A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

10: Happy New Yearn

A packet of biriyani laid in the middle of the room. On its right was a glass window fixed to place by tape, a broken laptop without a keyboard, used more for repairing . On its left was a mattress, rolled and kicked into a corner to make space on the floor, littered with empty peanut packets, a charging cable and a bottle of mango juice. Excluding the stack of boxes was a Qutub Minar of pillows threatening to collapse anytime, their cotton fillings travelling the littered floor.

Resting his elbow on the quilt, Jeeva yawned at the triplets performing staring competition on the poor biriyani. It was the middle of the night and they were hungry; unfortunately there was only one packet remaining not yet eaten thanks to tigri's antics.

"Jeeva, time bata" murmured Mukesh, his eyes glued to the biriyani. If it could grow hands it would have slapped him.

"Stop distracting!" Ganesh hissed, tearing up as if he were cutting onions with his pupils.

"Jesht bhrata?" Ramesh gawked, "Isse mera attention span span thik hojayega?"

"Attention span sey zyada gareeb hone ka dukh horaha hai"

"Jeeva, time bata" Mukesh asked again.

"AHHH!" Rolling backwards and messing up his hair, Jeeva kicked his feet in the air, "KOI TWASTH VYAKTI YE KAL TAKTA HAI JO TUM TEENO KAL LAHE HO?!"

"Arre hum tujhe thori dekh rahe hai?" Mukesh giggled, "Just few more minutes"

"Hours!"

"Arre bhay, tum kahe gussa karta?" Ramesh said, "After this gets over, we'll let you take the first bite"

"Jeeva ka annaprashan" Mukesh chuckled.

"Maal khata huwa attha nahi lagega tu" Jeeva gave him a side eye.

"But this was a good one don't you think?"

"Yeah" He looked above, "Your jokes are like food, not everyone gets them"

"Care to explain your joke to me?" Mukesh smiled.

I can!" Ramesh hollered.

"Shut up" Jeeva silenced him. This was getting out of hand. When he assumed the triplets would go to sleep peacefully, they were playing stupid games up late and forcing him to participate. If they created havoc, uncleji would beat them up, and then beat him for not keeping them down. Time was slipping out of his hands.

"Jeeva time?" Mukesh murmured.

Jeeva snatched the biriyani odd the floor.

"OYE!!!" Their eyes got pulled up.

"Competition over"

"NO!" Ramesh yelled, "How're we gonna divide that now?!"

"Aja bhille" his eyes narrowed wickedly.

"Ahhhhh, going for the shortcut?" Mukesh stood up and rolled up his imaginary sleeves.

"Just like old times" Ganesh cracked his knuckles.

"Well, I don't advocate violence," Ramesh's eyes gleamed, "But in this case it's worth the try!"

Jumping across the quilt, he ran around the room with the triplets tailing behind. Surprisingly he was more experienced than them; blocking them with his palm was cakewalk to him.

Running towards the Qutub Minar, he skipped across and launched a pillow towards Mukesh.

He grabbed it effortlessly and grinned, "No external objects permitted"