"Jahnvi, if you won't come out within five minutes, we will leave without you!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"Coming!" she yelled as she ran down the stairs while slipping on her heels. I took a good look at her.

She was wearing a light pink churidaar which complimented her pale complexion really well. She had kept her makeup to the minimum but her eyes were a sight to see; enhanced by the mascara she had applied. She ran a hand on her silky brown hair and adjusted her dupatta.

( Jahnvi's outfit👆)

"We are not going to fix your marriage. Why are you dressed like that?" I teased and wiggled my eyebrows.

"You don't get to complain. Look at you. Dressed like a hobo."

I pressed my knuckles on either side of her head and she called mom for help. She was acting like she had never been to someone's house before. If Nikhil's mom hadn't invited my relatives also, I would have left her here to sulk. After ten minutes, we all left for Nikhil's house.

Trrring!

I pressed the doorbell as we reached his home. After few seconds, Nikhil's mom opened the door. She greeted all of us and Jahnvi instantly bent down to touch her feet. I widened my eyes at her and she smirked in return. She was upto something.

Nikhil's mom praised her and she glowed like a lightbulb. By the way she was acting, I was sure she would leave after holding her marriage reception today. I nudged her and she winked at me. Her eyes roamed around the house while everyone got comfortable.

"Nikhil isn't home?" I asked and aunty let out a huge sigh.

Jahnvi's face fell when aunty shook her head and plastered a fake smile on her face. Jahnvi pouted and went to sit with others. Nikhil's dad was entertaining them so I decided to help aunty in bringing out the dishes.

I went in the kitchen and started picking up plates and glasses. Aunty didn't say anything as she heated up the food while mumbling to herself. I felt bad for her. She was really worried for Nikhil, I could tell.

In five minutes, we got all the food set on the table. I sat beside grandma, who patted my head lovingly. I served her the food and she fed me the first morsel. No matter how old I got, she would always feed me the first bite. I glanced at Jahnvi and gave her a teasing look. She fake glared at me and everyone laughed at our childish behaviour.

"Dadi loves me the most. Right, dadi?" I said and she nodded.

"Dadi! How could you discriminate? I am here too," my cousin whined and I did a small dance, provoking her more. Dadi hit me on the head lightly and mom shook her head. Like that, I kept troubling my cousin while elders discussed about, being adults.

Throughout the dinner, I felt Nikhil's mom observing us with a sad smile. Something big was really troubling her. And I could put a name to that problem too. Just what the heck was Nikhil up to these days? He wasn't home most of the time worrying his parents so much.

After the dinner, Jahnvi helped us in picking up the dishes and leftovers. I joined aunty in washing the dishes, using it as an excuse to talk to her. I observed how she avoided mom's questions about Nikhil. Mom was fond of him so much. I think she loved him more than me. She was always singing his name whenever I was at home.

How she wished she had a son like him. Not that she was against girl child or something, but she just wanted to have a son too. Unfortunately, mom couldn't conceive after she gave birth to me. I would have loved a younger sibling too.

I joined aunty in the kitchen and began washing the dishes in the sink. She stopped me but I was stubborn. She let me do it and began arranging the leftover food in containers. As I did my work, I observed how her shoulders were dropped and how she limped on her right foot. She needed rest.

She must be exhausted after cooking so much food for us. I felt bad for her. I took a long breath and asked the question that was bugging me since I came here.

"Aunty, is everything fine?"

"Hm?" She looked at me in confusion and I repeated my question.

"Of course, beta." She smiled.

"I mean between you and Nikhil. He isn't here today too and it's also getting late. It isn't like him at all."

"I know, beta. But what can I do? I am tired of running after him everyday. He won't tell me what's troubling him. Whenever I tell him to study, he storms out of the house and doesn't pick up my calls too."

I nodded my head in understanding. Should I tell her about his outlash at me? Would it be better to do so or would it only add to her worries?

"I always tell him to look at you and learn. You are such an obedient kid. Always respecting others and excelling in studies. It's getting difficult to talk to him everyday."

