Love Lessons For The Black Sheep

All about the visitors.

Silence followed his dramatic declaration.

This was it. His secret was out. He just told a bunch of people who were born to love that he didn't understand love, didn't understand them. Tanish has never been this freaked out in his entire life. Not even when he told the exact same thing last month to his girlfriend of three years.

"What?" Roopi frowned from where she was dumped into one corner of their parent's couch by her husband. With the twins due any moment, she's a threat to herself.

"I am not repeating myself"

"Well you have to. You didn't make any sense the first time around"

"Roopi" their dad hissed

"You guys understood what he said?" she retorted "has my brain stopped working just like my legs?"

"Your mouth should stop working too, Roop" Parth sat down next to her and stuffed a pakoda into her mouth "This works everytime, trust me" he smiled sheepishly at the rest of the family.

Their dad cleared his throat "Back to Tanish"

"What do you mean by 'can't love'?" it was Avni this time, looking utterly confused "It's not a task you can't do. I'm assuming it's not?"

"Oh my God! Why did I expect you guys to understand?" Tanish picked up his glasses and his work bag and started making his way out of the dining hall "I need some time away from you guys. And quit crying mom. This doesn't mean I'm dead" he directed the last bit at his silently sobbing mother who hadn't spoken a word since his declaration.

______

Tanish knew his 'me time' wasn't going to last very long but when Raunak came knocking at his door the very next day, he wanted to kill someone, preferably his family, and maybe revive them right back, because what kind of person kills his own family?

"Hey" Raunak's awkward face would have made him laugh any other day

Tanish rolled his eyes "Are they all here? It's Sunday. I really would have appreciated a thoughtful 'let's leave him alone' today"

"No it's just me, I promise"

"I'm fine"

"No you are not" Raunak shouldered past him, aiming for Tanish's favourite spot on his dark leather couch "You haven't been for a while. I am sorry it took so long for us to notice" he patted the spot next to him.

Tanish scowled and heatedly walked to the couch diagonally opposite to his brother-in-law "I just want you all to leave me alone. I can deal with this on my own"

"That depends on what your answer to my next question will be"

"No"

"Tanish" Raunak sighed, leaning forward "I just want to know if this is a Shreya specific problem?"

"I don't want to talk about it. I said what I had to say yesterday"

"No you didn't. You just stormed out because your family's a circus"

"That too"

"I'm here to listen to you" Raunak said earnestly before grinning "And also eat. Like I know how good your food is when you stress-cook"

"I only made enough for one person" he could be petty when he wanted to.

"No you didn't. Also, I met Shreya downstairs in the parking area" Raunak shrugged "She's going out for lunch. You are going to waste all that food that you are planning to secretly place at her door. What is that awesome smell anyway?"