AT THE PARIKHS' HOUSE

(her outfit)

It had been 2 weeks since Aastha shifted to that horrible new room, it wasn't even her aesthetic. Moreover, the wardrobes didn't fit all her clothes and if there's something she loves after her family and friends is her clothes.

She knew that Jay and his family were coming anytime soon, it was 8:45 AM already and they said they'd be there by 9 PM. Aastha was looking for excuses to leave the house.

In the end she found one. She decided to tell her parents that she and Priya had to go to Kankaria Lake to meet one of their school friends, which wasn't a lie of course. Just that, the friend was going to meet them at 10 AM.

She left her 'room' and went downstairs. She went in the kitchen to find her mother making shrikhand (a sweet made from hung curd).

Aastha sat on the platform of the kitchen as she spoke, "Mummy, hu ne Priya atyare peli Yesha ne madva Kankaria jaiye chiye." She said nonchalantly, as if today was nothing special in a good or a bad way.

(Mom, me and Priya are going to Kankaria to meet Yesha right now.)

Her mother looked at her in horror, "Tari satki gayi che? Ravibhai, bhabhi ne chokrao gher rehva aave che ne tu baar jaay che!? Ee loko ne malya vagar kyay nathi javanu!" She commanded.

(Have you lost it? Brother Ravi, sister-in-law and the kids are coming home to stay and you're going out!? You can't go anywhere without meeting them!)

Aastha's POV

I am the one who's crazy here? This woman hasn't made Shrikhand for me till now and now she is making it for them, it's her who's crazy, not me. I am already compromising my room, is that not enough that I should also be seeing it being compromised!?

"I don't care, mumma. Hu jau chu, jamta pehla aavi jais ne fave toh Shrikhand bachavjo." I said, putting an emphasis on the plural form verb (bachavjo), it basically meant like a warning for her to not bother me anymore.

(I am going, I'll be back before lunch and if it is possible save the Shrikhand.)

I went to Priya's house and called her name.

"Jadli aayiye, Priye. Aapke liye ko limousine leke nahi aayega." I spoke with utter sarcasm and rolled my eyes as I didn't want to interact with any of the Pandyas, especially that douchebag Jay.

(Come quick, beloved. No one will come with a limousine for you.)

Even though Priya speaks and understands Gujarati, I cannot bring myself to talk to her in Gujarati because her Gujarati is too broken. It's that way because her family belongs from Delhi.

"Haan, aayi. Ruk ja." I heard Priya say she came running downstairs and opened the gate to come to my side.

(Yes, I'm coming. Wait.)

She came and then we started walking in the direction of the lake. From where I could see their car coming. They were going towards my place while I was going away. I checked my phone to see the time, 8:57 PM; quite punctual I must say.

I could feel my eyes tearing up by remembering the fact that my room wasn't going to be mine anymore. I could feel all four of their gazes on me, but I just pretended to not have noticed them.

END OF POV

Priya and Aastha took the entry ticket and went inside and sat on a bench near the 'Butterfly Park'.

JAY'S POV

(his outfit)

I saw Aastha leaving the house with her annoying-ass friend Priyadarshini. They're so chatty and just so dumb, ugh.

Aastha pretended as if she didn't notice our car, she might've thought that nobody would notice. But, I did. But honestly, who cares.

We went to their place and were welcomed with the jolly spirits of Sid Uncle and Radhika Aunty. We put our bags in the respective rooms and relaxed for a little while.

The room Didi and I were staying in seemed quite large and also aesthetic. It followed a scheme of colours, all pastels. There were some photo frames which were empty, a study table with what looked like a very comfortable chair. The walls were a pastel colour of blue and the furniture was white. The room felt very home-like.

It was around 10:30 PM when Sid Uncle ordered Fafda-Jalebi and we all ate it, Aastha still wasn't there. Not that I care about her presence but, she should at least be there to attend her guests. What kind of person doesn't do that? Only weirdos like her, obviously.

