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.

My family and I - Chapter 21

The sad thing about rumors in college was that you had no idea where it originated and how fast it was spreading. I had assumed, a little nobody like me wouldn’t generate much buzz but I was surprised by the number of heads turning as I walked around the campus.

Of course, I had found it incredibly funny at first. Who could be stupid enough to believe something liked that?

Neeta turned out to be one of them. Her face was flushed with excitement as she came and sat next to me, “You bitch!” she exclaimed, punching me lightly.

“Ouch!” I said, rubbing the affected region with exaggeration, “What was that for?!”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked indignantly.

I stared at her, confused. “Tell you what?”

“About Samrat!?!” Neeta threw up her hands, exasperated.

“Oh, what’s the big deal? He just wanted to know how to woo Sona.” I scoffed a little as I remembered his earnest expression.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Neeta lowered her arms and glanced at me suspiciously, “Aren’t you and Samrat together?”

“What?! What rubbish is that!” I rolled my eyes exasperated, “Really Neeta, why would say that?”

“Ummm, because everybody is talking about it??” She explained.

“Everybody is not stupid like you!” I shook my head. Neeta would believe anything.

She laughed at my reaction, “Oh you naïve little thing.” She commented as I picked up my bag and followed her. It was then I saw the heads turning. Consciously I touched my face and hair, was something out of place?

“Now do believe me?” Neeta laughed as she saw my shell shocked expression.

“Do you think Sona believes it too??” I asked Neeta incredulously. Surely, Sona would know it was all some horrible misunderstanding.

Neeta raised a brow thoughtfully. “For your sake, I hope she doesn’t.”

I shut my eyes tightly. What a mess!

Back at home, Sona had reached before me and was sitting at the table with a novel in her arms. I stood a safe distance away from her, wondering whether I should bring up the topic. I cleared my throat trying to attract her attention. She glanced at me with a bored expression on her face and then looked back at her book.

 “Sona?” I asked hesitantly.

“What?” She asked flipping a page.

“Did you hear something today?” I asked casually as I sat down on the chair next to her.

She moved the book a couple inches lower and stared at me with a bemused expression on her face. “What about?”

“Oh nothing!” I said a little too quickly. If she hadn’t heard about it, I didn’t think it would be smart on my part to bring it up. I got up and started walking towards my, oops, our room when Sona stopped me.

“You mean about Samrat?” There was a little twinkle in her eyes and I knew instantly she wasn’t mad at me.

“You’re not mad?” I asked, relief apparent on my face.

 She ruffled my hair fondly, something she hadn’t done in ages. “You’re my little sister, I have to accept you’ll do stupid thing and forgive you.”

I laughed and for a brief moment, contemplated giving her a hug. We weren’t regular sisters who were close to each other, hugging was something we didn’t do very often. Finally, I gave up and put an awkward arm around her. For the longest time, I thought she had frozen still and then I felt her body relax and her hand around my shoulder.

“Oh! My! God!” my mum, who had just walked in, exclaimed. Sona and I separated pretty quickly. My mum however was all touched by the sisterly bonding she had just witnessed. “I should have thought about the room thing years earlier.”

I smirked a little. Sona and I knew it had nothing to do with the room. Maybe we had just grown up a little?

My family and I - Chapter 20

The next day, mum did seem a little surprised by our behavior. She eyed us carefully as we went about our merry ways, laughing. I suspect that she thought we were trying to trick her into letting us move back into separate rooms. Honestly, I won’t deny that the idea hadn’t occurred to us, but for once, Sona and I were content to be civil, even friendly with each other.

For mum and dad, it must have seemed like the lull before the storm. They watched astounded, as I gleefully picked out Sona’s new t-shirt and cut off the price tag.

Sona wasn’t particularly delighted, but hey, I was going to let her cut my DRESS. I was just cutting the price tag.

To tell you the truth, I was slightly worried about what Sona had been talking to mum about. Had she really told mum that she was going on a date? Was my mom really that cool? Or was all that lecture-baazi only reserved for me. I contemplated asking Sona or even mum about it. But then I thought I’ll save that argument till I actually had a boy around.

