Hey, I am back. I have rewritten this chapter's second half. Please reread it. Bola tha na I will stay by my word. Aaya na update?! Anyway, the year is ending soon, so I hope all are not having Imtiaz Ali movie male leads' realisation that you wasted this year. Whether this year went well or not depends on what you experienced and felt. What has been buzzing lately? Mujhe kuch exciting nahi dikh raha hai Instagram mein. If anyone has any tea to spill, I'm all ears. Spill the tea English mein likhne ka alag hi feel aata hai. I am happy to share that I am starting a new short story series on my Instagram account through Reels. If it's a yes, don't vote for this chapter or vote if it's a no. Let's resume the story...
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(A/n: Papa - Father; Maa - Mother; Bua ji - Father's sister,Aunt; Fufa ji - Bua ji's Husband; Bhai, Bhaiya - Brother; Bhaisahab - Elder Brother; Bhabhi - Sister-in-law, Brother's Wife)
Kriti's Pov
"You!"
"You!"
"Do you know each other, dear?" Fufa ji asked, which brought me out of my shock.
"Akriti, your Fufa ji is asking you something." Mom told me, insisting on my answer.
"Yes, Papa. We both know each other. We are in the same class in college. Surprisingly, we met today for the first time in these past 2 years."
"Akriti toh vaise bhi pehle se hi kitabo mein rehti thi. Mein toh ulta chauk gyi jab tumne kaha ki tum ek dusre ko jaante ho, Vicky." Bua ji apni visesh tipni de bagar kaha reh sakti hai.
(Akriti has always been engrossed in books. On the contrary, I was shocked when you said you knew each other, Vicky.) (Bua ji won't stop herself from giving her important knowledge.)
"Anita kaise yaad rehta usse. Vicky ko tumne hostel jo bhej diya tha abhi ek saal pehle hi toh aaya hai. Mujhe toh iss baat ki khushi hai ki dono bhai-behen ek dusre khayal rakhenge college mein." Dad replied.
(Anita, how would she remember him? You had sent him to the hostel. He came back just a year ago. The only thing I am happy about is that they have each other's back in college.)
"Haa bhaisaab aap bhi sahi keh rahe hai. Bache saath mein bade hi kaha hue ki ek dusre ko jaane. Par humara Vicky toh bachpan se sabhi cheezo mein aage hai. Hostel mein bhi saari faculty Vicky ki taarif karte thakate nahi the. Aaj bhi hume koi teacher milta hai toh Vicky ke baare mein hi puchte hai." Bua ji started goading about her son and belittling us, especially me.
(Yes, brother, you are right. The kids haven't met each other since they were 8. Vicky has always been ahead in all the activities in the school. Even in the hostel, all the faculty members used to praise him. If we meet them even now, they always ask about Vicky.)
I can't understand why she always behaves this way. Her goal seems to be making others feel inferior. This gives me yet another reason to avoid this party.
"Bhaisahab, bhabhi aap ab nischit ho jaaye. Humara Vicky Akriti ka dhayan rakhega. Vaise Akriti, tum Vivaan se mili? Voh bhi party mein aaya hai."
(Elder brother, sister-in-law, you don't have to worry about Akriti. Vicky will take care of Akriti. By the way, Akriti, did you meet Vivaan? He also came to the party.)
Before I could reply to her, Fufa ji interrupted us.
"How about you kids enjoy the party? We will relieve you kids from this boring conversation." Fufa ji expressed an idea, and I sprinted away from them with a headstart.
I reached a quiet area and heaved a sigh of relief. Thanks to Samar Fufa ji, I was saved from an awkward situation. Does it make me a bad person if I want an earthquake to come and swallow my Bua? Cheche. Akriti, clear your thoughts. Hopefully, this party will end soon.
(A/n: I think everyone has thought about it once for your Bua.)
"If I didn't know you better, I would have assumed you were a shy girl who wanted to do anything but attend this party." A familiar voice broke through my thoughts.
There he is, Vishal Khanna, my second arch-nemesis, nope, everyone and everything related to Reyansh sparks only one emotion in me, i.e. enmity.
