One Of A Kind [ slow updates ]

Chapter 1 : Dead Meat

"I don't know, dude." Advay let out a deep breath. He sounded confused and indecisive. The way his shoulders drooped forward and his fingers circled around the rim of the glass, I was sure he was really confused.

I knew this wasn't right. Overhearing two best friends talking their hearts out was not right. But I needed to know what Advay felt about my sister. It was three months ago that Advay and his family had come to see my sister.

Navi, my younger sister, seemed to like Advay and he probably liked her too. So the families had decided to let the two get to know each other before fixing their marriage. Thank God for that! I mean this whole concept of meet on Monday marry on Friday is pathetic. In Punjabi, our very sweet mother tongue, it would be called chat-magni-te-pat-vyaah a recipe for Siyappa!

Thankfully, Navi and I were blessed with very forward parents. Otherwise which Indian parents would let the younger sister get married before the elder one. Beeji, my adorable grandmother, whose Punjabi curses also sounded like music to the ears to strangers of course, was very against the idea.

But then, Mr. Gurmeet Chaddha, my superman father is my Beeji's weakness and I am his. So, Papaji, convinced Beeji to let me do my thing and here I was happily not getting into the marriage trouble, which by the way is either the dream of every girl of my age or nightmare.

I am only two years older to Navi, which was is probably one of the reason why we share a very good friendship and bond. Unlike the Sharma sisters who have been our neighbors since we were born. I often think, that it is their six year age gap that makes them less likable to each other. What's beyond my understanding is why their parents won't do anything about them screaming their throats out at each other, which we can very well hear from our kitchen.

However, in no way does our negligible age gap, deter me from being the fierce protective elder sibling who also knows how to boss over the little trouble-making pretty-eyed girl, Navi. Similarly, no matter how much Navi loves and respects me, she never misses an opportunity to trouble me or put me into trouble especially for things I never did.

Elder sister woes!

Presently, I was seated on a small table at a cosy cafe, with a scarf around my lower face and head, and round shaped framed glasses up my nose. I had borrowed the glasses from my friend Sarika two months back and hadn't bothered to return them yet. I was sure she was cool with it. She had three more. They were a convenient tool for a disguise.

I had been secretly spying on Advay for quite some time now. Sometimes even when he went out with my own sister. Deranged, I know. But a girl's gotta to do what a girl's gotta do.

But you can't blame me for looking out for my naive little sister. It's in my blood to protect her and make sure no one dares to mess with her. My parents had trained me ever since I was three to always look out for her. I couldn't stop that kind of programming they had fitted into my behavior. It's a core feature that can't get discontinued.

I know Navi is strong and can possibly handle any situation better than I can. But Navi also had a big heart and it is so easy to make a room in that heart.

I couldn't trust that tall, handsome Advay. Even though he seemed to be as good a man as he appeared to be. And, Navi too liked him. I heard my Mummy say they look good together, and I sort of don't disagree.

I had sheepishly third wheeled on a couple of their dates. Some of them had even turned out to be fun. Advay was easy to get along with just like Navi. However, my guards hadn't fallen yet, Advay had to pass every damn test I put before him in order to get anywhere close to my sister.

Last Sunday, Advay's parents had come over to our place for dinner. His mother had subtly hinted at a proposal coming their way, while eating the lipsmaking Butter Chicken my mummy makes best. It was then, that I had immediately begun active sleuthing again.

Thus, I probably knew Advay more than Navi knew him.

Thankfully, I had never got caught. Maybe I was good enough. After all the years of reading detective and crime fiction had to show up somewhere. Sherlock Holmes was my fictional crush, and only. I am sure he'd be proud of my skills too. Maybe it was time I started considering becoming a private investigator.

"What do you mean man?" The other guy, who seemingly had a very thin patience, asked. This other guy— his name is Aman Mehrotra, he is a hot shot lawyer and Advay's best friend. He is a crime lawyer, unlike Advay who is a civil lawyer or a corporate legal council as he preferred to be called.

A little research on the internet and a lot more stalking of social media profiles, had revealed that they were batchmates and friends since college. And by the many times I had stalked Advay, I knew he met Aman a lot. Outside the court, in his office, in cafes. The two seemed to have a pretty thick friendship.

So thick that for a few days I had to wonder if they were just friends or did some intimate business together. Don't judge me, one had to eliminate all possibilities, as was said by a very wise person —

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." 

And, I wanted all the truth out before our families went ahead and got my sweet little Navi engaged to this legal corporate monkey.

"I kind of like her sister too!" Advay said in a single breath.

I froze. Did I just hear that? Can I like rewind? Go back ten seconds? Ugh, why wasn't life like Netflix?

What the hell man! If he said what I think I heard him say, then this man was dead meat.

• • • • • • • •

 I decided to post this draft which has been sitting in the private collection for quite some time now. I would love to know your initial thoughts.

-Anami! ♡