#Fun Fact - While you sleep you can’t smell anything – even really, really bad or potent smells.

It all started years ago.

I was twenty-two, acquiring the knowledge of sculpture making. That year I broke up with my long time girlfriend Riddima owing to our ego clashes and compatibility, fast forwards months later my best friend Ishana opened up her feelings for me. It wasn't a brotherly emotion instead, it was romantically brewing. I didn't say much more than not wanting to hurt her. Exactly hours later her confession I fell in love with a young girl.

Love at first glance.

She was young, immature, and chirpy. All I looked forward to in my future partner. Back then she had shoulder-length hair and a few bangs on her forehead making her irresistibly cute. What I didn't overlook was her marital status, it turned out that she was married. And was quite happy with that.

She wasn't more than my age.

But still.

Days flew with me trying to pass over that phrase of attractions and love that was brewing in my soul. The second time I darted her while graffitiing the street walls she was heartily laughing at some kid. It was deeply carved into my heart, back then.

The third time I saw her in my cousin's flat and arms to be precise. A piece of flesh was ripped off my heart. They were whispering something, which I don't remember now, wrapped around each other. It was then revealed that I was crushing on my sister-in-law, Shivaay's wife. When dad demanded answers from them, both disclosed that they were married for a few months.

Her name was Annika. Lovingly called Sonu by intimate people.

I inhaled deeply and rubbed my dampened cheeks after witnessing the revelation, ago. I felt betrayed when my younger brother also knew about this and not me. However, after properly hearing the truth from both sides, I concluded that I was wrong. My cousin Shivaay wasn't at fault too but he was scared. I realised.

I usually don't like advice. However, when she unknowingly advised me to give it a try in my relationship with Ishana, I reckoned. Maybe time was running out for me and Ishana decided to end her friendship with me and get married to her parent's wish. She went on ahead and asked me not to consider contacting her.

"I will always love you."

Her words still echo in my life.

Annika and Shivaay came over to stay with the entire family. I was suffocating with their loving glances, their constant bickering. They were the ideal couple for me. So one day I decided to move to Delhi to learn mural arts, mainly because I wanted alone time. Not that my parents or family didn't understand me they were understanding. I never told them the entire thing, I only had told them about Ishana.

A few months later I met Myra Pandit Another aspirant, years older than me who was wishing to learn about Mural arts. And within a click, our thoughts matched leafing us for a long conversation without a bumpy ride. As seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into months and months into years we turned out to be good pals. We did everything as partners would do but excluding loving each other.

Loving was something I still was figuring out. Like Shivaay said.

As the years rolled my visits to my family reduced, and my professional career was shaped well. I read each article honouring Annika -the youngest female Indian CFO- in the business paper. Shivaay had once told me that he would do everything in his hands to see Annika in a big position. Like he said he did it. I am proud of their achievements. Even Shivaay is no less, he started his restaurant, with more planning for chains and cookbooks.

I miss him.

I didn't meet for years. Literally years. The last time I met them willingly was when my buddy was born. I avoided meeting or crossing their path. My soul hurts thinking of the outcomes if I had mustered out courage and approached her, their happy lives would have shattered. I feel deceiving Shivaay hiding my feelings -now I don't feel the same way about her - perhaps nothing changes. I won't feel comfortable till I reveal all to him.

I will.

Sooner or later.

Sometimes I feel that Rudra has the slightest idea regarding 'that married girl' because he glances at me with his peripheral vision whenever their topic arises. Those weren't some normal glances, his eyes speak something which I fail to conclude. Was he asking me to disclose? I reckon.

Things change. My hair has grown long. Shivaay dyed his hair. For Rudra, it depends on his character in the film. I was drifted off from the, I mean it.

Over time I and Shivaay have drifted off. Like our conversation over the phone or texts just remained about each other's wellbeing. Nothing persisted the same, he never came asking for life-saving advice nor did I open my treasures of recalls. But in all these Rudra somehow managed to make a permanent territory in their life, he would often visit them in Mississippi taking a break from his shoots. Actually more than everyone else in the family, Annika would send him Rakhi over to the porter, she still looks into Rudra's film contracts. He does the films which include important clauses and suits him, only after she agrees does he proceed further.

How lucky he is to get a sister in form of a sister-in-law.

I too adore staying connected with them perhaps I am scared. I don't want them to have any sort of fights because of me, because one day my enigma is bound to be broadcasted.

••

"Daddy why we going there?" My son asked sitting up straight, a plastic wax crayon between his upper lip and nose.

"To celebrate the new year and also their anniversary," I replied with a light chuckle.

"Anivesry? What that?"

