Never Before

Chapter 5

Nutan

"I don't know anything. You are picking me up and we are going today itself. End of discussion."

"Listen Veda--"

"Bye. I'm waiting."

Veda was asking me to accompany her to Siddhi Vinayak. In simple words, she wanted me as her chauffeur. I was supposed to be at the café because of...an important order. Yeah, an important order. I would have accepted accompanying her any but today. But if Bappa wants to see me today, I'll ask him what and why it is happening to me. Whatever it is, a feeling for a certain someone, it is his way of telling me to move on and go ahead.

Emerging from my bedroom I headed straight to the kitchen. Bhai was ready in his tailored suit. It was once in a month sight. Other times he will walk as if a runway model. Ignoring him, I went straight to Mami as he noticed my whining face. "Mami..." The stretch in my voice didn't get unnoticed by both of them. Mami was concerned, her frown told me. And Bhai was concerned for himself, his frown told me.

Mami nudged me to continue and busied herself in preparing breakfast. "Veda wants me to go fetch her to and back from Siddhi Vinayak." Bhai, who was busy scopping some bhujiya (crispy snack) from the plates stopped in his stance and continued after 3 seconds. As if, he was subtle. "Toh jao na. Take some breakfast with you. You might need it on your way. And no junk food. Last month you recovered from food poisoning."

This was not my actual area of dispute. My brows hugged forward as I elbowed Bhai to support me. "Maa. It happens. It's not like she hadn't eaten anything before it occurred to her." "Tu chup reh." He stepped back from his position as my lawyer accepting his defeat. "Okay, I won't. I promise." I said as something clicked in my brain. "But I want to rent Bhai's car for a day." Bhai's lips curled instantly as if he was waiting for it. "Take it. Nakul will take a cab." His smile vanished at the speed it came. I left the kitchen after kissing her cheeks and getting ready for the day out. Anything else can wait, but not my girl.

I chose a simple chanderi off-white floral anarkali. I bet she must have been wearing something the same. Make-up didn't take much time as I didn't know about it. Just moisturizer and lip gloss. Adjusting my dupatta on my right shoulder I jogged because my stomach was answering. It takes so much time to get ready on such days than normal. Mami told me Bhai was taking me with him because he didn't believe any of us about the security of his car. I rebutted but he smiled that one of the sibling smile and winked at me. He smiled, it's okay. But his wink was similar to the fluttering of butterfly wings. Similar to disaster. As I was devouring poha, my heart started racing all of a sudden.

I left too not before praying in devghar and touching the feet of Mami, followed by Bhai, as Mama was on his morning walk. As I was busy checking all the things needed for the drive in my purse suddenly it struck me, I had forgotten the breakfast Mami made for us. Well, Mami was already at the door with it. I smiled at it and was making space for it in my bag, "Arry Ansh beta. When did you come?" My eyes struck Mami's nuptial chain as she announced his presence to me. I was in a fix, to leave or not to leave.

"Just now Aunty. Nakul called me."

"You should've come for breakfast."

"Thank you Aunty but I had it on my way."

What was he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be at the office? Still processing I smiled at her in a haze and turned around. He was standing in his signature black suit, hands folded in front and leaning back on the driver's side. He was already looking at me. Specifically in my eyes, I can tell even if I wasn't looking at his. I crossed him without glancing and went to sit at the back. The doors were locked. I tried a few times and made a heavy noise, clanking the handle to tell him to unlock the doors. But he didn't get the hint. "Excuse me." "Mr. Sharma?" "Excuse me, can you unlock this for me."