||CHAPTER 8||
《¤》

Thursday evening, I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Stepping onto the footpath, I followed its trail. The traffic nearby wasn't much, since it wasn't exactly the main road, however it was a bit crowded.

Kids ran about the park, screeching and cackling with laughter. Some had come out to walk their dogs in the adjoining dog park. With the sun setting, orange hues blended into the blues of the sky.

My phone rang for the fifth time that day. It was my mother.

"Arvika, I have been trying to reach you all day! What is keeping you so busy that you can't give your mother a few minutes of your day?"

"Evening," I amended.

"Do not poke fun about me, Arvika. I have been worried sick. Why haven't you been answering my calls?" Her stern tone did not surprise me.

"I remember you making it very clear that I shouldn't spend my time on the phone."

"You know very well that that was because of your Board Exams."

"Mumma, school is keeping me busy, okay?" I said, irritatedly. Truth was, I had been avoiding talking to her because all that flooded my mind were the rumors everyone talked about.

I heard her sigh as I spotted a cozy café, its unconventional name attracting my attention and steps like a magnet.

"Baby, I know it's a tough time," she sighed. "I just need to know that you're doing okay."

My mother was not an emotional woman. Bred to be a businesswoman in a cut throat world, heart-to-heart moments with her were so rare, I could count it on one hand. But at the same time, as much as a part of me desperately craved to take this opportunity and tell her about everything, I needed her to have faith in me that I was independent and could look after myself.

Pushing open the glass door of Cafe Kawphi 'n' Koolphi, I replied, "I'm well, Mumma."

"And Arnav?"

"You can ask him yourself."

"Dost bane?"

"Woh bhi Arnav se pooch lijiye na." My eyes scanned the menu board pinned on the walls of the take out counter.

"At least he doesn't ignore my calls," she scoffed.

"As you stated so rightly that day, ignoring is the only habit I have maintained na. I gotta go now, bye."

Before I could hear her reply, I disconnected the call.

"Um," I stood at the counter, "Can I get a kala kauwa kawfee?"

"Sure, of course. Just so you know, woh kauwe se nahi bana hai," the eccentric lady replied, ringing up my order.

I smiled at her. "I figured that it's a fancy name for black coffee."

"Gonna have it here or to go?"

"I'd like some fancy wrapping, please"

"Oh, okay. One twenty rupees."

I dug out the money from my pocket and she handed me over the on-the-go cup.

When I entered the confines of my home, my eyes failed to spot Karan amidst the three musketeers.

"Is that for me?" Ritwik greeted me first, eyeing the liquid caffeine in my hand.

"Well, if you could drink through your eyes, absolutely," I replied, joining them in the kitchen.

Arnav jutted in. "Ratan kaka ne coffee bana di hoti, why did you get one from Kawfee n Koolfi?"

"Because I felt like it?"

He shifted his gaze to his phone. "Alright. I hope you're up for Karan's surprise party tomorrow."

"Speaking of which, you guys need to work on your bheegi billi skills."

A beat of silence passed before Vansh spoke. "Maine kaha thha tum dono ko. Bewakoof nahi hai woh!" 

I pulled myself on the counter, inserting a straw into the hemispherical lid of my kawphi, watching the boy drama unfold in front of me.

"Bahar Ritwik ne use bheja tha," Arnav pointed at him. 

"Idea tera tha," Ritwik turned to Vansh.

"Toh kya uske saamne plan karte?"

"Guys!" Arnav called out loudly. "I think hame ab nonchalant act karna chahiye." 

"Bhai mere," Ritwik looped a hand around Arnav's shoulder. "Itni bhaari bharkam angrezi mat bol. Negi yaha nahi hai ki tu impress karke marks badha sake." 

Arnav rolled his eyes. "Anyways, chalo. We need to call the guests up and inform them about a slight change in plan."

Ritwik followed Arnav out of the kitchen and once again I found myself in a quite similar position like a few nights ago.

