Batten down the hatches

Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops

"Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops." — Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant), Arsenic and Old Lace

Virat

"Call her."

"You call her."

"No! You call her."

"You..."

"Stop it idiots! Someone call her!"

"Then you do!"

I snapped at Rohit, looking around for something to throw at him. But there was an actual dearth of such things at the side of the fairly deserted road. There were stones and sticks aplenty but I did not wish to break his bones. Not just yet.

"Virat."

Oh hell! Rohit was adopting his 'listen to me because I am so mature' voice; I was in hate with it a little.

"It is much better if you talk to Sakshi Bhabhi. You are the only one who holds even a modicum of chance to make her accede to keeping things from Mahi Bhai. For now"

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. "If she has not informed him already, which is the obvious thing to do, considering that they LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE!"

Rohit and Jaddu again exchanged glances and I could feel myself bristle in indignation. Felt the tendrils of chill running just beneath my hairlines and an odd thumping at the side of my head.

"Just call her once, Veere." Jaddu cajoled. He fucking 'cajoled'.

"What the ever loving hell, Jads? You too? Isn't it better that we just reach there?"

We were still standing at the side of the road and I was kinda tired of arguing my side and trying to have my moronic friends understand at least some of it.

"Virat?" Rohit prompted and I could have screamed!

"WHAT?"

"Call her, yaar. It is Sakshi Bhabhi. She will not have blabbed to Bhaiya immediately."

Well, when placed like that, Rohit's words made some sense. Sakshi Bhabhi, more often than not, kept herself aloof from our shenanigans and it took a lot to make her loose her composure. She may just help us out.

Finally taking a chance, I placed my call to Sakshi Bhabhi, my breaths stuttering as the first call went unanswered. I redialed.

"Hey."

"Oh thank god!" Inspite of misgivings, I sighed in relief. "How are you, Bhabhi?" It has been a while since I had spoken to Sakshi Bhabi and an odd sense of guilt traversed through me.

"How far out are you people?"

Straight to the point. This was so not good. I looked at Rohit and Jaddu, placed the phone on the car's hood and switched on the speaker.

"You are on speaker, Bhabhi," I murmured. As with MS, none of us preferred to get on her wrong side. "We-We are around four hours out."

"Ok."

There was a long pause, peppered liberally with awkwardness, and I shrivelled a little within myself. "Bhabhi?"

"Kya hain, Virat? Suddenly remembered your Bhabhi?"

I really did not know what to say and rubbed my hands over my flushed face. I felt Rohit's hand coming up unto my shoulder and I leaned my face against it for a moment.