"What about bade bhai?"

"You know his condition, don't you?" My mom defended her eldest son. "He's very vulnerable looking after his daughter all by himself."

"Does it mean he gets all the privileges? What is he, a princess??" My voice was getting louder with each sentence. "He is a man! He needs to strive. He needs to fight life in order to live properly. Who gives a fuck his wife died? His daughter is alive so he should earn for her!"

I knew this discussion of expenses would lead to a heated argument.

"Aap hi kuch samjhaiye ise," she complained to dad.

"Mai kya samjhau? Theek hi to bol rha hai." My ragged breathing calmed down after hearing my dad's words. He was supporting me? ME?

"Ughh! You both are unbearable. I am out of here. Tum aur tumhari mardon wali baat."

We watched as she left the room.

"Look Abhay. I know all the burden seems to be on you but I will talk to Arun as well. You're the youngest son yet somehow I have to rely on you."

Dad stood up and went out of the room as well. I thought he wouldn't come back so I laid down, ready to drift to sleep. However, he had different plans. He came back with a bottle of beer and two glasses. He sat down in his place and put each glass between us.

He continued to talk as he poured the beer, "With all honesty, I am happy that your sister has found her match but I am worried about you three guys."

We took the first sip at the same time.

"There will be no female other than your mother in this house now. And you ought to understand this fact that we men build houses but females are the ones who make home."

He emptied his glass meanwhile I had drunk only half of the glass. He must have been stressing about this matter.

"Are you even listening carefully?" He suddenly shouted at me.

"Yes, I am. Continue with your wisdom."

"The eldest is hopeless, he's completely given up on earning, even a single penny. The second one's wife, his two girlfriends left him after using him for money. He's slowly becoming a drunkard. Thanks to the savings we made in our old times, we have money to live on, otherwise this fool would have seriously sold us."

Dad hiccupped. He had already finished 3 glasses. He was getting drunk. He poured himself another glass, gulping it down in one go. Then he put aside the bottle and glass, trying to look serious but his drunken state gave it away.

"First, buy her gifts. Arun will be here tomorrow. Discuss with him what each of you wanna give her in her marriage. Then we two will go to contact the ones who decorate the venue. Have the contact number of makeup artists for Chutki. She will look for a wedding lehenga by herself."

"And who will be paying for all these?"

"Why are you only thinking about money?" Dad whined.

"So that I can easily manage everything," Finally, I finished my beer and put the glass aside on the bedside drawer. "Look, if we want things to get done at the right time, we need to have money at the right time. Right?"

"Yep," He nodded his head. Glad he was able to comprehend what I was saying.

"I will manage the decoration and gift part, the buffet system will also be under my supervision. Arun will take on the DJ part. Bade bhai can do whatever he wants, just tell him not to interfere with my matter."

"Oh right, my siblings are also willing to spend as much as they can."

"Great. And I am sure you must have taken out a loan as well, right?"

"Yeah."

"So I guess that's it. Don't worry too much and I am warning you beforehand don't drink much. I don't have to tell you what happens when people get drunk in this house."

"Ok, then good night, abhi beta."

"Hm. And I am Abhay for God's sake!"

I helped him get out of the room. For a while, I kept thinking if everything would get managed properly or we'd face some kind of money shortage. It's always the girl's side who suffers the most in a wedding. I hope I'll be able to guide everyone without much chaos.

_____

The next day went by as I had planned.

Collect money from relatives. Check.
Contact the tent house. Check.
Make a list of gifts. Check!

Aside from the listed things, I decided to decorate Chutki's room along with mine. I knew it might seem way too quick but trust me, once I involve myself with the main work, I won't have any time and energy to do this minimal yet necessary work.

The days passed by and my bond with Anu seemed to improve everyday. Her routine was very simple. She would cook, attend her online classes for 3 hours in the morning, hangout at her aunt's house and then spend the evening with Chutki and me. Not to brag about myself but I was pretty good with kids so most of the time I was surrounded by my baby cousins who would constantly pester me to play with them or they wanted my phone.

It was one such day when I was watching a movie with 2 baby sisters, that Anu came and slept beside us. I had no idea it was her until I felt one more leg being put on top of mine. After noticing it was her leg, my life was blessed. I needed no more from the gracious God-

Oh no no wait! I need more from the gracious God, tbh. I started fidgeting my leg so that she was comfortable but I stopped when she whined.

"Can you stop moving your leg so much bhaiya?"

Again that fucking bhaiya! Would it kill her to call me just Abhay?!

______

Another time when I was laying at the backside of our house, under the cool shade of a tree, a few beams of sun penetrated through the shade. It was past 1 pm. I heard her voice from inside.

"Do you know where Abhay bhaiya is?"

I smiled and turned around so that my back was facing the door. I was startled when she jumped right at me.

"Why are you being a lazy-head when you should be helping around?" She giggled. I dunno why but she did.

I got on my back and she got away from me. It saddened me but I put on a smile.

"Who should I help?"

"Your mamma. She's getting tired from serving food to this many relatives." She stretched her hands to support her statement. I chuckled at her antics.

"I don't need to. Chutki will handle everything." I put my hands behind my head to make myself comfortable.

"Okay then, i'll go and help Chutki," She stood up. Her sudden absence from my side grasped my heart in fear. I don't remember getting any kind of instruction from my brain to get up and hold her wrist. But here I was. Holding her slightly chubby wrist.

"Where are you going?Just now, you were asking for me and you're leaving already??" I joked, trying to mask my real feelings.

"I didn't see you anywhere since morning so I was simply wondering where you must have disappeared to," Shrugging her shoulders she continued. "After all, you haven't given me any kind of treat ever since you came back."

She huffed and pouted her lips angrily. I slapped her puffy cheeks lightly and dragged her to sit beside me. After a while, she started showing me pictures of her classmates and friends. By the time she opened the album which consisted of her solo pictures and selfies, she was leaning against me. She asked for my opinions on her photos. But I was in no state to use my brain to understand my surrounding. I never liked being crushed by another human's weight but if she one day decides to sit on my face and stop my breathing, I would gladly accept that.

I changed my sleeping position by turning my face towards her. So now, she was leaning against my stomach. Gradually, she kept melting like water and finally laid down beside me. If she could get comfortable, I could too. I put my hand around her torso. I gulped nervously. She did nothing. I slide my hand upwards, inch by inch; my heart slapping against my chest. My hand was only an inch away from her upper private area but still, she had a poker face and was playing a game on her phone by now.

Since I came this far, I did what my intrusive thoughts told me. I lifted my index finger and covered that one inch. No reaction. It was her private part, right? Ladies tend to be very cautious about this part, don't they?? I was puzzled!

Then came my second finger. I was so hell bent to get a reaction now. That's when she held my fingers and slid them down.

OH KAMI-SAMA, THE GREAT GRACIOUS GOD! WHY WAS I SO KEEN TO GET A REACTION?!! AAAA! She wouldn't hate me, right???

My time was being spent romantically when the demons came to ruin the sweet moment. By demons, I meant kids. After the swarm of kids came in, Anu left without saying a word. Gosh, I hate them so much now. And, did she come to spend alone time with me? Did she hate me now? Would she stop talking to me after that stunt??

I was freaking my brains out. Fuck!!!

And these little annoying loud speakers, a mere excuse of sweet little kids were ruining my mood even more!