Not Around The Corner

He's Not That Bad

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~ Mother Teresa

On the way downstairs I filled Nikhil on my personal life. He wasn’t happy to hear I was dating a nerd from his class. He was being all impossible. A total pain if I may add.

I was driving now and answering all of his stupid questions.

“Why him?” he asked.

“Why not him?” I counter asked.

Every single minute since I told Nikhil was turning sour.

“Akash? The nerd? Couldn’t you find somebody better?” he asked with a disgusted look.

“What is wrong with him? And since when did being a nerd matter?” I asked. He was still angry.

“What are you really angry about Nik?” I asked. I was so angry. He was just spoiling this beautiful day for me. Why was he making such a huge deal out of this?

“Can we just get on with lunch?” he asked as we reached the restaurant.

“You know honestly I am not interested in the lunch anymore. Let’s just take a parcel,” I said completely depressed.

“Whatever’s fine with you,” he replied sullenly. He could be such a spoilt brat. He wasn’t respecting my feelings at all.

“It’s the fact that he’s not as rich as us. Isn’t it?” I asked knowing the bitter truth and Nikhil’s attitude towards people.

“I told you I didn’t want to talk about it. But if you want the truth, that is it,” he replied nonchalantly.

He was so prejudiced and vain. I hated this side of him. One of those reasons that kept him from being my friend. He was just my brother. He was like my parents. So superficial and occupied with the rich life we had. I was really hurt. I didn’t expect him to be so judgmental. They hardly had any time for the real things in life. Anushka said I turned out different than these guys because of my grandmother. She kept me grounded.

We took our parcel and drove back in silence. I was trying to keep myself from crying. I parked the car and ran inside the house. Gaurav and Anushka were watching a movie. After seeing me in such a foul mood, they switched off the television. Anushka came rushing to me. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I said as I threw the lunch on the table.

Nikhil came in and went to his room. Gaurav followed after him.

I ran into my room and shut the door. I was really angry with Nikhil. He was being a jerk.

Anushka came in the room after a while. She came and sat next to me. I cried in her arms. “Why does he do this?” I asked between my sobs.

“I am sorry he’s like this,” she said trying to console me.

After a while I stopped crying but I couldn’t uplift my mood. I didn’t want to burden Akash with my foul mood. Anushka knew Nikhil but she also knew only he could do something about my frame of mind.

Just like my mood the weather had now become gloomy. I went and sat on the porch looking at the dark clouds. Anushka had left since and Gaurav came and sat next to me.

“Sorry Rhi,” he said. “Please eat something.”

“It’s okay,” I replied now in a slightly better mood. I didn’t care what Nikhil said, I was still going to date Akash.

“I heard you met Jai today,” Gaurav said trying to change the topic.

“Uh-huh still the same old jerk,” I said.

“You have to bear him today evening as well,” he said with a smile.

“What? Why?” I asked. Great! What a finish to the day I had!

“Uncle invited all three of us for dinner,” Gaurav replied.

If Uncle invited us I would have to go. Just then Nikhil came out.

“Could I talk with her alone?” he asked Gaurav. Gaurav left immediately.

I looked away from him. I was still mad at him for being such a jackass.

“Hey,” he said while sitting next to me.

“Hey,” I said looking elsewhere.

“I am sorry,” he said.

“Are you really?” I asked looking at him.

“Yup, very,” he said. “I was initially pissed because you didn’t tell me about him and then I realised why you didn’t tell me. You knew I would judge. I was a brat. I just wanted you to be with a better guy,” he continued.

“He is the better guy,” I defended Akash. “I don’t even want you to like him or anything. It would be good if you do. But if you can’t, that’s fine with me. You have to respect me and my choices,” I continued.

“I am 25 now Nikhil. 25. I can make my choices,” I exclaimed.

“Since the age of 13, huh?” he asked trying to lighten the mood.

“Gaurav?” I asked.

“Nope, Anushka. She shouted at me,” he said with a smile. Anushka was awesome.

“Yes, since 13,” I said finally smiling.

“You like him that much?” he asked looking at my smile.

“Too obvious?” I asked.

“Nah,” he said sarcastically.

I hugged him. There he was. The brother I loved.

“Thank you for understanding,” I said.

“Thank you for forgiving me,” he said. “Will you please eat something now?” he asked with a puppy dog face.

“Yes,” I said. He gave a sigh of relief.

“Once you are done we need to get ready for the dinner at Jai’s. I know you hate him. But just one dinner for Uncle,” he added.

“For Uncle it is,” I said smiling. I got off the porch and went in to have lunch. Once I was done, I went in my room to get ready. I wore a long mauve shirt and a pair of jeans. I pulled my hair back in a long ponytail.

Tonight it was going to be all about endurance. And loads of patience.