"Are you trying to get me in more trouble than I already am?" Chetna whispered as Siddharth walked up the staircase to the roof. 

"How much worse could it get?" he said giving her a smile over his shoulder. 

"Oh, you have no idea," she shook her head. 

Siddharth chose to ignore that comment and walked on till they were at the doors that led to the rooftop area. Faint music filtered through and Chetna stared at the door tentatively. 

"Come on, we'll get a drink and leave soon after."

"You haven't even told me where you are taking me. Who is in here?" she whisper-yelled. 

"You can speak normally. No one can hear us," he laughed, "Veer and his friends are up here partying. He invited me and I am inviting you." 

Chetna began to say something but Siddharth pushed the door open and started walking ahead giving her no other option but to follow him. 

He saw a group of people at the farthest end of the rooftop and beckoned Chetna. She came to a halt. 

"What is it?" he asked.

"There isn't a single girl here," she said. 

Siddharth looked back at the crowd and sure enough, it was a sausage fest. 

"Alright, I am going back," she said.

"Oh come on nobody is even going to notice you. They're all probably too drunk to remember any of this." 

"You don't seem to understand you're not in Delhi or New York anymore. Here, people expect women to follow certain rules," Chetna said in a frustrated tone. 

"And do you buy into that bullshit?" he asked with a piercing look. 

Chetna did not look away. 

"I don't." she said, "That's why my family despises me."

"I don't think they despise you," Siddharth tried to comfort her. 

"Oh no they do," she laughed bitterly, "And I'm trying not to give them any more reasons to justify that hate." 

 Siddharth paused. The way Chetna had said made him question the glibness with which he had been handling all of this. 

"Okay, wait here. I'll be right back," he said.

"Where are you going?" 

"I am getting us a drink and then you can tell me all about why your family hates you."

With that, he quickly walked towards the bar temporarily set up for the convenience of Veer and his groomsmen. 

"Siddharth you made it!" Veer exclaimed, slurring his words. 

He seemed surprised to see Siddharth but that was probably not out of the ordinary since he hadn't said yes to his invite. 

"I just wanted to drop by and wish you luck. Happy for you, brother. I am really sleepy though so I am going to head out after this." 

"Wait, let me introduce you to my friends." Veer said excitedly and dragged him to the centre of the party. 

"Friends, this is my cousin Siddharth," he announced and then told him their names individually. After the fifth name, it became a blur and despite his best efforts, he couldn't remember their names. 

"You are Siddharth Kashyap from Red Wagon right?" one of Veer's friends asked. 

"Yes," Siddharth said at the time Veer said,

"Yes, how do you know him?" 

"His band is pretty well known. My sister is a huge fan," he said with a smile. 

Siddharth thanked him graciously. 

"Can I get a selfie?" he asked. 

"Uh, sure," Siddharth said and he posed uncomfortably close to him and clicked several pictures. 

"Jahnvi is going to be so jealous," he mumbled gleefully as he scrolled through his gallery. 

"You should tell her Sid is performing at the wedding," Veer said making Siddharth gape at him in disbelief.

First of all Sid? Nobody but his friends called him by that nickname and secondly, when had he agreed to perform at his wedding? 

But Veer had moved on and he needed to make a fast getaway because Chetna was waiting for him and he had already spent too much time here. So he bid them a brief farewell, walked up to the counter and asked for two bottles of beer. The barkeep handed those to him and he left the rooftop. 

Chetna was sitting just outside the door and perked up when she saw him come in.

"Finally, I thought you'd stay with them for the entire night."

"Sorry, Veer thought it appropriate to introduce me to his friends." 

"You didn't know your brother's friends?" she asked grabbing the bottle he had extended to her. 

"He's not my brother." Siddharth said sharply, "We're cousins. Distant."

"Isn't he your father's brother's son?" 

"Exactly," he said.

Chetna noted his curt answer but decided not to pursue it. 

They walked a short distance and found a quiet spot to sit and drink in peace. 

"So, I tell you my sob story and you tell me yours?" Chetna said once they were settled. 

"I don't have one," Siddharth said simply. 

"Oh please," Chetna scoffed, "It is written all over your face. The whole brooding, rebel, family outcast look. I'd know it anywhere." 

Siddharth let out a chuckle despite himself. People accused him of being the brooding rebel without a cause all the time but he didn't agree. He just enjoyed his own company more than most people. 

"I am no rebel," he shook his head. 

"Well I am." she shrugged. 

"Tell me about it. What is it like wherever you live? You're clearly not from Delhi or New York, I gathered that much from your earlier dialogue. Tell me about yourself Chetna."

"I thought you would know we're from Jaipur. Didn't your Tauji tell you?" 

"Just assume I am a stranger to the ways and knowledge of the Rajput family." 

"Alright, the Haldar's have been in Jaipur for a long, long time. Like the Pre-colonial era. We didn't emigrate anyplace else. My mother's side has some Royal Blood and my Father's side have been in the textile business since before Industrialization. Nobody ventures out of the family business and especially not women. We are supposed to be meekly carted off to our husband's house before we reach the ripe old age of 21."

Siddharth listened to her family history with growing interest since it was starting to sound eerily like what his family expected of men and women. His parents had gotten married when his mother was barely 18. She had had no say in who she was being married to and there was no other alternative she could pick. 

This was why she had worked hard to help Siddharth pursue his dream of music. She didn't want to force him into his father's business.

"I am the Haldar anomaly," she continued, "I am the black sheep. I am almost 22 and I haven't gotten married, I have no intention of getting a job in the family business and I am looking for an internship that will take me out of this hellish town." 

"That is quite amazing," Siddharth said in appreciation. 

"In theory. It is torture in real life." 

"I can imagine. What kind of internship are you looking for?" he asked.

"I am almost done with my law degree. So any kind of law firm. I really want to practice criminal law."

Siddharth saw the same spark in her eye that lit up his own when he talked of music. 

"It is your turn now. I bared my soul to you." 

"There's nothing to tell." he laughed trying to steer the conversation away. 

The idea of delving into the messed up past of his Father's family after a whole day of interacting with them did not seem appealing to him. Especially in front of a girl whose sister was marrying into the same family. 

"That always means there is something to tell but I won't force you. Talk to me if and when you're ready," she smiled at him. 

Siddharth was grateful that she didn't pursue the topic. 

"This was weirdly very helpful," she said sipping the last of her beer.

"Thank you Siddharth, for all of this. We got off on the wrong foot but you're an okay guy," she gave him a full-blown smile and stood up. 

"I'll see you around," she said. 

"I hope so," he said returning her smile. 

And then he was alone again.