The Mafia's Collateral

Part 53

Deep's P.O.V.

I looked at Arohi while the song was going on but Avinash suddenly turned it off. Looking at him, I asked, "Why did you turn it off?" He looked outside the window and remained silent. "What's going on guys? Why are you two behaving like this?" Arohi asked. "Nothing is wrong," Ananya said with a fake smile. "Ok, if they don't want to listen music, let's play a game," I said. "What game?" Arohi asked excited. "Someone will say a sentence beginning with the letter A and we have keep coming up with sentences beginning with letters in the order that they come in the alphabet. But they must go with the flow. You can't just say sentence that doesn't fit in the story and while playing, they can't say anything else or you're out," I said. "Great! Sounds like fun!" She said. "I don't want to play," Ananya said frowning. "Come on sis, cheer up. Don't be a spoilsport," Arohi said. "So, let's start, I'll go first," I said, "Avinash is sitting quietly..." Arohi continued, "Because he's wondering where we are going..." Ananya said next, "Counting the seconds to reach our destination..." Avinash said, "Damn you are right!" "Eating nothing, saying nothing..." I said. "Fuming looking out the window," Arohi said giggling. "Going on a picnic..." Ananya said. "Helplessly..." he said. "If only this day finishes, he says..." I said. "Just to get away from these crazy people..." Arohi said. "Keep your patience Avinash..." Ananya said sadly. "Leave me alone people!" Avinash said. I smiled and said, "Man, chill out!" "One minute," Arohi said. "You're out!" Avinash and Ananya said together. I looked at Arohi pouting in the mirror and smiled. "Never let anyone spoil your mood..." Ananya said. "Oh! No one can spoil my mood!" Avinash said. "Please! Don't lie..." Ananya replied. "Queen of drama, sit quietly..." Avinash replied. I smiled and listened to them. I looked at Arohi and with raising and dropping her eyebrows, she asked me what's happening. I smiled and nodded a bit.

"Really? You are calling me a drama queen!" Ananya said. "Sure you are," he replied. "Tell that to your reflection the next time you stand in front of a mirror," Ananya said. "Useless arguments with me has perhaps become your hobby..." he said. "Very deserving of you since it's the only thing you're good at..." she replied. "Why don't you just make a mistake?" Avinash asked annoyed. Ananya sat quietly and thought for a while a word beginning with X. "Tick tick, time is clicking Ananya. You only have five seconds remaining," I said. She got nervous and thought. "Five...four...three...two...one!" I said. I raised Avinash's hand in the air saying, "Whoa! Ho! Avinash wins!" Arohi pinched a pouting Ananya's cheeks smiling. "That's cheating! You never said anything about a time limit!" She complained. "Forget it! You would have lost anyways," Avinash said. They both began arguing as I looked at Arohi and winked. "Guys calm down! You must be thirsty from all the quarrelling, let's make a stop," I said. "Good idea," Avinash said, "Besides, it's no use arguing with useless people." He looked at Ananya as she looked at him I think her lips in an o. I pulled the jeep over. At least they were fighting like they always do. This can be a good sign. There were no houses around and only forest. The two cars stopped behind us and everyone got out. I opened the trunk and got a drink for everyone. While looking for a room temperature water for Uncle Zeeshan, Arohi came and stood next to me. "What was going on inside there?" She asked. "What?" I asked. "Don't act smart. What's going on with Avinash and Ananya?" She asked sternly. I smiled and looked at Ananya leaning against the bonnet of the car and Avinash talking to the bodyguards. "I'll just be back," I said and left her there without an answer. I went to Uncle Navin and Uncle Zeeshan.

I gave Uncle Zeeshan a bottle of water and Uncle Navin a juice. I turned and looked back at Arohi pouting angrily at me in the same spot. "Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked them. "Yes, but we have been driving for a full hour. When are we going to reach?" Uncle Navin asked. "We have a little way to go again," I said smiling. I turned to Arohi and walked back, leaving them talking. I went back to an annoyed Arohi. Taking a cold juice, I gave it to her saying, "Take it and cool down my pressure cooker." She pushed my hand away and said, "You've give me the right name. When this pressure cooked is about to explode, it's going to come by you only. Wait till then." I chuckled as she turned around to walk away but I held back her hand. She turned around and looked at her Dad feeling shy asking, "What are you doing?" I stepped closer to her asking, "Are you scared?" She pushed me away leaving me amused and ran away. She went and met Ananya and looked back at me shyly. I winked at her making her turn back. She's too cute. I went to Avinash and my other bodyguards and heard them talking casually. I gave my bodyguards some water to keep with them in the car. I held Avinash's shoulder and said, "Come." He followed me back to the car and I asked him, "What was the need to tell Ananya about your past? And if you want to tell her, then tell her the entire truth." "Please sir, whatever was between us, is now over," he said looking away. "So you admit that there was something?" I said. "Please sir," he said annoyed. "Listen, I don't want to spoil your mood. But you don't know what you did to Ananya. She cried the entire day and night. If I had not threatened to give her Arohi or her Dad's swear, she would have never come. What wife are you grieving for? You know very well, that woman's character," I said.