Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 61. Troublesome relatives

Shrishti was peacefully watching some videos on javelin throw when the bell rang. She did not budge from her bed and only lifted her head to listen carefully. She heard the main door open and then some murmur. She could not recognise the voices as the murmurs were indistinct but she understood that more than two people must have arrived. She sat up on the bed. Who would come now? Then she heard movements and then her Pappa's clear voice. She did not hear what he said but it was clear he was entertaining some guests. She shrugged. Must be some of Pappa's work friends!

But then Shrishti's door was knocked. She gave the person the permission and it was Vishesh Uncle telling her that her Bua, her Chachi and her Dadi had arrived. Her eyes widened. What were those three doing in her house?

Shrishti took in a deep breath as Uncle left. She went to the mirror and checked herself to make sure she looked decent. But that was just a façade. She was trying to bolster her courage to face the trio. She could handle one of them but not all three together. Her stomach was churning out of anxiety. She shook her head. Maybe she was overreacting! Maybe it was nothing! May it was just a courtesy call! But her heart still raced in her chest. Who was she fooling? The ladies of her family never gave courtesy calls! They came for functions, festivals and parties. They came when they needed to fight or stay for few nights. They came when invited. They never came uninvited though.

Shrishti shook her head. 'It is no use speculating.', she told the girl in the mirror, 'Better go and see what they want.'

And yet Shrishti could not move. There was fear in the eyes of the girl in the mirror. Shrishti took deep breaths, drank some water, looked at her mom's photo for encouragement before turning and marching out of the door. Better get it done and over with!

It was her Chachi who spotted Shrishti first.

'Pari!', she said cheerfully before getting up and coming over to hug her. Despite all the anxiety in Shrishti's mind, she automatically smiled and hugged the lady. Whatever flaws the lady had, Shrishti did have some fond memories of her.

Bua got up and hugged her, her smile dim and her manner restrained but that was just Bua being Bua.

Shrishti finally turned to the last lady. She went and touched her feet. Dadi blessed her in a stiff tone. Shrishti scoffed mentally. So Dadi was still unhappy with her since their last meeting. Interesting! Then she went and touched the feet of her Chachi and Bua, following the ranks of seniority. Then finally she sat down next to her Pappa and smiled at them.

'Its good that Pari is so well.', Chachi murmured with a demure smile.

'We were worried she would be sad.', Bua said just as tea was served to all of them. As they sipped the tea, Shrishti frowned. What did they mean by that?

'Why would she be sad?', Pappa asked. Shrishti looked at the three ladies curiously too. What were they even talking about?

'Don't you know, Bhaiyya?', Bua asked, looking wide eyed. The concern was clear in her voice. Even Chachi looked concerned. Only Dadi looked angry.

'What is it? Stop trying to build tension and just tell me.' Pappa looked annoyed now.

'Ronnie told me....', Chachi said and Shrishti resisted the urge to groan. Anything Ronnie said was nothing but bad news for her. That fellow noted things wrong and told the story after twisting it into something sinister. Now what was coming her way? Couldn't she catch a break?

'Ronnie told the whole college hates Shrishti!', Chachi declared. Bua gasped as if she was hearing the tale for the first time. Dadi scoffed and sent a glare Shrishti's way. Shrishti was not amused. What whole college? Her classmates had stopped hating her after seeing her and Raghav together. Out of the rest of the college, the third year have already forgotten her and were focusing on their studies. And as far as the remaining people were concerned, they were done hating her and were now focused on watching her and seeing her downfall if she had any. But of course, Ronnie would turn this whole thing into whole college hating her. What was next in Ronnie's tall tale? Her classmates threw eggs and tomatoes at her?