Unwanted

Chapter 23

Archit

Raa rii ra ru, oh ra ri ru.

"Surmayee ankhiyon mein nanha munna ek sapna deja re."
Baba sang while carrying my three year old self around the room.
"Saccha koi sapna deja,
Mujhko koi apna deja." He patted my back.
"Anjanasa magar kuch pehchanasa."
My eyes started feeling heavy.
"Halka phulka shabnami,
Resham se bhi reshmi."
I closed my eyes. Baba slowly and carefully placed me down on the bed.
"Good night Archit." He kissed my forehead.

"Surmayee ankhiyon mein nanha munna ek sapna deja re."
I stopped singing. I looked at Priyangshu. He had already fallen asleep.
"Good night." Saying this I kissed his forehead.
I should probably get up.
I tried getting up from the bed but couldn't. Priyangshu was gripping my amulet tightly. I don't wanna wake him up.
I lied back down at my place.
I closed my eyes.
At one point of my childhood Baba used to love me a lot, mainly when I was under five. I don't know what made him change.
Maybe he got bored of me. Maybe he started disliking me after finding out that I was useless.

I closed my eyes in an attempt to fall asleep.
Priyodorshini's Ma seems to be close to her.
She seemed to be worried about her.
Maybe that's what mother's are supposed to be like.
I wonder how my Ma was.
Nevermind. I need to fall asleep.

"What do you want?" Mishti asked in an irritated tone.
"Mish I wanted to apologize. I am really sorry." I said bowing my head.
"I don't care." She replied.
"I am really sorry Mishti. I didn't want to breakup."
Mishti stayed silent.
"If you are sorry then how about you make it up to me." She said after a long pause.
"How?" I asked, feeling desperate to fix my mistake.
Mishti suddenly took out her phone.
"Wh-what are you doing?" I asked.
She stayed silent.
She started clicking my photos.
I looked around and saw nothing but darkness. I looked down and saw that I didn't have anything on. I was fully naked.
"Mishti stop." I said feeling scared.
"Stop." She stayed silent and continued clicking me.
"Stop!"
"Stop."
"Stop."
"Stop!"

I sat up. I panted heavily and looked around, I was in Priyodorshini's room, sleeping on her bed, Priyangshu was sleeping beside me. I was sweating heavily. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. Just a nightmare.
I thought to myself.
My eyes started getting watery. Before I knew it tears started rolling down my face. I don't know why but, I started crying.
I hugged my knees and brought them closer to my chest. Why did I even believe her? I was fool. I was a fool for loving her. I was a fool for believing them. I am a fool for thinking that I deserve love.

"You both, get up."
I opened my eyes upon hearing Priyodorshini's voice.
I looked up. Priyodorshini was standing right infront of me, she was staring at my tear stained face. I rubbed my eyes and wiped my tears.
"G-good morning Priyodorshini." I said, my voice sounding deeper than usual due to just waking up.
"Why were you crying?" She asked with curiosity.
"No-nothing." I said playing with my fingers.
"Archit, I am asking you why are you crying?" She asked in a strict tone.
"I had a nightmare." I said not wanting to irritate her anymore. Priyodorshini stayed silent. She kept satring at me. I glanced at her once before bowing my head again. Is she angry with me. Maybe I should apologise to her.
"So-sor"

"It's okay. No need to cry." Priyodorshini said cutting me off.
"Thanks." I muttered with a smile.
"Wake Priyangshu up and come downstairs, breakfast is ready." She said going back to her ususal cold tone.
"Okay." I said.
She turned around and made her way towards the door. Suddenly she stopped, she turned back towards me.
"By the way." Priyodorshini said making me raise one of my eyebrows.
"Hmm?" I said.
"Your singing is quite nice Archit." She said before going out of the room. I blushed. Thanks Darshini.
When did she hear it though?

●●●●●

"Sabdhane jas." Darshini's Ma, my sasuri ma said to her.
[Translation: Travel safe.]
"Yeah." Priyodarshini replied.
Priyodorshini hugged her mother.
"I am going to miss you a lot." Sasuri ma cried.
Yesterday was the last day of our dwiragaman. We were returning home today.
"Don't worry Ma." Priyodorshini said with a smile.
"Don't worry aunty. I am going to take care of her. I will make sure that she faces no problem." I said trying to reassure Sasuri ma.
"You are the problem." Baba said making me frown.
Ye budha mere bich mein bohot bolta hei.
[Translation: This oldie always talks in between me.]

I got into the car without saying anything else. Priyodorshini, sasuri ma and Baba were still outside, they were talking about something which I couldn't hear from inside. I saw Baba placing his hand on Darshini's back and smiling to her mother. He was saying something to sasuri ma. He kept smiling while sasuri ma nodded. Baba patted Priyodorshini's back. It seemed like he was praising her infront of her mother.
He never does that to me.
I rolled the car window down in order to hear their conversation.
"She is the most intelligent person I have ever met." Baba said to Sasuri ma.

"Amar gadha take pitiye ghora ekmatro o korte parbe."
[Translation: only she can convert my donkey into a horse.]
[Note: proverb meaning 'making someone more refined than they are']
I knew he was talking about me.
I stuck my tounge out at him knowing he couldn't see me.
Whose father are you? Mine or her?
"I know my son is dumb, useless and can behave immaturely sometimes." Baba said making me stick my tounge out again.
Yeah, yeah, keep talking bad about me. I don't care.
I rolled the window up.
I don't want to hear it anymore.
"But, trust me he is really sweet and harmless."

Wait! Did I hear it right?

I am really happy as India won the t20 wc. 💙