Dono Jud Ke Judaa (Slow Updates)

Izhaar

***Shravni***

Chanchal jumps in my arms at the same time as Devika pulls me in for a hug.

"God I missed you so much! Mai ye week kitna bore ho gayi without you" Devika says squeezing me tightly.

"Bhabhi.. Devika didi tried to make cookies like you and they were so bad" Chanchal twists her nose in disgust.

I laugh. "Ha kya?"

Devika pinches her ear. "Oye itne bhi bure nahi the. Thode jal gaye the bass".

I laugh and kiss Chanchal. "I missed you so much babu.. And you too pagli" I say looking at Devika. "Baaki sab kaha hai?"

"They're settling in their rooms. We directly came here as soon as all aunties were done pulling our cheeks" Devika says and rubs her cheek.

Hriday loudly clears his throat beside me. "Kya mai dikh nahi raha hu?"

"Bhai.. aap kab aaye" Devika laughs awkwardly.

"Bhai tumhara yahi khada hai jab se. Bhabhi ke aage kuch dikhayi nahi deta na" Hriday says taking Chanchal in his arms and tickling her playfully.

She throws her head back and laughs loudly, squirming in his arms. Awwh damn!

"Chalo sab se milte hai" he says, placing Chanchal down and holding her little hand.

"Aap jaao mai bhabhi ke saath aati hu do minute me" Devika says giving me a grin.

Hriday sighs, shaking his head lightly. He gives me a long look like he wants to say something to me but decides against it and walks out of the room.

"Uff the sexual tension" Devika says fanning herself once he leaves.

I shove her. "Chup baitho".

She laughs. "Toh fir.." she wiggles her eyebrows "Umhmm umhmm hua?"

I twist her ear as she yelps in pain. "Pehle toh mujhe ye bataao ye umhmm umhmm hota kya hai?"

She laughs removing my hand from her ear. "Bahot kuch ho sakta hai. Aap jo bhi hua vo bataao" she says excitedly.

"Kuch nahi hua hai baba" I say adjusting my dupatta. When she doesn't reply, I look up to see her giving me a do-you-think-I'm-stupid look.

"What?" I chuckle looking at her poker face.

"The way bhai was looking at you abhi. Aur aap bhi kuch kam nahi with your heart eyes" she says nudging me with her shoulder.

Are my heart eyes that obvious?

"K-dramas dekhna kam karo. Ye real life hai" I say shaking my head and quickly change the topic. "Tum kya pehenne wali ho aaj?"

She instantly falls for it. Hashh..

With her hand hooked in mine, she starts talking about her lehenga and shows me the images in her gallery of various hairstyles asking me to choose one for myself.

When I enter the room, I'm greeted with warm hugs. I missed all of them so much. It feels like it's been so long hum mile nahi. Jab ke hua ek hafta hi hai.

When we sit for lunch downstairs in the big hall, I try and not think much of the fact that Hriday sits beside me even though many seats are empty. I also pretend that I don't notice how he places one more roti in my plate without a word. And I surely don't notice how whenever he looks at me, his eyes linger for a moment longer than necessary.

These few days I avoided him like the plague. And I know my behavior has irritated him a little too much. But mai aur kya karti. I want to know why he didn't tell me all of this before. Was he embarassed? Or maybe.. just maybe.. he still kinda likes me. And if he does.. I want him to tell me.. because I like him too. Ofcourse I do.