Why was I so unlucky?
Mom had prepared so much food: Palak paneer, Butter Chicken, Dum Aloo, Briyani, Parathas, but I couldn't eat any of it - thanks to my fever.
(Palak Paneerð)
(Butter Chickenð)
(Dum Alooð)
(Biryanið)
(Parathasð)
I glanced at the dishes in front of me with a sad face and sighed when Dad motioned for me to sit. I moved my feet to sit beside him but halted when I noticed the random seating arrangement.
We had a small dining table which could accompany six persons, and my dear group members had spread themselves however they wanted, breaking the usual pattern I was used to every day.
Dad as usual was at the head of the table, and Mom was on his right side with Nikhil beside her while Ayush sat across from Dad. There was only one spot left for me which was between Ayush and Ved, who was comfortably sitting beside my father and chatting with him.
"Move to that chair." I nudged Ved, but he ignored me.
I glanced at Ayush who was busy observing my mom as she served Nikhil and then moved to him. I pushed Ved again, and Dad scolded me for that. He asked me why I was disturbing their conversation when I had a vacant seat.
"I want to sit on my spot," I complained, earning a flat look from my parents.
"Sandhu, are you really going to act like that in front of your friends?" Dad questioned with raised eyebrows.
"But-"
"Stop behaving like a child and sit on the chair," Mom scolded.
When I saw that no one was taking my side, I begrudgingly sat beside Ayush who didn't react at all. I shot a curious glance at Ved and wondered why he wasn't reacting to the situation. If he blamed me for discomforting his best friend later, I would beat him to a pulp.
"Here is your food," Mom said.
She gave me a bowl filled with simple porridge which was tasteless. I gave her puppy eyes, but she shook her head at me and told me to eat up as I had to take my medicines also. Others began eating the various delicacies, and I felt like I was a convict.
(Porridgeð)
When everyone was distracted, I tried to steal a chicken piece from Ved's plate, but he grabbed my hand in time and threatened that he would tell Mom about it. I glared at him and realised that my parents were showering him and the other guys with a lot of attention.
Did they forget that they had a daughter too?
Mom was busy pampering Ayush and Nikhil as if their parents had starved them for months while Dad was acting like one of Ved's fans. I shot him a glare when he praised Ved for the twentieth time ever since he came, but he waved me off like I didn't matter at all.
"Your dad must be really proud of you." Dad patted Ved's shoulder. "Handling studies and your own business at the same time while helping your father is really commendable."
"I also have a job," I mumbled.
Ved lightly hit my right knee with his knee and smirked on my reaction. I chewed my food with more force in jealousy but ended up getting myself choked as a result.
Ved rolled his eyes, and after handing me a glass of water, patted my back softly. Mom scolded me in front of everyone and thanked Ved.
"Thanks," I said, but it sounded like I was cursing him.
"You are always welcome, Sandy Pandy," Ved teased and loaded more porridge in my bowl. "Eat up and stop worrying your parents unnecessarily."
Why was he scolding me?
"Why didn't you bring the guys home earlier, Sandhu? And why didn't you inform us that you reunited with your childhood friends?" Dad complained.
I snapped my eyes at Ayush and then at Ved. Friends? None of the boys present here was my friend; not even Nikhil who was acting like he lived in my house.
"I... I didn't think it was necessary," I grumbled.
"She is hiding a lot of things from us nowadays." Mom sighed. "Just like the diamond bracelet I found in her room."
"What?" I questioned.
"Diamond bracelet? Sandhu, I know you liked picking up things without permission when you were small, but you started robbing? Is that what you do in your part-time job?" Dad joked, and everyone burst out laughing.
Even though I had a fever, I could feel my cheeks heating up due to embarrassment. Mom giggled and slapped Dad's arm playfully. She brought the jewelry piece from her closet and showed it to him.
"But where did you get the bracelet from?" Dad asked after calming down.
"My friend gifted it to me," I answered.
"Who?" Ved asked, his voice rising by an octave.
"Sahil."
Ved narrowed his eyes and fixed me with his steel gaze. "And why exactly did he gift you a diamond bracelet with hearts in it?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "Go and ask him. He gave me a gift, and I took it," I said and put a morsel in my mouth.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Dad asked in a curious tone, and I choked myself for the second time.
"No! He is just my friend." I wiped my mouth with my handkerchief and drank some water.
"You are really lucky, kiddo. Why don't I have such friends?" Dad complained and started laughing.
I shook my head at him as he began reminiscing about his college days while Mom listened to him intently. Meanwhile, Ved was shooting daggers at me, and I avoided his gaze.
Was he thinking that I fooled his friend into giving me such an expensive gift? He didn't think I was a gold digger, right?
"He gave it to me himself," I whispered lowly.
"For what?" Ved queried in a low voice.
"For helping him in his startup; it was just a feedback, but he insisted me to take the gift."
Why the hell was I explaining that to him?
