Chapter 3 Anya

After watching Tom and Jerry, we decided to play Monopoly, a game in which Arjun always fail.

"Oh no! How can i go to jail right now? I mean i so desperately needed that 200 which i would have got after passing GO," Arjun cried.

Oh poor Arjun! His luck is never with him whenever we play Monopoly.

Although he never believes in that stuff.

He always says "there's no such thing as luck all you need is love, and you will feel that you have achieved more than enough."

I had bought almost all the rich side and expensive properties and left for him the properties like old Kent, Whitechapel, Euston road, pentoville which doesn't give you much rent if some players stood over and i was just showing off my victory when the bell of my house door rung.

Arjun sighed in loss and stood up to open the door for whoever that was ringing uncontrollably and impatiently.

I stood up too following Arjun.

The door was opened and there stood

"Aisha!" Arjun said excitedly.

With "Zayd? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes and said," obvio i didn't come for you, Aisha was missing Arjun so i brought her here no big deal."

I looked at Arjun and Aisha, they for sure looked perfect together and i would do anything for Arjun's happiness even if it meant breaking my heart into tiny pieces.

A pang of pain felt in my heart as i headed back to living room to put back the board game.

Zayd came and helped me to put the stuff of board game back.

Why is he helping me?

Is he sick?

I looked at him questionably.

"Stop looking at me that way," he said while he was picking up the properties card and arranging in the box.

How did he see me looking at him.

He then continued," listen i don't apologise to anyone and i wont apologise to you either, so i will come straight to the point.

I know today it was yours and Arjun's tradition day, but i don't care. I said it was because from today in fact from now you wont celebrate this tradition day again, ever. I would do anything for Aisha's happiness."

"Arjun would never allow this, us not following tradition is next to impossible," i argued.

He smirked and said," next to impossible but not impossible,right?"

"And who said he will keep the promise he made when he was six years old?" Zayd asked.

"What are you trying to imply?" I asked.

He shook his head and said," for sure the nickname i gave you suits you, stupid. I meant that promises are meant to be broken, if not now then some day, if not him then you will break.

Aisha she is so innocent that she would never tell Arjun but i know that it hurts her to see you with Arjun. This time you will tell him to stop following the tradition and am sure he will listen to you."

"He wont," i replied " believe me, i have tried and also am ready to do anything for Arjun's happiness."

"Yah right, even if it means breaking your heart into tiny pieces," Zayd spoke.

"What?" I asked shocked as to what he meant by that sentence.

"You thought i didn't know? C'mon! Its clearly evident," his grey orbs looked into mine and then said," your eyes says everything, and if he doesn't listen then do something, something that makes him break the promise.Just the way you feel when you see Aisha with Arjun the same way Aisha feels when she sees you with him."

He paused and took a deep breath."the only difference is you know that there is nothing between you and Arjun and between Aisha and Arjun? They are getting married next month! So obvio Aisha will be hurt more seeing Arjun with someone else with their wedding date approaching"

I looked at him, he is not the Zayd i know. He is not the Zayd who is always ready to argue and fight with me. He is not the Zayd i abhor.

He is Aisha's protective brother Zayd. He is the caring Zayd. I have never seen him talk this way especially not with me.

"Don't tell me you guys are fighting again?" Asked Arjun.

I jolted away from my thoughts and looked at Arjun and then to Zayd.

Whatever he said was true.

I do felt hurt whenever i see Arjun with Aisha but at the same i know how Aisha might be feeling when Arjun spends time with me.

"I have other work to do than waste my precious time fighting with her,"Zayd answered Arjun and stood up to leave.

But, before he left he said," Stupid! Just think over what i said."

Obvio that sentence was directed to me.

Wait. Why am i speaking like him?

Hell! His words are giving a bad effect to my pronunciation skills.

**

The whole day went by Arjun spending time with Aisha while as i didn't want to be a gooseberry i sat in my room with my kitty probably drawing.

After Aisha left, a few minutes before dinner, Arjun came to my room to call me for dinner.

I had finished my drawing and was now reading a novel.

Arjun sat beside me and asked directly," what was Zayd saying? I mean he always calls you Stupid! Seriously? Who is he to call you by names? And what did he mean when he said just think over, what was it about?"

"Nothing," i replied.

"I would tell Aisha to tell him never to come near you," Arjun spoke with his anger rising.

"Why?" I asked.

"What?" He asked unsure of what i meant.

"Why would you do that?"

"I know you hate him and me too i don't like him but am only tolerating him because he is Aisha's elder brother, but you don't need to put up with him."

I smiled and said," why are we talking about him? Cm'on i want to talk to you about something but lets do it after dinner cause am hungry."

I don't even know how to start the conversation about breaking the tradition.

God! Please help me.

I sat on the chair while Arjun was ordering for a pizza from Pizza Inn.

"While the pizza is on the way you can have these cookies," Arjun offered.

I took a cookie and took a bite of it.

Just then my mum entered the house and came to the kitchen.

"Hello Anu,Arjun, hope you guys enjoyed," mum spoke. She then kissed my forehead and went to hug Arjun.

She then said," you guys continue to wait for your pizza, while i go and freshen up."

And she left for her room.

"I'm sorry," Arjun said.

"Hmm?" I asked with my mouth full of cookie.

"We were not able to follow our tradition complete-" before he continued i intervened his sentence and said "exactly that's what i wanted to talk about, let us not follow our tradition anymore, i..i.mean lets follow once a month instead of once a week, for you and also for me."

He gave me a blank look, and then opened his mouth to say something and then closed, he said nothing until the bell rang and he went to receive the pizza.

*

The whole time he didn't utter a single word, just ate pizza.

Mum too had joined us.

And then he left.

Mum and i, were still sitting on the dinning table.

Mum spoke," something is wrong between you two right?"

I nodded.

"What happened?" My mum asked.

My mom knew about my crush on Arjun.

She is my best friend, so i share my every secret with her.

She doesn't judge me unlike other mothers I always read in novels and Wattpad stories.

I told her the full story after when Aisha came to Zayd's warning till Arjun left.

She gave me a worried look and said," i guess, Zayd is right. Plus, you should move on."

I stood up ready to leave the dinning room, but before leaving i spoke," i do feel the same, Zayd for sure is right and i also spoke with Arjun, and now am only waiting for his reply."

***

I couldn't sleep, my mind was just busy thinking as to what Arjun's answer will be.

He didn't speak the whole time since i told him about changing the tradition.

And when Arjun doesn't argue about anything means he is not happy with the decision.

I don't know what his decision will be.