A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

13: Fallacy

Budhdeb held the door open stealthily and stepped in. The place was bubbling with everyone as he quietly shirked away to reach upstairs. He clutched his slumpy shoulders, his face engraved with fine circular patterns on one cheek. Falling asleep on the storage room floor had delayed him to come back earlier; there was someone approaching before he had scooted away on time.

Pulling down his hood that covered his eyes, he wiped mud off its chain. Nobody seemed to have given him any attention- thank God everyone was busy.

"Hey Budh?"

He continued walking towards the stairs.

"Budhdeb!"

He halted, eyes growing as large as soup bowls. Looking back, he discovered Karan standing behind. He had worn back his clothess- the collars of his red shirt were wrinkly; his suspenders loose, pink sunglasses dangling from his chest. There was a big, grey sack under his arm.

"Oh Karan!" Budh opened his hood and smiled faintly, "Uh what's that you're holding? Hehe, looks heavy"

He blew hair off his eye and remarked, "My stuff"

"Itna?!"

He set the weight on the rug and held his hips, thinking for a while then jumping, "My sunscreen!"

Gyan gave him a side eye.

"Koi baat nahi! I'll get it for you" Budh climbed upstairs, halfway, before turning and asking, "Where did you keep it?"

"Karan" Gyan appeared while observing the useless heap, "We're leaving this place, not visiting a fancy hotel"

"What do ya mean?"

"What I mean is you can't take this with you. You will go the same way you have come, without your possessions"

"So... should I get the sunscreen or not?" Budh asked awkwardly.

"Get my purse will yuh?"

Saira arrived in the living room, struggling to drag her bulbous bagpack next to Karan's sack. After a lot of strength training, she managed to place it there and wiped her forehead. Her stockings were loose and torn at some parts, her polka-dotted skirt and soft blue sweater looked dusty.

Budh's jaw would had dropped on the floor if he were not aware about things.

"Hey! Didn't you hear what I said?" Saira sneered at him. Turning to Gyan, she gleamed, "Here Gyan, I've packed up all my things for our trip"

Karan laughed out, "Girl, who told you we're going on a trip? Khushi?"

"Um, yes?" she looked around with a shrug, "She said we were going on a long trip, so I packed-!"

"Guys!" Gyan closed his palms and jutted them forward, "I know your things are precious to you, but if you carry them along you won't be able to walk because of the weight. You need to keep them back"

"But I only got mah phone!" Karan unsheathed his Samsung flip and Iphone pro, hiding the first one when Gyan screwed his eyes, "My money, my cards, my car keys! Nothing's left! How would I live on without my sack?!"

"I'm also NOT leaving without my bag. Periodt" Saira crossed her arms and whisked away.

"I ain't leaving my sack either" Karan pulled his lower eyelids down, "See my eyebag?! How can I cure them without my skincare products?!'

"I can carry them"

They turned towards Budh.

"Nahi Budh" Gyan shook his head, "Ye sab karne ka koi matlab-"