A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

5: Come as you are

A solitary veranda stood against the natural odds of the architecture. It stretched across the topmost floor where large fern leaves casted cell-like shadows over Badri's face. Colours had drained away crumbling wall paint, windows bearing swirly, vintage designs he had seen in the older parts of their town.

The rest were below. If someone pranced or walked vigorously around, the ones present above could hear them.

A streetlamp casted on the large courtyard, upon which the house overlooked.

Badri felt someone was here before. One foot against the wall and one on the floors, his crossed his arms and leaned on the door. The white curtain was tucked over it, dust rained when he tried to put it down.

Walking into the veranda, Budh clutched the bronze handle and solemnly asked,

"Who's this toddler you're finding Badri?"

His eyes grew unconceiving.

"Partner dara maat! As if this house isn't scary enough..."

Pressing a random switch under the dim red light, Budh stared at the ceiling fan and thelights to find out which switch belonged to what. The lights turned on, dull white, flickering from the ceiling fan. A table rested in the middle of the room, covered with checkered oilcloth and spare spoons in a mug.

He sat over the table and dangled his legs. Streetlight casted into the chaukat brightly like someone wishful to hear them talk.

"She met us in the past, didn't she?"

Badri stopped tracing the textures wall. He turned and nodded slowly.

"Sooooo... you last told about some, some soft light" he played with the edge of the oilcloth, "The one Khushi saw at your house-"

"It wasn't Khushi who saw it. It was mummy"

Khushi's distinctive chuckle wafted inside, followed by a soft groan from the twin friends. Something made of iron twisted in a repetitive manner.

"It must be evening now" said Budh.

"Why?"

"Kuch chatpate khane ka mann kar raha hai"

He began looking around for snacks: any trace of peanuts, banana chips, papad or dry sweets. In the farthest wall cabinet was a Tupperware box. But when Budh opened it, he found needle and thread.

"You know what I think?" Badri spoke, "That light was no ordinary light. It must had been some portal"

"Like the one we fell into?" He took out a spoon and observed his inverted reflection.

"Yup. Back in the past, the three of us were outside"

He turned with keen eyes.

"I left toddler Khushi with the T.V on for Shinchan" he revealed things from the flip phone, "But when we came back, she was gone. Everyone was there, us, the police and... a bunch of nosy people-"

"Three of us?" Budh shifted towards him, "THREE of us?!"

"You, me and Khushi"

"Wow..." he gasped out of joy, hurling his fists into the cold air, "Shit! Kash humko yaad ajata"

"Wahi toh" Badri phubbed with the flip phone, "If Khushi met us when we were kids, we should had remembered her, atleast a little. But we don't. Isn't that weird?"

Budh looked at the ground.

"The older episodes were shown at five pm" he put his elbow on his knees, "The new episodes till eight. If past me had left the T.V on before going out, that means we were out after five pm"