Chapter 5 - The First Reunion
Sagar groaned as the phone rang for the third time.
"What," he growled into the phone.
"And good morning to you too."
"Mom," he groaned. "Do you know what time it is?"
"It's not that early," she defended herself.
"No...mom. I really wanted to know what time it is. I have an exam this morning."
"Oh...well. It's 9:40."
He sighed and laid back against the pillow. He had another hour. "So why are you calling?"
She took in a deep breath, "Well...your dad and I are going to Paris for vacation this Christmas break so..." she trailed off.
Sagar smiled, "So...I can't come. It's okay mom. You can say it. I'll swallow my tears and somehow mend my broken heart."
She laughed, "Well actually...you can come...or rather, you should come. See...your dad and I, we want you to watch over the house while we're gone."
Sagar frowned, "How long will you be gone?"
"Two weeks."
"And you want me to house-sit? Why?"
"Well, there are a couple problems. We've called the plumber, and he was nice enough to come during holiday season and well..."
"And..?"
"It would be nice if you were here...you know..."
Sagar sat up in the bed, "Let me get this straight. After a semester of hard work and studying my a** off, you go off to Paris, and I come home to WATCH OVER THE PLUMBER?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment, and Sagar could just imagine his mother opening and closing her mouth, trying to get out of this one.
Finally, she replied, "Well...yes. Can't you do that much for your parents?"
He laughed in disbelief, "Mom...you haven't seen me since last Christmas. And you're telling me to come home so I can spend THIS Christmas with the plumber?" He paused and added suspiciously, "Why can't Vidya do it? She loves that house. I'm sure she'd love to help you out this time."
"Sagar...just tell me if you can do it or not. Why do you always have to bring in Vidya?"
He opened his mouth incredulously. I bring in Vidya? No one needs to bring in Vidya anywhere. She's always there. She's omnipresent. Or is it omniscient? Whatever. He sighed, "Fine. I'll come. She won't be there right?"
He could hear her the smile in her voice as she replied, "Thanks honey. She won't be here. She never comes home for Christmas, you know that."
---
"...and so you have to come home for Christmas this time, Vidya. I promise he won't be here."
Vidya sighed. Christmas vacation was his time to be home. She spent her summers there. She gathered herself together and blurted out her carefully put together excuse, "Auntie. I'm not trying to avoid him. He and I have put aside our differences a long time ago. I am not coming because...because I have research. Plus this is my last year here. I've got to look good for my masters applications. And if I work during vacations,..I get paid more," she finishing off lamely. She had taken to calling him him ever since that horrible incident almost four years ago.
She could hear auntie pulling in a deep breath, "That excuse was bull, and you know it."
Vidya's eyes widened and she pulled the phone away from her ear to gape at it. Who was she speaking to again? "Auntie, are you okay?"
"Of course I'm okay," she snapped. "Are you coming or not coming?"
Vidya sighed. Her only excuse was caught. She supposed it would be nice visiting home during Christmas. She did miss the snow. He wouldn't be there. She smiled and pretend to grumble, "Fine. But the food better be good."
---
And then the wicked plan...
Vidya pulled her luggage up the steps and knocked on the door. She looked behind her at the street and smiled. She had missed home during the winter season. As much as she'd hated the snow as a child, she had started missing it now. Florida was fun with its tropical fruits and access to beaches, but Christmas was nothing without snow. She frowned and looked back at the door. Surely, they weren't still asleep. She knocked briskly on the door a few more times. She waited with her ear pressed against the door, and began hearing footsteps. She smiled expectantly as the door opened...
and promptly froze.
"You," they both said at the same time.
"You weren't supposed to be here."
"You weren't supposed to be here."
And then, he shut the door in her face.
She gaped at the door for a few more seconds, before he opened it again.
"I had hoped it was just a nightmare, but you are still here."
She raised an eyebrow, "I am, aren't I?"
He sighed and moved aside, letting her in. She dragged her suitcase behind her.
"Where are your parents?"
"In Paris."
"WHAT?" she shrieked.
He nodded as a lazy smile spread across his face, "You heard me."
He shut the door and turned to look at her. "So what are you doing here?"
She took off her jacket and shook her head, as if still not believing he was there. She walked into the kitchen and found it empty. She next checked the upstairs bedrooms and they were all empty.
She finally went back downstairs and joined him at the kitchen island. "They're not here."
He chuckled, "You didn't believe me?"
"They really are not here."
"Nope," he shook his head.
Understanding dawned on her. "They set us up."
He frowned, "What?"
"Don't you get it? You know I never come home during Christmas vacation. YOU always do. But your mom told me, this vacation, you were going to Europe with your friends so I could come home."
He whistled, "Nice. Except, instead of me, they're vacationing in Europe. We need to get back at them."
Vidya scowled, "What? What are you talking about?"
He narrowed his eyes, "Revenge. Or is that word not in your dictionary?"
Vidya scowl lessened, but..."It is. But it's only there once. I'm sure in your dictionary it comes at least twice."
"Or thirty times," he smiled wickedly.
Vidya's eyes widened, "You're serious, aren't you?"
"And why shouldn't I be? We're adults. We have the right to hate each other if we want to. If we can't stand each other, we have the right to stay away, right?"
Vidya blinked and looked down. Had he just insulted her? "Erm...right."
He grinned and extended his hand towards her, "So what do you say?"
She was helpless. When he smiled at her, he almost reminded her of the old...Sagar. She slipped her hand in his and said, "I say yes."
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
