||CHAPTER 5||
《¤》

It had been mere minutes that the guys and Ishita left after spending the whole day. My eyes wandered around the sky blue and grey walls of Arnav's bedroom. One side of the wall opposite me was embellished with travel posters, full of quotes, while the other part held pinned up pictures of places unheard of.

"Fancy some more pizza?" Arnav's voice pulled me out of my trance. "Teen slices baaki hai." 

He offered me the open box. Walking across the room, I sat beside him on the bed, picking up a slice. "Room tune decorate kiya hai?"

A beat of silence passed before he opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by Ratan Kaka knocking the door. "Binoy saab aa gaye hain. Milna chahte hain aapse Arnav bete."

I waited for him to leave the room before looking around the room once more. His night stand staged a wooden picture frame, hosting a photograph that was taken nearly ten years ago. We were building a snowman in Switzerland, me, him, Mom and Dad. Despite the story the picture told, we hadn't been a happy family back then. We were just being followed by a bunch of paparazzi, and we were trained to play our part. Sighing, I stood up, making my way to Daadi's room, a place that made me feel at home, and entered right away.

"Knocking ka toh zamana hi nahi raha," she taunted jokingly as I claimed my place, resting my head on her lap.

"Bakwaas serials ka bhi nahi raha," I retorted back. 

"Phir bhi aap yahi padhaare ho," she pointed out, making me roll my eyes. She changed the topic. "Maanyata ka phone aya tha." 

"Toh jane ko bolo." 

"Bakwaas na kar," she huffed. "Poora hafta beeth gaya aur tune ek baar bhi apni Ma ko call nahi kiya."

"Kyu karoon?" I asked, observing the main character of the show wake up with her eyeliner on point. It wasn't the fact that her make-up was perfect early morning that bugged me, no. It was the fact that she slept with her make up on that made me cringe. 

"Woh teri chintaa karti hai puttar."

"Kis baath ki chinta? Ghar pe toh rehti hun mai. Aap hi ke saath." 

"Maa hai woh teri," her eyes left the TV screen to look at me. "Don't push her away Vika." 

I let out a small sigh, lying down on her lap. "Pushing requires force, and if you haven't discovered it already, I'm not the most energetic person in the Deewan household."

The next morning, I knocked thrice on the door to Dad's office before he muttered an approval.

"Ratan Kaka said..."

"Yeah, take a seat."

I observed the rows of cupboards and cabinets leaving barely any wall to sight, as I sat in one of the revolving chairs inside Dad's office at home.

"Have you adjusted yourself well in Delhi, Arvika?" He asked, peering at me from his laptop.

"Guess so," I said, twirling a mere 120 degrees on the revolving chair. "There's not really many exciting activities to do in eleventh standard."

"Wish I could change your view," he murmured, typing. "But I must say I didn't expect you to be taking Mathematics for your stream."

I raised my eyebrow, "And you think so because..?"

"Arvika, I have seen your grades. Do you think it was easy to get you a seat in Mystic High?"

Sure, I didn't have all As in my grade sheet, but that was because I was better at co-curriculars. And my mother didn't care too much about my academics either. "Mom was okay with my grades."

"Well, I am not. I want you to take your academics seriously. Arvika, your principal called me on your first day, after all the trouble I went through to get you a seat in that school."

I had no idea where the guts came from, but once the words were out, they were out for good. "If having me here is that much of a problem, aapko pehle hi bata dena chahiye thha."

"I am just looking out for you, Arvika. Your brother always makes it to the excellence rolls. You don't want to fall behind."

"Of course, everything has to be just the way he does it, isn't it? Or they are not the favourite kid anymore!"

His typing stopped abruptly. "What exactly are you trying to imply Arvika? That I've not been a good father?"

"Why would I even say that? I mean, come on, look at Arnav! You obviously fathered the golden child of the family!"

His nose flared, indicating he was angry. "You are misunderstanding the situation, and I suggest you think before you speak."

Taking his advice to heart, I refused to speak further. But before I could excuse myself, the door flew open, revealing my aunt, Jolly Bua.

"ARVOOOOO!!" She screamed as she entered, hands wide open for an embrace.

"Jolly? What are you doing here?" Dad removed his specs, eyes darting to his sister.

"Arey, Arvu se milne ayi hoon, aur kya? Aapne bataya bhi nahi meri favorite bhanji aa rahi hai!" Her bubbly figure wrapped me in a bubble-wrap hug. (I've come to meet Arvika, of course. You didn't even mention that my favourite niece is back in town!)

"Aapki aur kitni bhanjiya hain?" I hugged her back. 

"Sassy, like always," she muttered, before turning back to father. "But Sunday morning yaha kyon sadd rahi ho?" 

The eye contact with my Dad stayed for mere five seconds, before he cleared his throat. "Ab tum aa hi gayi ho to lunch karke jana." 

"Lunch? I'm here to throw a freaking party tonight bhai sahab!"

"Party?" I frowned at her. "Kis liye?" 

