Dil Ka Jo Rishtaa (Book 2)

Desi Boys

"Tara, tell me... this way or this way?" Chunky asked Tara excitedly as he twirled on Jai's swivel chair.

Tara, seated upon her brother's unkempt bed, watched Chunky model two versions of a hairstyle. First, he parted his hair on the left side before twisting on the chair and changing the parting to the right. He repeated it again to make sure she did not miss the two options he proposed.

"Which one makes me look cute, but you know... not too cute?" Chunky urged, eagerly anticipating her reply.

He was having some trouble deciding how to finish his look for the evening, given he was super excited to get a chance to visit the Arena and make MJ's spirit proud. All that practise in his bedroom would finally pay off.

He was a little nervous performing in front of others considering his large frame, but because of how excited he was, he found it didn't matter to him as much as it would have. He had his friends with him anyways and so long they were with him, he was golden. Tonight, his feet were free to do as they pleased without care for anyone and what they thought.

Stuffing another pani puri into her mouth, Tara chewed slowly and deliberately. She paused. She pouted. She squinted. She even stroked her moustache with much deliberation, thinking deeply upon Chunky's predicament. Yet despite all her ministrations, she didn't know what difference changing the parting produced in regards to Chunky's cuteness level. He looked exactly the same, exactly like her cute Chunky bear, regardless of how his hair was parted. Tara thus silently beseeched Gaurav, seated on her right threading his lace through his left shoe, for some assistance.

Seeing Tara's puzzled face, Gaurav shook his head in sympathy and grinned at his perplexed friend.

"Chunky go easy on her. Both look good on you, and you know you look cute either way, so why are you so confused? Pick either one but have mercy, bachchi hai woh." Gaurav saved Tara.

Tara agreed with several firm nods of her head. He looked cute either way, and she could not decide.

"Chunky bear is always cute. He takes the best pictures and gives the best hugs!" Tara wrapped her arms around her to imitate Chunky's hugs.

Chunky's cheeks were tickled pink by the compliment. He chuckled a little, feeling overcome with a sudden shyness. He knew his youthful round face was deemed adorable by his mom, but weren't all sons cute to their moms? And he wanted to look cute for someone else tonight. Someone who wasn't his mom and more his age.

"I know that, Gaurav, but I'm trying something different tonight, so help me out here. Look, I want to be Ryan Gosling wala type cute, okay, not Justin Beiber wala," Chunky explained, brushing his hair back to try another hairstyle.

Gaurav casually brushed off Chunky's diva moment with a shake of his head as he continued to lace his shoe.

"Justin Beiber wala type cute," Gaurav muttered, chuckling to himself. He felt the mattress move a little under him, but he didn't bat an eyelid. "Say what you have to say, Chunky, but banda has done well for himself," Gaurav pointed out.

It couldn't be that easy to become so rich and famous in such a short time. Chunky leaned back to check himself out in Jai's mirror.

"So? Where was I even dismissing his achievements? See, my thinking was more like this. Since Tara is our lucky charm, I'm hoping some of her luck will brush off on me tonight when I hit the dance floor and leave my fan girls hyperventilating in the wake of my awesomeness." Chunky added, raking his hair back and giving his best smoulder to the mirror. Gaurav mouthed a long drawn-out 'oh' to Chunky's explanation while Tara crinkled her nose.

He decided to completely forgo the parting. MJ wouldn't want him to be so restrained. He needed to be more organic. The sudden pixie face scowling in the mirror behind his shoulder quickly caught his otherwise occupied attention. Tara had stood up defiantly, knocking over her bowl in the process.