||CHAPTER 10||
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"Jolly bua?"

When Arnav's voice resonated the dramatic surprise he encountered as we entered the house after the run, I decided to pay attention to our surroundings.

"Aise greet karte hai apne rishtedaron ko?" She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, jokingly. "Haan haan, Namaste bolna, pair chhoona tho black and white zamane ka hai, tum silver and gold wali generation se to 'Yo Bro' karna padega."

With his hands joined, he bowed, his words not reciprocating his actions. "Toh karo na, feel free, we don't judge."

I almost rolled my eyes before she decided I was her next target, "Aur madam, aapke haal chaal kaise chal rahe hai? Badhiya?"

With an exhausted huff, I landed on the sofa next to her. "Aaj kaunsa party host karne aayi ho?"

Her eyes narrowed at me, as she frowned. "Hay Ram! Mammi!" She called out for Daadi who was inside the dining room, "Dekho aapki pothi kitni badtameez ho gayi hai!"

"Arey!" My eyes widened, "Isme konsi badtameezi hai?"

"Nahi hai kya? I come here to spend some time with my dear bhanji-bhanja, and all I get in return in sarcasm. Dekh liya, dekh liya kitna pyaar karte ho apni bua ko."

We stared seriously at each other for five seconds before bursting out of laughter.

"Naha ke aa, we are going out."

"Going where?" Arnav came out of the kitchen he had disappeared into, with two glasses of OJ. Grabbing one, I stood up.

"Graphique, of course. Bhaiya ne nahi bataya tumhe?"

"Isn't it still under construction?" I asked, recalling the excerpts of the few talks my dear Dad had given me, about opening a new Exhibition Gallery. He was expanding our industry, and this time he had decided upon an Art Gallery, displaying the works of new artists, a new business venture.

"It's almost complete. Wednesday inauguration hai. But since you guys haven't been there yet, or anywhere to be real, maine ye socha kyon na I take you to see your future workplace? Haan haan, I know you're grateful and all, jaldi tayyar ho jao."

I couldn't miss the slight change of Arnav's expression. And every such moment made me think about my inference.

The workers were scurrying around with huge frames and exotic exhibits, and we had to watch our every step so as to not knock off the breath taking pieces of art. The ceiling of the black and beige room was quite high, and the chandelier that hung from the top was another piece of work to marvel upon.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Jolly Bua whispered. Arnav and I shared a look, unconsciously.

On one side of the long lobby, I spotted a capture. Unknowingly, my feet traversed the small distance and my eyes took in the work.

Gully cricket. Black and white, extremely detailed photograph, and yet another hidden tale. Plastic crates were the wickets, and the street too narrow. It was shot from a top angle, perfectly times to capture the ball aimed towards the frame. I moved on to the next pane, and got stuck, because the life-like image of Bihu dancers, but they weren't dancing. They were in their natural selves, talking to each other, probably before their performance. It wasn't all smiles, but it surely was something better: anticipation.

"You... you like it?" 

Arnav was scratching the back of his neck, biting his lip.

"I'd be lying if I say I don't. This is really... I don't have the words- grounded and beautiful? I don't know, but they are definitely the least pretentious pictures, and I can tell that without even looking at the others. Who is the artist?"

I did not realise that Dad was listening in on our conversation until he answered, "Vansh."

"Seriously?" My genuine doubt made me look at Arnav. His Adam's apple bobbed as he looked back at the exhibits.  

"Yes," Dad replied, placing his palms on our shoulders. "Now stop gawking at them, come with me to the office."

We followed my father to his office where Jolly bua was already seated. 

"I see there are a few touch ups to be done here and there," Jolly bua informed him. "But everything's coming well together. But besides that, what happened to the Dubai trip? You were supposed to leave today, weren't you?"

"That's already been taken care of," Dad replied, his eyes trained on the desktop. "I have sent Mr. Kamra to take my place in the meeting. Have you sent out the invites to everyone?"

Jolly bua fiddled with the small glass globe on the desk. "Yeah. And I request you to not create a scene with the Oberoi's again."

Something told me that they weren't talking about the small, neglect-able incident of the party last week.

"Raman Oberoi has invested in our business. Small share, but he is a very anxious man," Dad muttered. I could see Arnav raise an eyebrow at me, and I stared back at him.

"Well, it always starts with the small ones," Jolly bua stated before the knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

The peon came in with a tray of food and drinks. And it stayed untouched till the end of the day.

I stood by the door frame, watching Daadi stare at a sheet of paper in her hand. The T.V. played in the back ground, the light reflecting on her slightly wrinkled face. Her face contained an inexplicable emotion, but it made me feel the something.

Quietly entering the room, I switched on the lights. "Daadi?"

In a hurry, she folded the paper, looking up at me from the rocking chair beside her bed.

