His Dusk, Her Dawn

Chapter 10. Don't lie

"Good morning, beta."

"Morning, Maa."

"Didn't get proper sleep?" Mom asked in concern.

"Don't worry about me. I was busy preparing a blueprint for my training academy," I said.

Blueprint? Why are you lying, Ved? Tell your Mom how you were lost in the thoughts of Sandy Pandy.

Shut up, idiot. Don't bring up her topic again. I already lost my precious sleep because of her.

How is that her fault? Stop blaming her for everything.

And you should stop talking about her.

"Why aren't you eating anything, Ved? You don't like the food?" Mom asked.

Damn, what the fuck was I doing? I should stop zoning out.

I assured Mom that I liked the food and started my breakfast. Meanwhile, Veer was staring at me intently, his pasta noddles hanging from his mouth as he ate it slowly.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

"There's something wrong with you," he said.

"What you talking about, bro?"

Instead of replying, he exchanged glances with our mother; she told him that he was getting late for the school and should finish his meal faster, but he didn't fall into her trap.

"What's going on?" I questioned in confusion.

"You didn't feed me, Bhaiyya. You don't love me anymore." Veer pouted.

My eyes widened in realisation as I saw my plate. I forgot to feed him first, ruining our daily ritual. It was a really simple thing, but it meant a lot for us - and today, I managed to hurt my little brother because of my negligence.

"I am really sorry, Veer," I apologized.

He waited for some time and nodded. "It is okay. Your apology is accepted."

I sighed in relief when he smiled, but the next words from his mouth made me drop my spoon.

"Who's Sandy Pandy, Mumma?" he asked Mom.

"Sandy Pandy?" Mom furrowed her eyebrows. "Is that a new cartoon?"

Veer pointed at me. "Bhaiyya has a friend named Sandy Pandy, but he didn't tell me about her. You know who is she? I like her name, so I will like to meet her."

Mom looked at me, and I told her that Sandy Pandy was no one. As expected, Mom wasn't convinced. She let me eat my food, and once I was done, she told me not to keep secrets.

"You can tell me if you are seeing a girl, Ved. I don't have any issue with you having a girlfriend," she said. "I would also love to see you having a scandal or something, you know."

"Maa!"

She laughed and continued pulling my leg. Suddenly, she went back in the past and started recounting old days. I listened to her rambling silently, but the moment she started talking about my school days, I got up and told her that I was leaving.

"Call me when you reach Parth's house," she said.

"I am no longer a kid, Maa." I sulked.

"Doesn't mean I won't worry about your safety."

I hugged her and thanked her for taking care of me. She was my stepmother, but she loved me like her own child. I took my leave and reached my friend's house, where our friends had already gathered. As instructed, I called Mom on reaching Parth's house and joined the troop.