Unfazed

75. Clearing The Air (Deven)

(Image - What Dee wore to the party)

We all watch with joy as Sneha laughs at my brothers clumsy (and pathetic) attempt at being cheesy but all hell breaks loose when she says "Yes". Just like that, I officially have a sister to be.

While people from our family and immediate social circles swarm around the couple to congratulate them, I take a step back to observe and wait. I could always congratulate them when I get them alone at home. I can't remember a time when I've seen Vish look this happy – at least not since the passing of my mother.

"She would have been happy", I hear a voice behind me and I don't need to turn around to know it's Harsh. I simply nod and sure enough, Harsh comes to lean against the same wall that I chose and soon, I have a glass of the welcome drink being held out to me.

"This gets me thinking, you know?" he says, fully aware that he will not get an answer from me on the topic of my mother. "It gets me thinking that... Uh.. well.. never mind", he says.

"That you want the same thing too?" I ask, referring to Vish and Sneh.

"Well... Yeah.. But that's not the point", he replies in a heartbeat. Neither of us look at each other as we are talking – our eyes fixed on the couple with a wide view of the only entrance to the hall.

"I know our plan will work, Harsh. Viren will come and if his method of operation is anything to go by, he will boast about what he did, instead of hiding from it. Shambhavi will be here too, soon and I know we will get to the bottom of this", I say, reassuring him.

"Hope so.. But Dev – I know I should say this before it's too late.. Thank you. For everything. And I will never live to fully tell you how sorry I am about our whole issue", he says.

"Apology unnecessary", I mutter, but I know I won't get another chance to say this, so I continue with, "I was.. am.. a weirdo. And I'm equally at fault in the mess. I should have insisted that you hear my end of the story.

The truth is you were my best friend and I had a fancy for Dee.. so I was scared that if you knew the truth, you would blame me the same way I was blaming myself. Plus I was a mess emotionally with the scare of Papa's health and the fear that Vish and I would loose him too, you know?"

"I know" he says.

For a long moment after that, we watch the crowd dwindle around Vish and Sneh while Alana and the parents, click photographs with them.

"You 'had' a fancy for Dee?" he finally asks.

"Of ALL the things I said, you clung to that?! Unbelievable, man!" I say. Trust Harsh to do this.

"You 'had' a fancy for Dee", he states again.

"Have" I corrected, softly.

When he doesn't say anything, I hate the fact that I turn to assess the expression on his face. But I'm relieved to see the smug smile on his face and as much as I want to wipe it off, I smile back – ever so slightly victorious.

"Look man – as your friend I will simply say good luck" he says in a cheery tone, "but. As her brother, I say Good. Luck." A deaf man could sense the sarcasm there.

Never in my life had I thought I'd have a shiver run down my spine thanks to a girl, but the two Bhallas closest to me – are the exceptions to every rule.

We would have said more, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught the glance of movement at the door of the hall and in walked Deeksha, hand in hand with Viren Kothari. To say my blood boiled, would be an understatement as Harsh, stiff as a board next to me, said "Dev – switch on your earpiece. Rome is burning."