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The light of the Sun was reflecting on the water of the sea. There was bright light everywhere. It was the grace of the Sun God that he sent some sunlight in this cold weather due to which many people took off their warm coats. There were so many people on the beach.
Kids were running here and there. Couples, irrespective of age, did not forget to give time to one another for a while. People were swimming in the sea. Some were making castles in the sand.
Before entering the beach, they rented 4 sun beds for themselves which were carried by men only.
" Wow!"
Pakhi exclaimed and so did Shruti.
" See? Let's put our sun beds there.You two can fight there and we won't be embarrassed."
Shruti pointed at a particular silent area where not many people were present. Pakhi laughed at the above sentence along with Shruti. Aryan and Jaydev shot a judgmental glare at her.
" Let's go," Pakhi said and all of them went to that place.
They put the sun beds in their place. Pakhi removed a sweater she was wearing over white top and put it on the bed.
" You'll go like this?"
She hummed at Aryan's question. He roamed his eyes to Shruti and found her removing her overcoat as well. She quickly walked to Pakhi and held her hand,
" Let's go."
" Shruti-"
She waved her hand at them and started running away from there.
" Don't you dare to go deep in the sea!"
Aryan warned her in a loud enough voice. Like a childish girl she is, she turned her head behind and showed her tongue to him. He sighed and sat on the sun bed.
Killing silence spread between Aryan and Jaydev in the next 5 minutes which they used to look around the beach and sometimes check on their mobile phones.
Back in the university days, Aryan used to talk a lot. Jaydev would listen to him silently and laugh along with him. In the fight, Aryan's mouth and hands both used to talk while Jaydev only knew how to use his hands. Both were similar but not the same.
" So?"
Aryan lifted his eyelashes and stared at him instead of mobile.
" Aren't you getting too close to my sister?"
Jaydev raised his eyebrows at him. His voice depicted both jealousy and displeasure. It was pretty clear that he did not like Pakhi's even a slightest comfort with Aryan.
Aryan smiled sheepishly, " she's my wife. I have every right to be close to her."
" Too bad. Soon your attachment will be snatched. She will not stay longer with you."
Aryan shut his mobile and replied, " I think we should let Pakhi decide and-"
He put his mobile in his jacket pocket then continued, " you too should stay away from my sister. She is childish, I know but you have no right to play with her when you are going to leave her soon."
Jaydev chuckled, " Is this a joke? You can't leave your wife then how can I?"
" I am certain this is a joke going on. We both know that you will not love anyone after Eisha-"
" Don't utter her name from your filthy mouth!"
Aryan frowned at his instant aggressive reaction. Gulping down his anger, he decided not to create a scene.
" We both know you won't love anyone after her then why this drama? You know my weak points. Why are you using my sister against me then? Are you sure that you won't ruin my sister's life by this trick? What if..what if she fell for you?"
Jaydev's expression calmed for a second before a frown appeared on his forehead when Aryan continued,
" Listen, I am not inhumane for wanting to accept my sister and marry her. I know you in and out. In that sense, I don't want you to forcefully do something you might regret in future. Spare my sister and yourself too."
His words were sensible. He wasn't wrong from anywhere. His every point was trustable. Jaydev is clear from his side but is Shruti clear from her side? There are chances that she might unintentionally fall for him.
A little bit of wisdom came to Jaidev, but it stayed for a few moments and then went away when he recalled what profession Aryan had joined.
A lawyer.
A cunning criminal lawyer.
Who else can trap a lawyer in the web of words? Playing with words is their daily routine. Emotions do not matter to them. Especially when it's Aryan Chauhan, the matter get even more intense. He is clever. Manipulative and so evil.
He says a normal sentence but there are many hidden meanings in it.
Jaydev shook his head, " I won't leave her. The time she accepted to be my wife, I decided not to leave her side ever. But if you are impatient to make her and my life better, you can leave my sister. Spare my sister, Mr. Chauhan. You will trap my innocent sister in the web of your false sweet words."
Unfortunately, Jaydev assumed his intentions were wrong. Again.
Aryan felt it better to keep quiet and don't share a single word with him. Both of them silently stared at Shruti and Pakhi who were having fun together.
Shruti watched Pakhi's art on sand excitedly as she drew a big heart on the sand then started writing initials of names inside the heart.
" P? Is it you?"
She hummed.
" S? .. me?"
Pakhi chuckled and nodded.
" J? Oh yes! Your brother, no?"
Pakhi nodded. Shruti thought that it was the end but was taken back when she drew the last letter. Amusement flickered in her eyes as she parted her mouth to utter,
" A?"
