Comedy of Confusions

3. Minax: A Big Bluff

"Breakfast is ready" Cheney presented a big steaming wok of Upma at the dining table. "Hangover anyone?"

"Absolutely no" Minax, washed and refreshed, declared getting her motorbike plate ready for some steaming Upma.

Sam joined them and they all wolfed down every bit of upma in the wok. Cheney scratched the brown bits of upma stuck to the bottom and ate it straight from the wok. Doubtlessly, Cheney was a real good cook.

"I cooked, Sam does the dishes and Minax does the cleaning." Cheney declared with a triumphant smile as he dumped his plate into the sink. The luxury of free time and the idea of being able to do nothing was making him very happy.

Minax surveyed the kitchen and estimated an hour's worth of hard labor to get it back to acceptable condition before her Amma, Appa were back from the out of town wedding. Cheney was a great cook, but he was also great at leaving the kitchen a disaster zone.

"What a boring weekend. Eat and clean, as if that is all there is to life." Minax grumbled, wishing for a different life, one featuring a boyfriend.

Doing the dishes, Sam hollered. "Cheney, help her clean up. Need to have a conversation." 

When Sam mentioned the word 'conversation' Cheney and Minax straightened and exchanged looks. They knew they were looking at a boring lecture on proprietary, the right way to do things etc.  As the most pragmatic, cool headed and oldest among them it was something Sam did periodically. The younger two contemptuously considered it endless boredom, but they also begrudgingly acknowledged that Sam was mostly right . He had earned that reputation.

They finished up and Sam had three cups of badam milk going already.

"Now, for something important." Sam started as they huddled around the dining table.  Cheney stealthily made a face at Minax and she could barely conceal a giggle. She was aware though, that Sam's 'conversation' was not to be trifled with.

"Listen Min, I have been meaning to do this for some time now." Sam started, his big brown eyed pinned on his younger sister. Cheney feigned a yawn and Minax widened her eyes in disbelief. One serious look from Sam was good enough to force Cheney into a quiet submission.

"What do you think you are doing with your life?" Sam questioned Minax. Minax shrugged. For now she had no idea. All she knew was what she wanted, or at least she thought she knew what she wanted, just a boy friend..

Sam continued. "You finished your engineering with a decent report card. You certainly did not do your best. Then, you refused to study further, though Appa was ready to send you abroad. You got a job not because you liked it or you saw some potential, but because it is an easy commute.."

" uh .., and no dress code." Minax interjected carelessly but straightened up when Sam gave her his 'look'. His big brown eyes could be intimidating.

"You seem to be stuck doing some dead end project at work. You are no longer a baby Min. You ought to get serious. Do something with your life." It was classic no-nonsense Sam at his best.

Minax looked at Cheney with pleading eyes, to help her escape but Cheney never had it in him to take on Sam. She was cornered. The choice before her was clear. Concede or argue with Sam till the cows came home. She chose the former.

"You are right Sam. I need to do something with my life. I will think about GMAT." Minax lied through her teeth. Sam eyed suspiciously at her deceptive dimpled smile but before he could say anything his phone started to ring.

"Wait for me. I gotta take this one"  he excused himself out of the dining room.

"You serious about GMAT?" Cheney slid close to Minax and whispered.