Revelations
The restaurant was cheesy. Confetti was sprinkled on the floor, and red hearts were put up on the wall. The prices were steep. It was just like any other restaurant on Valentine's Day.
Kartik pulled out the chair for Mira, and she settled down, smiling. He sat opposite to her. The only light in the restaurant was from the little candles placed on the table, giving a romantic atmosphere to the place. Her smile wavered as guilt settled down on her.
"Kartik, maybe, we three should have gone, Kalpit is all alone-"
"Excuse me ma'am, he is 'out' with his 'friend'. It is Valentine's day'.And we have not done this for many days'" Kartik retorted, but a small smile spread on his face.
Mira adjusted the pallav of her sari self consciously, looking around. Young couples barely out of their teens occupied the surrounding tables.
"We should have gone somewhere else. I feel old." She hissed at her husband.
"You may be old, but I am still young jaanu'" he started laughing at her discomfort. "You look perfect." He added.
She blushed and looked away. Two years of marriage had not diminished the earlier bonds of free love between them.
Over a glass of wine, she relaxed, and began surveying the restaurant with a keen, aesthetic eye. As her gaze traveled to the only table in the opposite corner of the room, she turned pale.
''''''''
"Kalpit. Stop."
The sharp edge in Kartik's voice cut through the thick tension congealed in the small room. Kalpit flung his shabnam on the sofa irritably. Refusing to meet his eyes with Kartik, he glared at the TV.
Kolkata Knight Riders were being slaughtered by Mumbai Indians. The camera zoomed in on Ganguly's face. Bead of perspiration were running down his brow, and the desperation in his eyes was nothing compared to that in Kalpit's. Kartik frowned at the television. Crossing the room in two long strides, he zapped off the TV, and flung the remote on the sofa. It bounced on the shabnam and came to a stop.
Nothing left to distract him, Kalpit crashed on the sofa, hugging the sabnam close to his chest.
Kartik looked at his little brother anxiously. The defiance in his eyes was something new, but that was not the reason of his worry. The 12th boards had clearly taken a toll on him. It was the gaunt pale face, abstract moody silences, picky eating and refusal to meet his eyes with anyone, had set off the alarm bells in Kartik's head.
Dropping the disciplinarian attitude he had chosen, Kartik sat beside Kalpit, and said tenderly, "Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" Kalpit looked up, voice cracking and eyes shining.
Kartik just looked at him. Thinking, he said very slowly, "I know, Maa-Baba's divorce has upset you, but-"
"It has nothing to do with me. I am getting late." Kalpit stood up abruptly. Yaning oen the door, he stepped out of the house with a barely controlled rage. The door slammed deafeningly behind him.
Mira came into the drawing room. "He is a teenager'.It must be hard dealing with this." She said gently, putting her small soft palm in Kartik's large rough one.
''''''''
"Jaanu, you are looking lovely today!"
"Aren't you getting late?" Mira asked testily, glowering at Kartik's image in the mirror.
He got up from the bed, where he had flopped, and walked towards her lazily. Kneeling in front of her, he clasped her hand, and asked, looking up at her, "Did you think I forgot the Valentine's Day? May I please take you out for dinner today?"
She was unable to hide her smile. "Yes." She whispered.
He bounded up to his feet with a grin on his impish face. It was the grin Mira had fallen for, and with a flash of those dimples, her anger evaporated away in seconds.
"Just a minute." she said slowly.
"Now what? No, you have tons of outfits."
Ignoring the taunt, she said, "Kalpit?"
"He is going out for dinner with someone." Kartik sniggered.
''''''''
"Are you okay?"
Mira was still staring at the couple in the corner. Kartik followed her gaze. His breath caught in his throat.
One particular occupant of the table had noticed the gaze of his sister in law. Whispering in his partner's ear, Kalpit got up. Clasping hands, the two came over to their table.
"Kartik dada, Mira Wahini, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Mohit."
There was silence for a moment.
Mira got up to her feet, and extended her hand towards the newcomer.
"Pleased to meet you."
AN: I have taken BIG liberties with this one...See if you can spot the factual whoppers! 😊
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