Her eyes popped out. "Kis liye? You now have the audacity to ask me kis liye?? Tumhare welcome back ke liye, obviously!"

My dad sighed, "Uski koi zarurat nahi hai Jolly-" 

"Haan, Jolly bua. I really don't need one. This week really can't feel any more welcoming."

"Oh baby, I am gonna prove to you just how much more welcoming the weekend's gonna be," she strolled around the room, observing the frames hooked on the walls. "Moreover, bhaiya, guests ko already bula liya hai, family-shamili and Arnav aur Arvu ke naye dost. Remember, this one's for my dear Arvika." 

Her last statement was a pointed one. No one spoke after that.

By evening, guests had flooded our house. Jolly Bua dragged me around, re-introducing me to people I hadn't seen in years. After about an hour, I began clinging to my grandmother, tired of being reminded about how small I was when they saw me last.

"Ab agar tum wapis Mummy ke paas gayi na..." she probably started running out of threats. (If you run off to Mother once more...)

"I'm bored!" I complained, reasoning my actions. "I don't even know half of the people."

"Look, tumhare friends aatey hi honge. But you first need to participate in the event, honey." (Look, your friends will be here any moment.)

She held out her five year old son's hand for me. "Take Mikhael with you, greet the guests."

Huffing out, I held my cousin's hand and walked across the room. The catering waiters dodged past different people, serving drinks and starters. Spotting Dad and Arnav talking to a few people, I rooted myself away before they called out my name.

"Mikhael, suno. Yahi rehna, and ye juice mat girana. Tumhari maa mujhe mar dalegi nahi toh," I commanded him, leaving him with children his age group to tend to my father. (Mikhael, listen. Stay here and don't spill the juice. Else, your mother will kill me.)

Dad was greeting someone I hadn't expected to be here. "Mr. Oberoi," he said with a tight, strained smile. "This is Arvika, my daughter. You must have met her."

I wondered if he had ever introduced me to anyone that way, but again, this ought to be special. My mother's fiance and I were meeting for the first time under his supervision.

"Good evening, Mr. Oberoi," I extended my arm for a handshake.

"Long time no see, Arvika," he returned firmly. His french cut beard gave his face an odd angle. I had always found his style to be on the quirkier edge.

"Maanyata misses you. So do I. When are you coming back?"

"She isn't," Arnav intervened. I could sense his hatred for him glowing in the dark. Dad patted Arnav's back, but not out of glee. It was a subtle signal.

"You see Raman," Dad cleared his throat, "Arvika and Arnav both just started their final two important years of high school."

"I'm pretty sure Mumbai had good opportunities for Arvika," Mr. Oberoi laughed. "I'm sure you miss your friends there."

"She has made better ones here," Arnav cut in yet again. Raman Oberoi acknowledged him with a laugh, one that Dad joined.

"I'm sure she has," Mr Oberoi said. "Do visit us sometime, before the wedding too, preferably. Aryan would be thrilled to see you."

I did miss my ex-boyfriend-turned-soon-to-be-step-cousin dearly. He taught me how to play with the lies and taunt the truths fluently. There was no bad blood between us. "I will."

He smiled jovially. "I'm really grateful that your family invited me tonight."

"Jolly invited you actually," Dad's jaw twitched. "She's full of eccentric ideas." This one surely was not in the good lot.

"By the way, I come bearing gifts. I just came back from Germany, and got some presents for my step-daughter, and you too, Arnav. Maanyata has told me about your love for milk chocolates."

Unable to contain himself, he responded rather rudely, "Do you think chocolates are going to make me like you?"

The smile on Mr. Oberoi's face dropped. "I did not mean to..."

"What he means," I piped in, "is that he loves gifts. Anyways, please enjoy tonight. I reckon mother would like it if you have fun in our company."

"Sure," he bit out angrily.

"Arnav, Arvika," Dad squeezed our shoulders. "Why don't you go meet your friends now. I saw Vansh and Karan with Mikhael a few minutes ago."

Once alone, Arnav turned me around to face him. "Why don't you just ignore him like you always do? I cannot stand this man and I haven't even met him for more than ten minutes."

"Because your opinion is biased. It's really not like Dad was white and black in front of that disgusting shade of grey."

I knew he understood what I meant. Our parents' divorce was not a hidden matter.

"Arnav, people were watching. Already people spew bullcrap in school all the time. We can do without feeding them more."

"You saved our reputations," he nodded.

"You didn't expect me to?"

"Aren't the reasons quite obvious?"

That one made my stomach flip a bit, for unknown reasons. "I don't really know, are they? Am I that big of a poster bad girl?"

"Arvika, you know I didn't mean it that way."

I looked behind him. "We should get back to the party."

_____

Namoshtaii

Due to approaching exams from the 23rd of Feb, I can't promise updates until after 7th March. But we never know, I just might ;P

Anyways, how many of you have your birthday during the exams? I don't, but my friends do. Well, if you do too, uhm... all the best. For the exam, I mean.

I am just being random, excuse moi ;P.

Anyways, read, vote, comment and promote!

~chaashnee