Arhi '100 Reasons To Avoid You' Ch 5 (34)PMS LATER - Page 6

Chapter 2

I could feel someone rubbing my arm. By using my strength, I opened my eyes to find Bhai smiling at me. "Aren't you cold?" he asked me, pointing at the window that I had opened in the morning. After having my breakfast, I asked Mamma not to disturb me and climbed on my bed to catch up with my lovely sleep. I guess it might be almost dinner time as Bhai is in his sweat shirt and tracks. Shaking my head, I hugged him, resting my head on his chest, as he ruffled my hair. "Shall I shut it for you?"

"No, that's okay," I said to him while yawning, "how was your day?"

"Not bad, kind of busy."

Bhai had been busy from past three years as he started his own business, with few of his friends, after gaining few years of experience in a reputed firm. As an MBA rank holder, he had had offers that no one could reject but Bhai being himself, said no to them all. His goal was to educate people, irrespective of their financial status. The company's first project was to provide systems for an orphanage home with the help of funds. The group also teaches the kids over there every now and then. I never understood how this entrepreneurship works. Even in his busy schedule, he never missed our weekend family times. I was about to ask their latest project but my phone rang at the same moment, breaking our sibling bond. With a smile, I answered it. "I hope you are not going to reject this offer," she started blabbering without even saying a decent hello, "because, you have no option to reject, Khushi. There is this new stall near beach. Come on, we have to try and try it now. I will be waiting for you, I am so hungry. Bye ah…"

I stared at Bhai, who groaned, understanding the caller and laughed. Looking at him when the matter is concerned to Madhu is worthy. "There is this new stall," I explained, trying to hold my laugh, "and she is hungry. Please Bhai, drop me there, will you?"

"How can anyone eat like there is no tomorrow?" he muttered but moved away, providing privacy for me to freshen. After a quick shower and putting on a pair of jeans and blue top, I made my way downstairs to find the family waiting for me. Informing them, I asked Di to join us but the busiest person in the world that she is, excused herself saying that she had a night shift. Ever since she started her internship as a doctor, I hardly got time to speak to her. She would leave before I woke up and come home late, tired and fell asleep.

It took us nearly an hour to reach the place as she texted me the address. She was waiting for us at the entrance, looking stunningly beautiful in her black salwar suit that she designed herself before our trip. She was not a kind to have traditional dresses. She was more of a jeans kind of girl. I eyed at her, suspiciously, there was something really wrong at her, a kind of change that I noticed immediately. She was calm, composed, and even careful. "What's going on?" I asked her seriously, not bothering to hide it from Bhai. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am fine," she replied but didn't look in my eyes, "just thought to have funny dinner with my best friend and our Monster driver."

"What the hell, Madhu?" Bhai shouted at her, gaining attention from the crowd, "how many times do I need to clarify myself not to call my baby a monster?"

"It is an absolute monster, Rishab, and did you ever look at it in the daylight…? Stupid shiny black and stupid driver."

"Okay okay stop you two now," I warned them dragging her elbow as we entered the small restaurant that still had decorative sheets all over the place. We got our table at the window side that overlooked the beach and turned to look at them, "will you ever stop fighting? At least while we are in public? This is ridiculous guys, grow up."

After placing our orders, I looked at her, trying to read her. She was having a problem that was for sure. I think Bhai guessed it too. He nodded at me with a gentle squeeze on my hand and left the table. I watched him walk up to the bar counter and ordering himself a cocktail. He sat there, his back to us but I could see his shoulders stiffened, as if he was having hard time to stay here with us. Turning my gaze, I smiled as she was looking at him as if thinking same lines of mine. "He isn't bad, Madhu," I whispered, feeling pride for his understanding nature but worried at her behavior, "do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head and gulped the glass of water in a go. "There was a function earlier that Mamma forced me to attend with them," she said in a low voice and somehow, I guessed where it was leading us. I am not sure, but able to understand with her tensed behavior, and the way she dressed. "And there is this guy whose parents, some producer's relatives or something, approached mine and had that talk. Mamma said to meet him and give this a chance."

"What the hell is wrong with them?" I hissed with barely controllable anger. It was not the first time she faced such situation. From past few months, whenever anyone approached them, they would ask her to meet the guy and have a talk. Sure, they were facing financial crises for a long time as her father was working in a film studio as a spotlight person and her mother being a beautician with two daughters were hard to tackle. But that didn't mean to look at matches that knocked their doors. "What are you going to do now?"

"I am not sure," she confessed, looking at me helplessly, "I guess I will just meet this guy and explain that I am not interested in any sort of disturbances. I don't understand why his parents liked me in the first place. I mean, he is handsome but I am a normal girl struggling to reach my goals."

I chuckled at her words. She thought she was no one to even have attention from opposite gender. The truth is, she is beautiful and can hold anyone's attention as soon as they saw her. If she tried a little, she was a perfect epitome for an angel and would lead in modeling career. Sad news is that she had no idea about her own power. Not some random guy but a superstar has to bow in front of her. "Sure," I agreed with her, "I don't understand why this guy let his parents approach yours, instead of stepping directly." I laughed at her glare but took her hand in mine, "you are a princess, Madhu, and there will be this prince who showers you with his love. Don't give up and fight for yourself. I am with you. I love you, okay."

