ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 74

Nishtha

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

He got us a car, that too the same car which I was saving up to get Neel. I couldn't help but feel in awe about it. I could see his effort. I really could. Now it was one me to either accept it or walk away, and I didn't know what to do.

Currently, I saw him sit with Neel, filing in his US university applications for his Master's programs, while Aai and Baba were resting in their room. I was working when I saw this.
He could have gone home but he's staying.

"Hi." Yuvaan said, noticing me.
"Hi." I replied back, still confused.
"Neel is applying, I'm helping him apply for his universities. You wanna see?"
I nodded and sat near them, "Show which uni's you are applying to?"
He showed me the laptop. I scanned and then spoke, "Damn, these are good."

"Neel, if you get into UC Berkeley and University of Chicago, then where will you go?" Yuvaan teased and I looked at him.
"He'll go to his sister's university." I replied.
"He can go to his brother's university as well." Yuvaan teased back.
"Guys?" Neel said and we looked at him, "Don't flirt in front of me please. I'm good."
Yuvaan chuckled, "Sorry bro."
"I'm not flirting." Nishtha said, "I'm just saying you can go to this same uni as me."
"Well, we'll find out." Neel said.

Once he finished, Neel said that he is going to go take the new car for a drive. I nodded and he left, leaving just me and Yuvaan at home with Aai Baba who were sleeping.

"So?" Yuvaan said, "What do you want to do?"
"If you're bored you can go home." She said.
"Who said I want to go home?"
"I did."
"I'm not going." He said.
"Well, I am." I replied.
"What? Why?" I asked.
I looked at him, then shrugged my shoulder, "Nothing, no reason."
"Tell me, Nishtha." He asked again.

I sighed, "These family friends, they're not friends, or family. They're just snakes. They don't care about anything, bas nazar laga ke chale jaate hai." I scoffed.

He chuckled, "I see."
I looked at him, "Go home. You don't stay."

"Why not?" He teased.
"Because I'm saying so." I said, crossing my arms, "Go home, Yuvaan."

"Arre, but I want to meet them." He said.
I glared at him, "You won't get it, forget it."

I was about to get up when he pulled me down and I landed right next to him. I looked at him as he cut me off before I could talk, "Nishu, no one can put nazar on us, don't worry. If you want, I'll remove the evil eye off us everyday. Okay?"

"That's easy to say." I said, "These guys have - they were the last ones we saw before... the 4 years."

I sighed, "I don't want to play with your beliefs Nishu, but what happened 4 years ago was my fault and my Bua's fault - not theirs. Practically. I don't know about your nazar thing, but they weren't the ones who treated you that way."

"I know, but..." I just stayed silent.

~•~

I got dressed in a blue salwar suit with a white patiala pant and duppata. Knowing that there are guests coming, I put sindoor in the partition of my hair, then braided it and let it rest on my shoulder. I did my basic makeup and changed my earrings and then came outside, where I saw Yuvaan had freshened up.

He dressed in a simple kurta and pants and rolled his sleeves up as he helped Neel pick an outfit for the evening.

Aai was getting food ready in the kitchen while Baba was adjusting the seats outside. I walked to Aai, "Do you need help?"