me looking like I've lost my mind. I open my mouth to retort but I catch the victorious gleam in his eyes and quickly shut my mouth. Take that, Malhotra!
He stomps his way up to me until the only thing separating us is my legs that are against the cupboards below the counter. He brings his face near mine, eyes shining with annoyance and mischief, and I pull my face back giving him a confused glare, wondering what he is trying to do and warning him to stay back all at once. When he doesn't move, I quickly bring one knee up and to protect himself he jumps back. I take another bite of my food, smirking at him while he glares at me.
Stubborn that he is, Shravan jumps on the counter opposite me and glares down at me and me being on a path to irritate him, continue to eat my food, enjoying every morsel that goes in my mouth. After I am done, I quickly take the moong dal halwa that she made and a moan escapes me when I take the first bite. I open my eyes to take the next bite when I look at Shravan, only to find him staring at me, his eyes darker than his usually warm chocolate brown. I bring another spoonful of the halwa and see his eyes drop to my mouth, his lips parting slightly before he looks up to meet my eyes.
We continue to stare at each other, neither of us able to move from our positions. It takes Varun Bhaiya calling out to me and coming into the kitchen to break away from the spell.
"Arre Suman, agar pet pooja khatam ho gayi ho toh meri thodi help karegi, please?" He asks.
Quickly stuffing the last bite of the halwa I hop down from the counter, put the plate and bowl in the sink and go with Varun Bhaiya to his study, leaving Shravan behind me.
What was all that about?
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Edited by BloodRune - 7 years ago
Cricket