Neeta and I had settled into our little routine by now. And she wasn’t half bad actually. Once I got past the whole, ooh she’s so pretty phase, I found her to be ridiculously funny, genuinely nice and abnormally normal.

I wouldn’t say we were best of friends yet, but we were certainly getting there.

College was abuzz with activity when we reached. You could tell that whatever music the seniors had to face for the fresher’s party had passed. They were all over the campus, high-fiving each other and laughing loudly.

I spotted Sona in midst of the crowd, her face scrunched up in concentration as she flipped through the book she held in her lap. I had to smile, she looked blissfully unaware of all the mayhem around her. But then, Sona was like that. Give her a book, and she could lose herself in a crowd. After a while, I saw Sona crinkle her nose and glance sideways. I followed her gaze. What I saw made me smile. Samrat.

This whole little act that my sister had put up was for Samrat. I know nobody else could tell, but that distinctive nose-crinkling act had been a dead giveaway. I had seen Sona do it a million times before whenever she was craving attention. Samrat on his part, was gazing at my sister subtly. Anyone not observing him would have missed him turning ever so lightly to smile at her. My sister, responded with a cheeky smile and then hid her face behind the book.

I nudged Neeta, was I the only one who witnessed that? I Sona get up slowly and walk towards Samrat slowly. She was surrounded by her friends and she tried hard to keep her eyes aimed at her feet as she crossed him. But she did brush a hand through her hair, pushing it back, a indecipherable smile on her face. If I was taken in by her, you can only imagine poor Samrat, who seemed mesmerized.

I saw him shake his head and grin widely.

It suddenly struck me that most probably; I was responsible for this display of affection. Had I not tried to save my skin back then, Sona and Samrat would still be at loggerheads. So you see, my selfish act turned out to be not too selfish after all.

Feeling quite pleased with myself I nodded at Samrat who had spotted me in the crowd. Oddly enough, the smile disappeared from his face as he made his way towards me. I shrank away from him and tried to mix with the crowd milling around the stairs, trying to get to class.

I would have assumed that Samrat would be pleased with what had happened, even if I had tried to play a trick on him. The end result was all that matter didn’t it?

“Going somewhere?” Samrat was standing right in front of me.

I glanced around, hoping that he was addressing someone else. No such luck. I looked up at him reluctantly, “Class. I have class.”

“You still have five minutes.” He stood imposingly between me and the stairs. “You can go though.” He told Neeta who glanced at me fleetingly before she made her escape. She was most definitely going off my best friends forever list!!

Samrat waited till the crowd had thinned before he led me by the elbow to a corner.

“So you thought it was pretty funny huh?” He asked, keeping both eyes fixed on me.

“What? No! I don’t know what you’re saying! Sona lied!” I sensed that the words pouring out of my mouth weren’t making much sense, but I was in no position to use my grey cells.

Relief flooded through me as Samrat started laughing at my senseless banter. “Relax, I’m not mad at you.”

“Oh!” I shut up instantly, “Then what’s with the ‘let’s scare the little girl’ act?” I asked indignantly.

“Did I scare you? I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask you something.” He said leaning casually against the wall. I saw some people stare at us as they walked by. I could almost imagine what they were thinking. Either I was being ragged or being hit on.

“Like what?” I eyed him suspiciously. I was wondering why my sister had hated Samrat for so long. He seemed perfectly nice to me. What had he done to piss her off so much?

Samrat lowered his voice and leaned in a little closer as though he was about t o tell me a secret.“I was just wondering if there was any particular cuisine Sona likes. We’re just going out for dinner this weekend and I was just.. you know..” he stopped abruptly as I burst out laughing and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Just make it a little up market and you’ll be fine.” I said, remembering what Sona was planning to wear.

I walked passed him when I remembered another critical point, “And don’t be late!” I advised as I turned around the corner.

“I won’t.” He flashed me a smile and I responded in kind feeling very pleased with my cupid act.

Sadly for me, all my good intentions went down the drain as rumors started doing rounds that I was dating Samrat!!!