Prescribed Insanity

Chapter 6: The Tenth Dentist

"Why does Maa keep forgetting that I am not FIVE anymore?! Oh my God, this was SO embarrassing!"

Khushi was marching the length of her room to and fro, still highly embarrassed, while Payal stood leaning upon a corner shelf in the room, still highly amused, and munching on a big red apple. Arnav had taken his leave only a while ago, and Khushi had put all her life into avoiding facing him until he had, so much so that even his appointment with her for the next day had been confirmed via a text exchange after he had left.

"But didn't you hear Khushi?" Payal asked innocently, "they wouldn't give you in his arms and so he cried, and cried, and cried," she finished, and then again bent over laughing.

"Wow Jiji, thanks for the support by the way." Khushi sulked.

"Hey, don't blame me. You should have seen your faces. It was hilarious. Did you see his reaction?"

"No...I wasn't looking at him."

"Well, he had a distinct look of stunned WTF-ness on his face, but at least he was able to maintain his composure, unlike you who practically turned into the color of the beetroot in my sandwich."

"Did he look at me? Please don't tell me he saw me, Jiji. I will die."

"Of course he saw you Khushi. Do you always have to blush like a pink glow-stick? I have told you before, when you blush you almost drown your surroundings in a pink hue."

"Fantastic. Just amazing. What must he be thinking!"

Payal took another bite on her apple. "He is a man. You know what he must be thinking. He must be having this present image of you and him-"

"JIJI ! EW. Stop! Ew. Ew. Ew."

"Whaaat. It's a fact. Like the fact that now, you are thinking of that image."

"I am NOT."

"But you are. Look, you just turned more pink."

"I don't like you very much right now Jiji."

Payal happily munched on her apple, not giving a flying shit about her score on the popularity meter that early on a Monday morning.

****

Monday night dinner at the Raizada House was a quiet affair, until it wasn't.

"Chotte," Devyani Raizada inquired at the table, "Since when have you started having cornflakes for dinner?"

"I've always had them, Nani." Arnav replied, his gaze fixed at the bowl in front of him.

"No you have not. In case it has missed your notice, we live under the same roof. Also, where did you leave for so early in the morning today?"

"You were up?"

"Of course I was up Chotte, I am the only one who prevents the wrath of heavens from descending upon this house by praying for mercy on behalf of everyone."

"I had gone jogging."

"Is that so?"

"Yes Nani."

"So was your SUV jogging alongside you? Or did you jog inside the SUV?"

"....So you also heard my car."

"Of course. I have very sharp ears."

"And don't we all know that..."

"Excuse me?"