Hi!

These are some light hearted pieces, edited out from various chapters. Hope you’d enjoy!

OS# 5

‘What are you reading?’ Lakshya asked, craning his neck to read the cover upside down. He was lying in the sofa, stretched like a lazy cat would in front of fire as Swara sat on the windowsill, her face half hidden from the book in her hands.

‘A horror story,’ said Sanskar, who was on phone for several minutes now and had just disconnected the call. ‘Sorry Shona, Shermishta auntie would take another day to come.’

Swara shrugged a little, as she sunk more comfortably in to her cushions and read on. Her Ma was out of town, regarding some work, leaving her in the care of Annapurna for the time being. It was one of the best winter breaks she had ever experienced, so no complains there.

‘What horror story?’ Lakshya asked, this time from Sanskar.

‘Are you illiterate?’ Swara raised her eyebrows. ‘Or have you taken an oath in believing everything he says blindly. It’s Snow White not some horror story!’

‘Hey, I was saving your honor.’ Sanskar said as Lakshya rolled off the sofa unable to content his laughter. ‘See, he’s literally ROFLing at you!’

‘So you tell me Sanskar, how does Snow White become a horror story?’

‘You tell me Shona, why are you reading a tale you should have finished with almost a decade ago?’

‘I have an essay to write on fairy tales and modern fantasies,’ Swara said diplomatically, going back to her book. ‘Your turn.’

‘Well it is a horror story,’ said Sanskar as Lakshya finally got to his feet, before Lakshya would reclaim the sofa he sat down, throwing a grin at the sulky looking Lakshya.

‘You see, skin as white as snow, cheeks as red as blood, she might be a vampire!’

‘You and your Dracula madness,’ Swara rolled her eyes. ‘You see vampires every corner.’

Sanskar laughed.

‘Why do girls hate Dracula so much?’

‘Huh?’ Swara raised her eyebrows. ‘Which girl apart from me were you pestering with your ghost stories?’

‘Is something burning?’

‘Lucky, tell you brother not to mess with me.’ Swara said as she shut the book in her hand.

Lakshya looked from Swara to Sanskar.

‘What’s wrong?’ He asked then.

‘He’s chasing after someone!’ Swara said in a furious tone. ‘Even missed my last rehearsal, we musketeers have a pact remember no others can meddle in to our friendship!’

‘Aren’t we growing a little too old for that pact Shona?’ Sanskar asked calmly, but his eyes had a mischievous twinkle.

‘When did this happen?’ Lakshya demanded.

‘Ask this brother of yours where he was when I clearly told him to be at the theater four o’ clock?’

‘But we were planning your birthday surprise then!’ Lakshya said defensively. Swara dropped the book, and Sanskar pinched his nose.

‘Idiot!’ He muttered.

*

OS#6 (From SQ)

‘Why are you not talking to him?’ Swara asked Sanskar.

‘He’s an idiot,’ he said shortly, not even looking up from his home work.

‘Why are you not talking to him?’ Swara asked Lakshya this time.

‘He said he’d break my nose,’ said Lakshya, nodding his head.

‘Did you say you’d break his nose?’

‘Yep.’

‘Are you going to break his nose?’

‘Yep.’

‘Why are you going to break his nose?’

‘Because he’s an idiot!’

‘Why are we roaming in circles?’ Lakshya asked.

Sanskar shut his book with a snap.

‘Out of my room, both of you!’ He said then in a commanding tone. The two youngsters watched him blankly. ‘Get out, now!’

‘Hey, what did I do?’ Swara said defensively, limping across the room.

‘You just proved you’re an idiot too!’ Sanskar said, nodding at her as Lakshya almost made it to the door. ‘Go on, get out!’

Swara sat on the couch, her arms folded against her chest.

‘I’m going nowhere!’

‘Me neither!’ Lakshya said as he sat beside her.

‘I see what Mom meant,’ Sanskar said, throwing away his book and ruffling his hair. ‘Bengali girls are bad influence.’

‘Oh ha ha!’ Swara rolled her eyes. ‘That was supposed to reel me up right? Too bad Mr. Maheshwari you’re losing your touch.’

‘Lakshya, leave right now or I’m going to bade papa, he might not like what I have to say.’

‘Go on,’ said Lakshya, ‘he’s out of town, I saw him leaving an hour ago. Good luck finding him.’

Sanskar muttered something.

‘Hey, are your cursing us in Bengali?’ Swara said in amusement.

‘Your presence is rubbing off,’ said Sanskar. ‘I think in Bengali these days.’

‘Sanskar, it wasn’t Lucky’s fault, I said I need to go cycling, I made him come along!’

Sanskar rolled his eyes.

‘He should know better than to listen to you then. Just proves he is an idiot!’

‘Now, I have a plaster in my leg and I forgave him, what’s your problem?’

‘Maybe I’m not a saint,’ suggested Sanskar.

‘But you forgave me when I stole your pen?’ Lakshya pointed out.

‘That was a pen,’ Sanskar scowled. ‘This is Shona!’

‘Okay,’ said Swara, limping back to her feet. ‘I’m not a pen, oh how happy I am.’ She glared at both of them. ‘I’m going! I’m not going to talk with either of you and you,’ she pointed her finger at Sanskar. ‘Don’t you dare break his nose!’

*

OS# 7 (Also from SQ)

The straps of sunlight played across his face, as he narrowed his eyes in concentration.

‘Okay,’ he said. ‘You’re going to lose.’

‘You wish!’ Swara retorted.

‘Check!’ He grinned placed his bishop right across her knight. Swara glared at him.

‘When did you manage that?’

‘When you were telling me about Lucky’s match.’

‘You cheat!’

Sanskar raised his eyebrows.

‘Excuse me?’

‘You cheat, you diverted my attention!’

‘I did not, it’s not my fault you didn’t keep a close eye on the board Shona!’

‘Fine,’ huffed Swara as she made a move. ‘Huh see, not check anymore.’

‘Queen huh? I was waiting for her.’

‘Hmm, why?’

Sanskar looked at her, with an odd glint in his eyes.

‘I’m in love with your queen, just wanted to see her.’ He smiled cheekily, making a move with his knight.

‘Ah! Your bishop is mine.’ Swara said gleefully as she countered the chess piece. Her queen gracefully took its position.

Um hm,’ said Sanskar not really interested as he dragged a pawn another square forward. ‘You knight,’ he said then tilting his head.

‘You devil,’ Swara hissed, pulling up a pawn to protect her threatened knight.

‘You know me,’ Sanskar grinned. ‘I play to win.’

‘Oh yes, you don’t care the means, only the ends.’

He raised an eyebrow.

‘I don’t cheat,’ he insisted then.

‘Should I be grateful?’

‘Your choice,’ he shrugged. ‘There goes your queen.’

‘Ah, no,’ Swara said tearfully and Sanskar smirked, offering her a handkerchief.

‘What now Miss Gadodia? Told you I love your queen, she’s mine see?’

Swara mumbled some incoherent words.

‘Check again!’

*

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