She looked at Pakhi and asked, " is it bhai?"
Pakhi blinked her eyes, " hm."
Shruti tilted her head slightly and watched Pakhi with vulnerability in eyes. She is innocent. Very Very innocent. Two men are fighting over her and here she is developing feelings for someone.
A wave rose from the sea and erased her art. It felt as if even nature was not sure of the strength of this relationship. As if.. this relationship was hard to rebuild.
" Does bhai behave well with you?"
Both sat on the sand and Shruti asked the first question. Pakhi thought for a some seconds before replying,
" he is trying I think. But his possessive and aggressive side is still there. But whenever he gets angry on me, he instantly apologies."
Shruti smiled, " I think my lecture worked."
Pakhi frowned, " did you lecture him?"
Shruti shrugged her shoulders, " sort off. He was being stupid so being a professor, I had to take his class."
" Oh," she uttered timidly and turned her attention back to the sea.
" Di?"
" Hmm," Shruti respond while drawing useless patterns on sand.
" Why did you marry bhai?"
She stopped making patterns and thought of any answer she can use right now.
" Uhm.. I have told this many times."
Although Pakhi did not know her much, she could catch the white lie she uttered just now.
" I know you are hiding something and I know this as well that my Bhai is not a saint. He had promised his dead girlfriend that he won't marry anyone."
Shruti instantly looked at her confusedly and Pakhi continued,
" Bhai loved her immensely. We all knew that if he got married in future to follow the customs of society, he would have given it the name of responsibility. He and mama-mami even had arguments related to this topic. They wanted his best but he is bound by his past love. He is too broken to be healed. It's been 5 years but his wounds are still fresh."
Shruti chewed the inside of her lower lip and asked, " did he love her so much?"
Pakhi hummed, " that is why he is too stubborn to let go of her memories. His hatred for your brother is not getting erased because he still believe she attempted suicide because of him."
" Bhai did not do anything."
Pakhi smiled and nodded, " I, too, think. I don't know much about both sides. But I think we should not see only one side of the coin. Maybe bhai ignored something he shouldn't have or maybe.. I am being emotionally dramatic and trusting your brother-"
" But he did not!"
Pakhi knitted her eyebrows sensing the change of emotion in Shruti's tone who, too, realised her mistake.
" I am sorry I am sorry. I just got carried away."
" It's okay," Pakhi replied reassuringly.
Shruti inhaled a deep breath, " bhai was affected by her death as much as he was. She was something to him as well. Moreover, bhai loved him. He can never betray him. I have seen bhai crying at night and collecting clues to prove his innocence but maybe circumstances were such that he couldn't ever give those clues to him."
Pakhi nodded, " I think we should leave this to them. I believe their relationship will be sorted soon."
Shruti smiled, " you are so optimistic."
" No, I seriously pray for their relationship. I want to witness their friendship because I have heard their stories from mama-mami and Nani and from bhai as well."
A question arise in Shurti's mind and she couldn't stop herself from asking,
" Let's think their relationship got better. Will you leave bhai then?"
Pakhi knitted her eyebrows and Shruti added,
" Like their relationship and yours with bhai is a different matter. You and Bhai married in completely different circumstances. So, if their bond gets better will you leave bhai?"
Pakhi shook her head, " I don't know."
" Means there are positive chances as well," Shruti mumbled to herself.
" What?"
Pakhi asked her to repeat but she stood up and stretched her arms.
" Let's enjoy the water."
" But they have forbidden us-"
" Oho Pakhi. Learn to break rules. They were bound by rules, not us."
Shruti gave her divine knowledge to Pakhi and encouraged her to stand up. She too, took her learning like an obedient student and stood then followed her towards the sea.
Both took off their shoes and socks and curled their toes feeling the touch of water.
" It feels ticklish," Pakhi commented and Shruti chuckled.
They crouched down and rolled their jeans up till a few inches below their knees.
" Let's go further," Shruti said.
" But not to the depth. I can't swim."
" Yeah, baby. I am aware. Come."
Shruti assured and grabbed her hand then pulled her further where the water reached till their knees and drenched their folded parts of jeans.
On the other hand,
Aryan jumped internally with happiness after taking a seat on his sunbed. He put one plate of chole kulche on his lap and another on the bed.
Aroma of fast food reached Jaydev's nostrils but he made sure not to look at him and kept using his phone while laying on the bed and one arm folded under his head.
" Uhmm, so delicious. Only fools will reject it."
Aryan deliberately tried to grab his attention. Jaydev clicked his tongue. They used to eat it after school with the money their elders gave them.
