Tum Kaafi Ho ✓

t h i r t y . 2,920 letters

t h i r t y . 2,920 letters 

For the next two days, Pranati stayed silent and aloof as she kept to herself in the room. She spoke to no one, did not eat much and stayed cooped up in her space. No one could make her come out or talk, Anisha and Riya had tried to carry a conversation with her but Pranati shunned them saying she did not feel well.

Reyansh tried and so did Jugnu. But, Pranati did not budge. She told Jugnu to finish off the homework she had missed from many days and to Reyansh, she silently brushed off. A warning for him to keep out of her way. And he did.

But on the third day, when everyone sat on the breakfast table, without Pranati, a decision was made.

"We need to get her out of that room!" Jugnu played with some pancakes as she eyed the Khurana clan. At times like these, she missed her great grandmother, Baljeet who had to go visit her friend in another city and would arrive later that week. "I hate seeing her like this." 

Reyansh poured the glass of chocolate milk for the girl, and helped cut the pancakes in bite size pieces. "But, your mother needs time." 

"It has been TWO DAYS!" Jugnu raised her two fingers, everyone else amused at her reaction. "Do you know she has not gone two minutes without asking about me and two days, TWO WHOLE DAYS ignoring me? ME? Her only baarish?" Jugnu shook her head, clicking her tongue only for Reyansh to chuckle.  

"Baarish nahi, vaaris..."

"SK, you gotta help me get her out." Jugnu pouted, holding her father's hand. "Please, we have only one more week left in Delhi and I cannot waste it like this."

"But, Jugz, Pranati is not feeling well." Anisha tried to reason with the girl, pouting in repsonse. "Sometimes adults need some time to get back on their feet, you know." 

"Like holiday?"

"Um, that is right." Vardhan applied some butter on his paratha, "give your mother some time, baby. I am sure she misses you too."

Jugnu looked over at Maan and Armaan for help but even they decided to let Pranati have some time for herself. After all, it was a huge matter and they were not close enough to meddle with it. They had all heard what happened, and with heavy hearts, chose to ignore it because no one could go speak up with the woman and ask if she was okay.

Jugnu slumped in her chair, sighing and dropping the fork in her plate. Reyansh looked over at Armaan and Maan and then pointedly at Jugnu. The brothers understood at once, Vardhan and Anisha nodding in agreement. 

"Jugz," Maan got her attention, smiling cheekily at the girl. "How about we do something fun today?"

Jugnu shook her head, "no, thank you."

Armaan cleared his throat, "Maan, you remember the laser tag event we have today, we cannot take Jugnu with us." Armaan hit Maan's shoulder with a thud, "It is not something little kids can do. Especially if it is a girl." 

That got Jugnu to look sharply at the duo, "what?"

"Nothing," Armaan smiled, challenging the girl in a tussel. "It's okay Jugnu, I understand how difficult it is for small town girls to head onto city adventures. And you are just a little girl."

Reyansh counted to three, and before he could even say one, Jugnu stood up with her fork pointed at Armaan. 

like mother, like daughter

"I am not JUST A GIRL and small town people can easily win against city idiots."

Armaan stood up in response, facing the little girl. "Alright then, how about a game of laser tag, you and me and let the game decide who wins." He raised his eyebrow, waiting for an answer from Jugnu who took a second to decide.