vi...

mother was the most beautiful and the best mother in the world. They're just jealous, he thought as he w

smiled "those are candles, to keep over the cake". He nodded as she

ained whisking faster. "Looks yummy"his eyes bri

colded "you mustn't touch anythi

brother Pratham came prancing into the kitchen

d outside the kitchen. Prithvi stared at the remain

it was yummy. He went on licking, savouring the

urned, wiping his fingers just in time "n

smiling. He shook his head "I just licked the jar.. th

were widened and he didn't like it one

e nodded "did you listen to me?" He bent his head i

the cake..I just.." a slap fell on his

is cheek "I

he asked pulling him c

he had a wooden ladle in her hand. He knew what was to com

pulled out his hand as he was told. No, the neighbours are wrong, sh

eeks but he didn't scream. "What did I tell you ab

s another hit followed, and yet another until he could no

is head gently "I hope you learnt your l

as dressed in new clothes as he kept r

ced the three candles over it. "Prithvi?"he turned to see his

red, getting the four small plates. He lo

need anyone..do we?" He stared at her "w

Do you want to call your neighbour friends?" He shook hi

ed. He didn't understand why his mother was..different while other

er. It was then his father noticed his hand "what happened?"he touc

.smashed my hand against the wall" he lied. "Di

rithvi li

eady to sleep. Pratham was fast asleep, curled up next to him.

te. She looked furious "why did you tell on me?"she

of the bed and pushed him to the floor "you told him, I heard you!"she slapped him hard "what el

before...even if she did it was only cuts on the knuc

e and help him. She wrung his ears "he left us P

ng..I swear" he stammered, unable to speak any more. The physical pain was bearabl

wrote a letter..he said he doesn't want us..I hate

realized he didn't know how to.

cried ev

◇

bad day, thanks to

art his bike but it wouldn't budge. Come on you

of profanities, the engine finally came to life and

s bike at the two wheeler parking lot, he reached the reception and did th

estroom and kept his cellphone in his locker as it was one of

a black shirt and arranged his messy

ched him "Sen wants to see you asap" there was worry e

re "I'm done for!" She giggled "all the best".

y and he could sense the fact that she needed something.

eam member as well apart from Shyam and Pragati but he

can we swap shifts? Just for tomorrow?please?" Prithvi hated his wife eve

his friend Kevin always said she had a thing for him but Pr

re..we're going for an outing". He thought for a while "alright..just on

aging director's office. Sen was seated on his l

oked up and his demeanour changed "oh welcome Mr Sahay, I

e traffic and.." Sen was still smiling "oh the traff

..." Sen cut his words in half "I'm not running a vegetable s

led company. But he wouldn't blame him. Why was he still here? He knew why he had joined this company but that w

Prithvi had to clear his mind to remember what he had

year..or a freaking century!"he slammed his hand

ll was wrong with him indeed? He had gotten married to a girl whom he didn't e

on it..it'll be ready by tomorrow, I promi

thvi" he said simply "I understand what you're going th

lly when it came from Sen of all th people. Naturally, the whole office knew what had happened and even though he had

alright..I'll have the designs ready by tomorrow". Sen looke

s cabin. He logged into the system and had almost sta

ape with it, since they had been togeth

d, leaning back in his seat. "I've an age old

hing on the desktop "I

avengers.. after the shift..what say?" Kevin suggested hopefully.

you at nine then...what about tomorrow?d

't it?"he couldn't help but scoff "she came

a serious tone "and she likes you a lot..why do

ich is why it was difficult to hide anything from him, especially the fact that he had gotten married to a total

else" he finished smoothly. Kevin had his e

evin settled back on the seat "we were chatting for a while now.. and now w

me? You included me in those group of people who would make

hastily, trying to imagine Aarti using a Facebook pr

h he had thought initially that she was some rich spoilt bitch who needed to take revenge on her parents for not gifting her a car or something, the notion seemed to have disappeared the next

wouldn't let go. "Aarti" he replied, feeling safe to lie later "sh

ce or something like that. Kevin had a huge smile "introduce me to her someti

midnight when his shift got over. He switched off the

w were from his brother Pratham, and he decided to call him later

he ignored them. And there were three calls..f

ged her mind? F##k! He called her im

ings and that surprised hi

een the time?"she snapped. Her parents clearly didn't teach h

ss. There was silence and he wondered if she had hung up "yes..

ed. She wasn't changing her

ell you what to do" she said. He could feel strangeness in her

ad hu

◇

he checked his watch, a Fasttrack

and she settled a little far from

st..can we make a quick trip to a cafe?" He no

e a thin smile and started walking ahead. She

ic to my bike" he replied coolly. There was no snappy

ed help with, it was big or else she woul

was parked. He handed the helmet to her "you've sat in a

e started the ignition and she sat back "you can..

mpy voice. He drove away swiftly not wa

e removed the helmet and he stared at her "you okay

..especially my bike". She smiled, and it was the

their way inside the cafe. "No..there have been hundreds

ner and she got up "do you want anything?" He h

the counter and came back with two cups.

couldn't understand why people paid tonnes to drink the ga

is my breakfast" she said in a matter of fact tone. He didn't f

d to find a birth certificate..somew

ne". He choked on his coffee "you're..twenty five

me?"she asked, ignor

f a sudden?"he asked. She sipped her c