The Partham Chronicles

Part 20 - Balancing Act

Aaden got up early in the morning on a Sunday for two reasons: first, he was too excited for his Seconds' club training, and the second reason was that, as it was a Sunday, he had a feeling that Neela would be there too.

He got up, freshened up and went downstairs to fix himself a breakfast. He didn't want to wake anyone else. When he reached downstairs he saw Tashvin in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge.

" What are you doing?" Aaden asked.

Tashvin was startled, slammed against the fridge door and let out a small cry. " You scared the shit out of me."

He was standing near the fridge in his shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops. His hair was all a mess and he was carrying a soft toy in one of his hands. Aaden noticed that it was the penguin which he and Vysna had gifted Tash on his fourth birthday. Tashvin immediately hid the toy behind him. Aaden smiled at the thought that Tash had still kept the toy and slept with it. All the intelligent talks and science experiments aside, his younger brother was still a sweet and timid boy with a tender heart.

" What are you doing awake this early?" Aaden asked him again. " Did you sleep at all last night?"

" I...um, I was working on an experiment. I did sleep last night, but I dreamt about an idea regarding the project that I am working on and was startled awake by the thought." Tashvin replied. His appearance was shabby but his eyes looked active and bright.

" Then what are you doing near the fridge?" Aaden asked.

" I wanted lemons..." He replied.

" Lemons?" Aaden asked," What do you need lemons for?"

" I needed a very tiny volt of current for the project and didn't have a battery. So, it was either lemons or potatoes." Tashvin shrugged." I didn't find any potatoes...but found lemons." He opened the fridge again and took out a few lemons.

" Okay then, carry on with whatever you were doing," Aaden said and was about to leave.

" Where are you going this early?" Tashvin asked him.

Aaden gulped." Uh... practice ..." Trying to sound convincing. He was hoping that Tash would not probe him with any more questions so he started to move out of the kitchen.

" Practice? On a Sunday?" He furrowed his brows and tilted his head. " You are wearing your favourite shirt."

Aaden looked down and then cleared his throat," Of... Of course, I am. Why? Am I not allowed to? I can wear my favourite shirt whenever I want." He tried to sound confident.

" Yeah....of course you are," Tashvin smirked.

" Now move aside, I want to make a shake. I want to eat something before I leave." Aaden walked past Tashvin and took milk and cream out of the fridge. He picked up two bananas from a basket on the countertop and walked towards the blender. All the while avoiding looking at him.
" Why don't you get back to your experiment or project or whatever it is you're doing," he said.

" Yes I will," he said and started to walk out of the kitchen. He peeped back from one side of the door. " And by the way, I think Neela will like the new perfume you are wearing." He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

" You..." Aaden frowned at him and he disappeared behind the door.

He sighed and started the blender. How the hell did Tash figure out that he was hoping to meet Neela? Aren't you making it obvious? A voice inside him spoke. He smiled, but after a while, his smile disappeared. He wondered for how long he would have to lie to his family. The guilt had been pestering him for so long. Even if he knew that this was his only opportunity he couldn't bear the idea that he had kept his family on the blind side. He knew that it was okay for him to keep this secret from his parents but to keep it from Tashvin seemed unfair. He had thought many times to come clean with Tash. At least let him know about the Club and leave it for him to decide whether he wants to join it or not.