Unwanted

Chapter 8

Archit

"Di, why did you bring Priyangshu here?"

Deepanjan questioned Priyodorshini.
"I went to check on him and found him crying in his bedroom." Priyodorshini replied while patting the kid's back. He must be her son. I thought to myself.
Priyodorshini came towards me and sat beside me. She eyed me up and down while carefully placing Priyangshu on her lap. He sat on her lap comfortably while looking at me with great curiosity.
"Who are you?" He asked me starry eyed.
I stayed silent not knowing what to say. I looked at Priyodorshini for help. "I had told you earlier about him babu." Priyodorshini said while running her hand through his hair.
"Ma, so he is that annoying man who married you." Kids really have no filter.
Upon hearing him everyone excluding me and Priyodorshini burst out laughing. I bowed my head in embarrassment. Priyodorshini just stayed silent.

"You shouldn't talk about others like that." Priyodorshini scolded Priyangshu.
"Ma but you only told-"
"Priyangshu." Upon hearing Priyodorshini call his name Priyangshu put a finger on his lips. Priyodorshini started rocking him back and forth, after awhile he fell asleep.
"He looks so cute while sleeping." Arunima said.
"Di, you should give him to Pishi now that he has fallen asleep." Brishti suggested.
"No need. He is going to stay here with me."
"But today is your bashorraat and Jamai bab-"
"Your Jamai babu has no problem with it." Priyodorshini cut Deepanjan off before he could finish his sentence.
"You don't have any problem with him do you?" Priyodorshini said while looking at me.
"N-no, not at all." Why would I have a problem with him?
"Good." Priyodorshini said while patting Priyangshu's back.

"It is getting really boring now." Deepanjan said, yawning.
"How about we play truth or dare?" Arunima suggested.
"Yes, that would be fun." Brishti said in a cheerful tone.
"What do you think Jamai babu?" Brishti asked. The three of them looked at me while waiting for my answer.
"Yeah. That would be fun." I said with a smile.
"Ok then it's deci-"
"Do whatever you want quietly. Priyangshu is sleeping try not to wake him up." Priyodorshini said sternly while cutting Arunima off.
"Ok." All four of us said in unison.

"Brishti, go get a bottle." Deepanjan ordered Brishti making her get up.
She went out and soon came back with an empty bottle.
Brishti kept the bottle in the center and spun it.
The bottle landed on Priyodorshini and Arunima after spinning for awhile.
"Truth or dare?" Arunima asked Priyodorshini in a playful manner.
"Dare." Said Priyodorshini.
"I dare you to kiss Jamai babu."
Upon hearing the dare I burst out laughing.
"Ma?" Priyangshu said while rubbing his eyes. F*ck, I woke him up. I shouldn't have laughed so loudly.
"Didn't I tell you to do it quietly?" Priyodorshini glared at me.
"Sorry. I-" Before I could finish my sentence Priyodorshini got up and left the room while carrying Priyangshu.

I just sat there in silence.

●●●●●●●

I looked at Priyodorshini who was sleeping with her head on my shoulder. I smiled a little. She must be tired. I thought to myself. She was  crying uncontrollably during her bidai and konokanjali. The car was filled with silence. Priyodorshini was asleep and Priyangshu and I were sitting in complete silence. I looked out of the car window and tried to enjoy the scenery in order to divert my mind a little bit. Just then I felt someone tug on my sherwani. I looked around and saw Priyangshu staring at me while holding my sherwani.
"What happened?" I asked him in a gentle tone.
"When are we going to reach your house?" He asked me, starry eyed.
"Soon."
"What should I call you?" Priyangshu asked me catching me off gaurd. I stayed silent as I didn't know what to say.
"What should I call you?" He repeated himself.

"You should ask your mother about this." I said with a smile.
"I did. She told me to ask you."
I thought for awhile. If I married his mother then I guess I am his step-father.
"I guess you can call me Baba." I said hesitantly.
"But Ma told me not to call you that." Priyangshu said in a low voice.
I sighed not knowing what to do.
"You can call me Archit then."
"But you are older than me." He said making me stare down at my feet.
Oh God. What should I do?
"What should I call you?" He asked again.
"I don't know. I will ask your mother once she wakes up." I replied.

"How old are you?" Priyangshu asked me with curiosity.
"I am twenty-one. What about you?"
"I am going to turn three this september." He said with a smile.
"You are twenty-one, that means you are." Saying this he started counting his fingers.
"You are eighteen years older than me." I smiled at his actions. Cute.
"When is your birthday?" I asked trying to strike up a conversation.
"29th september. And yours?"
"9th february."
"Do you like ice-cream?" He asked.
"Yes. Who doesn't."
"Ma doesn't like ice-cream. She says that they are made with seewage water." He said frowning.
"If seewage water tastes so good, then what is the problem eating it?" I said making him giggle.

"You know yellow is my favourite colour and I like doraemon,shinchan and chotta bheem. Do you like cartoons? What is your favourite colour?" He asked me with great curiosity.
"My favourites are pink and red. And yeah I like cartoons."
"Really which one?"
"Pokemon, doraemon, shinchan, barbie. But my Baba doesn't let me watch them."
"Why?"
"He says that I am too old for them."
I said with a sigh. "He always watches news channels."
"News channels? You mean that one where the people keep arguing with each other." Priyangshu said in a playful tone.
"Yeah."

"Forget about that, what food do you like?" I asked him.
"I like polayo,oreo and cucumber. And you?"
"I like chicken biriyani and chicken bharta."
"Which one do you hate the most?" Priyangshu asked while squinting his eyes.
"Mutton and fish."
"But why? I like fish and mutton very much." He said frowning.
"I hate the smell of fish as for mutton it makes me sick whenever I have it. What about you?"
"I hate eggplant and bitter gourd. Do you like them?"
"I hate bitter gourd, but I used to like the taste of eggplant."
"Used to?" Priyangshu asked in a confused tone.
"Well turns out I am allergic to egg plant, it makes my throat itchy."
"Oh, do you like vegetables?"
"Not all but I do like some of them." I said with a grin.
We continued our QnA for the rest of the ride before we reached home.

The silence which was there in the beginning was now replaced by our talking and giggles.