"I never knew we were related." My voice filled with disbelief, "The universe has a funny way of bringing people together, doesn't it?"
"Me neither. I thought the worst part of the day was over, clearly, it is not."
"Oh please, you were the one who started it."
"If I jog through my memory, it was a certain raven head insulting me for a seat."
"You should've vacated the seat when I asked you politely."
"How would I know that Akriti Kapoor wants to have a change of place and in all the places in the class, she wants mine."
"You are exagerrating. I had sat there the day before yesterday. I thought Reyansh must have filled you in about it."
"No, he didn't tell me because who thought you were serious about it? You have always been a nerd who sits in the front, minds her own business, and fights with Reyansh when he pokes you."
After listening to his explanation, I understood one thing. I had been too focused on fulfilling my responsibilities and my parent's expectations that I forgot to live my life. I have to fulfil the promise I gave to myself. A year full to myself. That's start by doing the right thing.
"I'm sorry for my behaviour in college. I shouldn't have talked with you rudely."
"Am I dreaming? The Akriti Kapoor is apologising to me!"
"Stop your drama. I am not as heartless as people think I am. I would kneel and apologise if it's my mistake but I wouldn't as much as a finger if I am right. I was at fault. I shouldn't have spoken rudely with you just because you are Reyansh's friend."
"Apology accepted. I like you. You are not as hot-headed and arrogant as Reyansh said."
"I am flattered to hear that." I said sarcastically with a bow.
"Hey, don't go all sarcastic with me. I genuinely liked you. You are a complete package.'Beauty with Brains and Wit.' I have never seen a girl so beautiful and witty."
"I generally don't ask this, but can we please put our fight aside and be friends? We are cousins anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to bond."
"I'm in but I have a condition."
"Your rivalry with Reyansh shouldn't come in between our friendship."
"It goes without saying. I won't let Reyansh come between us."
"Good. I have a question for you though."
"Why have I never heard about you before? I mean, yes, Reyansh did talk about a certain Kapoor girl who was always in a fight with him but you don't look like a girl who would fight."
"Firstly, thanks for your compliment. Secondly, he has always been the one instigating me, not the other way around so I thought why not turn the tables this time. I want to trouble him as much as he has troubled me over the years."
"Okay. Remind me never to get on your wrong side."
"You better not." I said in an intimidating tone.
"Chillax tigress. Tu toh serious ho gyi."
"It's so easy to scare you, hahaha." I replied losing my control over my laughter.
"You are downright scary. Who knows one day you wake up and realise I am not worth being a friend and discard me from your life."
I could hear an unspoken vulnerability in his voice towards the end of the sentence. I don't know what came over me I gave him a tight hug. I am not, umm, how do I say, an affectionate person? I rarely hug someone to show my emotions in my actions but with Vishal it came naturally. As if I had known him for a very long time. Somewhere, I understood his unspoken words and feelings which could only vanish with a reassuring hug. The feeling was surreal, jaise koi Apna hai.
"Once I am your friend, I don't leave my friends easily. You don't get an expiration date in my friendship. I don't know what happened in your past which made you say those words but now you have me. I won't leave you alone."
He didn't say anything and hugged me again. We stayed for some time and broke the hug.
"Are you hungry because I am sure I can eat a whole elephant?" I asked and he nodded in yes.
We went to the buffet section and devoured all the native and international delicacies in a quiet area away from everyone. Agar sabke saamne khaane lagte toh Hume sab bhukad bolte aur Maata Shri band baja deti voh alag.
(If we had eaten in front of everyone, then everyone would have called us big-time foodie and Mom would've killed us!)
"Tum dono idar aaram se khaana rahe ho aur vaha Anita Bua ji tumhe sab jagah dhund rahi hai. Jaldi chalo Anita Bua aur Samar Fufa ji kuch announcement karne wale hai." Bhai told us making us leave the food there. Sorry food we will meet soon....
(Both of you are eating comfortably and there Anita Bua is searching for you everywhere. Come quickly, Anita aunt and Samar uncle have an announcement to make.)