Ved sighed and glanced at my plate. "Why are you making a sad face? You are already sick, so don't lower your mood."
"But why are you so angry?"
"I am not."
"You are." I furrowed my eyebrows.
"I said I am not angry."
"Then why are you still frowning? Moreover, you are turning into a Red Hulk," I pointed out.
"Isn't Hulk green in colour?" Nikhil chirped in.
"There is Red Hulk too," Ayush replied. "General Thaddeus E. 'Thunderbolt' Ross."
"Oh, right! I forgot about him completely." Nikhil shook his head to himself.
Of course how will he remember? He is busy playing basketball all day.
"You aren't angry?" I asked Ved who gave me a dead look and continued eating his dinner.
"Well, I know both Ved and Nikhil play basketball, but what about you Ayush? Which sport are you in?" Dad enquired and smiled brightly when he got to know that Ayush played soccer.
"I am really glad to hear that. I wish Sandhya also participated in sports activities instead of burying her head in books all day," Dad expressed his concern while looking at me. "She was really active in her school days, I don't know what happened for her to give up on her hobbies."
"I am learning boxing, Dad," I replied.
"Yeah, yeah. I know that, but that's not what I am talking about."
He shot me a knowing look, and I averted my eyes. Mom also looked at me sadly, and I ducked my head. After a few seconds, I felt Ved put his left palm over my knee. He patted it lightly and told my parents not to overthink.
"There is no point in worrying, Uncle. I am sure she must be busy with other things." He smiled at them.
Was he being nice to me only because my parents were here? But he has been treating me well in college too. And now, he was taking my side also - I wanted to confirm if what I was thinking was the exact reason for his behaviour or if it was something else.
Ved rubbed his thumb on my knee all the time my parents complained to him about me not listening to them, and he solved their issues like a counselor.
I was feeling bad to know that my mom and dad had so much to say just because I didn't spend time with them. If I had, they wouldn't be telling their worries to an outsider like that.
But was Ved really an outsider?
It didn't look like that though. Not only him, but my parents were treating other guys like their own kids too. And most importantly, I wasn't feeling like I was sitting with someone whom I knew only as someone who fought with me everytime, every chance we got.
If I had, I wouldn't be enjoying the free massage I was getting and feeling good while smiling like an idiot to myself. I confirmed that I had lost my remaining brain cells too.
Did you have any to begin with, Sandhya?
Shut up!
"Before I forget, I have good news to share with you," Nikhil said.
"What is it?" Mom asked.
"Lakshya bhaiyya got a promotion. He is a Major now," he beamed.
"Congratulations, beta." Mom patted his head.
"Thank you, Aunty. And, in order to celebrate it, Mom and Dad are holding a party next Sunday for which you are invited. Bro has taken a leave and will be joining us too."
Wow, Lakshya bhaiyya got promoted!
"Why are you even asking? Of course we will be there." Dad grinned.
After hearing such great news and eating a nice dinner, I went back to my room followed by my group members. We spent one more hour to complete the remaining tasks and were done before the clock struck 10 pm.
"Why are you coming?" Ved scolded when he saw me following him down the stairs.
"You are my guest, and it is my responsibility to make sure that you reach back home safely; I am just doing my job," I deadpanned.
"So, are you going to drop us home?" Ayush retorted, and Nikhil chuckled.
I ignored his taunt and stood in my door when the guys exited my house. Ved turned towards me and gave me a death glare.
"It is cold out here, go inside," he ordered.
"After you leave." I crossed my arms across my chest and sneezed loudly.
Ved scrunched his face and pushed me inside. He gave me a challenging look when I began to come outside again. I stopped in my tracks, and he motioned with his hand for me to go back to my room and closed the door shut.
I went to the window and saw them leaving in Ayush's car. Mom told me to go and rest, and I listened to her without arguing. She told me to invite my 'friends' again, and I just nodded absentmindedly.
That day will never come.
I had a really good sleep, knowing that my projet was a hundred percent done. I woke up with a slight headache, but my mood was fresh. I got ready for college and messaged Mehta Sir beforehand that I wanted a sick leave.
The presentation went well, and even though I was dozing off most of the time, my lecturer let me be after seeing my condition. Ved and Ayush took care of the digital PPT, and as expected, Mehta Sir asked Nikhil about the details.
Fortunately, he didn't blunder, but I did. I forgot the answer to a very important question but remembered it after a few minutes. Mehta Sir let it pass though he informed that he would cut some marks for it.
And as Ved had advised me, I didn't attend other lectures and took one more sick leave. He was tracking my every movement like a hawk, and I made sure not give him any reason to lecture me unnecessarily.
I was scared of him even more than I was of my mom; he was on a whole different level altogether.
So, to save my life, I left the college premises as soon as the lecture ended, but on my way, I saw something on the notice board that caught my eye - and interest.
Girls Volleyball Junior Team Selection: Round 1.