A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

3: Rumours and humours

Khushi found herself lost in the big fair. The night was illuminated with bright lights. The smell of kachoris and samosas wafted from a distance, little kids were shrieking in the rides, customers bickered and crowded in front of various stalls. Loudspeakers boomed songs from the eighties; unfamiliar tunes to her.

She began looking around to find a familiar face. But there was no one.

Deciding on some course of action, she pushed herself through the crowd8. Her legs thwarted into the soft mud, her body accidentally bumping into jittering clowns and monkeys. The aroma made her stomach growl. She called her parents and her sibling, only to receive confused expressions from strangers.

She blinked hard, her nose felt stuffy. She wiped her face with the end of her dupatta. When she was done, she looked below, discovering that she was wearing a red lehenga.

A hand appeared from the crowd
and held her wrist. Startled, she tried keeping pace while being led away. The next thing she saw was being on the top of a hill. The big figure of Ravan was rooted below. A woman hugged her tightly, a man ruffled her hair. Down in the fair, Shri Ram pointed his arrow towards Ravan's head.

They sat down on the grass to watch. She turned her head to watch the guy beside her. He was wearing a maroon kurta over his blue jeans. Drinking a can of coke, he continued watching the flames. 

Waking up, she stared wide at the white ceiling above.

While Dubey Sir taught the formula of speed in class, Budh whispered to Khushi across his row,

"We're going to race Rockit around campus, during lunch break"

"For real?" her eyes sparkled.

"You'll join us, right?"

"Of course!"

"Chup!" Dubey sir roared, making the two shudder, "Khushi! Budh! Eestand up"

They obeyed.

"What were you two whispering about?"

The taller boy stood silently, trying to avoid eye contact. He noticed Badri tyring to tell something to him.

"Khushi?"

"Nothing much sir" she grew casual, "He was asking me about a question from this one chapter-"

"He will ask a question only when he'll study, which he does not"

The class exchanged impertinent giggles.

"Khushi, I advise you that you stay five metres away from those two, else you'll not improve!"

"Okay sir" she shrugged, "I'll go to your place and you come here" 

The class gasped loudly. Badri and Budh dropped their jaws.

"Kya?"

"Sir, you only said to stay five metres away from them, but you're standing exactly five metres away right now" she giggled, "That's why I said to exchange places sir"

 The class boomed with laughter, making Dubey sir petrified. The bell rang right on time, making the devil trio feel relieved.

They sprinted outside to fetch Rockit for a ride.

"You try first" Badri held the cycle in position.

Khushi mounted on, her grip tightening around the handles. Her wrong pedaling made Budh yell at her again. After a few more tries, she succeeded pedalling the correct way.

"Good! Can we stop holding you now?" Badri said.

"DONT YOU DARE!"

"Arre then how would you learn?!" his grip softened on the crossbar as he endured her protests.