It was around 1:45 when we all gathered for lunch in the dining hall. We were about to have lunch when someone rang the bell and Radhika Aunty went to attend it.

It was her. I could hear her loud and annoying voice from feets away. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. She came inside the dining hall and sat beside her father. I rolled my eyes again.

END OF POV

They were having their lunch peacefully when Aastha spoke up, "So, how's the new rooms guys?" She took another spoonful of the Shrikhand her mother made.

"They're really amazing, it doesn't feel like we've shifted, it still feels like we're at our home only." Replied Birva.

"Yeah, our room is—" Subconsciously, Jay replied too but was cut off in between by Aastha who was drinking water and kind of choked on it.

"I'm sorry, WHOSE room?" Aastha spoke, no— taunted Jay. Her words made her receive a deadly glare from her mother and an amused one from the others. Ignoring all that, she continued, "I think you mean, MY room. Doesn't he, mumma?" She put an emphasis on the word 'my' and then looked towards her mother.

Her mother was still glaring at her, which made her father smile awkwardly and say, "Haasto, it's yours only. But it's currently Jay's and Rutu didi's, no?"

(Obviously)

She said nothing in response to what her father said, but her silence was enough. It felt like she was waiting for this moment to come and she was waiting to embarrass Jay. 

After a few minutes, Aastha left the dining hall and went to her new room. Even a toddler would have sensed the tension in the room whilst she was present there.

Why was she doing this, you may ask, it's simple to her: "If I don't like whatever that is being done, I will make sure you regret doing it around me especially."

It was indeed toxic but she was done being the one to compromise her everything, literally everything.

The rest of the day went normal for Aastha, while it was nothing even close to normal for Jay. How did it go normal for Aastha? It's because she didn't acknowledge their existence.

Aastha also told Priya everything on text about what was going on. Priya was laughing while Aastha was pissed that she was laughing.

~

(her outfit)

It was around 6 PM when Aastha went to her parents room to tell them that she was going out with Priya. She and Priya never went out so many times a day. This was the second time in the day.

Her mother sighed, knowing she couldn't say anything to her stubborn child as she and her husband had brought it upon themselves.

Aastha had reached her house's gate when Rutuja stopped her. "Where are you going," she asked.

"Uh, me and my friend are going to our school, we're meeting some friends there," Aastha said, scratching the back of her neck.

A smile came on Rutuja's face. She said, "Perfect! Pappa pan tya j jaye che Jay saathe, evu karo tame banne emni saathe gaadi ma jata ro."

(Dad is going there only with Jay, you both do one thing, go with them in the car.)

AASTHA'S POV

"Ha, ha, beta chalo. Evu hase toh pachi hu tamne banne ne pick up pan kari lais." I heard Ravi uncle say.

(Yes, yes, dear, come. If so, then I will also pick you both up)

There was no way in the world I was going to my school with him or his son, not till my last breath. But, I haven't got any options here, have I?

I called Priya and asked her to come into the compound. I looked at her with apologetic eyes as she came near me. She understood what I was trying to say as soon as she saw Jay and Ravi Uncle in the car.

END OF POV

(his outfit)

The car ride was awkwardly silent. The only sound was of the beautiful Bollywood song, Tum Tak. It took them less time than the duration of that song as the school was only 800 metres away.

The car went inside the gates of the school after dropping the two girls outside where their friends were standing.

Their friends laughed when the two of them explained their situation and even though Aastha and Priya were annoyed at their reaction, they let it go and the four of them went to the Vince café.

a/n~

hellu ji, although i said author"s note comments mein hogi, i tried but aalas aa raha, anyways, i am too impatient so, here you go!

par haan abse onli saturday ko post karungi kyuki i have to prepare 2-3 more drafts as story soch li hai, bhool na jau toh acha hai lmao, anyways,

creds for the last para fanaticwriterr <3

love, 

tithi <3