Chapter Six

"Of course, I love you! And I can't wait to change my surname from Ms. Ahuja to Mrs. Singhania!" She whispered into her cellphone. 

The luggage she'd packed and taken for her month-long work trip to Delhi glared at her, wanting to be unpacked but she was into the habit of procrastinating. The world wouldn't end if she didn't unpack, right? So, that could wait. 

'Didn't catch that. Could you repeat a bit louder?' She could sense him saying that with a nasty smirk across his face. She hoisted her feet into the air and rested them against the wall. The long locks of her dyed hair were strewn across the edge of the bed on which she was lying. 

Her lips widened into a big smile, "I wish I could scream it from the terrace of my house so the whole world could hear but my little sister is just in the adjacent room. And I haven't told her about us yet, Vrushank." The smile vanished as the same old feeling of fear surrounded her heart. 

She heard him laugh, 'Who's Vrushank? I though I was you babe?' The moment he finished his words, all she heard for the next one minute was the sound of his laughter. It soothed her nerves, wiping out the fear. She had loved him long enough to know that no force in the world could stop them from being with each other. 

He was hers and she was his. 

He stopped himself from laughing further but she knew he was gripping his stomach when he continued, 'She's seventeen now. I don't know why you're still worried. She's not the little Mayra anymore who'd rush to her mother spilling all details of everything and anything she knew. You haven't talked to her since returning from the trip?'

"Of course not! I hadn't seen her for months and I don't remember the last time we talked and yet the first thing I do after reaching in my room is call you. Even though we talk all day, all night." She confessed in an accusing tone. 

'Alright. I gotta go, Mrunal. Guess my lil bro isn't in a good mood either. I love you.' He said and hung up. 

No matter how much they talked, she knew she would never have enough. Although, she was glad the call ended since the very next moment the doorknob turned and in entered an elated Mayra. She tossed her phone on the bed and lifted herself up. 

"Coffee!" Mayra screamed in delight and engulfed her into a bone-crushing hug. 

There was a long story behind how Mayra had arrived at that nickname. Mrunal cringed everytime she heard it but didn't let Mayra know. She didn't ever wished to hurt the sentiments of her little sister. She loved deeply. More than she loved Vrushank. 

"Oh, I've missed you so much, Di! Why didn't you come see me when you arrived?" She loosened her grip a little. And then let go completely a while later when she realised the water dripping down her hair had soaked her sister's clothes too. "I'm so sorry!"

"I was going to, but you were in the bathroom taking a shower. There, open that drawer and get my hair-drier," She pointed to the pine chest in her room, "Let's dry that before you catch a cold."

Mayra obliged before throwing a glance at her luggage, "How was your work trip, coffee?" She picked up the device and sat near the foot of the bed, just below where her sister sat with crossed legs on the bed. 

"How about you tell me all about your day at highschool first?" Mrunal offered, plugging the hair drier into the socket. Her swift fingers worked on the hair strands, untangling them. 

She wished she could pay attention to the detailed report Mayra was giving her but her mind wandered away. The fear she felt moments ago crept into her chest again, uneasiness rising with every second. 

Was she ready to tell Mayra about her relationship yet? Could she confide in her? 

She didn't want to think how her mother would react if Mayra decided to spill her guts. And what would happen if their father knew about it? 

She had always been a rebel, declining all the family traditions that were dumped upon her because she knew they were absurd. Mayra on the other hand was the obedient child who followed all of them without a word. All her deeds were overlooked so far, but could this one go, too? 

Having a father working in the Indian Army was no easy fact to live with. No one could guess when one of those massive rifles otherwise used to protect the nation could be targeted at you. 

____________

"Tania!" Her mother shouted her from the kitchen. 

"Yes, Mom?" She shouted back but received no response. Scoffing, she tossed her bag on her study table and started chugging down the drink in her hands. 

"Tania!" She shouted again. 

"Yes, Mom!" She would've been a fool to think she'd get a reply. 

Tanush peeped into her room from a gap between the doors, a toy gun gripped tightly in his arms. 

"Hands up! You're under arrest!" His voice echoed in her dingy room. From a side glance, she noticed he was struggling to keep a grin off his face. Then his eyes settled on what she was doing and his face grew restless. He sauntered to her bed and turned her bag upside down, flinging the contents out. 

"Where's mine?" He complained with a frown. 

"What makes you think everytime I get something for myself, I'll get one for you too?"

"You're bad. I give you all my chocolates." He pointed out. 

She didn't want to test him anymore. He was adorable otherwise too, but more when he was on the verge of crying. She tossed another bottle of cold drink into his hands. He caught it and grinned widely. 

"You're the best sister in the world!" He exclaimed and scurried out, leaving the toy gun behind. 

She lifted it up and examined it. There was no way her father spent a penny on that. It looked expensive. Then she remembered how on Tanush's seventh birthday he had rushed into her room to show all the gifts he had received. He had claimed that 'Samarth bhaiya's' gift was the best and had played with the toy the whole night. 

A smile bloomed on her face. Samarth was an idiot, undoubtedly, but he sure knew how to make people happy. That day's sudden movie plan had been executed perfectly. She had loved every minute of it. Her friends and her little brother were the only people who gave a crap about her. 

"Tania!" 

She groaned with frustration and with long, angry strides entered the kitchen. 

Her mother's face was plastered with rage, "What if I was attacked and was screaming for help? Would you still sit in your room casually doing whatever the hell it was that you were doing?"

She rolled her eyes. "Stop being dramatic, Mom." Daily soaps were to be blamed for instilling these thoughts in her mother's mind. 

"Okay, I'll get straight to the point." She clapped her hands together, dusting the flour off her hands and narrowed her eyes at her daughter, "Why did you bunk Biology class today?"

Tania gulped. Her eyes moved left and right trying to come up with a valid excuse but she couldn't think of any. So she decided to let it go easily, "Wow, Mom. You're a certified stalker now." She said and laughed. Turning on her heels, she prepared herself to run. 

Fingers gripped her arm tightly, holding her in her place, "I told Mrs. Dixit to notify me every time you misbehaved or bunked any classes." Her nostrils flared, "If you do it once more, we're sending you off to your grandma. You can enjoy the peaceful life in the village. She'll be happy to even marry you off to one of those lads there."

Her eyes widened, "Mom, what are you saying? Let me go."

"I'm not joking, Tania! Don't take your education for granted. Your father works day and night so you can study at one of the most prestigious schools of Mumbai. We have to cut off on our expense everywhere. Kill our own wishes so we can fulfill yours! And here you are missing classes. Disrespecting us."

Her heart shrunk at the bitter words, "I didn't meant to disrespect you. I know how much the fees are. You and Papa don't have to remind me every hour of everyday." She sighed, "We went for a movie. Samarth paid for it." She added the last four words quickly, not wanting to hear another lecture for wasting money. 

"You're living off his Dad's earnings now?!"

"Where is this coming from? Ugh, I'm disgusted! He's my best friend and friends sometimes pay for each other, okay? He's filthy rich and he can raise a hundred families for years. It was just one movie ticket." She said and stormed out of the kitchen. Tears brimmed out of her eyes, running down her cheeks. 

She had to rethink everything a hundred times before doing it. Her parents pestered her always. Questioned all she did. Objected every decision. 

Life was cruel to her. But she didn't show it to anyone. To others, to the world, she was the jolly Tania, who smiled. Always.