Chapter 39: 37

A/n - The ones who missed the last update check it out first!

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"What is delulu?"

× ANANYA ×

I glanced at Sahil, who was sitting just beside me in the dining room and had tagged me in an Instagram story. He looked at me and passed me a grin.

I opened the chat, and the story was a reel in which a goat was speaking something in its language and a cat who wanted to speak but could not. They both were different videos but were merged and the text was added, and my boyfriend arguing be like, me was written above the goat who spoke nonstop and him above the cat.

The caption he added was us fr and tagged me.

How mean is this?

"Are you by any chance calling me a goat?" I asked him, suspiciously.

"Yeah, you're the Greatest of all time" he flashed his smile and I looked at him with a silly expression.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, now repost it!" He said and shifted near me.

"I'm not reposting that" he raised his brows.

"Why?" He asked me confused.

"That is cringe" His mouth hung open and after a second, his face fell with a pout.

"You called me... cringe?" He said not believing, and shifted to the corner of the couch with a silken expression.

Oh my my, I did not mean it that way.

"No, I did not call you cringe, it was for the post," I said and shifted near him. He turned his face to the other side.

"And I posted that post. You called me cringe indirectly" he whined.

"Arey, no baba, you're not cringe, how can you be cringe?" I said while poking his shoulder with my index finger.

"I thought that was funny, I'm deleting it" he searched for his phone but I was quick enough to take it before him.

"It was funny." I tried to convince him.

"You wouldn't call it cringe then! If you find it cringe then everyone will"  He exclaimed, his face like a baby's when not given his favourite thing.

"Why do you care about what I or everyone will think? Your account, you posted it, your wish" I questioned.

"So why wouldn't you repost? Don't talk as if you don't care." He pointed out. He is right, why do I even care?

"Okay, I'll repost it if you want," I said and waited for him to smile again but he never did. He still had an irritated expression on his face, with his hands folded. He did not even look at me.

"No, don't do it for me. I'll delete it"

"You are not deleting that. I'm reposting that and it's final!" I told him with a firm voice.

"I'll delete it any way."

"Why are you getting so offensive over a post, Sahil? Is something wrong?" I asked him. He is not the kind of person who would get so irritated over a random repost.

"You can't call anyone cringe for liking something!"

"I did not mean to call you cringe-" he cut me off by one look. One firm looks from his side and my words died.

"I know you didn't. But still, I was so happily telling you goat, you aren't even a cat!" He spoke some rubbish which had no logic at all.

"So what am I?"

"Human. Without brains"

"You're calling me brainless because of an Instagram story? Haw!"  I copied his position of sitting and plastered the same scowl on my face.

"I was so happy to see your reaction and there she goes calling me cringe! Huh!" He complained and the irritated look still didn't leave his face. I adored this child inside him who decided to show up suddenly, today.

"Aww, my baby" These words came out of my mouth before my brain could register. I threw my hands around his shoulders and side-hugged him tightly.

"Now this is not cringe?" He asked me trying to remove my hands.

"No, it is not. Neither is your story. Cringe isn't a bad word, everything is cringe at a point and if it makes you happy then live with the cringe! Don't feel bad about that!" I said and tightened my hold on him for a second and left him then.

"Now tell me why did you suddenly burst?" I asked him, raising my eyebrows.

Everyone has a reason to feel bad about a small thing someone said. It might be very small for the one who said it, only the one who felt bad knows how bad it is.

"I did not burst, I was just irritated"

"Same thing. I burst out when someone offends me, you get irritated. Everyone has their way."

"It's not a big thing, or trauma or anything, okay? It's just something I get easily triggered on, don't get mistaken" he justified before saying whatever he was going to.

"Okay, just remember the words you told me, I'm not going to judge you, not today, not tomorrow, never" I repeated his words. He looked at me and his eyes softened.

"Like, back in school, I was never a part of the 'cool' kid. I was never a cool kid. I could never understand what coolness was, and how was it defined. I always thought that being cool is different for everyone, everyone has their definitions, I like cooking so I'm cool for me, you like painting, you are cool." I did not interrupt him till he took a pause.

