Chapter two: Just another cliche
It had never been an easy job for him to sneak back into the house. There was always someone who'd see him.
Lucky for him, it was Tanya this time.
She smirked as she stood beside him in the elevator.
"Late night huh?" She nudged him with his elbow.
Kartik nodded.
"How was she?" She asked.
Their relationship had always been that of best friends. They could talk about anything and everything.
Of course Mahaya was his sister but there were things Kartik felt comfortable talking about only to Tanya.
Kartik took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.
"That good or that bad?" She asked, confused.
"That good. I think she was almost as good as much. It was awesome. And the moment when she went down and lic-" Kartik began but was stopped soon.
Tanya had placed her hands over her ears and had started singing.
"Pregnant lady here. I don't want my baby to know these things before she's hit puberty."
"So it's a she?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Tanya had announced her pregnancy four months ago. And Kartik felt really happy. He hadn't been around pregnant ladies much but the kids and babies, oh boy did he love them.
The pregnancy was what partly made him want to settle. Mahaya was engaged since a year and was going to be married in another. Tanya was already married for a year and pregnant.
Everyone was moving on in their lives, moving forward.
Kartik wanted that feeling too.
"No. I won't know for maybe another month or so but I want it to be a she." Tanya grinned.
Kartik noticed the glow on Tanya's face. She looked radiant.
The elevator doors pinged open.
"The glow suits you." He commented as he got out.
Tanya rolled her eyes.
"You try throwing up all morning. You'll get that glow too." She replied as the doors shut and the elevator moved upwards.
Kartik had secretly worried that since Mahaya didn't live here anymore, Tanya's visit would stop. But they didn't. They did lessen in number but she was there three times a week, whether it was to meet Disha Roy, Deb Roy or simply hear the spiritual lecture of his grandmother.
Kartik had just began to unbutton his shirt when he heard his Skype calling.
There were two video messages. And someone was calling him right now.
He accepted and saw Yashraj sitting on a bed.
"Hey. Where you guys now?" Kartik asked as he unbuttoned his shirt.
After a moment, Yashraj replied, "We're in Boston now. Tomorrow we'll be leaving for Seattle."
"That's great." Kartik said as he drank water from the glass on the table beside.
Strangely, this glass of water, having no relevance whatsoever, reminded him of that girl.
"But that's not why we called. Mahaya wanted to talk." Yashraj said and at that moment, The camera shifted and Mahaya came into view.
