My family and I - Chapter 25

I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t want to assume anything, but let me tell you, my mind was racing like crazy! I tried extracting the information from dad, but I think he was on to me now. After failed attempts of trying to distract me, dad picked up his briefcase and walked out of the house.

“I think I’ll just go to office and spend an extra hour there.” He said as he walked out. I could tell he was really desperate to avoid me. I didn’t have the guts to ask my mum. She would just accuse me of nosing around. But was I ready to ask Sona directly? Actually it depended on her mood. As I thought, an idea started formulating in my head.

Maybe, I could get her to volunteer stuff to me. I just needed to be a little careful and smart. If she caught on to my act, she would probably crucify me. But hey! What’s life without a few little risks.

I decided to put my plan into action after college hours. I was going to take advantage of Sona’s curious nature and supreme ego.

I got ready and pushed to college without arousing any suspicions. My room door remained shut.  

A niggling doubt entered my head. What if Sona had decided to stay back at home? All my plans would go down the drain. I prayed feverishly that Sona would come.  Lunch hour came and went and I didn’t spot Sona.

As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one looking for Sona. Samrat caught my eye in the crowd and called me over.

“So..” He asked nonchalantly, “Where is your sister?”

“I don’t know.” I replied honestly.

“And did she,” he hesitated a little, “Did she say anything?”

“No.” I said shortly. “She just swooned and collapsed on the bed.”

I looked up to see Samrat’s face but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. I turned around to see what he was looking at and a diabolical smile appeared on my face. Sona!

Time to put my plan into action.

I made a surprised face and turned towards Sona. As though Samrat had told me something shocking. Eyes wide open and mouth O shaped, I grabbed Samrat’s arm and said “Really???”

I was loud enough, ensuring Sona could hear me.

Samrat glanced down at me, a confused expression on his face. “What are you doing?”

I threw my head back and laughed, “That’s brilliant! Wow!”

I saw Sona from the corner of my eye and noticed the line appearing on her forehead like it did when she was confused about something. Plan seemed to be working.

Samrat probably just thought I was mad, but it really didn’t matter.

“Thanks!” I said chirpily and walked away, flashing a brilliant smile at Sona who smiled back hesitantly.

Now there was always a risk that Sona would ask Samrat what all that was about. But knowing Sona, I knew her ego wouldn’t permit her to. And even if she did, I doubted she would believe poor Samrat when he said he had no idea what the conversation with me was about.

Of course Neeta thought I was being an idiot and I should just keep at my dad and eventually he would break. But honestly, there was no challenge in that. Besides, this seemed like fun.

I kept that idiotic smile on my face every time I spotted Sona. I knew she was definitely getting suspicious. Once home, my smile became a little subtle, but by that time Sona was so conscious that she refused to look at me.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Nobody spoke, which was quite unnatural for my family. And to think I was the only one who didn’t know!! The disadvantages of being the youngest!!

My family and I - Chapter 24

I stayed up that night, waiting for Sona to come home. I didn’t have to, she had the keys but I just had to know how it had turned out. Of course sleep beckoned and I tried to sleep, getting up every ten minutes to see if Sona was back.

At around 11:30, Sona entered the room. She stumbled around in the darkness trying to touch and feel her way to her cupboard.

“Why don’t you just switch on the lights?” I asked curiously as her leg hit the bed for the umteeth time.

“Oh God! Pinku! You scared me! Why are you awake?”  She switched on the lights making me cringe my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, Sona was in the middle of a swooning twirl. She landed on the bed  and sighed deeply.

“That good huh?” I asked propping myself on my elbows.

She looked at me lazily, “You have nooooooooooooo idea!”

She refused to elaborate further. And I didn’t prod her for details either. I didn’t really see the need to know what all happened. It was enough for me that she had a good time. Anymore information would probably be reserved for her friends where they would dissect and over analyse Samrat’s everyword and come to the same conclusion that I had after one sentence.

Only time would tell.

Sona kept tossing and turning the entire night. I know she was excited, but I really wished  she had taken her excitement to the couch outside! The next morning, both of us were grumpy and red-eyed due to lack of slep.

