The Other Half

Chapter 1

(Mumbai: Pinky Promise)

Pooja Rathore was flying down the stairs, her jacket over a shoulder, her workbag on the other.

"Didi, sambhal ke!" Murli was heard and ignored. (Careful, Didi!)

Taking the last landing two steps at a time, Pooja made it to the dining area in another ten steps and signaled Murli. Her breakfast appeared out of thin air. Gobbling it down like the foodie she was, she burped loudly.

"Poo, you really need to learn some manners!" Nand Kishore Rathore admonished her.

Pooja looked at her elder brother, as if bored. "And you need to learn some new dialogues, Bhai."

"Pooja!" The voice cut sharp across the hall.

"Advay Bhai, can't you tell him to mind his own business? Every other day he is expecting me to turn into some dolled up version of the patriarchic view!"

NK and Advay looked at each other.

Pooja arched an eyebrow. She knew what had passed between the brothers. Getting up swiftly to avoid a condescending,  archaic, and downright disgusting discussion, she took one step away from the table.

At the third step, she heard it.

"You know, it's been too long since we competed on our burps." Advay said.

"I agree, Dev. Why don't we see who's the undefeated champion?" And then he burped.

Advay burped louder than NK. The tennis match thus started made Pooja turn back. She could never resist their antics, anyway. What was the point?

Finally, NK croaked and Pooja sighed. Why did her idiot of a brother accept this challenge almost every week, she had no clue.

"Pooja?" NK pressed.

Pooja didn't want to, but knowing the lecture would take more time than getting a burp out, thus making her less late for the day, she sighed.

And Advay was alert. He had not expected her to give in, clearly. Pooja narrowed her eyes. She knew Advay never lost from NK, but he had never won over her. Ever. And she was now 25.

When Dev Kashyap was introduced to them as a cousin,  and officially became Advay Singh Raizada, Pooja was only 9. The burping game was a childish behavior her parents accepted. But growing older the kids hadn't let it go. And in the 16 years, Advay always lost to her.

And in the 16 years, Advay was always truthful.

"Bhai, white flag?"

NK looked at the changed dynamics with huge eyes. "White.... white flag?"

"White flag." Advay conceded.

"Advay Bhai, why do you always lose?"

The question caught Advay off guard, Pooja noticed. "Umm... I just... I know manners better than you."

"I said white flag." Pooja whined.

"It's the truth!" Advay gritted his teeth.

"Relax Dev, it's just a game," NK said in a calming voice.

"But Bhai-"

"Pooja, don't you have office?" NK was asking her to leave.

"Fine, don't tell me. I am never your confidant na Advay Bhai. Just because you have this stupid oaf of a brother with you!"

"Pooja, you know that's not true. You know everything about me!"

"Do I?" Pooja challenged.

"Isworeonsomeone."