Rakhi With A Twist [COMPLETED]

Hey, I Just Met You, And This Is Crazy, But I Really Want To Punch You

RINNNG!

The bell rang and everyone rushed out of the class. Another day of school over. I still hadn't talked to Chirag about the tournament, and days were slipping by.

"So, if not curry, what do you eat all day?" My best friend of 5 years, Laura, asked me with a teasing smirk on her face.

"Seriously? You have been on countless sleepovers at my house. I eat different things, just like you."

Laura laughed. "I know, I know. I was just joking. By the way, that Pav Bhaji (an Indian dish; eaten with buns (pav)) your mum made last time, I need to have that again. It was delicious."

It was my turn to smirk. "Told you."

When we turned the corner in the hallway, I stopped in my tracks and a shiver went down my spine. 

Chirag stood pinned to the wall, and with his arm against Chirag's neck stood none other than the Year 12 bully, Alex.

Kiaan had told me a few days ago Alex had been picking on Chirag for the past few days. He had tried to interject but Chirag brushed him off, as usual. Alex was one of those people who picked on random people who seemed to be in his way. You would think that in the last year of the school, everyone would be mature enough to not get kicks out of bullying someone. But no, not in our school.

Now it looked like Alex had taken that picking to a whole new level. Chirag's caramel skin was lined with sweat and he had a huge bruise on his left arm.

"How dare you interrupt me when I am talking ?" Alex sneered. "You need to learn a thing or two about not interfering when grown ups are talking. I rule these hallways, better get that in your head."

Chirag grunted and managed to twist Alex's arm and lock it behind his back. Unluckily, Alex was quick and used his other elbow to stab Chirag in the stomach.

"Aaahh!" Chirag was clearly in pain, but I was frozen in my spot.
Laura's panic stricken eyes managed to steer me out of my daze. "Zara, you need to do something, quick!"

How could I possibly help him, I could only punch that guy, and that's exactly what Chirag hated. I started to say to Laura, "but Chirag doesn't like it when"–

"I don't care what he thinks of you boxing right now. He is your brother. You need to help him. You need to go."

All those years of criticism held me back. All I could think about was Chirag's face full of disapproval.

The breaking point came when that idiot kicked Chirag in the ribs and I heard a loud CRACK!

Then I saw red.

Next thing I knew, my fist made contact with Alex's gut and he went stumbling backward. Stabling himself, he advanced towards me with punch drawn. Before he could do anything else, I kicked his hand aside and punched him backwards in the face.

"Zara! You don't need to get involved in this," Chirag exclaimed. His was clutching his left side and stood up with pain.

"Yes I do", I huffed, deciding to put to an end to my conflicts once and for all.

***

The day was Raksha Bandhan. I had woken up early to decorate my plate and arrange all the Rakhis on it. I hadn't talked to either Chirag or Kiaan since the incident. They both had been quiet and hushed for the past two days.

Mum was obviously a bit worried about what happened but was happy that I had interjected.

Mum called, "Zara, Kiaan, Chirag, it's time to tie the Rakhis."

When we all gathered around the coffee table, Chirag and Kiaan would refuse to look at me.

"Boy, I really did mess up this time," I muttered to myself.

Mum gestured to us to begin.

So I did the usual ritual of applying a vermillion mark on Kiaan and Chirag's forehead and tied all their respective Rakhis around their wrists. Without meeting their eyes, of course.

Chirag cleared his throat and met my eyes. "So, your gift. This year Kiaan and I contributed towards a mutual gift. I think it's safe to say you will love it."

That surprised me because they always gave me separate gifts. Now I knew I was in trouble. my punishment was getting only one gift.

The gift was neatly wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a bow on top. Kiaan. He was a pro when it came to gift wrapping.

Attached to the top was an envelope. I took it off the top and ripped one side open with my finger. Inside was a letter. Intrigued, I opened it.

Dear Zara,

We are pleased to know that you will be participating in this year's Under-18 Amateur Boxing Tournament. Thank you for your prompt response.

You will need to bring your own equipment for the tournament, and extra training sessions are recommended. Your staying arrangements have been made by the management.

We look forward to seeing you perform in the tournament from 6th of September.

Good luck,

Adrian Jeffords

Director

State Boxing Association

My breath hitched. "I don't know –"

"Before you say anything, open up the rest of the gift," Kiaan said.

I tore away the wrapping. Inside was a blue box. Lifting the lid, I saw a perfectly new pair of boxing gloves.

"Now another thing. I think we both agree when I say that is not so much a gift but a right."

He dangled a Rakhi I had never seen before in my face. "Now, I never told you this," he began, "or anyone for that matter, but the reason why I was such a.... why I hated the fact that you were a boxer was, well, was because I was jealous."

Mum and Kiaan's eyes widened at the sudden revelation, and I was sure I was looking the same.

"I wanted to be a boxer too, you know, at a certain point in my life, but I never had the aptitude for it. I practiced in my room, but could never take a punch. My stance was all wrong, punches not strong enough. I was too clumsy. When you wanted to become a boxer, I could never believe it. But then, you got into that studio of yours, and you were doing pretty well, the jealousy just fueled. I guess the more you achieved, the more jealous I got, and took my anger out on you. It sounds really selfish and egotistical of me, it was really selfish, but I couldn't help it."

I stayed quiet, sensing there was more.

"But the other day," he continued, "when you defended me from Alex, even though I didn't like it at first, I realised how self centred I had been, and what I had put you through. Yet, there you were, defending from the Year 12 bully. I think I speak for Kiaan as well when I say that you deserve the honour of protecting us as much as we do. And we would love for you to participate in and train for the championships." He extended the rakhi towards me.

I could feel my cheeks moisten as I took it from Chirag. I felt nothing but pride as I tied a rakhi around both of my brothers' wrist.

It had certainly been Rakhi with a twist.

There ya' go folks!
Did you like it?
Let me know what you think and don't forget to vote, comment and share

Peace!
Manika