A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

9: Wrestling with deers

Groaning with remorse, Myra slowly opened her eyes.

"Boo" Khushi's giggling face hovered above.

She screeched and fell off the bed. Standing up, she watched the girl rolling on the bed from laughter. Disgusted, she threw the pillow towards her.

"AYO!" Khushi grabbed it, "Your reactions are so lame didi!"

She sat on the bed, rolling up her sleeve to check the wound. As the gauze fell from her arm, she gasped from utter surprise.

"Healed isn't it?" Khushi laid on her back, her head dangling from the edge, "Now we're scar buddies"

Myra's phone softly glowed on the desk nearby. Picking it up, she stared at the bleak wallpaper of her and Saira in some birthday party. She checked her WhatsApp, looking at the status she had posted back in the mall, their smiling faces and teasing wink at the camera.

"Ek baat puchu?" Khushi opened the torn curtains, letting the cloudy sunlight inside, "Why do teenagers like musty dark places?" and she turned around, "Anywaaays-"

Myra had left.

Near the corridor at the base of the stairs, Jeeva flicked his cleaver like some and posed in front of the mirror, daydreaming and smiling at himself.

"Ahem"

He spun around, only to find Myra behind, "Y-you're awake?!"

"You were too busy I guess?" she looked away.

"Busy? No, not at all! I was just- you know. Guarding everyone from entities!"

"Where are the red flags?" She asked while walking away.

"Sleeping back there" he followed her behind, spinning the cleaver casually.

The blade almost stopped near his face.

"What good time to be stuck with these three bewakoof" she rolled her eyes, "And that iPad kid..."

"Tholo na untabko" Jeeva followed when his eyes fell on her arm, "But... why is your sleeve so..."

She stared.

"Brown?" His eyebrows wrinkled.

"That's tomato sauce"

"Tomato sauce?"

"I eat anything with tomato sauce" she counted her fingers, "With samosas, maggi, egg patties- Well, I smear it all the time"

Sliding his hand into his pocket, he produced the ointment tube and held it towards her.

"What's this?"

"In case you wanna get rid of sauce stains" he looked away and went towards the basement.

"Ointment for cuts?" She took it, "I never knew you'll be having such a thing"

His ears turned red.

Badri sat on a stack of plastic chairs in a corner, swinging his legs and looking through the flip phone. The room was filled with Budh's trenchant snoring, who was curled on a cardboard flap.

Gootsteps hurried down the stairs, boomed through Jeeva and Myra and slid near Budh's side.

"Budh bhaiya utho!" Khushi ruffled his hair, "Else Mega Robot will come!!!!"

"Aitha nahi uthega" scoffed Jeeva, crossing his arms and leaning near the doorframe, "This place can cripple itself and he'd still be lying dead like that"

"You slept like a beaten up lizard on the floor for hours" Badri jumped down the chairs, "If I found a broom, I would have swept you out!"

"Bhaiyaaaaa!" she ran towards him and smacked his arm, "I'm bored here!"