CHAPTER 3

There are moments in your life where you wish you had died better than facing the moment. I was in the same situation where I thought about pretending to be sick, sprain my ankles or even sneak out through the window but nothing would happen when you have a mother who watches you every moment and the guests who are invited to come reaches earlier than expected to give you no time to make a move.

That is why I'm here dining with my family and his parents. I mentally danced when I didn't see him at the door but too late when his mom said that he will join the dinner with his brothers.

Brothers? He is an only son and that was the only common thing with us.

"Anika, why aren't you eating anything dear?" Pinky Aunty, his mother asked me with concern. She was a loving mother but once, she had taken away my chocolates telling it wasn't good for health. She always tried to feed me and her son but when it comes to food, my mom outshined her.

"I am good, thanks," I said taking a sip of water. I was waiting for them to leave so I can happily have my Aloo Puri without eating like a pig in front of them.

Pinky Aunty shook her head in disapproval and gave me a pointed look. "You know I had to look at you twice to confirm you were the same little Anika who broke my vase. You are so skinny now and I blame you Asha for that. Now that I'm here, I will take care of her."

Okay, I'm going to pack my bags and go to Uganda away from her and her stupid son.

She hasn't changed much except that her hair is longer now. Dad and Shakti Uncle were talking about business like they normally do and nothing has changed between them. Soon, mom and Pinky Aunty started talking about the latest trends and fashion. I rolled my eyes and took it as the best opportunity to eat the food like I do.

The bell rang suddenly making my spoon drop to the plate. The elders looked at me weirdly but I just shrugged and ducked my head.

He is here, after five long years.

"Anika, go get the door," Dad said and I forced a smile and stood up straightening my dress. Looked like even luck is not on my side today.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. I was greeted with the same blue eyes which glared at me always years ago. In front of me was no longer the thirteen-year-old boy but a young man who was looking dashing and handsome, ready to steal the heart of girls.

He wore a black tee with a brown jacket over, blue jeans and white vans to finish the look. No one would have ever thought the little kid could look like this.

"Done checking me out?" He asked and I lifted my eyes to meet his, masking my surprise.

"Hello to you too, Shivaye and there isn't anything to check." I rolled my eyes moving aside giving him space to enter.

"You wish." He smirked and trust me, right now I need to know his secret of how he turned like this.

"Thanks for welcoming us in." That is when I noticed there were two other boys in the house too. I tilted my head and my eyes widened as I looked at the younger one.

"Aren't you the protein shake boy?" I asked pointing at him and the smile on his face dropped.

"Now the world knows your obsession with it." The elder one with long black hair commented. He looked familiar, I wrecked my brain and the memory appeared. "Hi, it is good to see you again."

"Okay, you better introduce yourself now," I said crossing my arms over the chest. It was confusing but then again there were no similarities between them for being brothers.

Shivaye muttered something under his breath but I decided to ignore it. "First, the Artist go ahead."

"I am Omkara Singh Oberoi and everyone calls me Om. I'm an Artist as you know and it is something that I like to take as my profession. I'm same age as Shivaye and we are all going to the same school to study. We are cousins." He smiled and I have to bit inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. He just answered like an obedient student.

The younger one cleared his throat seeking the attention of everyone. "I'm the handsome and most sexy boy in Oberoi family. My name is Rudra and I die for this." He patted his biceps and winked.

"Very interesting." I clicked my tongue and start walking to the living room ignoring the gaze from the blue eyes.

"Finally you are here, I was wondering why you are taking forever to come," Pinky Aunty said and rushed the boys to take their seat.

Shivaye greeted my mom with a kiss on her cheek and mom awed at it. Looks like the devil will put my mom in his pockets too. "You have grown up to be a handsome boy, Shivaye. I'm sure girls are going to be crazy," She said as she filled the plate with him. She never did that for me, I scowled.

"Thank you, Mrs.Reynolds," He said with a faint pink color on the tip of his ears.

The boys started eating and Pinky Aunty explained about the arrival of his cousins. Om and Rudra were the sons of Shakti Uncle's brother Tej Singh Oberoi. They were here to study because at the moment because of the sickness of their father, they couldn't be well taken care of and he trusted them with his brother.

"This is so delicious," Om complimented mom but Rudra was just playing around with food on his plate.

"Come on, have some more," Mom said to the younger one and he narrowed his eyes at her. I think I love this one already.

"Do you know how much time I spent to make my body look like this? Day and night I have worked hard for it and here you are asking me to eat your oily food. Never in a million years, Mrs.Reyolds," He answered at her and she looked dumbfounded for a moment before shaking her head and mumbling something under her breath.

"Ow," Shivaye suddenly flinched with pain and everyone looked at him. I saw Om giving him a sympathetic look or more like apologizing.

"Are you okay, Shivaye?" Dad asked and he nodded.

The dinner went smoothly with little talk of elders until Pinky Aunty thought it was a good idea to reminisce the old memories.

"Anika, do you remember what you did the first time you came to our house when you were five years old?" She asked and I shook my head even though it was playing in my mind.

"I feel so bad for this phone," The little girl of five years old said as she played with her pigtails.

"Why would you?" The boy asked raising his eyebrow being confused at the sudden statement.

It was the beginning of December, Anika and Shivaye were sitting under the Christmas tree they had decorated a few hours ago. They were playing ludo on his mother's phone.

"Do you like to live without taking baths even though many people touch you always," She innocently asked and Shivaye scrunched his nose at the thought.

"No, I would smell bad and no one would want to be my friend. Also, not taking bath is highly unhygienic," He answered with wide eyes.

"Exactly, Shivaye." She bobbed her head up and down. "The phone hasn't taken a bath forever. I feel so sad for it. Come on, let us give him a baby bath. You go fill the tub with water and put your duck toys in it, the phone will enjoy it." She stood up and gestured him to follow her to his room.

"Are you sure, Anika? We have to ask permission from mom first," He wasn't very fond of his friend's idea.

Anika swatted his arm away from her shoulder. "You are always a momma's boy. She will be very proud of us and maybe even treat us with cupcakes," She licked her lips at the reward.

She rushed him to the washroom, put the phone in the tub after giving it a kiss. "Be good, the water is cold but you will be alright." She said to the phone.

The kids gave the phone a beautiful bath with bubbles singing rhymes and playing with water. In the end, both daddy and mummy of the phone as she referred to themselves were also drenched in water.

"Anika, the phone isn't working." Shivaye showed her the blank screen with worried eyes. He looked like he was about to cry.

"Be silent, Shivaye. The phone is sleeping," She put her finger to his lips and covered the phone with her new white handkerchief with pink hearts on it.

Both of them were looking at the phone with admiration in their eyes when his mother opened the door.

"Where is my phone, kids?"

Everyone shared a laugh at the expense of my embarrassment and I ducked my head. It was tempting to put sleeping pills in her food, glue the lips of my dad who was laughing like it was the first time he heard a joke, cutting the tongue of Rudra who has his tongue sticking out teasing me and to stab the eyes of Shivaye which was filled with amusement dancing in them.

God, so much for asking for a normal life.

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Thank you so much for reading, it means a lot. I am sorry for the late update, I was feeling down and things haven't been very good for me. I thought of even taking the book down but tonight, I just felt writing it even though it is not so good and there might be so many mistakes. Cheer me up with your votes and comments. Thanks again, much love to each one of you ❤

The question of the day,

Early riser or night owl?