We stopped discussing about it when the waiter placed our order and Bhai joined us after making sure it was okay for him to come to us. The rest of the dinner went smooth with them fighting over a dish as who to taste it first and whose taste is better in general. By the time we decided to close our bill, it was half past 10 and there was a sudden shout's from the center table, which seemed a group of around 20 people having a party or something. Madhu, mostly to annoy Bhai, enquired the waiter about the commotion.

"They had a bet of sort as who to pay their bill. Every guy over in their group has to drink seven different soft drinks and the one who finished them in least span is supposed to pay it. Conditions are they shouldn't hold the bottle with their hands."

"But isn't he, the drinker in least duration, winner of sorts?" Bhai asked the waiter to which he shrugged.

"That's the craziest part in the bet," he replied and left the table.

Intrigued, Madhu dragged me to watch the show while Bhai followed us reluctantly. Sure, a guy with huge built form was drinking it with his arms folded his behind and managing the bottle through his mouth. I made a face at them, not liking that a bit. How anyone could hold a bottle with their mouth and empty its contents? My irritation increased as my eyes widened when I saw my unwelcomed neighbor within the group and that he was ready to test himself in their little bet. "You are the only one left, dude," I heard a guy shout at him, "and there is no chance you will lose it. However, your target is to finish it within 3 minutes 12 seconds."

"Chill NK," Arnav said with arrogance, "make sure to take me home if I pass out." And with that, he bent over the table, took the bottle with his mouth, stood straight and started emptying the liquid. He had his arms behind, like the previous guy, but he had something else too. Three different colors band covered his wrist and there was another tattoo on his left wrist that, I am sure, isn't there this morning. He changed his ear ring from metal to gold and his hair was tied into a pony at the end that reached his collar. That was when I noticed his face, from front. He, not only had a left ear ring but there was a piercing at the corner of his right eyebrow. Tattoos and piercing… I sure hate this guy.

I covered my palm over my mouth not to shout in disgust. Turning around, I moved out of the place, not bothering to inform them. I needed fresh air. The liquor and his personality were disgusting. I was sure Bhai and Madhu followed me. "Arnav sure knows how to bring the worst in him," Bhai commented with a chuckle and explained to Madhu, "he is our new neighbor and as you can see him, an unwelcomed person."

"That is sick," I snapped at them as I climbed onto the passenger's seat and held my head in hands, "how am I going to stay there with this guy?"

"I can imagine how your parents took the news with two grown up daughters…"

"I am with them to take care of my sisters, Madhu," Bhai snapped at her comment rather rudely, hurting her, "thanks for the concern."

"Bhai," I warned him, apologizing silently as I took her tears, "she meant it as a joke. We do it all the time."

I was unable to point out what was wrong with them or where exactly they distanced themselves with their fights. Suddenly I felt suffocated being in the car with them. I enjoyed their sassy paybacks all the time but tonight, right now, it was nothing that I was used to. It was as if they had a secret, unknown to me, and as if Bhai was pointing that out to her. The way he said that he was with us to take care, it was like a slap on her face. I realized that his reply had nothing to do with her comment. I watched him driving with anger. I had no idea why he was doing what he was doing. When we reached her place, she tried to talk to him but he cut her words and drove like a mad man. I wanted to ask him what happened but he took his mobile, dialed a number. "We need to talk, I will be there in an hour," he informed to the other person and turned to me while disconnecting the call. "I have to meet this friend," he said, "I might be late. Don't wait for me, okay."

"Can I ask you something, Bhai?" I asked him, wanting to know the reason for his sudden outburst, "you shouting at her have nothing to do with her comment and everything do to with an issue that I am not aware of, right?"

Sighing, he nodded with defeat and tired and something that I was unable to point my finger. "She missed her parents, Khushi," he whispered, holding my hand with a gentle squeeze, "loving and understanding parents… Madhu isn't pointing at our parents when she said they must be worried about Arnav being our next door but at herself for not having such people in her life. We are there for her, Khushi. She isn't alone in her battle and you make her understand that we will fight for her."

It was the longest speech I had ever listened from Bhai about Madhu. And it just showed how depth his care runs for his loved ones. He might hate Madhu and fight with her all his life but if she was in a problem, he would never show his back to her. And I am proud to have such a wonderful brother. "You don't really hate her, you know that?" I asked to which he chuckled but nodded in agreement.

"I have known her all my life, Unex Doll," he whispered, "I care for her just the same way I care for you."

I hugged him to which he chuckled. "I love you, Bhai," I whispered in his chest, "I know you meant well but Madhu is having real hard time right now, so please don't be rude to her for a while."

"I love messing up with her," he said while kissing my forehead, "but that doesn't mean I hate her, Khushi. No one can hate Madhu. In fact I…" he paused so sudden as if anyone slapped his back that made him realize what he was talking. I raised an eye at him in question but he shook his head. "I just like messing with her, that's all," he said. I wanted to ask him further for his chance but decided against it for time being. I will ask him about it later. So I bid goodbye while Bhai made his way to meet this friend that he was supposed to meet, though I didn't voice my doubt as if who was this 'friend' that he was supposed to meet at 11:30 pm.

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