Next to Yours

3

When Vanshika arrived home, her troubled expression didn't go unnoticed by her mother. Mrs. Gupta raised an eyebrow inquisitively, prompting Vanshika to spill the events of the day at school. As she recounted the happenings, Mrs. Gupta's smile grew wider, and she exchanged a knowing glance with Mr. Gupta when he questioned why Vanshika had taken an auto home.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Mrs. Gupta remarked, "Your daughter is not a girl anymore. She is a woman now."

Mr. Gupta's grin widened as he connected the dots. "Congratulations, honey. Looks like it's time for a celebration, right?"

Joining in the teasing, Mrs. Gupta suggested, "Sure. Let's invite our neighbors for dinner."

Vanshika couldn't help but frown at her mother's playful banter. "Mom!" she protested.

Mrs. Gupta chuckled, affectionately caressing Vanshika's hair. "Just kidding. We'll invite the Pathaks."

As Mr. Gupta nodded in agreement and left the room, Mrs. Gupta ushered Vanshika to get some rest, leaving her alone to unwind after the day's events.

Meanwhile, in the Pathak household, Shrimaan was deeply engrossed in his homework at his study table. You could almost picture the struggle on his face as he grappled with the complexities of coordinate geometry - the eternal battle of student versus math.

Just then, his father strode into the study room, looking fresh after a quick refreshment. Mr. Pathak settled into his seat and cast a glance at his son, inquiring, "Did you manage to get the exponential notes?"

Shrimaan didn't lift his head from his books as he replied, "No."

A furrow appeared between Mr. Pathak's brows. "But I gave you 400 rupees specifically to buy those notes. Why didn't you?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Shrimaan admitted, "I spent that money on something else."

Mr. Pathak's expression darkened, his frustration evident. With a sigh, he pressed, "On what?"

However, Shrimaan remained silent, unwilling to disclose where the money had gone.

Mr. Pathak's frustration reached a boiling point. "Where did you spend that money on?! Tell me, will you?"

Shrimaan remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "I promise I didn't spend that money wrongly."

But Mr. Pathak was not appeased. "It doesn't matter!" he snapped. "You were given money for your study materials, and you squandered it on something useless. What could be more important than your studies?"

Just then, Mrs. Pathak entered the room, sensing the tension. "What happened?" she inquired.

Mr. Pathak's frustration spilled over as he explained the situation. "See, our prince spent 400 rupees when I gave him the money to buy notes. His final exams are in less than two months, and then he'll be an embarrassment again when the results come out."

He looked at his son for a moment then muttered," Worthless." then he walked out angrily. 

Mrs. Pathak took a seat next to her son, who still had his head lowered in shame. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, offering a comforting touch. "Where did you spend that money?" she inquired softly.

Shrimaan swallowed a lump in his throat before mustering the courage to speak. "I-I didn't do anything wrong," he stuttered.

His mother smiled warmly, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know, you could never do something wrong. But there's a fact that you're hiding, and that's not right."

He looked up at his mother, seeking reassurance. "Promise you won't tell Papa about it. He'll get angry, saying I shouldn't meddle in others' business," he pleaded.

Mrs. Pathak nodded reassuringly, caressing his back in a comforting gesture. "Okay, tell me," she encouraged.

Shrimaan hesitated once more before finally confessing, "It's... it's about... Vanu. I got her a very cheap skirt in school."

His mother gasped in surprise, realization dawning on her. "So, you knew about it?" she asked incredulously.

Shrimaan nodded, his gaze fixed downward. "I was the first one. I found her in the washroom area of school. Her skirt and socks were stained, so I got her a pair of socks and a cheap skirt. Then... called an auto for her," he explained quietly.

Mrs. Pathak's smile widened with pride and admiration. "Oh, honey, I'm proud of you. You did a wonderful job. You were so thoughtful," she praised.

She pulled him into a sideways hug, embracing him warmly. "My boy is a gentleman," she added affectionately.

Shrimaan couldn't help but smile, basking in the warmth of his mother's love and approval. 

As the Pathaks stepped into the warm embrace of the Gupta household, it was like stepping into a whirlwind of family dynamics. Vanshika, feeling a bit jittery but determined to keep up appearances, flashed her best civil smile. After all, these were no strangers; they were practically extended family.

In this intricate web of relationships, Mr. Pathak's fondness for Vanshika was as clear as day, especially given her knack for acing math. Unlike his own son, who seemed to have a talent for landing in hot water, Vanshika had somehow managed to earn Mr. Pathak's admiration with her mathematical prowess. Sonu Aunty, Shrimaan's mom, shared in this sentiment, holding a soft spot for Vanshika that only grew with each passing interaction. And let's not forget Shrimaan's grandma, who practically considered Vanshika her own flesh and blood.

But amidst the laughter and clinking of plates, Vanshika couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her eagle eyes scanned the room, noting the absence of a certain troublemaker. Shrimaan was conspicuously missing. Now, this wasn't like him at all. Sure, he had a habit of dodging his dad whenever possible, but skipping out on a family gathering? That was a new one.

With a subtle nod to her brother Vinay, Vanshika silently urged him to play detective. Vinay scampered upstairs to the rooftop and returned with a shake of his head, signaling that Shrimaan was nowhere in sight. Vanshika shrugged off her curiosity, deciding to tackle the mystery later, and gracefully took her seat at the table. 

As the dinner progressed, Mr. Pathak couldn't resist showering Vanshika with his usual barrage of praise and unsolicited advice, particularly on how to tackle those dreaded math problems. "Vanu, knock some sense into that idiot's mind," he quipped, referring to Shrimaan. "He's hopeless when it comes to calculus."

Vanshika mustered up a strained smile. "He's trying, Uncle," she replied diplomatically, though inwardly she was rolling her eyes so hard they might have fallen out of her head.

But Mr. Pathak wasn't about to let it go. "Really? I don't see him doing much," he continued, launching into a tirade about Shrimaan's academic shortcomings. "Talk about this morning. He took money to get some important exponential calculus notes, but he spent that money on something else—"

Mrs. Pathak interjected, her voice tinged with irritation. "Let it go. Is it necessary to bring up studies during dinner? You have your food, dear," she said, turning to Vanshika. "Don't listen to him. Just enjoy your youth. He has a knack for putting pressure on kids."

The Guptas erupted into laughter, with even Grandma nodding in agreement. Mr. Pathak, sensing the shift in mood, rolled his eyes and fell silent, though a faint cloud of disapproval still lingered around him.

Meanwhile, in Vanshika's mind, a storm was brewing. Shrimaan spent money on something else? What could it be? The mystery gnawed at her thoughts, overshadowing the jovial atmosphere of the dinner table.