"That is what coolness is. Having any hobby is cool. Not having any hobby is also cool."

"Yeah, I know, but that time some kids, some were even my friends never understood that. So I was kind of, bullied? Like obviously we were all 8-9 years old and no one knew what was wrong but still, it was like, you can't dance, you can't do this, you can't do that, you are not cool, you do cringe stuff, you cannot talk to girls, and everything. Obviously, as a kid, it affected me so I was always trying, making an effort to be or look cool." He completed it and waited for me to react.

" My mother used to tell me that a child's mind is like a plain paper, it'll take whatever you write on it, so be careful when you write something. So it is right to affect you, isn't it? Because it happened when you were a small kid, who was clueless about everything, cool or not, you were yourself and I believe that is the coolest thing on the planet."

"Aur agar tum logo ki sun ne lage toh tumhare dil ki kon sunega bhala?" I asked him while keeping my one hand on his and he licked his lips before nodding.

[And if you start listening to what people say, then who will listen to your heart?

"I know, but like I never fit anywhere in my childhood, although I was always trying to fit in somewhere, I always felt like I belonged nowhere in case of friendships." I furrowed my brows at this statement and he added to his explanation.

"Like see, I do not even have many friends, I could never make a best friend who was just my best friend. Abhinav is my cousin, and we are almost of same age and grew up together so that is why we are close I call him my best friend. But I could never make any other best friend."

"You're my best friend!" I remarked.

"It's Kirti, we all know that, don't even lie to comfort me."

"See this is where the problem lies,  we can have multiple best friends in our life. Like we share some special bond with each of them, the bond we share with no one else. Only one friend for life and putting our whole pressure of expectations on them is wrong, isn't it?" I said and he looked at me for a good minute and left a breath.

"Yeah, right. That makes sense"

"And you made your cousin, your best friend. That's like the biggest achievement of your friendship life. Because my cousins suck, and half of them are kids, and the other half have kids. So that is like so...cool!"

"Yeah, I got you. I'm sorry" he apologized for no reason.

"For what?"

"Bursting out on you."

"You did not burst out on me, you were just irritated, remember?" I used his words against him and he smiled. "Also, do not worry about what anyone will say, stupid. Look at yourself from my eyes, you're perfect just the way you are."

"Not that word, I hate it. No one is perfect"

"Oh please, the ones who say this haven't met you yet," I said and winked before biting my lower lip to hide my damn smile. He started laughing softly with a smile on his face.

"Is it?"

"It is." He shook his head but the smile didn't leave his face.

"Okay, now come with me!" I stood up as I remembered that I had to select the dresses for every function.

"Where?" He asked but I pulled his hand and eventually, he had to stand up and follow me.

"To my room," I said and climbed the stairs dragging him by his wrist.

"To do what?"

"To make out. Would you like that?" I turned around, leaning on the wall with my hands folded below my chest asked him sarcastically.

"Absolutely. I would love that" he said while leaning against the wall, just on the step below mine, and folded his hands below his chest, copying me.

Don't get red, don't get red, don't get red.

"Shameless" I turned and started climbing the stairs so that he couldn't see my smile.

"Smiling smiling, huh?" He asked and I could hear the loud sound of his footsteps as if he just banged his leg.

"Talk about yourself. I'm not smiling" After this sentence I was immediately pulled back and pinned to the wall, within a second.

"Oh, you are not? But I can see you" he said, placing his hand on either side of me blocking my way.

"Delulu, you are," I said, still trying to hide my smile.

"What is delulu?" He said and scrunched his nose.

"Delusional" he nodded.

"Why do you call it delulu then?" He asked, innocently.

"You're too old to understand that"

"I'm young for a lot of things too then" His eyes, which till now were set on my eyes travelled down scamming my face, and then looked back with a smirk.

"Like what? Getting offended on being called Mr softie?"  I let out a good chuckle and controlled myself after his deep stare.

The gaze which was too deep, too powerful.

"You're underestimating me"

Prove me wrong then.

"Oh, am I?" He nodded and tucked my hair behind my ear softly.

