Stuck Together

1

•upside down•

Life turns upside down when I go from saying "I don't want to get married" to --

"Mummy, mujhe shaadi karni hai" (Mom, get me married).

I hear a huge gasp from the dining table. I scrunch my nose, glancing at my younger sibling, who stares at me dumbstruck. It's not every day they hear me say such an idiotic sentence.

"Kis khushi mein?" (On what occasion?) she mumbles, flipping the roti and finely keeping them in the casserole. See, she doesn't even seem the slightest bit fazed.

"I don't want to remain single, yaar. It's infuriating to be single; I don't want to die a nun. Give me at least a chance to behave like those lovey-dovey couples."

She scrunches her nose. She cringes? Ladies and gentlemen, my mother doesn't take me seriously!

She saunters out of the kitchen with the casserole to the dining hall, all the while I follow her like a puppy.

"Go and arrange a groom. Naina is gonna get married soon" I clap my hands gleefully, trying to draw her attention.

"Who'll marry you? No one will take you even with dowry... or agr le liya na to wo bhi zindagi bhar mujhe hi shrap de dega ki kaisi ladki ke saath fasa diya" (and if someone does, he'll curse me for getting stuck with you). My mother clicks the roof of her tongue and then laughs at own roasting skills.

I blink twice. I bet my jaw must have touched the ground, given the size my eyes widen at her sheer insult.

Ankit chuckles behind my backs. My jaws clench at his stupid face. This idiot! If he weren't my brother, I would yank the window frames and smash his head repeatedly until he would beg for mercy right here. But I'm not that blessed, given my unfortunate fate. Worse than Jethalal Gada's.

"Haan to karlo na Aditya se shaadi. Wo toh pehle se hi fasa hua hai" (Why don't you marry Aditya? He's already stuck with you). This dog suggests, gulping huge sips of water. Get that choked in your throat.

"Haan or teri uski behen se kara du?" (Should I arrange your marriage with his sister?) He chokes on the water.

I gasp, looking heavenward. You heard it so soon?! But God, I was... uh, joking. Don't take it so seriously; I've only one sibling.

"What happened?" My mother caresses his back while he coughs his venom out. Her eyes shoot at me with fury. What did I do?

As his cough ceases, he yelps, "God, Naina, at least say what's bearable."

My mother delivers a fitting smack on his head. "How many times have I told you not to talk while drinking? But no, as both of your ages increase, your thinking capacity decreases. Inversely!" She finishes glaring at me.

"What did I do?" I whine, stomping my feet on the ground.

"Shut up. You both are the same," she scolds before scrambling inside the kitchen.

The jackass hollers aloud, looking at my stunned face.

I scoff, nevertheless chuckling at last, sitting next to him at the head of the dining table.

A clearing of throat ceases our laughter.

Papa marks his presence, sitting on the other head of the four-seater dining table.

He shoots us a curious glance before asking softly, "What's so funny?"

I shake my head nonchalantly before looking down at my empty plate.