I instantly went to her side as she wiped a tear from her left eye. I didn't want to make her cry. Stupid Sandhya. I rubbed her back soothingly and she calmed down a bit.

"Do you know anything beta?" she asked and my eyes widened a little.

"Actually, aunty. I don't know. We haven't been able to talk that much in college," I lied.

I kicked myself mentally and tried to change the topic but aunty grabbed my hand. She looked at me with so much expectations, that I couldn't keep the secret to myself. His mom deserved to know.

"Aunty, please don't panic. Nikhil's been... Nikhil-"

"Mom?"

We turned towards Nikhil who was standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He looked between me and his mom in confusion. He narrowed his eyes at my arm which was around her shoulders and took a step forward.

"Where were you Nikhil? Didn't you know we were having guests today?" his mom shouted.

"I am here now," he argued.

"How dare you talk back?"

I held aunty's hand before she did something drastic. I motioned with my head for Nikhil to go in the living room. He sighed and left. I wanted to ignore the pungent smell but ended up coughing. Nikhil smoked before coming home.

I took aunty to the living room and told my parents that we should leave. Nikhil's dad was glaring at his son who sat on a chair avoiding his eyes. Jahnvi approached him and he gave her a small smile. She began talking to him while exaggerating her actions and kept asking him if he was dating someone. I facepalmed myself.

Flirting in front of everyone? Not the right time, sis. I pulled her away and glanced at Nikhil. Jahnvi scowled at me but I gave her a deathly glare.

It was better to not put my nose in their family matter. I wanted to confront him but realised it wasn't the right time now. I just wished Nikhil would come to his senses and stop with the wrong activities.

My whole family got up to leave after praising aunty for the delicious food and Uncle for being so accommodating.

Mom gave a quick hug to aunty before she left. Even she could sense the tension in the house. I saw that his parents were distracted, so I went beside Nikhil and whispered in his ears. His eyes widened and he nodded his head. He quickly took out a gum from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

I left after bidding my good-byes and joined my troop. Jahnvi came beside me and looked at me accusingly. I avoided her and pushed her head with my forefinger when she brought it too close to my face. She dragged me to the side, away from our parents as we continued walking.

"What do you want?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Tell me already."

"I need a subject to know what you are talking about."

"What did you say to Nikhil?"

"None of your concern."

I controlled myself from giggling when I saw her pout. She kept pestering me till we reached our home.

"Is there some going on between you two?!" she shouted and I hit her on the shoulder. What if others heard her? She kept yelling nonsense and I pulled her to my room.

"Tell meeeeee!" she screeched.

"Nothing! You idiot!" I shouted back. I was done with all her screaming. She was so annoying.

Her face lit up with a huge smile which was actually, a smirk? She grinned and I knew what she was thinking.

"Of course. I knew the answer already. There's no way he would be interested in you." She waved her hand in front of me, scrutinizing my appearance.

"Atleast I am not dressed like a desperate person," I mocked.

She gasped and pounced on me. I wasn't expecting it. We both fell down and she began hitting me.

"I saw how you were flirting with him. I will tell you something. He is not interested in you too," I teased and she let out a huge cry.

I couldn't believe she was acting like that after meeting Nikhil just yesterday. Did she develop a crush already?

That's so fast! I kicked her off of myself and went in the bathroom to change. Outside, I could hear her curses and stomping of her feet.

I got out and dodged the pillow thrown in my direction. I brushed my right shoulder and winked at her. She was not only annoying, she was slow too. We got in a fight and of course, I won. I threw her off my bed and yelled in victory. It was time for her to sleep on the floor.

I closed my eyes in exhaustion and felt her presence beside me. She pushed me a bit and made herself comfortable. I let it go. I didn't have strength now.

She kept asking me about Nikhil and it was really getting on my nerves. Then she brought up Ved too. Great. She began fangirling and I put my fingers in my ears. I fell asleep to her singing praises of his looks.

I am going to delete that name from my memory one day.