"Okay, then let me underestimate you then." I shrugged and he didn't speak for some new few minutes leaving me clueless of what am I supposed to do caged between him and me while he looked at me.

So I counted the steps of the stairs which we climbed.

Let him have his moment.

With himself?

Uh.

Out of a sudden, I heard him say, "You are beautiful"

He's lying.

It took me some good seconds to understand how to react to that compliment I haven't heard much in my lifetime. I smiled in return and said, "Let's go"

He nodded and we reached our room with an awkward silence. I went towards the wardrobe where I had arranged the clothes I bought and the ones I brought with me yesterday.

"I'll show you what I bought with Preet first!" He nodded while sitting on the bed.

"These blue jeans, we get them in Mumbai too, I know but I required a pair of jeans so, and this white printed short kurti. I'll not try them as obviously, they are casual wear. I'll wear this Punjabi suit, Preet made me buy and show you" He kept nodding at my every sentence and muttered an 'okay' at last.

I went inside the bathroom, changed quickly into the suit, and excitedly showed him that. Preet said that he'd love it if I wore a Punjabi suit because he loves them kind of, so I bought it without thinking much.

The kurta was pink-colored and short in length but not exactly very short. It had a heavy border with work done and paired with a white dupatta and white salwar.  My hair wasn't long enough to be braided so I just tied it in a messy bun leaving a few strands on my face.

"Close your eyes, I'm coming out" I shouted, after opening a door a little.

"Why?"

"Just close them, I want to make a grand entry," I said and heard his 'okay' after a sigh.

I went outside and stood there with one hand on my stomach and the other one rolling the dupatta in a circular motion. "Okay, open your eyes"

I could see his eyelashes move upwards when his eyes opened, because of the focus I was looking at him with. As soon as he scanned me from head to toe, he stood up from the bed, his mouth hung open and his gasp was loud enough for me to hear.

"Haye, meri punjaban!"

[Oh, my punjaban!]

[Punjaban - A woman native of Punjab]

I chuckled softly and felt my cheeks getting all red. Sahil came close to me and once again looked at me as if I would vanish if he blinked, "You look so good that I can't take my eyes off you"

"See, I can't" he turned his head in another direction and then using his index finger and thumb, turned his face back towards me.

"Drama ho tum pure ke pure"

[You are a total drama]

"Agar yeh dekhne mile toh tum Jo kaho woh hu main,"  he said.

[If I get to see this then I'm whatever you say]

"Bring back the old Sahil, this one is cheesy," I remarked with a laugh.

"Mar gaya woh tumhe aaise dekhke, yeh punarjanam hai uska."

[He died after seeing you, this is his reborn version]

"Shut up," I said and waved my hand dismissively.

"I love this on you. You're wearing this often, I don't know anything. And please, you know let your hair grow this time, I want to see that long braid too. Please, please" He said while showing me puppy eyes.

I dislike long hair.

But long hair era? Again? For him? Yes.

"Let's see, let's see"

"No, pleaseeee. Do not cut them again. I want to see how you look in long hair!" I narrowed my eyes.

"You saw me four years back in long hair"

"I don't remember that. I want to see you in long hair now" he said and I showed him a thumbs up.

"Okay. Only for you" I passed him a flying kiss getting lost in emotions and regretted it immediately.

Tell me one action which I do not regret.

Could not find one? Gotcha. There is none.

I would murder someone and then blame it on my emotions.

I'm sorry officer, I did not mean to kill the person, it just happened because of my emotions, yeah I regret killing him but I know it's too late, I'm so sorry, blame it on my emotions, not me, they increased their flow.

I imagined myself behind bars explaining this to an official who, absolutely, and completely, does not give a fuck.

I need to control my emotions, because look at me, I wouldn't survive in jail.

"Okay, now wait let me take a mirror selfie," I said and he looked at me curiously.

"Why?"

"I keep a record of every outfit so I can decide what to wear and when. It's an easy way, you see" I said and he nodded his head like a pigeon.

"I see... I'll join you"

"No" he made a face.

"No buttering, no sugaring, straight away No?"

