Always Is Not Forever (Breaking Myself - Part II)

52. The One Where I Marry Him

[ K A B I R ' S P O V ]

"What are you doing here?" Dad asked, standing up from his chair with his suit jacket undone and hair waved past his forehead.

Peering at mom and Udisha, I shrugged my shoulders. They had brought me here. I was insisting I wanted to go and play with Rahul, but however, they wanted me to come with them. Nisha was lucky. She got bailed due to staying at bhua's house.

"We're going tonight," Mom insisted, leaving my hand. I rolled my eyes at her behaviour. I was thirteen years old. I could remember the way around this hotel even if it was nothing more than a maze.

Before I could say anything further, Udisha placed her hand in front of my eyes and darkness followed.

"What are you doing?" Dad's voice invaded my ears.

"Securing his innocent eyes."

"I'm not innocent," I grumbled, removed her hand from my face. "It's not new for me. If they don't have shame, why should we?"

"Why I think he's going to be like you?" Mom mumbled under her breath. "God, save him."

"That's my son." Dad grinned. "Come here, Kabir. I bought a new basketball."

"You did?" Grinning, I joined next to him but he pointed at his seat. Looking around, I sat on it and stared at the brouchers splayed across his table.

"I will give you tonight, but right now you've some business to do." He tapped his fingers on the cars. "Choose any."

"Arnav," Mom interrupted, but dad held his hand, silencing her.

"Choose. It will be your gift."

"He's just thirteen," Udisha exasperated. "I got a car three months ago."

"Because you weren't interested before. You learned now. So, I gave you now. And don't complain, I gave you what you wanted. Now, it's Kabir's turn. He loves cars. We will teach him soon. I will teach him." Dad ruffled my hair. "Kabir, what are you waiting for? Choose."

Ignoring their banters, I maundered my gaze around the shields, the images and placed my finger on a black sleek car.

"No way," Mom argued. "No way he will be driving that."

"But dad." I looked up at him. "I want this."

"And we will surely have it." He winked at me. "He's not getting a Lamborgini now. We can store it in the basement. Where is Nisha?"

Udisha narrowed her eyes at me, her fingers tapping on both sides of her elbows but a grin was plastered on her face.

"We have a dinner at your sister's house," Mom informed whilst I stared at the sleek black car that would be mine soon. I would be the first one in my friends to own a car, the first one to learn it. "Nisha is already there."

"I'm driving," Udisha jumped up and down. "Please, dad. Can I go now? Please, please. Kabir can come with me."

"No," I declared, leaning back in dad's chair. "She's a bad driver."

"I'm not," She stomped her foot, came to my side and dragged me down the chair. "Come with me."

"Di-"

"Come." She glared at me. "I'm a new driver. Let me practice."

"Dad, mom," I looked back, pleading to both of them but they shrugged their shoulders in reply. They never came in siblings fighting, always letting us sort it out. Most of the times, me and Nisha fought, taking we both were of same age, and Udisha, being elder solving our fights.