Joker

19. Reaper's back but at least his mom likes me

Aki was laughing as Auntie showed him several pictures of Nakul and Reaper as babies. Nakul looked so much like Ayu, it was adorable. His dimples carved into chubby cheeks and bright eyes, he was so cute. Reaper, Arjun looked a bit different from Nakul though, taking after their mother more. Aki couldn't believe he was looking at his mentor's baby pictures when he learnt his name literally a few hours ago.

"Oh Aki and this one was taken in my sister's house. Guddu had decided that shirts were overrated for pehlwans and ran around the house shirtless looking for an opponent to wrestle."

Aki laughed at the picture of eight year old Nakul trying to wrestle a pillar in a courtyard "He seems rather determined to uproot the thing."

"Given time I think he might have." She laughed.

Nakul and Arjun came downstairs bickering amongst themselves. Reaper flicked Nakul's forehead and Nakul tried to hit him but Auntie glared at them "You both are grown adults why on earth are you acting like children?"

"HE STARTED IT!" They said in unison.

She looked at Aki in exasperation "Do you understand why I take my coffee without sugar or milk now?"

"Sure do Auntie." Aki smiled in sympathy "I completely get it. I think it must be done by now I'll just pour you a mug. How does Uncle like his coffee?"

"Two sugar no cream beta." She grinned at him, her dimple showing and turned back glaring at her sons "I'll disown you two if you fight more and adopt Aki instead. Learn from him. Such a nice boy!"

Aki shyly poured out the warm coffee and put sugar in one and handed the sugarless one to Auntie with a coaster "Here's your coffee Auntie."

"Thank you Aki." She drank a sip and turned back to her sons who were riffing amongst themselves again in rapid-fire Hindi which Aki couldn't quite follow. He only caught a few hushed swear words.

She sighed "Yeah so I guess I only have one son now and he's the one who listens to me and gives me coffee instead of fighting like roosters. Sheesh Aki you're such a good boy how did you end up with this guy?"

Aki flushed at the praise, getting shy. Nakul frowned "Ma Aki isn't that good of a boy!"

"Oh you think he's such an angel though don't you Nakul." Arjun jeered.

"Don't." Nakul said and turned back to his mom "Aki takes bath after dinner."

"Because I like to sleep feeling fresh." Aki said with a shrug and hopped onto his usual place on the counter.

"Ma look he's sitting on the counter! That's illegal!" Arjun pointed.

"Let him sit." She shrugged "He's not sitting where the food is made."

Aki grinned from his perch. Nakul and Arjun pouted identically while Auntie chided them for fighting all the time. Nakul sighed and promised "We won't fight when we go out tonight."

"We're going out tonight?" Arjun frowned.

"Initially just you. I booked a table at the Ball but since Ma and Pa are here I'll just have them give us a bigger table." Nakul said and looked at his mother "Ma you and Pa have clothes to fit a five star place right?"

"You think I'd travel anywhere without at least one formal outfit? Nakul it's like you don't know me." She flipped her hair back sassily.

Aki smiled widely "Yeah love, you're the one who told me she was a fashionista. How could you forget?"

"Fashionista is a bit much dear but thank you." She patted Aki's knees "You're rather sharp yourself. I noticed the beige blazer, Balmain I daresay."