Seasons of Love by Jaismita Alexander

Seasons of Love Part 8

VK had a large collection of good books. I often borrowed from him detective stories and read them. He insisted me to take a few love stories but I made faces and refused. Today I picked up 'A Collection of Short Stories' by O. Henry. I started flipping through the pages and liked it. I wanted to take it home. VK went to the market to place an order for sweets. His engagement was in two days. He was getting engaged to his girlfriend, Romita. She was a lecturer in the same college. Romita was very fond of me. We have met a few times. I was very excited to be a part of this engagement ceremony. And was eagerly waiting for VK to arrive so that I come to know how could I help him with the arrangements.

Suddenly, I heard someone running. The footsteps came closer to the living room and someone entered saying, "VK there's fire in the kitchen!" I stood up and uttered, "Shit!"

"Where's VK? Who are you?", said the tall, healthy guy.

"Shut up. We don't have time for all this. What caught fire?", I said and ran to the kitchen.

I saw a frying pan on the gas oven blazing with fire. I took a bottle, opened the cap and poured water on it.

The guy shouted, "Shit man, my Spanish omelette! You poured water on it."

"And you burnt it!", I snapped back.

"How rude you are! Who are you?', he asked.

"I am..."

"She is my student... and what did you burn Rudra?"

I turned my head and saw VK standing at the kitchen door.

Rudra, his cousin from Dubai. He said," VK, where were you? I was making an omlette for myself. Don't know how the frying pan caught fire."

"And how did the River Ganga change its course into the house?", I looked at him and asked.

Before this he had turned over the bucket kept in the corridor for mopping. The entire corridor was turned into a mini pool.

Rudra gave me a nasty look and replied, " I didn't see the bucket. It just fell."

VK slapped his forehead and chuckled. "You brought in water and fire to my house. Rudra when will you grow up?", he asked patting his back.

He gave a reluctant shrug.

VK said, "Well, this little girl is my student and she is here to help me with the arrangements. If we are done with all this, then can we quickly discuss what we have to do for today?"

I nodded my head and followed VK to the living room. Rudra came behind. We sat on the chairs while Rudra occupied the entire sofa. His first impression on me was very very bad. I quickly judged him. He was a mini brand factory, I noticed. Fastrack watch, Reebok shoes, Raymond shirt, Jeans from somewhere...hair set back with gel and the geek glasses clinged to the first button of his shirt, near his chest. He dressed up like VK but his behaviour was just the opposite. Arrogant, shrewd, reluctant, uppish...he was filled with empty pride of nothing.

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VK said, "I have just placed an order for five hundred sweets. They will deliver it in the morning of the ceremony. I will be very busy, so Rudra you will make the payment. Here is the bill. I will give you the money." He handed over a slip to him and he just folded it and kept it in his pocket.

I feared, he would lose it somewhere. He was too careless. 

VK looked at me and said,"I am left with the decoration now. Lights will be put tomorrow and flowers will arrive in the morning of the ceremony. Will you look after it? Like, you have to just see whether they are doing their job correctly."

I smiled at VK and replied, "Surely. I'll come early tomorrow. Don't worry about that. Tania will be there too. She knows a lot about decoration and stuff."

"Thanks Shehnaya", VK winked.

"Shehnaya?!", Rudra exclaimed. "The name doesn't suit you. Haha.", he mocked.

"Rudra! Right?! Neither suits you.", I replied spontaneously.

"Calm down guys! You both have just met about an hour ago! And look how you guys are fighting. Please don't scuffle. You have to work together to help me.", VK requested.

Rudra got up and left the room. My eyes followed him. As he left I made faces.

VK looked at me and smiled. I said to him, "VK, your cousin is a spoilt brat. He doesn't know how to behave. Instead of helping us, he will just create troubles."

I got up and I took a leave.

I returned home before lunch. I came infront of my building and saw Piyush's car parked at the side of the road. I knew that irritating element of my life was inside. I did not feel like going in for the same reason. I got very angry and took out the big safety pin that held my dupatta with my kameez from the shoulder.

I went near his car and bent down after inspecting if anyone was watching me. It was a sunny afternoon so the street was deserted. I pierced the safety pin into the tyre on the left in front. Immediately, the air inside started leaking. I made some more leakages and giggled. Smartly, I pinned back my dupatta and entered my house with a smiling face.

I saw Piyush sitting on the dinning table with the others. He looked at me and said," Hey, welcome back. Come join us."

"No thanks I have had lunch outside.", I said faking a smile. I had lost appetite after seeing his face. 

He said, "Oh okay. You should eat healthy. Try and avoid outside food."

"Yeah yeah", I replied entering my room. His everything irritated me. I lied down on my bed messaging Tania about what I did today. 

She messaged last,

"Wait till he comes back after seeing his deflated tyre. Let me know what happened. Lol."

I kept my phone aside and waited for the comedy show to begin. Just after a few minutes the doorbell rang. I heard mom closing the door a few seconds back. It was very evident that he left. Now it was certainly him. I got up from the bed and peeped from my room. It was him. He said to dad, "My tyre is punctured. I don't how it happened. Papa, can you help me to change it? I have a spare tyre."

I sulked. Such a useless person was he. He wanted my dad's help. I rejoiced his harassment within but felt bad for my dad too. I hope he didn't have to strain himself much for that idiotic fellow. 

I messaged Tania and sent her pics which I clicked from the terrace while he changed his tyre. 

We both exchanged hilarious emoticons. Typical GenY teenagers...right?

To be continued...

Jaismita Alexander.