But today he wasn't in the mood to have it. At Least not with him.
Maybe..
" Wow! He made it so good. I can eat both."
Jaydev made a face and mumbled a cuss word under his breath. Aryan was in a playful mood all of sudden.
" Well for some time, forgetting all the grievances, if anyone wants then they can take it from me."
Aryan took another bite of chole kulche and from time to time stared at Jaydev for any reaction but ice knew no way to melt. Jaydev chewed his lower lip and Aryan's eyes sparkled. Just a little more drama and the ice will surely melt.
When Aryan moved his eyes down to make a morsel, Jaydev looked at food with the corner of his eyes and quickly averted his gaze when Aryan lifted his eyelashes at him.
He chuckled, " you can have it. Trust me, I have not put poison in it. I don't want to make my sister a widow."
Jaydev tapped his finger mindlessly on the mobile screen and Aryan forwarded another plate of chole kulche at him. He waited for a minute and finally Jaydev sat up, cleared his throat then took the plate from him.
" 50 rupee ka hai."
( It costs 50 rupees.)
Jaydev shrugged his shoulders, " maine nahi bola laane ko. Tu laya hai."
( I didn't ask for this. You bought it yourself.)
He had a bite.
" Fir vapas de," Aryan said.
( Then return it.)
Jaydev gulped down the food and said, " ab to jhutha kar diya maine."
( I have taken a bite now.)
" Koi na. Chalega."
( It's okay. I'll manage.)
Jaydev shook his head, " mooh ke andar hath daal ke nikalu kya ab?"
( Should I take it out by putting my hand inside my mouth?)
" Karta sakta hai. Mana ni kar ra mai."
( You can do it. I am not refuging.)
This was the last sentence uttered by Aryan and after that they ate their food in silence. Their moment did not go unnoticed by Pakhi and Shruti.
" Are they eating together?"
Shruti asked.
" How?" Pakhi asked with wide eyes.
" They are literally one of the weirdest creatures I have ever seen in this world."
Pakhi chuckled.
" They did not bring one for us," Shruti co complained.
" Should I buy it?"
Pakhi asked and Shruti nodded, " okhay. I will wait here. And yes, don't be generous and bring it for them. Remember they did not buy it for us."
" Okay," Pakhi replied and went out of the water then rolled her jeans down to her ankle.
Shruti smiled and turned her back at her. Pakhi was going to the stalls in the beach but stopped on her track and patted the pockets of her pants.
She slapped her forehead, realising her money was in her purse which was with Aryan. She walked toward them and they turned their gaze at them. They looked behind her as they noticed Shruti's absence.
" Can you give me my purse?"
Pakhi asked Aryan as her purse was behind him. He nodded and handed it to her. She opened it and frowned, finding large amounts of notes instead of 100 or 200. She closed the purse and asked them,
" Do you guys have change?"
" What do you want?"
Jaydev asked. She pointed at food stalls.
" Something to eat. You ate everything alone."
Jaydev glanced at Aryan and he replied, " I thought it would get cold, that is why I did not buy it."
" Oh... It's alright. Just give me change. I will buy it for us."
Jaydev stood up and removed his coat then put it on bed.
" I'll go with you."
" Okay."
They went to the stall together and Jaydev paid for whatever Pakhi bought. They were going back to Aryan and while all this was happening here, Shruti was busy doing something really mischievous and dangerous.
A mischievous plan clicked her brain. She knows how to swim and can swim well. Seeing people enjoying in the sea, she felt the urge to do the same or maybe just go there once and come back.
With this idea, she lifted her feet one by one and walked further.
" Oops!"
She stumbled on her step when her foot bumped with a slipper rock. The water started rising up to her and she stopped as the water reached till her waist. Her posture and balance was all okay. She had no difficulty in the water but,
she bit her lower lip recalling the warning of her brother. What if they get angry? And what if she really hurt herself?
She sighed.
" I should bring bhai with me if I want to swim," she nodded at herself and was about to turn around to walk away but just then a football hit her back and she stumbled on her step once again but this time, couldn't maintain her posture and was pushed forward.
" No more play in the water, okay? There's a popular market here. You can do something there."
" Okay-"
Pakhi was interrupted in the middle when a loud scream echoed in the seat. The voice was recognizable. They turned their head behind and widened their eyes to see their own person. Aryan stood up instantly from his seat.
" DI!" Packets of food dropped from Pakhi's hand.
" SHRUTI!"
" SHRUTI!"
Three of them called her and ran in her direction seeing her drowning in the deep sea.
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