Prisha
I am moving back to my home today. I went there only a few times after my parents shifted as I rarely had free time during my MD and internship. We had to vacate our old house as a bat flew in, and according to my grandma, it was inauspicious. And my mom, just need an excuse to be close to her best friend so she dragged Papa to our new house which is beside her bestie's home.
I met them a few times when they used to go on dates along with Mom and Dad. I never met their kids though. Mom never took us there saying she wanted alone time with her bestie. Gaurangi Aunty and Jayanth uncle like me a lot just the way my parents admire their kids. Maybe it's a natural trait in all parents to feel proud or great about others' kids. My parents praise their kids a lot.
My luggage is already moved out so I just took my handbag and car keys and moved out looking at my house for three years one last time.
I drove to my home. Maa did my aarthi when I reached.
"Aagayi Shiathan!"(The devil is here!") Bhai said opening his arms for me. I ran and hug him.
"Yes! Now permanently!" I giggled and he kissed my forehead. Dad and bhabi are not here as they had some work in the hospital.
"Bhai I missed you!" I said looking at him.
"I missed you too!" He said smiling at me.
"You didn't miss me?" Mom asked dramatically.
"Of course, I missed you darling!" I pecked her cheek and she slapped my hand.
"Now go take a rest!"Mom said and I went to my room. It's decorated according to my taste perfectly.
I jumped on my bed and soon I am in deep slumber.
"Wake up prishu!" Bhai said opening the door.
"No bhai! Let me sleep!" I whined.
"Not happening. Get ready! It's almost dinner time." He said in a stern tone.
"Ughh! Why should I get ready to have dinner?" I asked placing a pillow on my face.
"Because we are having guests! Now get ready before mom comes here and twist your ears!" Bhai said and I sat up listening to that warning. He started giggling.
"What?" I asked.
"You are still scared of her?" He asked.
"As if you are not scared of talking to Papa!" I rolled my eyes at him.
"I am not scared of him!" He said.
"Oh, papa! Bhai is saying something" I said looking at the door.
"I didn't say anything, papa!" He stood up with a jerk.
I started laughing loud. He hit my head with a pillow and I hit him back. But Mom interrupted us with her warning.
"Prisha I want you ready in 10 min!" She shouted hearing which I ran into the bathroom leaving my bhai who is now laughing like mad.
I took a shower and wore a dress my mom picked. What's with her? Why is she behaving as if some groom is coming to see me?
I came down and sat on the sofa beside Bhai and tried to snatch the remote from him as he is watching some stupid boxing match which I hate. But he held it tight. We both started pulling it towards ourselves.
Then we heard the doorbell.
"Prisha go open the door!" Mom said and I did. It's Bhabi and Papa.
I hugged them both one after the other.
"I missed you!" I said and held Papa tight.
"I missed you too Cheenu!" He said pinching my nose.
"You didn't miss me?" Bhabi asked me.
"Of course, I missed you!" I said. Bhabi used to be my senior in school and college. We became best friends and then she fell for my Bhai and got married.
Papa and Bhabi went to freshen up while I and Bhai continued our fight for remote.
We heard the doorbell again.
"Go open!" Bhai said.
"You go!" I said folding my hands on my chest.
"Prisha look who it is!" Mom said making him grin. Why does she want me to do it? I just opened the door for Papa and Bhabi Naa.
"Advith come, help me in finding a file!" Papa said and he huffed. I stuck out my tongue and went to open the door.
I was engulfed in a tight hug as soon as I opened the door. It's Gaurangi Aunty.
"Namasthey aunty! Namasthey uncle!" I greeted them and welcomed them in.
They entered but are looking back.
"What happened Aunty?" I asked.
"These kids! They said they will be here in 5 min but they are not here yet!" She said still looking back.
"They know the home, Gauri! You come in first!" Mom said coming out of the kitchen and we all sat on the sofa. Finally, bhai changed that stupid boxing match!
The doorbell went off again. Mom first looked at me but asked Bhai to open it. He went to open it while I excused myself to have some water.
"Come sit beta!" I heard my mom saying to someone.
I walked out with a water glass in my hand drinking from it. Then what I saw made me choke.
I am coughing heavily with water in my eyes. Bhai ran towards me and started rubbing my back. All this time my eyes are struck on one person. What is he doing here? He is looking so handsome in that check shirt!
Soon Pihu came in with her parents, maybe! Can't these people come all at once?
"Angel!" She squealed and ran towards me as soon as she saw me.
"Hey, princess!" I picked her up in my arms and she kissed my cheek and I did the same.
"You both met earlier?" Gauri Aunty asked.
"Yes, Aunty! I attended her school event." I replied.
"Did you meet Aditya there?" Aunty asked with a smile on her lips. It didn't seem normal!
"Yes, but we knew each other before too!" He said making my eyes go wide. How can he say something so emotionlessly?
"When and where?" This time it's my mom! But why is she so excited?
"In Bua's hospital! I took a patient to her and had dinner there along with Nihal." He replied.
"Oh!" Both mom and Aunty said smiling. Now, what's wrong with these people? I looked at Bhai and he too mouthed that he has no idea.
"Let's have dinner! Shall we?" I asked bringing these besties out of their trance.
Everyone got up and sat at the dining table. Mom prepared all my favorite dishes.
"I missed your cooking Mom!" I said having my food.
"You cook better than her!" Papa said but bit his tongue after realizing what he said. Mom is glaring at him.
I and Bhai chuckled keeping our hands on our mouths.
Mom glared at us both so we tried to control our laughs and started eating.
"When are you going to join hospital beta?" Jayanth uncle asked.
"I am thinking about joining next week uncle," I replied.
Papa and Uncle started talking about some pharma business, Mom and Aunty are busy in their own world, Bhai is talking with Dheeraj bhai and Bhabi is talking with Aarthi bhabi. Pihu is so indulged in her dessert. I looked at Aditya who is having his food quietly. I too started concentrating on my food.