Lion's Gift

Chapter 9

            I open the door after putting my clothes in the bathroom and outside it stands Varun, one hand going through his hair while the other is tightly fisted in his pocket. He shuffles his feet and seems to be very nervous and distraught because of something.

"Varun? Are you okay?" I ask, worried now. Varun looks up at me; he is still five feet seven inches since boys mature later than girls. Even then, I am tall for a girl. I see tears in his eyes and quickly I usher him into my room, closing the door behind me. "What's wrong?" Varun lets out his tears, silent sobs wracking his body. I guide him toward my bed, and we sit down; I am propped up against the pillows and he is curled up, his head in my lap. Our sibling relationship is stronger than most; we tell each other everything and have always been there for each other when needed. Of course, there are days where all we do is fight or tease one another, but at the end of the day, we would do anything for each other.

"Vivu, I have some problems right now," He starts, after his sobs die down and he is left sniffling. I softly pat his head and run my fingers through his soft, feather-like hair. "I...I just need a shoulder to cry on right now, okay?" He sees the protest about to leave my mouth, and continues, "I need to figure out this...problem on my own right now, and I promise you it isn't anything mom and dad will be worried about, and I'll tell you everything when I'm ready, okay?" I give him a silent nod, quietly pondering in my mind what possibly could be going on in his mind.

"Okay, Varun, but just answer me this: it's nothing physical, right? No one I need to beat up or anything?" We both chuckle as we remember back in elementary school when girls would chase him around during breaks, teasing him for our "rich" parents, and I would maybe beat them up (just a little).

"No, no, nothing like that. It's not like I'm going through depression or anything either, it's just something small that I need to figure out. It...It's more like I have to first find what the problem really is, you know?" I nod again and let go of most of my tension. He'll be okay.

Varun pushes himself off my lap and looks at the time. It's been twenty minutes since he came in. He suddenly turns around and looks at me, hope and excitement visible in his body language and eyes.

"Vee, you know what'll really make me feel better?" Oh no. He's giving me his irresistible puppy eyes. Varun knows that I can't say no to him now. "Can we do another secret karaoke night?"

I should have known! Me and my brother have this secret tradition where we do karaoke at midnight in my soundproof music room on each of our birthdays or when we are a little down. We do a mix of our own songs and actual karaoke with pop songs and one of our phones hooked up to a speaker. I have mastered ten instruments, Varun two, and between us we have written enough songs to make a hundred music albums. But we keep this a secret from our parents. Though they pushed us to be openminded, like with my dancing, music, and calligraphy and Varun's art, they forbade us from writing songs. They believe that becoming a singer, songwriter, artist, etc. is not a well-off career opportunity, but learning many skills is required for us since our parents want us to be cultured and have taste.

I sigh, "Fine." I look at his excited face, but smirk. "But...You have to spend an hour fighting with me. I don't have a sparring partner today." Dad is immersed in work today, with only thirty minutes to spare for a minimal workout. Varun groans.

"Fine, if that'll get you to do some karaoke, then I'll join you after your workout."

"Never give up," I say to him in Sanskrit.

"Never will I," Varun says back to me in Hindi. He leaves then, pulling the door shut behind him after giving me a quick side hug.