Hues Of Dusk

Chapter 36. How are you?

(Warning:- Drugs are mentioned in this chapter.)

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🎶️"Kandhon se milte hain kandhe
Kadmon se kadam milte hain
Hum chalte hain jab aise toh
Dil dushman key hilte hain~
Josh dil me jagate chalo
Jeet key geet gate chalo~~" 🎶

( Translation:-
Shoulders meet shoulders
Steps meet steps
When we walk together like this
Enemies' hearts tremble~
Ignite passion in your hearts
While singing victory songs~~)

I sang along as the music poured in my ears. I loved this song from Lakshya movie. It always boosted up my spirits. I felt my blood pumping and my body felt light as my feet brushed the concrete surface.

Earlier, I used to dislike running or any exhausting physical activity but since I had started going to Rajeev's gym, this sport had become one of my favorites. When I ran at my top speed, it almost felt like I was flying.

I brushed away the hair from my forehead and started singing at the top of my lungs. Beside me, I could hear some grunting and huffing.

"Come on dad! You can do it!"

I shouted as I ran ahead of him and turned around to face him. I encouraged him as he tried to run few more steps but fell down. Yikes. I ran to him and helped him get up. He sat down on the road and refused to move. I grabbed his arm to pull him but he didn't budge.

"Stop acting like a kid and get up," I complained.

"Can't.... can't do it.... any..... anymore," he managed to speak while trying to breathe.

"Who told you to showoff and make a bet with an ex-serviceman then, old man?"

"Old man?!"

"Yup. You have grown old, dad. Look at that paunch."

He patted his tummy and gave me a stinky eye. I shot him a challenging look and he got up in a swift motion. He started jogging at the spot and I shook my head at him.

"Don't underestimate me, kid. Remember, I was also going to be in Army. So never call me old. Never ever."

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

He tried to act all intimidating and I just nodded to whatever he said. It was funny how he was trying so hard to win that bet. Uncle had challenged dad to loose weight and dad had agreed to it. That's how they ended up betting on whether dad would be able to do that or not.

After our bantering, we continued our run. We ran for half an hour more and decided to take a break.

We both slumped down on a public bench and I took out energy drinks from my slingbag. We started talking about endurance and stuff with dad boasting most of the time. We laughed at our lame jokes and I told him that he should stop making up stuff to sound funny. He didn't agree.

"Good morning, uncle."

We heard Nikhil and turned toward him. He jogged towards us and shook dad's hand. He gave him a bright smile and I waited for my turn. He glanced in my direction and I smiled. He just gave a short nod and turned his attention back to dad.

"Why don't you come in for breakfast?" he asked us-no, he asked dad precisely. He wasn't even looking in my direction.

Dad nodded and followed Nikhil in his house. We didn't realise that we were sitting outside his house all this time as we were so lost in our conversation. I also followed them and got in.