Shape of the Sun

Delay is not denial

"Raj!!"

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Choti had somehow managed to piss Rajkumar off by barging into his room and dashing for his bed. It interrupted his thought trail of Manmeet. It irritated him.

"I can't believe you are a mother already. God, you are so childish."

"My dear Lord." she exclaimed, pitching in her high nasal tone, "Can you stop whining, brother dearest, and just say you missed me?"

"You are a bitch."

"Yes, I missed you too." she glared at him.

Rajkumar sat up on the bed and rolled his eyes.

"You are so dramatic, Choti. Papaji already told me how much of a fuss you are making."

She folded her arms, kneeling upright beside him.

"Rajkumar Reddy, how dare you? This is rich coming from the man who drinks martinis all day in London while I have to choke on my vomit hearing that bastard form words." she scrunched up her nose, "It's a catastrophe. My dear lord."

At the mention of Prithvi, Rajkumar's expression turned serious and he patted the space beside him, signaling her to sit.

"Papaji and I discussed the details yesterday. Prithvi is just a way for him to hone us."

"Still, Raj. I am against giving him access to any form of authority. Dadda says that it is just a remote branch he is leading. But do you know that place is far from remote? They have two universities there. Two, Raj!" she motioned with her fingers.

Rajkumar frowned, yet one hand reached to pat her shoulder as a way to calm her down.

"Easy, Choti. Are you sure that place has two universities? The place where Prithvi is right now?"

Papaji seemed to have a terrible idea of what remote was. Or not.

"I am sure, Raj. I went there to investigate and the huge shopping malls there almost induced me into a coma. I'm serious, Raj."

Rajkumar knew that she was. Choti would not lie to him over such matters.

"Okay, don't worry. I will discuss with.."

"Stop discussing with Dadda, Raj!"

Her outburst surprised him and he caught his elder twin holding back tears. Rajkumar quickly reached for the handkerchief in his pocket and wiped off the ones that escaped.

"Choti." his tone was filled with concern, "What's the matter? Talk to me."

She sobbed for a while before calming down.

"It's just hard with you in the UK. That Prithvi has become too daring since you left. I-I.."

"Spill, Choti." he urged.

"I think Dadda might be feigning ignorance on purpose. Do you think he wants to give everything to his illegitimate child? What about Mumma and the both of us?"

"No way, Choti. Let me confront him first. We shouldn't be rash and make things cheaper for Prithvi by alienating Papaji." he gently said, side-hugging his sister as a means of comfort. But Rajkumar Reddy had an unreadable expression on his face and no one knew what he was thinking.

"Raj, I think you should get married, at least."

He turned to find his sister blowing her nose into the handkerchief which made him chuckle, and in turn, draw a scowl from her.

"At least, get your snot far away before talking to me. Damn, Choti. Manners."

"You!"

Pfft. Pfffftt.