Rooh

Sometimes I wonder if the people around me notice the things I pull when I'm alone, for instance, if anyone noticed that I slipped out of the house when Shivyansh Bhaiya had gone to talk to Kyra's brother.

Skipping across the pavement, I wait by the stop sign for the red car. Kaynaaz would be hella mad at me for doing this, but if we are going to pull this off she can't come along. I still love my Kay, I'm sorry BABE.

The red Jeep pulls up in front of me and the window rolls down revealing Inaya's small face. She looks as beautiful as ever, chaand bhi uske saamne phika lagta tha. A giggle of excitement leaves my lips when I jump into the car, fastening my seat belt around me.

"Chale? Teko kisine dekha toh nhi na?" She faces me, up close I notice the light golden eyeshadow on her lips and the pretty pink tint of her lips. She had her dupatta over her head like always and the kurta she was wearing was sparkling in the afternoon sun.

(Let's go? No one saw you right?)

"Dekha toh nhi but Chal jaldi, dekh liya toh Kay humko nhi choregi". A giggle leaves her lips and she nods vigorously before staring at the engine and driving off. It's funny how small her face and figure is yet she drives such a big car, no one beats Inaya at this, she's the best of the best.

(No one saw but let's go quickly if Kay sees us we're dead)

I sit back in my seat, staring right ahead. It would've been more fun to bring Kay but, he was there and if she got to know that I'm going there for him, woh meri chatni bana degi. She flips over the entire household if she doesn't find me there. We are literally together 24/7 it's like we live together.

My eyes move to the window when I hear the loud sounds of music and cheering. The annual art fair of Delhi University. There were balloons and sparkling signs indicating the different paths and stalls, I could see some people dancing up on the stage, as well as the band in the corner. My eyes frantically searched for his lean figure but zero sighs of the person I came here for.

Inaya and I get down from the car and stare at each other for a minute. Both of our eyes asking 'Pakka ye karna hai na?' I give her a tight smile before grabbing her hand and marching into the fair. Fuck this, if we came this far we might as well go see what's the problem in that?

(We wanna do this for real no?)

As we passed the stalls along the edge of the fair ground, the coward had gotten heavier around the stage, and the people were murmuring loudly.

"Koi bole daariya hai, koi maane sehra hai"

My eyes leave the coward searching for the owner of the voice. God that voice I felt my heart pacing again. Inaya pokes my stomach pointing the the corner of the stage.

"Koi sone sa tole re, koi matti sa bole re." A small giggle leaves my lips involuntarily. He stood there with his toothy smile, the hot wind making his blackish-brown hair bounce as he moved across the stage.

At this point my heart feels like it's running a marathon, his eyes meet mine for a second, making contact and I feel things I can't explain, things that can't be made from words. I flow with the sound of his voice, right and left, my eyes only focused on his beautiful face.

I glance at Inaya only to find her staring at someone with the smallest smile on her face. Kaynaaz would definitely slap the shit out of both of us if she sees us right now.

"Kaisa ye ishq hai.. Ajab sa Ishq hai.."

The coward roars in excitement and claps as he bows down finishing the song. I clap my hands softly, smiling proudly at him. Only if he knew there was someone cheering so quietly.

He stands back up and our eyes meet for another second, I quickly turn away and tag at Inaya's sleeve. A chuckle leaves her pink lips, mocking my behaviour. I mean I can admire him but uss baat karne me darr lagta hai.

(I mean I admire him but I get scared to talk to him)

"Ho gaya tera? Itna hi dekhna tha?" I smack her arm softly, my cheeks flushing red. Yes, I drove 30 mins to watch one person perform, but he looked at me, and we made eye contact. And as they say, staying delulu is the solulu.

(Are you done? That's all you wanted to see?)

"Stay up aur ab chal idhar se, nhi toh woh ghar pe jo chudail hai humari chatni bana dekh woh." I pull her along me towards the car before we settle in and drive off.

( stay up and let's go for here now. Or the witch at home won't leave us)

I've been in love with him for too long, he makes my heart pace, we have completely different courses, different goals, and professions but thanks to KY di, I met this beautiful man at her book feast.

I kick my legs in excitement, earning a side eye from Inaya. She wouldn't judge, not when she's the same when no one is watching her.

