A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

7: Time and tide wait for none

"Do fairies exist?"

"If you believe in them then they do" Budh's solemn face blushed with a smile, "Tum dono toh fairies hi ho, very pretty!"

"No way!" Budh choked from laughter, suspensefully gazing at Badri who stopped narrating halfway, "I never said that to them!"

"Yes you did" Badri guffawed, "And a hundred unimaginable things! If I wasn't there, you definitely would have lost it"

They could watch the orange flames staining the dull kadhai all day, where strings of chowmein, sauces and chopped herbs deliciously collided into each other. The strength of onions and chilli left them in tears as the duo sat together on one broken, imperfect plastic seat outside the little Chinese shop. The kitchen heat surpassed the humidity of that bright summer night, such days which made one's face melt into sweat. Fervent ways, for Badri, were possible to let go only after this climate would forge its way out of the year.

Two plates of momo and hakka noodles were served on their palms. Keeping the plates on their laps, they looked around for an empty table. The nearest was occupied by a couple pulling strings of noodles into their mouths.

The red chutney made Badri's upper palate burn; juicy chicken slipped out of its flour shell. He breathed and fanned his stinging lips. The intermittent gusts of wind added in to the sensation.

"Why do you eat spicy stuff when you can't stand it?" Budh pressed his coke bottle over his sweaty cheek, "Drink this"

The burn lingered while being passed through the fizz, till it slowly relieved his tongue. The subtle, scarce wind blew over the orange flames like one blowing steam over hot chai.

Thrice Badri checked the table, each time finding the lousy couple relishing on manchurian chicken.

"Momo will get over, but we still won't get a table" Budh giggled, plopping a momo into his mouth.

"Dekh uss launde ko" he scoffed, "He's treating the girl as if she's Miss. Universe or something!"

Budh's eyes turned dimmer, "Humara time bhi ayega"

"Sahi bola partner" he rested his face on his hands, "When we'll be in college na, everything will be possible, like in Student of the Year"

"Does that mean.... we'll get to drive a stylish bike around campus?"

"Yup"

"And go to those parties, kya bolta hai?" He snapped his fingers, "Yes! Porom!"

"Prom hota hai woh" Badri dipped a momo into the chicken soup, "And do you know Budh? You can bunk anytime you want: no teacher yelling, no murga, no homework, no tension!"

"Yaar partner" Budh began twirling the noodles with a fork as the oil scattered over the shining plate, "It has only been a week we passed out... but it doesn't feel it na?"

"Heard about Gyan?"

"Nope"

"I heard he has already started preparing for some exam" Badri narrated, "Sabina's studying for some admission test, Jeeva has already enrolled into five colleges and three universities out of town"

"Kitna ajeeb log hai humare batch mey" Budh snickered, "Everyone relaxes in college. But they're applying their school wala formula here too!"

"Bechare log!"

They broke into a caustic giggle.

The couple left, and before anyone else could rush in, they flew towards the table and sat facing each other.