Safar (Book-2 Malhotra Sibling' Saga)

Chapter- 2

It was afternoon when Radhika came back home from college. Just as she entered, the aroma of food reached her nostrils and she immediately rushed towards the kitchen. Keeping her bag on the dining table, as she entered the kitchen, she stopped at the door upon seeing Mahir cooking, who had yet to acknowledge her presence as his back was facing her. Mischief danced in her eyes. With slow steps, she walked in and stood behind him.

"BOO!" she whispered in Mahir's ears, immediately hugging him from behind.

Mahir smiled, "How was your day?"

"Darne ka natak hi kar lete Bhai." Radha mummbled, snuggling closer.

Mahir kept the ladle down and turned to embrace Radhika properly, "Well I knew tu aa gayi thi. Jutha natak krta toh tu he chid jati."

Radhika looked up at him from his chest with a frown, "Aapko kasie pta ki main aa gayi?"

Mahir smiled, ruffling her hair, "Bas pata hai. Chal ab bata, how was your day?"

Radhika pulled away with a scowl, "Poocho mat. Ek dum bakwas, annoying, irritating, hopeless, and what not." She huffed and hopped onto the counter.

"Kya kar rahi hai Radha. Gram Khadhi hai na waha dekh kar nahi baith sakti, abhi lag jati." Mahir scolded, picking up the vessel and keeping it away from Radhika on the other side.

Radhika paid no heed to his words. Immune enough! She opened the cabinet and took out the snacks box from there, which was abruptly snatched away from her hands by Mahir.

"Bhaiii." Radhika whined.

"Khana khane ka time hai snacks ka nahi. Paanch minute ruk bas roti baki hai." Mahir said, turning to make a dough.

"Aree par mujhe bahut tez wali bhook lagi hai na." Radhika pouted.

Mahir sighed as he took a bowl, filled it with the chole he had made, and offered it to Radhika, "Kaise bane hain, bata."

"Khadoos," Radhika muttered under her breath and took the bowl, well aware of his tricks.

"Vaise, tera din itna kharab kaise gaya?" Mahir asked while working.

"College tha, bhai, toh it's obvious mera aaj kya aane wale saare din kharab he jaane wale hain,"

Mahir shook his head, "College se problem kya hai teri, mujhe samajh nahi aata. Studies are important, Radha."

"Pata hai, Bhai. But ghar se bhi toh padh sakti hoon na main, college jaane ki zarurat he kya. Pehle yeh home studying ki facility nahi thi, but ab toh hai na. Bas aap hi mana kar rahe ho," Radhika complained.

Mahir sighed, "Main maana tere liye hi kar raha hoon, Baccha. Duniya ke saath interact karna accha hota hai. I am not saying you to go say Hi to every creature present on the earth. But you should at least be confident enough that when someone comes to you, you should know how to have a conversation with them, how to interact with then rather than being in a shell. People might take advantage of your closed-off nature."

Radhika nodded understandingly.

"Koi problem toh nahi hai tujhe tere college mein jis wajah se you are so reluctant?" Mahir asked concerned.

"I am just lazy bhai. Subah utho, college jao, then attend those lectures...ahhh...they are frustrating." Radhika groaned, annoyed.

Mahir chuckled, "Nothing new then. School ke time bhi itne hi nakhre karti thi, kitne mushkil se bhejta tha main tujhe. Ab bhi waise hi hai. Pata nahi waha Delhi mein kaise rehti hogi. How was your life there for two years?"

Radhika stiffened and gulped, "You don't know?" she asked suspiciously, knowing her Bhai too well. Even though they weren't talking, she doubted that he didn't know anything about her from the birdies he left on her head. It was just her who took precautions to never let anyone know about her adventures, scared of her Bhai's reaction.