“What happened to the two of you?” My mum asked as she struggled to wake us up the next morning.

I grumbled and glared at my sister, “She didn’t let me sleep!”

“Pinku make your bed!” My mum ordered me around as she hovered around my sister eyeing her carefully. “So, what happened?” She asked Sona, shooing me out of the room. Very nice, I was being kicked out of my own room.

“At least let me take my stuff.” I protested.

Sona and mum sat around in silence till I picked up my stuff and walked out of the room. Sheesh! Families I tell you!

The door slammed shut once I had walked out. My dad, who was sitting at the dining table reading the paper looked up as I walked by.

“Well don’t you look glamorous today.” he said commenting on my disheveled hair and dark circles.

“Leave me alone, I’ve hardly slept.” I snapped at him, half yawning my way through the sentence.

He laughed a little, “So, do you know this Samrat fellow?”

I picked up my toothbrush and glanced at him suspiciously, “A little. Why do you ask?”

My dad put down his newspaper, “Don’t tell me you don’t know!”

“Don’t know what?” I settled down in front of him, trying to focus.

My dad had this incredulous look of disbelief on his face, “I’m not the last one to know?? This is great!”

“What! What’s going on!! Nobody tells me anything! I’m always the last one!” I vented.

“No, no, I can’t tell you.. ” My dad put up his newspaper to cover his face.

“Dad!!” I pulled it away and observed him critically. Now my dad is terrible with secrets. He can’t keep stuff to himself. At least not with us. The very fact that he was trying to hide it from me, told me it was something serious.

“Is it about Sona?” I asked tentatively. My dad glanced at me with a “I’m never going to tell you” look.

“Is it about Sona and Samrat?” I took his silence as a sign that I was closer to the truth.

“No, no! I’m not saying anything!” My dad got up and started walking away.

“At least tell me whether she’s in trouble?!” I called out after him.

No response.

Sona-Samrat-Parents freaked.

OH MY GOD! 

My family and I - Chapter 23

I reached the door and swung it open slowly. Samrat was there, right on time. I gave him a thumbs up sign for his punctuality and for his dressing sense. He was wearing a sober shirt with trousers and some neat looking shoes. He absolutely looked like the kind of guy who parents want to see their daughters with.

He smiled at me nervously. “So? Is she ready?”

I offered him a sympathetic smile, “So is my family.”  I invited him in and laughed as he hesitantly stepped inside.

My mum was all smiles when she saw him, why wouldn’t she. He looked great, he spoke well, seemed well mannered, not to mention well off.

My dad on the other hand, scowled at him. My mum nudged him a little and finally my dad relented. 

He put out his hand formally, “Samrat?”

The visual change in Samrat’s posture was actually quite comical. He sucked in his stomach, straightened his shoulders and wiped his hands against his trousers before shaking hands with my father, “Yes sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”

Well, clearly he was nervous.

My dad shook his hand and gave him a long hard look as though trying to scare him away. My mum interrupted them, “Hello Samrat, it’s very nice to finally meet you.” She smiled at him warmly, instantly putting him at ease.

“Is Sonam ready?” Despite my mum’s warm smile, it was obvious that Samrat was ready to leave.

“I’m ready, I’m ready!”  Sona came out running, almost tripping in her heels. In that moment, I thought Sona looked just incredible. Her cheeks were stained pink, her eyes bright and luminous, her smile so genuine and heartfelt.

She grabbed Samrat’s hand and raced out of the house before my dad could quiz them further.

“11!! I want you home by 11!!” My dad called out behind them. “And Sona?”

She stopped by the door and glanced at him, wide eyed. “Yes dad?”

He sighed reluctantly, “Have a good time.”

Sona rushed to my dad and gave him a little peck on his cheek and then ran towards the door.

We stood around the room till the door slammed shut. I looked around the room, my mum seemed happy, she was singing this little tune as she made her way into the kitchen. My dad stood there, a sad little expression on his face.

“What’s wrong daddy?” I asked, putting on my cutesy voice which was only reserved for my dad.

He ruffled my hair gently and smiled a little, “Don’t you be in a hurry to grow up!”

