It was evening time and all the men were at home. Bela was busy cooking in the kitchen while sixteen year old Pooja was reading a magazine, yet again. Chacha ji was advising her to study while Rakesh was busy shouting at Bela for the cold tea he had got along with shedding light on the discrimination he was subjected to, while he was at home.
Taiji was at her home, taking care of two month old Pralay Babu, much to the relief of Bela. Tauji had still not returned from work and Preeti was at her Nani's place
Sameer was also at the Aggarwal household. He visited a lot these days, because Arjun was sick. He convinced his Nanaji to let him come with driver and see arjun, along with Munna and Pandit.
At this moment however , Munna was busy elaborating about a cousin of his who caught a similar flu and was forced to take five injections while Pandit was consoling Arjun for not being able to play in the upcoming SCC (Street Cricket Championship)
" Yaar Arjun tu tension mat le na yaar. Tu theek ho jayega, bas paanch injections ki to baat hai" Munna exclaimed sadly.
Hearing about five injections, Arjun's face fell further and he turned paler.
"Abe Chenu, agar tu aise ki panch injections ki ratt lagake baithega toh bukhaar aur bhi bhadd jayega. Tujhe kaise pata ki Arjun Ko tere Chacha ke Sasur ke Bhatije ke Saale ke bete wala hi bukhaar hua hai"
" Abe Ponga, wo bhi Arjun ki tarah hi achanak, ekdum aur suddenly beemaar padd Gaya tha. Bechara teen din ACU mein tha"
Sameer could not take it anymore and finally interrupted their extremely "reasonable" conversation.
" Chup karo dono. Kabse bakwaas kiye ja rahe ho. Munna pehli baat toh woh ACU nahi ICU hota hai aur dusri ki Arjun Ko doctor ne kaha hai ki woh jaldi theek ho jayega. Ab dono kuch mat bolo."
Munna and Pandit finally stopped, but began chatting about how they will fail in upcoming exams and will get kicked out of their respective houses, while Arjun began consoling them and suggested a place or two in which they can live after getting kicked out and some ways to survive on strest, which he saw in movies.
Sameer was busy listening to them and presenting his own suggestions, when he had an urge to have water. He left the room and was moving towards the kitchen, when he heard sobs. Although Startled, but curious at the same time, he moved towards the source of these sobs, but what he saw broke his heart.
Little ten-year-old Naina was crying uncontrollably. Her head was on her knees, and he was unable to see her beautiful face.Not even in a million dreams, could he have imagined the sight he witnessed. He wanted to console her and had a sudden urge to push the hair from her face, and catch a sight of her.
He slowly cleared his throat and Naina immediately looked up. Sameer finally caught a sight of her, and was heartbroken and furious to see her tear strained face. Naina was extremely embarrassed, to say the least. Neither of them spoke, but it was a comfortable silence. After staring at him for a few minutes, Naina finally stood up and tried to wipe her tears.
"Tum ro kyu Rahi thi?" Sameer managed to speak up.
"Kuch nahi" She looked very uncomfortable. How was she supposed to share her problem with him? He was Arjun bhaiya's friend not hers. He was two years older to her, they hardly interacted. Yet Naina felt an unexpressible urge to talk to him. She could not explain it.
Sameer sighed and continued.
"Dekho baatne se Dard kam hota hai. Tum mujhe bataogi toh main tumhari help hi karunga. Promise kisi aur Ko nahi bataunga. Arjun bhi meri jagah hota toh yahi karta." But Sameer knew better. Arjun hardly cared about little Naina. But Sameer always felt drawn to her cute face and little pigtails.
" Tum pakka kisi Ko nahi bataoge na"
"Ha pakka"
"Nahi pehle pinky promise Khao".
Sameer laughed at this. She was just so cute. A moment before she was crying, and now she has begun with her cuteness covered stupid talks.
He smiled affectionately at her and replied.
"Accha theek hai pinky promise"
Naina looked satisfied and was about to speak.. She looked very hesitant, but one look at Sameer, and she continued,
"Woh Aaj Taiji ne mujhse kaha ki Arjun bhaiya meri wajah se beemaar hue hai. Jaise mere paida hote hi mummy guzar gati thi, waisi hi. Yeh sach hai kya Sameer?"
She looked at him hopefully, wanting him to contradict her. However, Sameer was stunned and disgusted at the same time. He knew Taiji was mean to Naina, but never knew that she could stoop to such low level. He never imagined the impact that her words might have on poor Naina. At seeing her expectant eyes, he finally spoke up
"Dekho aisa kuch nahi hai. Taiji ki to aadat hai, kuch bhi bolne ki. Tum unki baaton ko itna dil se kyu lagati ho. Tum apni class ki topper ho na, to apna bhi dimaag lagao, kya ye possible hai."
He paused for a while. It was no secret that Naina was the topper of her class. She was extremely bright and she puts all her efforts in whatever she does. He continued further,
"Arjun ko chhota sa flu hi to hua hai. Wo theek ho jayega. Aur tumhari mummy... usmein tumhari galti nahi thi. Ab phir se yeh sab bakwaas mat sochna. Padhaai par dhyaan do. "
Naina finally smiled at this. Sameer's eyes brightened immediately.
"Hasti raha karo. Hasti ho to bahut pyaari lagti ho, aur tumhari hasi se logo ke saare dukh aur tensions bhi khatam ho jaate hai. Apna nahi toh dusro ka hi soch lo"
Naina laughed through her happy tears. Sameer joined too and after some time, he walked away, satisfied.
YOU ARE READING
My brother's best friend
Fanfiction"Get a hold on yourself you silly girl. He is Maheshwari, you are Aggarwal. He is a player, he is extremely handsome, every girl is after him, he doesn't even look at you, he is completely out of your bounds" The lecture seemed to go on forever, but...