Giggling at his mispronunciation, I tried explaining to him what it meant. Obvious to my advances he began digging up more. He was a curious kid. I am glad the dearth of his mother isn't affecting him much. No matter what comes next in my life, my buddy Aarush would be my precedence. As a father, I'm struggling to give him everything within my limits, I just hope that he would one day comprehend his father and not blame me for his mother's absence. Will he understand me?

At thirty, I'm a father of four years old kid. When I disclosed my parents were highly dissatisfied and they were never this disappointed with me. I was a calm and compassionate child among me, Shivaay and Rudy. I'm not strong enough to stand up to encountering the problem with a smile as Shivaay does. I did have my fair chances of running away from them.

But now I have made up my mind. 

Not to run away. Instead, face them. For my son. He wouldn't like a coward father like me when he grows up.

"Aaru get up. The jet is landing soon." Choti maa tugged the little boy who claims to be a man and boosts himself, to beat his Rudra chachu.

Gleaming at the mere sight I proceeded to collect my son's littering stationaries. Being the only grandchild, presently, in the family, all have been pampering him to rotten. However, I believe, that my son is responsible and empathetic so he doesn't show up his avarice for toys.

Followed by the next few minutes we all precisely Dad, Mom, Rudra, Choti ma and Chotte papa along with half-ticket (my son; like Rudy calls) and Soumya - Rudy yearned to hurt her with over false works. I see something brewing between them- walked hurriedly to the security inspection.

I patted my son's back who fell asleep on my shoulder.

"Look Bhaiya is over there!" Rudra yelled pointing in some direction.

"Buffoonhead!" Dad broke out with his fits of laughter hearing Soumya's words. Though she muttered softly we heard that all. Dad looked surprised seeing her daring attitude, similar to that of his beloved daughter.

Rudra is still the same.

Despite being a well-known actor he still behaves childishly with us and creates unnecessary chaos. I glanced at Rudra, he wore a palette shade of the tee paired with blue denim pants, black shades covering his eyes.

"I don't want my fans to spot me." Not my words but his. Such a drama queen he is.

"Hey, Aaru! Come to your bade papa." Shivaay stretched out his arms to grab drowsy Aaru, who was still in the limped state on my arms. When he didn't respond Shivaay sighed but was determined to get him after, and stepped forward greeting all of us.

The journey to their flat was a bit long. Rudra kept blabbering things linked to the cinemas while Dad smacked occasionally reminding them of his age, he was chachu not a kid similar to Aaru. Chotte papa and choti ma were an emotional mess seeing their son after a long year, they were emotional. I did add here and there showing up my presence.

"My lad has lost weight," Dad mumbled examining Shivaay as he glanced at Shivaay who was driving the eleven seater car.

"Isn't Sonu feeding you well?" Mom asked peeking out from her back seat.

"My baby probably does. But my nalayak son doesn't listen to her." Chotte papa commented while Choti ma nodded in agreement. Shivaay pouted as their talks divulged more and he was targeted.

"Bhaiya might have found new methods in burning calories. In kissing a lot of calories are brunt so he may have opted for bigger than that." Rudra pressed his lips and Shivaay abruptly applied brakes and turned to shoot Rudra a death glare.

"I promised her not to hurt you. But I guess I won't be able to control more of your tantrums. Not this time, your Vahini won't save you." Shivaay gritted his jaws throwing a murderous look at him, who gulped.

"Yes bhaiya. So he has been a buffoon from the very beginning." His Secretary Soumya added.

"You are? Sorry I have never seen you before."

"Shiv she is Rudy's secretary, Soumya Tendulkar." Mom answered. "My dumb son isn't allowing her to have a break. Poor her."

"Hey, Soumya! Think this has a vacation. If your boss does anything wrong please feel free to contact his beloved Vahini. That's my wife because she is the only one who can tame him."

"Of course, I will."

"I'm right here." Rudra raised his voice showing his presence.

"Yes bhaiya. I know Annika ma'am. She was my senior in college. We all used to call her AAG. She many times kicked off some asses."

"That's my daughter." Both the senior male Oberoi's uttered at the same time and glared at each other.

"Where is your car bhaiya?"

"It's in the parking lot. Since my whole family wouldn't fit in it I borrowed from a neighbour."

"Ohh!"

"Now stop all this stuff. Enjoy the ride." Shivaay said as he switched on the engine. Agreeing with him all immersed in their talks which were either about Aaru or meeting their Sonu after a long time.

"Shivaay?" I called him.

"Yes, Om. Are you comfortable? Should I help you with Aaru?"

"No. I need to talk to you."

"Ohh yeah. We have lots to continue. We shall see later in the morning. You rest now."

"Okay. But it's important."

***
I'm ending this chapter here. Since I feel that Om's part is more than enough here, now.

Five more followers to go to reach a hundred. ://