My family and I - Chapter 22

I stood outside the room, pacing impatiently as Sona got dressed. This was the thing, no matter whether we respected each other’s fashion sense, we always always needed the other person’s approval.

“So? How do I look?” Sona stepped out of the room and did a little twirl for me. I considered her carefully, “The shoes don’t go?” I suggested.

She glanced at her feet, “Really? Of course they do! You don’t know anything!” She said going back into the room. I shrugged indifferently and settled down on couch, my feet curled under me.

She came out after a little while, with her hair and make up done. She had changed her shoes. I tried to hide the smile on my face as she appeared.

“Not a word.” She threatened but the twinkle in her eye told me she wasn’t serious.

“So, I have one doubt.” I interjected as Sona admired herself in the mirror.

She looked at me with a questioning look and then turned towards the mirror. I took it as my cue, “What are you going to tell ma?” I asked the question which had been plaguing me.

She smiled at me, “The truth of course.”

“Which is?!?!?”

“That Samrat asked me out..” She said casually, as though it was no big deal.

I stared at her blankly, “So you hate him indiscriminately for the longest time ever and then suddenly you are dating?”

She laughed, “Oh well, can’t argue with that.” She smiled at my confused expression, “Don’t worry your little head with such things.”

Before I could argue about the size of my brain and such, dad walked in. He eyed Sona carefully, “Going somewhere?”

I heard Sona breathe in deeply as she turned around to face my dad.

“Ma! Samrat and I are going out!” She declared passionately.

My dad, I must hand it to him, appeared very calm, “Out where?”

“What?” A little confusion was apparent on Sona’s face.

“Where are you going?” my dad asked slowly.

It dawned on me, that maybe dad wasn’t familiar with the lingo “going out.” I tried to butt in, but Sona admonished me with a strict glance.

“Dad, Samrat and I are going out “going out”. Get it?” Sona asked, stressing on the last two words.

“Dad, they’re kind of dating.” I interrupted.

“Oh. Why?” My dad had turned towards my sister.

“Why?” Sona asked visibly confused. “Because we like each other..” Sona said, in an oh-isn’t-it-obvious tone.

My dad made a pained face, “No, I get that, I mean why now? You’re so young! Does your mother know you’re going out with boys?”

Sona burst into peals of laughter, “You’re so cute daddy!”

My dad raised one eyebrow to indicate he wasn’t amused. My mum walked out of the room, “What’s all the commotion?” She asked.

“Did you know your daughter is “going out”?” Dad asked mum, stressing on the going out bit.

“Of course, you look very nice Sona.” She said, brushing a stray strand off Sona’s face which Sona had so deliberately styled.

“No no, she’s not going out. She’s going out get it?” He explained to my mum.

My mum gave my dad the evil eye, “I KNOW!”

“You know?!!?! And you’re letting her? But she’s so young!” My dad stuttered a little.

I watched the whole scene in amazement. I would have thought that mum would blow a gasket and dad would be calming her down. But there she was, my mum patted my dad’s affectionately saying, “She’s 20, an adult. I think she can take care of herself.”

I couldn’t resist, “I’m 17, I can take care of myself too!!”

Odd, I didn’t get the positive reaction I was hoping. In fact, I think I ended up freaking my mum out. “Why? Is there someone?” My asked, forcing a smile on her face but I could tell she was really hoping otherwise.

“Not yet, but you never know. Why does she get to go and I don’t!” I argued.

“You’re younger! 3 more years!” My mum answered. It was her fixed answer for all such queries of mine.

“But you should move with the times!” I said, thinking I was making a very good point.

“What?” Sona had stopped dressing, hair brush in the air and all, “No, not fair! She should wait till she’s twenty too! It’s not fair! She always gets everything that I have to wait for!”

I glared at Sona. “This isn’t about you! Stay out of it!”

“Stop it! Both of you!” My mum physically intervened. “Pinku, we’ll see about you when you have a boy in your life. Sona, get going, I want you home before 11. Okay?”

The doorbell rang, one glance at Sona’s face told me Samrat had arrived.