"Kya padh rahi ho aap?"

I walk to the bed, the mattress dipping when I sat beside her.

"Aa gaye tum log?"

I nod. "Aap kabhi dekhne gayi ho?"

"Inauguration ke din dekhlungi." 

"Daadi? Aap khush nahi ho kya?"

She didn't reply. She unfolded the paper, yellowish at its ends, slightly brown. Blue ink covered the whole sheet.

"Jab Binoy chhota tha, usne ye likha thha."

"Aur aap aaj ye padh rahi thi?"

"Aaj wapis se man kiya. Isn't it a strange rule that no one can always remain too happy for a period of time? Something or the other must come up to strangle you."

I know Daadi, I know.

Smiling at her, I tried to divert the topic. "Guess what I have brought?"

"If it's not Kurkure Cheese Puffs, I don't want to guess," she retorted sassily, switching the channel with the remote on the night stand.

"Lucky for you then," I grinned, suddenly getting serious. "Par papa ko iski bhanak taq nahi lagni chahiye!"

"You think I am afraid of him?" She snatched the packet from my hands. "He should know who's the Boss in this house."

"Maa!" We heard the distant shout of Dad from his office.

And I tried suppressing my laughter when she subtly hid the Cheese Puffs in the night stand drawer.

Except for the Deewan teenagers, no one was home Sunday night. Dad was off to Germany for business, which we came to know right before he left, and Daadi claimed she had a bit of social life which she dared not waste over her grand children criticising her T.V. serials.

Fair enough to say, Arnav and I were home alone, with Ratan Kaka on leave. Such a situation sure would have demanded a party, but like many others, we were not predictable.

From some corner of the house, Arnav's phone rang; I found his ringtone set for Mamma the worst. The clock on my desk showed it was 8 p.m., and soon enough Arnav's muffled voice could be heard. Deciding to quench my thirst, and curiosity obviously, I went into the kitchen, filling up my glass of water. He was leaning against the fridge door, and it seemed the conversation had just ended.

"You just drank water five minutes ago," he eyed me with raised eyebrows.

"And you're keeping track of my drinks because?" I turned to him. "Mata shree ne bola kya meri jasoosi karne ko?"

He seemed to take offence, surprisingly, "Agar tum unke calls utthaogi toh woh nahi bolegi tumhari jasoosi karne ko."

I gulped down the water before letting it go. "Well, off course Golden Boy, tum unki baaton ko taal kaise sakte ho?"

Before he could reply, I left the kitchen to watch some T.V. in the living room. Those conversations which I knowingly unknowingly started, was difficult to tread around and even more difficult to leave.

Contradicting the dark room, since with the elders gone we didn't bother to switch on the lights, bright colours from the T.V. screen fell on me, playing Young Sheldon's repeat. I hadn't noticed that Arnav had followed me out until the couch dipped a bit.

"She's coming on Wednesday, our Mother."

When I didn't reply, he got impatient.

"That's why she wanted to talk to you, but since you wouldn't answer her calls, she called me to get to you."

"Well, you had the perfect opportunity to get me in trouble. Tab kyon nahi phone pakda diya?"

"Because I know you're not ready."

"Well, off course you know everything," I scoffed switching the channel to Nat Geo.

"No, it's because I'm your brother," he sounded irritated. "That's why I can understand your feelings."

A harsh chuckle escaped me, "Don't pull the brother card on me now."

"I've missed having you around, alright," he raised his voice, as he stood up, "and I don't want to fight with you because of your misunderstandings."

"I'm not your pet dog Arnav, that you have to pretend you missed having around! I don't know if you get it yet, but stop treating me like a lost puppy, because I am not, Mr. Golden Child!"

"Why are you being so difficult? I am trying my best to fix our relationship. Why can't you be the way you used to be? What's made you such an emotionless freak?"

If the T.V. had been muted, I would have heard the slap I gave him. Unfortunately, it was too late for either of the realisations.

"Stop intervening into my space," I tried to sound firm, grinding my molars and premolars to constrain the threatening tears. "And most importantly, stop pretending that you want to fix us, when you never did anything for the past seven years."

With a palm against his red cheek, he lowly replied, "You're acting as if it's all my fault. I don't understand your frustration."

"Well, just like your life, I hope you figure this one out too," I said, side stepping him, "It won't be that big of a challenge for the Deewan Diamond."

_____

Namoshtaii

Ugh, i updated back to back bcus... tomorrow's my result day, and i blv we should live today. Well.

So i have like, set a deadline for myself for completing this book before August, dunno if I can live upto it, but yeah, lets give it a shot. Anyways, how many of you have siblings?

Just a random question, idk, i really like talking to you guys :D

Well, read, vote, comment and promote!

~chaashnee.