"I never took you for a black coffee person," Vansh said.

"It's not black coffee. It's kala kauwa kawphi."

"Well, naam desi ho ya videshi, doesn't change the fact that you're not the doodh-less coffee person."

I nodded appreciatively. "I'm actually surprised that you've figured me out that well."

"Well, now that my theory is confirmed, why are you drinking something you don't like willingly?"

"If I am your specimen under observation and you're so keen on being my Charles Darwin, why don't you speculate and find out for yourself?"

"Well," he jumped off the counter, "There's no doubt that you're more intriguing than tenth standard biology. However, I've got tons of people to call and ask them not to jump out from behind Mrs. Bahl's living room furniture and yell surprise!"

I sucked soundly on the straw. "Well, it's not just your bheegi billi skills that you guys need to work upon."

The whistle's screeching could easily classify as one of the most heavenly sounds if hearing it meant it was time to stop running laps.

"Ye... zyaakthi... hai..." Kara, my classmate, managed to say between her pants. 

"Agar ye Charlie Chaplin hame ek aur baar bhagaye na..." Ishita told her, "... fir hume wapis bhagna padega. Grades uske haath me hai!" 

"Ye sab P.E. lene ke pehele sochna chahiye na," Vansh said, slowing down behind us. "Now, don't give us the excuse of being a girl, that's why whatever." 

It struck me as problematic that he should comment something like that, but Kara beat us to defense mode. "Excuse you?"

"It's not news that Sir will let you girls off the hook easily. Aren't we equals?"

"Please tell me he's kidding," Kara muttered under her breath.

"Look, I'm a big supporter of women empowerment and all, trust me, but you guys always make excuses for not running or doing something that includes physical excursion. While we boys have to run for miles without even a damn reason."

And that's how he walked willingly into the mouth of the feminazis.

"Excuse moi," the girl with the red streaks, whose name I never learned, turned towards Vansh. "What are you trying to imply?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you now?"

"Of course not, you psycho. You are simply disrespecting the female species and I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE IT!"

"I, my friend, am not disrespecting any dear species. You need to be a sport. Pun intended."

"HOW DARE YOU? YOU THINK WE JOKE ABOUT KILLING PEOPLE DURING OUR MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION OF BLOOD OUTFLOW?" The red streaks girl screeched. "Well, lucky you, it's my first day and I won't mind MAKING IT YOUR LAST."

Her intended pun, though gross, was hilarious. However, the punch that landed on Vansh's pretty face wasn't.

"THERE YOU ARE," he bellowed, "Taking advantage of the fact that I can't hit you back?!"

"What's the ruckus all about?" Coach Charlie interrupted, whistling again. As his footsteps neared us, Ishita cleverly pulled us out of the crowd.

"Can't have you swimming in trouble now. Coach Charlie is Mrs. Dongra's right hand man," she whispered.

Most of our classmates had dispersed and now it was only the red streaks girl and Vansh who were stuck with Coach Charlie.

"Both of you. Principal's Cabin. NOW!"

"You know what?" Karan squeezed himself in between me and Ishita, "You should be more respectful towards girls."

"I was very respectful, actually. She came onto me and she punched me," Vansh replied, with a slightly swollen jaw. "You're the witness, c'mon."

"You were respectful, yes," I twirled my fork around my bowl of pasta. "You were respectfully gaslighting her."

"I wasn't even talking to her!"

"Kara wasn't talking to you either," Ishita pointed out.

"I had a valid point to make! Free speech, anyone? Coach Charlie is soft on every girl. How is that fair?"

"Hey, why don't we take that point up when you're thirty and bossing about in a glass cabin?" I looked at him directly. "We can talk about fair worlds then, nahi?"

He considered that for a moment, raising his palms in surrender. "Offending sentiments was not my intention."

Ritwik patted his shoulder, "Dude, everyone knows how Pia gets about these topics. You legit walked into that one."