The car comes to a stop and I look at the beautiful lady next to me. Picking up her hand I peck it softly and whisper a softy 'bye lovie' to her. I could see the shock and surprise in her eyes making me laugh mentally. It's fun to rizz these ladies.

I check my phone, looking at the time. It was nearly 7:30 and I had been gone since 5 pm. Tip-toeing towards the Rajvanshi house, I open the door quietly and slip in.

No broken windows? Check

No thrown pillows? Also, check

No screaming Kaynaaz? CHECK

I'm SAFE. I do a wiggle and throw my shoe in the corner, I twirl around but still when I see Shivyansh standing in front of me with a smirk. Fuck Isne dekh liya ab blackmail karega.

(Fuck he saw, now he'll blackmail me)

Shivyansh

Kanishk returned from his office an hour or so later. Dadi maa was quietly talking on the phone with siblings' parents while the soon-to-be groom stared at his begum's face. She was beautiful, no wonder he didn't argue further with Dadi on this topic.

Bored, I take a walk around the house, searching for something to do. Kyra had gone back to her to wish some work so annoying her wasn't in the options, as much as I loved fighting with her, I respected her space. Kaynaaz was sleeping for the past 3 hours. And Rooh.. where tf is Rooh? I checked the rooms by the kitchen and the lawn outside but her tiny figure and short Dora-like hair weren't visible anywhere.

Frowning I sit down on one of the chairs in the corner of the room. Weird. She always disappears like this. Just then, the door opens up without a creak revealing the woman herself. She looks left and right as if seeing if someone was there, and quietly enters the house.

The wiggle of her butt makes me chuckle softly and I get up from my face walking toward her quietly. She does a twirl but still as soon as she sees me.

"Kidhar thi tu? Kaynaaz ko pata hai?"

(Where were you? Does kaynaaz now?)

She shakes her head aggressively and keeps a finger on her lips telling me to be quiet.

"Chup rehe na yrr woh mar dehi meko" I nod my head, agreeing with her statement. Kaynaaz will throw her out of the house if she finds out.

(Stay quiet no. She will beat me up)

"Main kyu chup rahu?" She looks at me with questioning eyes before giving me a tight smile.

( why should I stay quiet?)

"Kya chahiye teko? Bata."

(What do you want? Tell me.)

"Momos khane leke chalegi, aapne paise se."

(You will take me to eat momos, from your money.)

"You're a fucking billionaire you can buy momos yourself."

"Oh acha hn hn mai Kaynaaz se milke aata hu." She squeaks and grabs my arm looking at me with pleading eyes.

(Yess yes right, I'll go meet kaynaaz)

"Acha thik hai bhaiya Main le chalugi teko momo khilane."

(Okay brother, I will take you out to eat momos)

A satisfying smile forms on my face and I leave her, she scurries to the room Kaynaaz was sleeping in before putting her finger on her lips again telling me to keep quiet. I nod at her behaviour and chuckle softly. The women of this house are really something. Anvi, Kaynaaz, Rooh and that Kyra, extraordinary pieces.

I move to the living room when I hear Dadi calling my name. I settle down next to Kanishk and grab a bottle of water.

"Kanishk bol raha usko shaadi agle haft karni hai."

(Kanishk said he wants to marry next week)

I choke loudly on the water before giving him a wtf look. He shrugs his shoulder and gives me a nonchalant look. I give a look to Dadi who shrugs her shoulder too and sits back on the couch.

"You haven't even met her bro." I give him a weird look, questioning his life choice yet again.

"I will, tomorrow. But she's the one I want to marry. Her or no one." He sounded serious. As serious as he did in the office meetings. Wow, he fell and he fell hard.

I nod my head and sigh. Ye dono meri baat nhi sunege toh argue karne ka Kya matlab.

(These both won't listen to me, there's no point of arguing)

"Acha Shiv beta ek kaam kar, upar ja." I look at Dadi waiting for her to finish her sentence.

(Shiv child, do one thing, go upstairs)

"Aur Kyra ke room se planner le aa" Tanishk finishes her sentence.

(And get the planner from Kyra's room)

He puts up his hand before I can say another word. Sala chu- I take in a deep breath and get up from my seat. Agar dadi idhar nhi hoti toh Pakka isko mar mar ke laal kar deta aaj main.

