Fitoor

Chapter 50

Kankarbagh, Patna

Bihar.

Mishti Bose

"Chalo chalo. Late ho rahe hai." Geet yelled frantically, while Maanav was still yawning, holding a Jim jam biscuit packet in his hand. Leaning on the car's door, I was controlling my smile, looking at my phone absent mindedly. Maanav was about to die. Exactly when I thought, Geet smacked his head.

"Phatttt se head shot." I said as he continued to glare at me.
"Subah subah saara mood kharab kar diya." He muttered.
"Kitni baar bolu tujhe, ki uthte hi khud ka chehra dekhna sehat ke liye accha nahi hai? Upon that, badsurati ka brand ambassador hai tu." Geet started laughing maniacally at my comment.

"Zyada khush hai tu. Kuch hua kya kal raat?" He added mischievously.
"Haa. Pata pada ki dadaji bahut strict hai. So Geet is finally safe." I said as Maanav rolled his eyes. We waited for another five minutes but that light pole didn't arrive.
"Ye khud ko queen Victoria samajhta hai kya? I'm not waiting anymore. Agar aana hai to paidal aajayenge ye dono, chal Geet." I huffed and declared.
"Maanav! Kaha hai aapke bhai!" It was her turn to glare at him.

"Kaha aake phas gaya mai!" He groaned and rested his head on the bonnet.
"Seriously? Jao aur use batao ki, it doesn't matter how many hours he spends to get ready, wo suar jaise hi dikhega. Itna time waste karne ki koi faida nahi hai." Geet hit my hand and laughed this time.
"Yaad hai? Ek zamane me bhaashan de raha tha about being on time, ab kya hua usko? So time sense ko maintain na karte hue bangaya world's successful CEO?" My rant wasn't about to be stopped. I was so pissed! I was about to deliver another punch line when Geet tapped on my shoulder, whilst looking at my back.

"Aagaya kya?" I whispered. She subtly nodded and I winced. I turned back, not scared about his reaction. What I said was absolutely true! Why would I be afraid of speaking out my opinion? But everything evaporated when I saw him, in a relaxed black shirt and beige pants, hands inside the pockets, and also a permanent scowl that seemed to form only because of my presence. I returned mine, recovering from the staring session. God damn I need to get a control over my thoughts!

And by the time I noticed something was off, Maanav and Geet had already left in their SUV while I was stranded alone to die with him. Panicking, I immediately called them to hurl curses but both didn't receive their phones. Groaning I turned back but bumped into him. Closing my eyes in frustration, I held my head.
"Headache ke liye tablets hai andar." He uttered.
"Tum ho mere headache. Tumse chutkara paane ke liye kaunsi tablets lu?" I asked sweetly.
"We can do it the easy way." He sighed, already irritated.

"I'm driving." I declared, snatching the keys from his hand and hopping to the driver's seat.
"Car accident me nahi marna mujhe." Abir said very seriously.
"Don't worry. Tumhe narak me bhi jagah nahi milegi. So the way you die, really doesn't matter." He muttered something under his breath and fastened the seat belt. I sat idly, staring outside the window.
"Ab kya aarti utaru? Start karo na gaadi." Abir's sarcasm has really worsened.
"Maps pe location nahi lagaoge to mai kya hawa me udau aapke is jahaj ko?" I banged the steering wheel in anger.

"Ab ke liye zameen pe chalana." He's acting as if he didn't ask me to do therapy sessions with him. If this is how it is to just have a normal conversation, then actually sitting and talking about my problem is a far concern to me. I still don't start the car.
"Modi ji aake driving shuru karne ke liye red tape cut nahi karenge." Abir smiled.
"Pehle please bolo." Resting my hands on the wheel, I said.
"Kya?" He asked another damn question.
"Behre hogaye ho kya? Bolo please start driving. Tab sochungi." I controlled a smile and looked aside.

I could see him raising his hand to hit my head with an irritated expression in the window's reflection. Immediately I turned back and Abir retreated his hand, checking his nails.
"Aakhri baar manicure kab karaaya tha?" I feigned a query. He rolled his eyes and heaved a deep sigh.
"Please meri maa, gaadi start karo aur safely pahunchado hume." Abir folded his hands and dramatically pleaded. Stifling a grin, I switched the vehicle on, changing the gear and releasing the hand brake.