Dono Jud Ke Judaa (Slow Updates)

Nimantran

Somewhere there is someone looking for the strange you are
~ Atticus

***

"Bhabhi guess what!" Devika barges inside the room and stops when she sees that Hriday has already arrived home.

He's started coming early nowadays.

"I'm borrowing bhabhi for a minute ha" she says to him and pulls me out of the room. I can see Hriday from here but we're out of hearing distance.

Uff ab kya baat ho gayi?

"Rahul ko police ne arrest kar liya" she whisper yells at me.

"What! Kab!?" I ask in complete shock.

"Aaj shaam ko. I don't know, somehow the police came to know that he does drugs and uske ghar ki talaashi li gayi. Vo fass gaya buri tarah. He'll be obviously out on bail but maine sunaa hai ke usse rehabilitation centre me bheja jaayega" she says.

"That's great Devika. He's getting what he deserves" I grin widely.

"I know!" She jumps up and down. "But I wonder who told the police. Must be a really big personality because his father is some big government officer and you know how corrupt the inside system is" she says.

The face of Hriday flashes before my eyes.

I turn my head to look at him and his eyes are already on us. He quickly looks away when I catch him.

Oh boy! Toh ye hai big personality.

"Kya pata kon hoga" I say shaking my head.

"This calls in for a celebration!" She squeals and enters back inside the room.

"Bhai chalo movie dekhne jaate hai. Bhabhi ready ho jaao" she says.

I already know the reply he'll give to this. And if what I think is wrong, then I'll shave one eyebrow of mine.

Mujhe kaam hai.

"Mujhe kaam hai Devika. I can't" he says.

Ha! Bach gaya eyebrow.

"Bhai please" she whines.

"I seriously can't, Devika. Office ke side wale building ka renovation shuru hai and there's a lot of noise there because of heavy construction work. Isliye I come home early. I'm already behind my schedule" he says. "Shravni ko le jaao".

"No.. sorry Devika" I say quickly. "I don't like watching movies".

"What? Movies nahi pasand?" She asks with her eyes wide.

I feel Hriday's eyes burning holes into the back of my head.

"Hmm" I say.

"Kya yaar bhabhi. Agar mera mood achha nahi hota abhi toh I'd throw a tantrum. But I'm letting you off this time" she says and walks away.

"So..." I say looking at Hriday.

"So?" He raises an eyebrow.

Playing innocent then? Aapki marzi. Let's play it your way.

"Devika ko jo ladka pareshaan kar raha tha usse jail ho gayi" I say trying to gauge his reaction. His face gives nothing away.

"Good" he says indifferently as he scrolls through the phone.

"Kisi ne uske baare me complain ki that he consumes drugs" I say.

"Achha?" He asks without looking up.