Stuck Together

3

•strange meetings•

The blazing glow of the sun casts a pulchritudinous spectrum of emotions through the window glass. A soft ray falls on my face, breaking my alluring slumber.

I take a sharp intake of fresh air, exasperated, rubbing my eyes when - an ear-piercing bitchy scream booms in my ear from behind.

"Mummy!"
I wake up, startled, my hand caressing my pounding heart.

Ankit grins lopsidedly, as if he wasn't wailing in my ear like a bitch.

"Good morning, Behna," he nods appreciatively.

I slap his cheek.

"Idiot," I rake a frustrated hand through my messy bun and collapse onto my pillow.

"Aye, say sorry." He pulls my bun.

"What the fuck?" I almost cry. "Lemme sleep."

"Say sorry," he snarls.

"KRITI!"

He groans with a cry, releasing my hair with a soft tug.

"Leave," I dismiss him.

"I'm here to give you news. Breaking news, you-" He scoffs.

"Bark," I groggily cut in.

"Izzat se izzat (ask with respect)," he points demandingly.

"Kripya Bhokiye mahashay (Please bark, sir)" I say with a side-eye, joining my hands.

"Ji," he agrees, getting on his knees. "I have news related to marriage. There's an occasion today. We've a relative's engagement to attend."

"Ye konse naye rishtedaar paida hogaye? Kon paida kar rha hai unko? (What new relatives have popped up? Who's producing them?)" I sit startled, hugging the pillow.

"Ho gaye, pta nhi kaha se? Papa ki Factory se, badmein complain krna (Who knows where they came from? Maybe from Dad's factory; go complain later)."

"Now listen, Dad asked Mom to inform you... that you need to come home early. There's something fishy. They're eager. What if they're planning to get you hitched with someone? Introduce him there?"

Okay, that's something suspicious. But I can't praise my brother. It's a crime in the siblings'world.

"Jyada serials ki bahu nanad mat ban (Don't become a typical daughter-in-law of shows). I'll see what's in the bag." I interject.

"For getting you this news... Reward," he curls and uncurls his fingers sheepishly.

"Get lost," I plomp back onto my pillow, and hear him scoff he trudged.

"Kalyug. Ghor Kalyug (It's a terrible era). No appreciation for good deeds."

I smile, snuggling into my pillow.
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The news he gave turns out to be true.

Every night, all working employees wish for is to come back home - finish leftover work and fall on the bed as if we're obsessed with one thing - sleep.

So soothing!

But today, my father announced at breakfast that his mysterious relative granddaughter is getting engaged, and yours truly, the 5-years-younger Aunt of the bride - I must be present. Dad's all relatives would be there.