ishq kavita

Chapter 7: Zarar

“Chachoo, Chachoo! Do you Know, I'm going to be a big brother!!” Nael exclaims. A smile appears on my lips. I grab him and kiss him on the cheek. “And did your dad tell you what are the responsibilities of a big brother?” I whisper in his ears.

His eyes widened. “What responpipility?” he mumbles.

“When the baby comes, you’ll have to change the baby's dirty diapers, when the baby cries, you’ll have to dance on the baby’s favorite rhyme songs. Will you be able to do it, Nael? Hmm?”

He runs to his mother. Bhabhi, sitting on her bed, opens her arms to welcome her first child into her embrace. Nael climbs the bed, careful not to touch the bump. I smile, and suddenly another woman appears in front of me. Sitting on our bed, with her belly swollen.

Fuck.

I bite my lower lip and stand up. Nael was asking his mother something about the baby.

“Are you already leaving, Zarar?” she asks.

“Yes, Bhabhi. Meetings.” I try to smile again but the image of some particular woman doesn't leave my mind. I pick my keys up and hug Nael again. “You can always call me if you need anything, Bhabhi. I’ll leave now. Thankyou for the Samosas though." I solute Nael and when he does it back,  I leave.

She was driving me crazy.

There were no meetings. Ravi called yesterday and told me he had something to share. So, I was on my way to pick him up from the hospital.

“Hi, dude what's up?” he asks as he jumps in and ties his seat belt. He was in his green scrubs.

“What's the important thing you wanted to share?” I ask. I couldn't wait any longer.

“Can we atleast go to a nice place and sit and talk? I'm hungry.” I rolled my eyes and started the car.

“Why do I have a feeling it's something bad?” I asked him. He was testing my patience.

“It's about Dina.” A sudden jerk and we both would have been found dead in a car accident.

“Gosh, Zarar. Calm your nerves. I didn't even start.” Bad news. Bad news, My blood starts boiling.

“Is she okay?”

He stares at me for a whole minute when I jerk the car again. “Yeah man, she is fine.”

“What about her then?”

“Lets just go-”

“WHAT ABOUT HER RAVI? TELL ME OR I AM KICKING YOU OUT OF MY CAR.”

He stares at me again. “Switch seats with me first.” 

I am out before he completes the sentence.

“There’s a guy.” He says. As if it wasn't a problem.

“She likes someone?” I could feel my heart sinking.

“NO, she doesn't like someone. My family is looking out for her rishtas and a guy came home with his family yesterday to meet her.” I would spin the fucking world. I slap the dashboard while hitting my head back on the seat.

“You said you guys wouldn't let her marry before graduation!” I didn't realize my volume had risen so on the top, people outside were staring. The people seemed to be in their cars waiting for me to just stop on a service road. Ravi slowly drives the car to the side and shuts it.

“And we wouldn't, they were just here to meet her. To see if she wants to pursue-”

“PURSUE, MY ASS RAVI!” Ya Allah, why is it so hot in here? I turn on the air conditioner. “I am sending my parents tonight. Because you as hell are coward as fuck and wouldnt talk to your own sister.” his eyebrows cock to his forehead.

“Are you insane?” he beeps. “Sorry. Look. If you do this, it is going to ruin your chance. Think wisely.” He tries to explain. Think wisely? What is left to think?

“I don't feel like the 30 year old man deserves Dina. I want you to run a background check on him. I know we are going to find something on him. Once we do, we place it in front of my family and the rishta guy is gone.” he says that with such ease.

“And what if he is clean?”

“Then, we will talk to Dina. And you can send your parents too. It will be her choice then.” He was right and I hated it.

“Fuck you Ravi.”