𝕌𝕟𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕆𝕗 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖

13

AYUSHI'S P.O.V

"Ayushi, how was your trip?"  Mom asked, as I sighed and stared at my plate.

"What's wrong? Didn't you enjoy it?" she inquired.

"I did enjoy it a lot, but I didn't want to come back here," I replied, and proceeded to tell her about my time spent with Rihaan.

She smiled and shook her head.

"Stop obsessing over some boy," Mom said, patting my head. Who will tell her my Rihaan isn't some boy. He is my dream man.

"It was fun, mom," I said, but our attention was diverted by Aryan. My eyes immediately went to his knuckles. Did he get into a fight again?

"Did you fight with someone?" I asked, and he turned to me with wide eyes. Through a brief eye-to-eye conversation, I confirmed my suspicion. He did get into a fight again. This time, I won't cover up for him.

"Aryan, did you fight?" my mom asked, worried as she moved closer to him. He shook his head.

"Mom, I'm hungry," he said innocently.

"How was your class? Did you understand everything? You insisted on going, so I agreed to send you to extra classes in a group, but we can hire a private tutor if you prefer," Mom said, while preparing a lemon drink for him.

"You lied, didn't you?" I whispered, and he pleaded with his eyes.

"Don't tell anyone. I swear I wasn't at fault," he whispered back. I would be happy if he got caught this time. I don't understand what his problem is. It's so easy to make him angry, and it's because of his anger issues that he gets into fights.

"Here, have some evening snacks, and then you can play in the park or do whatever you want," Mom said, ruffling his hair. Unknown with his little boy behavior outside this home.

He nodded and started eating some snacks.

But after a few bites, he pushed his plate away.

"Mom, it tastes so bad. Didn't you put any spices in it? I don't want this crap," he said, surprising my mom. She took a small bite of the poha.

"Wait, I'll make something else. You're hungry, that's why you're getting cranky," she said.

"I'll order some food, you don't have to do it," he said, irritated, but mom went to the kitchen.

"You're taking out your anger on the wrong person. First, you get into a fight out there, then you expect to take out your anger on mom by yelling at her just because she doesn't say anything," I said as he stood up without replying. But the way he made fist oh his hand tells me how he is getting angry again.

I held his hand, pulling him back to the table.

"Stay seated here," I said in a serious tone. He sighed and sat back down, looking down.

"You will not talk to mom rudely, understand?" I said, and he nodded.

"You are just a carbon copy of dad."

"I heard it."

"You heard it wrong," He replied, irritated. Mom placed a fresh plate of cream buns on the table. He smiled and looked up at mom.

"Love you."

I focused on my poha while Aryan continued eating his sweet cream buns.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

Next day

Third person's p.o.v

"Look, Ayushi, you asked us to invite you if we have any party. So, we are having a party this Friday. If you want to come, you can, but I swear if your dad finds out and informs our parents, that will be the end of our friendship," Ananya said dramatically.

"Yes, forget it, you're not invited," Dikshit said. Ayushi kicked him, glaring at both of them.

"I really want to come, but how? Even mom will not agree to a night party. I will think of an idea. But I swear, if the party is boring, I might kill you two. Or I will just inform your parents that you two live together. So, the party must not be lame," Ayushi said before heading to her next class.

She sat at the back and took out her phone. After thinking for a while, she sent a message to Khushi (her cousin sister).

After receiving no reply, she waited for the class to end. As soon as the class was over, she dialed Khushi's number.

"Hello, sis," Ayushi said excitedly.

"I was in a meeting, that's why I didn't see your message. I'm home now, tell me what you were talking about," Khushi replied.

"Dii, I want to go to a party. But you know how dad is, right?" Ayushi said, a pout forming on her lips. Khushi smiled, amused by her sister's childish tone.

"So?" Khushi asked.

"So, I have a plan," Ayushi said, pausing briefly to hear Khushi's response. When she heard Khushi's approval, she continued, "I will tell dad that I'm going to stay at your place this Friday. And you can confirm it with dad. Please, dii, I'm still young, I can't just sit at home doing nothing," Ayushi pleaded as the call switched to a video call.

Instead of seeing Khushi's face, Ayushi's father's number appeared on the screen.

"Dii!" Ayushi exclaimed.

"Is this really your dad's number? I was just confirming. Let me call him and tell him that we didn't invite you over on Friday," Rishabh, Khushi's husband, teased.

He put the phone to his ear, causing Ayushi to almost scream. However, Khushi quickly snatched the phone from Rishabh's grasp.

"He's just teasing you. I'll talk to chachu. Don't worry, enjoy your time. Just be careful and don't accept any drinks from strangers," Khushi reassured Ayushi before ending the call.

"Alright, now everything is set. I just need to find an outfit," Khushi muttered to herself as she left, skipping her other classes and heading home.