"I can't believe that girl punched you though," Karan laughed, and was joined by the others. "What a pretty sight to watch on my birthday."

"Humbled."

"What did Mrs. Dongra do, by the way?" Arnav finally asked.

"Asked me to turn in an essay about women empowerment and gender equality."

"That's it?"

"I'm a good kid, okay?" he shrugged. "She likes me."

"As much as I love pasta for lunch." We stared at my bowl still overflowing with pasta. Pastas were the last thing I'd ever eat.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the break and we got up to head back to our class.

I was lying on the couch, remote in my hand and Impractical Jokers playing on T.V. after school when Arnav came walking hurriedly towards me. "Won't you get ready for it?"

I looked at him, head to toe. "If you haven't noticed yet, I'm not exactly a Swiftie."

"Offho," he frowned. "Get ready for the party."

"Just because I'm back to talking terms with you doesn't mean I'm going to go and goof around with you," I scoffed, turning towards the T.V. "Moreover, I wasn't even invited."

"That's because you practically know the where and when of it, dumbo. We planned it in front of you!"

When I didn't pay him any attention, his petty reaction was to block my view to the TV..

"Dude, stop being so kiddish," I said irritably, still not getting up.

"Then go get dressed and come along."

"I'm not interested. Your friends are not my friends, Arnav."

"I don't see you socializing with any other human soul!"

"Well, Sherlock, sorry to break it down to you, but I don't like socializing with anyone!"

"Oh yeah? Funny how that's not what your Instagram and Snapchat says!"

"What is it with you guys stalking me all the time? Don't you know the social rules? You don't stalk and tell!"

"You are my sister! Of course I will stalk and tell you when it's about you!"

"You are so annoying!"

"You are stupid!"

"You are a DONKEY!"

"WELL, HAHAHA, JOKES ON YOU BECAUSE WE ARE TWINS!"

"CHUP HO JAO!" 

Our glares turned towards Daadi as she emerged from her room.

"Itna shore kyu macha rahe ho?"

"Daadi, dekho, maine ise bohot baar kaha ki woh mere saath Karan ki birthday party me aye, par ye abhi taq tayyar nahi hui." 

"Daadi, mujhe kisi party me nahi jaana. Woh mere dost nahi hai." 

"Dost nahi hai?" Daadi walked towards the couch. "Ye kaisi safai hui? Woh tere bhi dost hi to hai. Karan hi us din aya thha na tujhse baat karne?" 

"Haan.. par," I ran out of reasons. "Daadi, I don't feel like partying tonight."

"Like hell you don't,"Arnav shot back. "Daadi, ye bus bhaav kha rahi hai."

"I AM NOT." I glared at him. "Tu jaa na, tere dost hai, teri party hai. Mujhe pareshan mat kar."

"Woh tere bhi dost hai, and Vika you know I don't force you into anything but this time you have to listen. We need hands at the party. Karan ke parents are out of town, and cleaning staff ko bulaya tho uske parents ko pata chal jayega. Moreover, Ishita mujhe maar daalegi agar tu nahi aayi." 

"Though that would be a funny sight to watch, I doubt that."

We turned to Daadi for her verdict and found her smiling. Without intending on it, the words came out in unison. "Kya hua?" 

"Bohot dino baad tumhare ladai ki awaz ayi." 

Arnav and I looked at each other before taking a step back. I hadn't realized I had stood up until I sat back again.

"Chal naa yaar," he pleaded, as I caught a glimpse of Sal swan-diving into a cardboard box on the TV.

"Fine. Just don't disturb me. I don't like talking to any of you."

"Copy that," he grinned victoriously, watching me get up and walk towards my room. 

_____

Namoshtaii

Your comments in the previous chapter literally. Made. My. Day!!

I am really happy that you guys are liking DJH! So here's the early update. I can't believe DJH crossed 300 reads already!!

Anyways, what are your ages? I know, a very random question, but I just wanted to know.

Well, read, vote, comment and promote :D

~chaashnee.