Tangled ✓

Meeting someone

~~Jaiveer~~

Feeling dead tired to even lift my finger, I kept on rotating the food in the plate while watching Advika feeding Adiraj and wishing that she feeds me too. But no, that wish of mine won't become true. So, I kept on playing with my food. 

"Jaiveer." At my Papa's voice I hummed, turning towards him.

"I forgot to tell you. Mr. And Mrs. Malhotra invited us for their wedding anniversary party next week. You and Advika need to attend on our behalf." Papa said while I racked my brain to recall who this particular Mr. And Mrs. Malhotra is. Forget that, they are just one of our acquaintances. 

Party?? I groaned internally.

"Papa."

"Dad." 

Both Advika and I whined at the same time. 

"Huh!! Advika, seriously??!! All these days I only thought that this idiot is lazy. Don't join forces with him. I have a meeting on that day. So, you guys have to attend." He sort of ordered us and we just sighed. 

Any business meetings and business parties, I'm ok with them but not with these anniversaries, birthdays. 

"Neeraj will also accompany you. Don't worry." 

My face lit up, "Neeraj bhai was also invited?"

Papa shrugged, "Of course."

"Then it's sufficient that Neeraj bhai attends, right?" I asked eagerly. Why bother to go then??

Papa looked at me squarely. Shit! I'm dead.

"For how long will you keep on going to dump everything on him, Jai?"

I just stared at my plate, pouting. 

"You're not a kid anymore. Neeraj might be older than you but it doesn't mean that you can leave everything to him. It's high time for you to shoulder everything with him equally." He said authoritatively. 

I sighed, "Ok papa, we will go."

"Better." He sternly said. 

"Pumpkin, look. Your Papa is being scolded by his papa. Remember this. You don't need to be scared by him." Anu winked at Adiraj who in turn giggled with her. 

"You!! Little rascal!!" I hissed at Anu. 

"Anu!! Don't spoil him!!" Advika tensed up beside me. 

_______________

"Do you feel bad that Dad scolded you?" Advika whispered into the silent night. 

I chuckled, "No. On the contrary, what he said is true. We always used to dump everything on Neeraj Bhai. It has become a habit for us to look up to Neeraj Bhai for everything. So, I always get scolded in those situations. And…." Saying this, I turned on my right to face Advika, "It keeps us grounded."

She chuckled. The soft amber glow from the little bulb that was left on near Adiraj's bed is outlining her features. 

"I need to search for a saree for the party."

"You have many." I commented. Last time when we were rearranging our closet, I noticed that. 

"Yeahhh." She dragged, "But it's been so long since I wore them. So, I need to look for a proper one." 

I just hummed. 

"Do you have a dress?" She asked. 

I shrugged, "I have many suits."

"You guys have a privilege with that. You can switch your shirts, suits and pants anyway you like. They can match on anything."

"That's rich coming from a fashion designer."