(If dadi wasn't hear, I would've beaten him to pulp today)

I walk up the stairs, questioning whether this was the right decision. She can stab me for stepping foot into her room or even bomb me. Bhagwan keep her sane.

Her room door was already open, I could hear the sounds of pages flipping and typing coming from inside. I kick the door open, stepping inside with long strides. The only time I had stepped into her was six years ago when she had caught a fever. Everyone was out of town for some wedding but she had stayed home to study for her finals. That incident only proved that she was annoying even when she's half asleep and burning up with a fever.

The smack of a fluffy pillow on the side of my face makes me glance at her. Books were scattered on the bed, sheets untidy and pillows lying here and there without any care. Her fingers had stopped typing whatever she was writing a minute back while her eyes stared at me as if tryna scare me. I knew she was dumb but pagal bhi hai ye nhi pata tha, who would get scared of her when she looked like a kid whose candy just got stolen.

"What the actual fuck are you doing in my room, Khurana?" She glances at the clock behind my head, before making a weird face. "That too at 9 pm?"

I scoff, understanding what she's trying to imply, the fact that she has such stupid thoughts surprises me beyond extent.

"Oh hello, mujhe koi shokh nhi hai tere room me aane ka, tere Bhai ne hi meko bheja tha planner la ne ke liye." She raises her eyebrows at me, before tilting her head and staring at me hard.

(Oh hello, I have no interest in coming to your room, your brother sent me to get the planner.)

"He agreed?" She asks in the same confusion and shock I had about 30 minutes before. No one believed that The Kanishk Rajvanshi was ready to get married, bro was so busy with work and his family, that he didn't even look at anyone else. But kya kar sakte hai? Khubsurat shakal dekh ke usko bhi pyaar ho gaya.

"Hn meri maa, he agreed. Ab jo manga woh de de." She mimics my expression and points at the desk beside her bed.

(Yes my mom, he agreed, now give me what I asked for)

"Udhar hai le lo." Her voice comes out childlike, eyes back focused on her work.

( it's there, take it.)

Only if she wasn't so annoying, and fighting with me all the time, we could've been friends. But her whines and tantrums aren't something that I can ever handle.

I move to her desk, moving around the books lying there. 'Love hypothesis' 'twisted hate'  'hideaway' 'the Royal alliance' I glance at her, trying to figure out how she reads these things. She's always got a goddamn novel in her hand, call her to a beach party she'll have a novel, call her for ice cream she'll have a novel, call her to the movies! She'll have a goddamn novel!

The woman could spend all day in her room reading these 400-page books alone.

After multiple minutes of searching for the planner Kanishk had asked me to bring, I turn back towards her crossing my arms. She glances at me while writing something in her notebook and asks "Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Meko nhi mil raha."

(I can't find it)

"Ache se Dekho udhar hi hai."

(Look carefully it's there only)

"Nhi hai"

(It's not)

She puts her pen down and looks at me in frustration. Yes, this expression, with her eyebrows, pulled together and her mouth forming a downside smile. This is the expression she makes when she's annoyed, meaning I've officially annoyed her once again.

"Are you blind? Mai kaam kar rahi hu dikh nhi raha?" She points at her bright laptop screen and books. I shake my head in denial and point at her scattered bedsheet and pillows.

(Are you blind? I'm doing work can't you see?)

"I only see your dirty room, gandi bachi." I say making a disgusted face.

She picks up her hand and flips me off.

"Fuck off Khurana."

"You fuck off. Chipkali size ki."

(Size of a lizard)

"Teri dick hai I know."

(Your dick is, I know.)

I gasp audibly which makes her smirk and let out an imitating laugh. If she wasn't Kanishk's sister I would've no problem burying her alive six feet under right now.

"You did not just call my dick the size of a chipkali."

"Awww I DID babe I did." Her voice just gets more annoying.

"Ek din na main teko ek cliff se phek dunga. Maybe then I'll have less headaches."

(One day I will throw you off a cliff)

She glances at me with annoyance and chucks her pen at my face. "Matlab hadd hoti hai, mene Abhi bola tha k-"

(I mean, there's a limit I said th-)

A loud ting comes from her phone and she picks it up to check the notification. Her fingers move quickly unlocking the screen and scrolling across the page.

An unsettling feeling makes it to my stomach when I see her expression change from an annoyed one to one that wasn't quite explainable. The colour from her face drains complete and eyes softly start to glisten.