FLAMES | ON HOLD

(x) The Goal

AT THE PARIKHS' HOUSE

It was around 6 AM on 26th June, which was a Monday when Jay woke up. He then brushed teeth and his mind immediately went to everything that took place on that Saturday's night. He smiled for a second but then face-palmed himself and quickly went to take a shower.

He was all ready and was going down the stairs when he saw Aastha who too was ready in her school uniform and was yawning her way down to the living to have her breakfast. Unknowingly, a smile crept up on his face.

They, meaning Jay, his father and the one person he couldn't stop thinking about were having their breakfast, which for the day was piping hot Masala Chai with Methi na Dhebra. Although Aastha was having simple Bhakri with the Chai because she couldn't tolerate Methi.

(Masala Tea; Flatbread made of Fenugreek; Fenugreek)

"Jaiye?" She asked me as she stood up and took her bag from the chair adjacent to hers. She then took one last bite of the Bhakri and checked the time from her wristwatch. It was 6:56 AM.

(Shall we go?)

Jay simply nodded and took his bag too before standing up to get the keys of this EV. As soon he took the keys and wore his shoes, he went off to take out the EV. He honked the horn of EV for a second as Aastha was still wearing her shoes and his dad had already left by then.

Aastha came running and sat behind him. They were about to reach their school when he stopped the EV near the crossroad.

"What? Why did you stop?" Aastha asked, slapping his back lightly.

"Su what? Tu j che ne je roj utri jaay che ne ahiya?" Jay furrowed his eyebrows as he spoke.

(What 'what'? Aren't you the one who gets off here everyday?)

"Hu j, pan yaad kar, aapde Frenemies nai?" Aastha chuckled a little as she spoke. As soon as Jay heard her words his EV was started by him again and it went in the direction of the school's gate.

(I am, but try to remember, aren't we frenemies?")

Jay parked his EV and went to meet his friends when he could let the smile on his face get away from him.

"Natak," He whispered, loud enough for his best friend to hear but not enough for anyone else to hear.

(Drama)

"Kaun natak? Kiska natak? Kaisa natak?" Dhruvit said, a little too loudly and was shushed by his best friend.

(Who's drama? Whose drama? What drama?)

"Hatt na, yaar. Dimag mat khali kar abhi tu." A look of disappointment formed on Jay's face.

(Go away, dude. Do not mess with my brain right now.)

Dhruvit just nodded and started walking away from his friend, he knew that Jay would say something if he did that.

"SUNN, TU GHAR AA TA BATATA HUN." Jay screamed at the top of his lungs so that Dhruvit, who was quite far now, could hear it.

(HEAR ME OU, WHEN YOU COME HOME, I'LL TELL YOU)

Dhruvit smiled at his friend's comment and understood that it was something Jay wouldn't talk of in his dad's workplace and there's only one such thing— girls.

~

The third period was going on and Jay was called into the principal, Pragnesh Sir's office by some junior of his. Once he reached there, he saw Aastha there. He looked towards her and raised his eyebrows. She gestured that she didn't know what was going on.