"Lol, sorry. Let me take one alone first. Then you join" he nodded at my words leaving a disappointed tch.

When just when I pressed the click button, he bombarded the photo with a weird pose.

I turned around and showed him my eyes with a serious expression. He threw his hands in the air and moved aside immediately after my glare.

I clicked one picture and then called him, "Now come"

"No, I don't want to click now" he pouted.

"Oka-"

"Coming" I eventually shrugged with a smile.

We clicked a few pictures in different poses and then I said, "I'll change now"

"Oh shit, that reminds me something," He said and stormed out of my room, within two minutes, he was back.

"Here" he forwarded his hand, with something inside the wrapped paper.

"What is this?" I asked him.

"Open it and check it by yourself" I took it from him and looked at him suspiciously.

"It's not a bomb or anything, chamatkar"

"I don't exactly trust you but I do, so...Jhumkhas!!" I opened it and shouted as soon as I saw them.

It was a beautiful pair of big silver jhumkhas.

I removed them from the packet and went close to the mirror to check how it looked.

"I love them!" I squealed in happiness.

"Wait, are these for me?" I asked and my tone went from high extreme to low extreme.

"No, for Kirti"

"Why would you gift Kirti?" I asked him.

Don't tell me he likes her, my poor heart won't be able to bear it.

Kirti with Sahil...Why the fuck do I end up shipping them always?

"Exactly, Dumbo. These are for you"

"Ah, alright. Thank you so much!" I said and threw my arms around him in excitement. Due to this sudden action, he held my waist from the back.

"I love these, Thank you for giving me this, I love you"

Only one question, why always me?

People are the chosen ones for some world-changing things, and here I'm the chosen one for everyday regrets and embarrassments.

"The pleasure is all mine," he said, thankfully ignoring whatever I said at the end. I broke the hug and stood there with a bright smile.

"I did not bring you anything!" I said and my face fell.

"So? It's not compulsory to give a gift for a gift!"

"Still, I feel bad. I'll bring you something that'll make you feel happy"

"Your presence is enough" These words came out of his mouth and I looked at him.

"Aww. Did you eat cheese today? Because you're acting cheesy" I joked and the ability to laugh at my lame jokes shined this very moment.

"Lame jokes, chamatkar. Lame jokes" he shook his head.

"Alright, I'll try better next time. Now let me go change" I said. I turned towards the bathroom just when I heard him ask.

"What is this? Wear this!" He pointed towards a maroon cloth that was lying under so many other clothes. I pulled it outside carelessly and one or two clothes fell which he picked up.

"This. This is a dress I bought... Because I liked it?" I could not exactly remember why I bought it from here, it was probably because I liked it.

It was a bodycon maroon dress with thin straps. It was pretty plain when first looked at it, but when I tried it in the trail room, I fell in love with it. Right, I remember the reason for buying it.

"Right, I didn't try this since I came," I said and went inside the bathroom again. Removing the Indian ethnic wear, I put on the maroon dress after my hands arched while closing the zip.

I looked at myself in the mirror.  I felt a bit confident after wearing that. I usually avoided wearing such short dresses but now I feel s bit confident in these.

"Close your eyes" I shouted again.

"Did that, ma'am" I stepped outside the bathroom and said, "You can open them"

He opened his eyes and his eyes fell on the dress, then on my bare legs, and within a second, they traveled back up. He gasped first and then made an impressive face.

"On a scale of one to ten, how hot do I look right now?" I asked with a smirk seeing him speechless.

"Hot enough to burn the scale."

"Damn," This instantly came out of my mouth after hearing his reply.

🦋

Okay, how was the chapter? 🛐

The reel wala scene came finally after days of posting  💃

(To those who are unaware check out @/weirdpranialive_ on Instagram.

The update was late, I know, but now the festive season + exams right after the festival + no holidays are stressful.

The updates will be very fast in November and we'll probably pack this up by the end of the year.

Do vote on the chapter, 500-600 reads and 70 votes are not done. 🥲

N spam with lots of comments to make your author smile lol 💃

Okay byeee. 🤝🏻