"Bhaiya ko bhi abhi hi aana tha. Hume humare khane ko alvida bolna pada. Kitna swadeesh khana choda hai, agar announcement important nahi nikli toh mein pura hall sar pe utha dunga." Vishal grumbled near me.
(Why did our brother come right now? We couldn't even see our tasty food for the last time. We couldn't eat this tasty food, if the announcement is not important then I will raise hell here.)
"Sach mein yaar. Kitna yummy-yummy khana banwaya hai party ke liye par sab sirf socialising karne mein busy hai. Koi izzat nahi de raha khaane ko aur hum de rahe the toh humse humara khana ko dur kar diya!" I replied begrudgingly.
(True, my friend. The food was so damn yummy and everyone here is busy socialising. No one respected the food and if we were paying the request it deserved, then he didn't let us eat it.)
We reached near the podium to hear the announcement. Samar Fufa ji took the mic and started greeting everyone.
"Good evening everyone. I am pleased to announce that my dear son Vishal is going to join our family business after 3 months under the guidance of my nephew Vivaan. I hope you all enjoy the party."
The moment he left the podium, Vishal left the hall. I went behind him but he had sped away in his car. I watched him go away and couldn't do anything.
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I woke up when the ringing of my alarm pierced through my ears. I groggily checked the time that made my sleep fly out of my eyes. I took a quick bath and left for college in a hurry. Halfway to college, my car broke down. What the hell! Late hone ke time hi yeh sab hota hai! I called Kishan Kaka
(All this happens only when I am late.)
"Kaka, Can you please send a car to XX-XX-XX? My car broke down."
"Sorry, Betaji. All cars are either busy or in servicing"
"Acha thik hai." I ended the call and opened Uber to book a cab.
(Okay fine.)
Even though, I won't be able to reach on time, at least I will only miss the 1st lecture but looks like fate is not with me today. 'There are no Uber drivers around you.' I came out of my car and tried to get a Kaali-Peeli taxi but to my luck, no taxiwala bhaya agreed. Taking a defeated sigh, I called a mechanic to take my car for repair.
(A/n: If the story is of SOBO families, why not add a little pinch of the SOBO girl!)
After the mechanic took my car, I thought I would go to a nearby cafe, but someone called my name. I turned to look at the source only to find Vishal Khanna in all his glory.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in college right now?"
"My car broke down. I tried to look for cabs but none is ready to go. What are you doing here and where did you storm off yesterday?"
"....."
"Tell me."
"Get in."
"Huh?"
"I said get in the car. I will drop you off." He spoke in a stern voice.
I didn't want to bear his wrath, so I got inside quickly. There was an uncomfortable silence in the car, and I couldn't bear it, so I asked.
"Are you going to college as well?"
"No, I am only dropping you there. If anyone asks you where I am, tell them you don't know."
"Why will anyone ask me?" I asked and realised how stupid it sounded
"Okay, I won't say anything to anyone." I said to him, thinking about yesterday's incident
Again, the car filled with silence. As if understanding my unsaid words, he clicked on the radio button and a song filled the atmosphere with calmness. I was lost in the song when the car abruptly stopped. I turned to look at him in question.
"We have reached."
I looked around the surroundings and found that we had reached college. I picked up my bag and left his car but turned around and said,
"I don't know, what is bothering you but I am there for you if you wanna share."
Not getting any response from him, I turned my heel and left for my class.
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How's it, guys? Whom did you expect Akriti to meet at the party? Kisi ne socha bhi that Vishal is Akriti's cousin. I think jisne pehle wali book padi hogi unhe hi pata hoga. Did you like it?
Also, point to be noted! The translations are not my doings. Google translated this dialogues for me.
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The chapter was supposed to be uploaded before the 31st, but I went into vacation mode, which explains the rant at the beginning of the chapter, so sorry for the delay. Now tell me, should I write a book on Instagram Reels? Bhar bhar ke votes, comments aur share karo!!!
Everyone, please take precautions because of the new virus. I know the scientists have said not to worry about it, but please take the necessary precautions so the kids and elders are safe.
Har Har Mahadev
Aapka din shubh rahe 🙏🏻🙏🏻
See ya.
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