Unfazed

45. Ask And You Shall Receive (Deven)

(Image: Dee in Vish's Turtleneck at the Cafe)

Walking back to the table after a rather unsettling call from my manager, stating that due to family emergencies, Mrs Sharma, our chief interior decorator who was supposed to work on Nair Uncle's café with me had to take leave for an undefined period – all I heard was Alana saying "The story I posted on the blog was fake," before breaking into uncontrollable sobs. Clearly, whoever called 'Sunday' a day for relaxation, hadn't met us yet!

The look of shock that painted the faces of Harsh, Deeksha and Snake told me that they hadn't heard this before me and it didn't take a genius to put two and two together that she was referring to the same episode that Harsh had blown up about. Deeksha was the first one to snap out of the shock – but I had the liberty of asking, "What? What was?"

Snake shot me a warning glance and shook her head no, while Alana tried to calm herself. Deeksha said nothing but Harsh said, "I'm sorry... WHAT?"

Amidst sobs, Alana continued whatever story she had just begun. "It was at a time when I had been blogging for about a year and a half. Being a food blogger in a town with too many restaurants – makes life easy, but there isn't a lot of money involved. I was going through a particularly tight spot one month, when one day, I received a letter addressed to AlSpeaks. Since a lot of people wrote to me and sent me fan mail otherwise, it took me a couple of days to open it. Now, I'm wishing I hadn't." She said.

"What did it say, Al?" asked Sneha gently as Alana reached out for another tissue from the box on the table.

"It.. It asked for me to write about this restaurant – that the food gave a friend of mine some very painful stomach infection and with the letter, was a cheque for five thousand rupees, signed in my name. It also gave me a date – one week from the day on which it was dated – after which, the cheque would be rendered useless, if the post had not gone up on the blog", she admitted.

Surprising all of us, Deeksha finished the story for her, saying, "And... with your money constraints and blog's popularity, you didn't think much of it. Except.."

"It did and had terrible consequences; but you didn't want to tarnish your own popularity; so you didn't open your mouth despite hearing about the raid and the case and everything else," said Harsh – in one of those creepy ways that some siblings connect when they're thinking of the same thing.

"I'm so sorry, you guys! I really didn't know. And Harsh, I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I swear I didn't," Alana cries as Sneha wraps her arms around her, while Deeksha looks at Harsh. For the first time in years, I want to be there for my best friend. And a stupid little fight from years ago isn't going to stop me, I decide.

Getting up from my seat, I walk around to where Harsh and Deeksha are seated – Harsh as white as a sheet and Deeksha, attempting to get any reaction out of him. Albeit separated by the span of a decade, I knew how to get him out of this stupor; even perhaps better than his sister did.

Bending forward to lean between Deeksha and Harsh, I whispered, close enough for both of them to hear, "Harsh, I know this is a mess. Almost reminds me of the time Mrs. Dass caught us in school. Please – don't let that happen again. Come with me."

With a look that spat gratitude and hatred at the same time, without a fight, Harsh slipped out of the seat and the clear look of surprise on Deeksha's face was enough to get my smirk back in place. "Harsh" she gasped and turning to face us – Deeksha and myself – Harsh rubbed his palm against his forehead before saying, "There is too much happening Dee. As much as I hate it, Dev has a point. He is one of our only allies right now. Stay put and make sure she is okay," pointing at Alana.

"Like Hell you are!!" snapped Deeksha, her face contorting into a look of fury. I won't deny that she got me jilted too, though her wrath was directed at Harsh. "Listen here, Big Brother. I know you think you're protecting me somehow – but I am DONE with you and this clown oscillating between soulmates and arch enemies. If you walk out with him, it will be with me until you convince me of a logical reason to stay! Do. You. Understand?"

I couldn't place where I found the courage to, but I chuckled, surprising myself and said, "Deeksha – now, be a dear and listen to your brother. He means well and you need to calm Alana down. In the meantime, your brother and I need to talk."

"Oh yeah? What about?" she asked defiantly.

"About how he owes me for saving your life on multiple occasions, besides turning on me when I needed him the most and most importantly, for choosing to believe someone else for years, because he didn't have the courage to own up for his stupidity," I finally said, a smile clearly playing at my lips, at a gaping Deeksha Bhalla.

"But... how? Why?" she stuttered, while Harsh looked at the floor.

"We will explain once we get back. Now, if you will excuse us, there's a little chat we need to have", I said as Harsh, without a second glance at Deeksha, stormed out of the place with an "I'll be back."

Before I could leave, Deeksha grabbed my arm a second time that evening and said, "Dev... I swear to God. If you aren't a benefit to Harsh; I. Will. Kill. You."

Fidgety as my mind was, the heavens alone know why I leaned closer to Deeksha and whispered, "If you like holding my hand so much, Dee, you don't need a threat to do it every time. Next time, just ask", before walking out of the door with a smirk on my face.