Chapter 4 Aviyan's threshing

Aviyan's pov~

Ughh. Sunlight stabbed through my eyelids, a cruel reminder of the hours I'd wasted. I groaned, pushing myself upright in the chair. Twelve? My phone screen screamed the time at me, thousands of missed calls scrolling down the display. Maa. Dadu.

Panic tightened in my chest.

Shit.

I stepped into my room, took a quick shower and then after drying off put, on the bathrobe.

A knock sounded on my door.

" coming" I replied, already reaching for the doorknob.

Before I could ever get the door half opened , my cousin has pushed past me, practically knocking me off balance.

This little girl has no boundaries

a flicker of little annoyence Crossing my face.

"Here is your shewani" she began " and get ready fast! Bari maa already tumhe bohot bar call kar chuki hain , jo apne as usual uthaya nahi"

My head throbbed.

[ Barimaa has already called you a branch of Time, which, as usual, you didn't answer]

" bas kar de, chalti firti loud speaker" I said giving her a playfully glare

[ Stop it, walking loud speaker]

"bhai, that's rude" she pouted.

"Aur Tumhari yeh shandaar Bina dastak diye andar anaa, woh kya" I slammed the door shut, cutting off any further Invision of my space

[And let's not forget your grand entrance without so much as a knock]

"woh toh mera haq" she said and sat on the bed side sofa.

[ That's my right]

" haan haan more like khandani bimari" she, mom, chachi amd even Dadu, barge into my room without knocking, like I have no privacy at all.

[ Yeah, yeah , more like a hereditary disease]

"Whatever" she rattled off "jaldi se ready ho Jai , ek ghante main mehndi hai garden Mai. Aur sab apko Bula bhi rahe hai" she turned to leave.

[ Hurry up the mehndi's in an hour in the garden and everyone's waiting for you]

"oi, listen" I called as she reached for the door.

"Hmm?" She replied.

"How are you?" I asked. It had been eight months. Eight months hadn't changed her; if anything, she was even more beautiful.

Her eyes flickered with tears but she blinked them back. "Do you even remember you have a little sister?" She wishpered, then slammed the door.

Seems like everyone is very disappointed with me. Chal Avi aj to teri acche se maramat hogi.

[let's go, Avi, today you'll be well taken care of]

I got ready in 20 mins and went to the living room, where everyone was gossiping.

I tiptoed into the room and, with a playful smile, covered mom's eyes from behind.

"Yaad agayi maa ki, Aviyan" Mom said a second later. My eyes widened.

Did she have eyes in the back of her head?

[ Did you remember your mom now]

"how did you know it was me?" I asked stepping around to face her.

"Moms have eyes in the back of their heads" she teased, patting my cheek.

The next moment, she had my ear in her grasp, twisting it with a familiar tug . Just like old times..

" aaah maa, dhuk raha hain" I said wincing.

[ Aaah mom, it hurts]

" dhukta hain? toh dukhne ke liya hi marora hain" she retorted, twisting my ear harder.

[Does it hurt? Then it was twisted to be hurt]

Everyone was laughing, even Avni who was practically hysterical.

But she wasn't done yet. Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I saw dadu coming down "Dadu, please save your nanna sa munna sa ladla potein ko"

[Dadu please save your little darling grandchild]

" Lagta hain aj Teri Khair nahi Aviyan " chachi said from behind dadu.

[ Look like you are in trouble today, Aviyan ]

"Maa app Jo bologi main karunga, promise" I swear.

[ Mom I swear I will do whatever you say]

" bol har roj call karega , har week milne aye ga"

[ Then you Better call me daily and visit me every weekend]

Mom said with little smile.

" haan haan karunga promise, main bhi karunga mera beta bhi karega"

Mom finally let go of my ear.

[ Yes, yes, I will do it promise, I will call you even my son will also call you]

I rubbed it wincing at the lingering sting. Before I could fully recover, dad's hand was on my other ear and he gave it a sharp twist.

" dad, ye to nainsafi hain" I said with a crying face. [ Dad, this is unfair]

" pehle bata kaha hain mera pota" dad asked with a smile.

[ First you answer me, where is my grandchild]

" konsa pota" I said catching his hand.

[Which grandchild]

He twisted more "oh. konsa pota.wahi wahi, jisse baat karwane ke Liya Tum itne utavle ho rahe the"

[ Oh..Which grandson, The same one.. the same one , you were eager to talk with your mom]

I regret saying that line.

" hone wala beta, hone wala"He loosened his grip. I ran to dadu, my only hope of escaping this morning I mean afternoon's parental games

[Future son, future son]

I exclaimed, wrapping my arms tightly around her from behind, seeking refuge.

Dadu pats my checks with a smile and addresses everyone " bus hogaya!"

[ That's enough]

See that's why I love her. I hug her more.

"Maa you're not going to let him get away with this! Are you?" Dad Asked

"When did I say I was letting him get away with anything? I just asked ' bas hogaga? Itna hi? '" Dadu replied, a devilish grin spreading across her face. My eyes widened [ That's enough? That's it?]

I felt a wave of nausea.

Betrayal.

How could she?

"Daduuu..." I managed wishpered. Everyone was laughing. It felt like a knife twisting in my gut.

" chal kan pakkar ke 100 bar" dadu said. [Do up&down holding your ears 100 times]

100? Seriously? Am I a toddler?

"100 is nothing, he should do 1000" the voice comes from behind me. I turned, and my breath Hitched at the sight of her, stole my breath.

My jaw dropped. She was radiant. The green lehenga flowed around her like a dream.

"if you start now, you might just finish before the wedding" she teased, closing the distance between us.

"So, should I just die then?" I retorted dramatically.

"Shut up!" everyone said in unison.

"One more word, and you're gonna get it" maa said playfully nudging me.

"Aise baatein nahi karte, beta," Chachi said gently, patting my shoulder. [Don't say such things, son]

"Bahu, tui iski nazar utaar pehle," Dadu said, her voice filled with worry.[daughter-in-law, quickly, removed the evil eye from him]

I smiled, warmed by their love.

Mom led me to the kitchen and performed the nazar ritual, her hands moving in familiar circles.

"You're looking beautiful," I teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Dad probably fainted, right?"

She swatted my arm playfully. "Chup, besharam. Kabhi nahi sudhrega," she said, her smile betraying her amusement.

[Be quiet, you're shameless. You'll never learn]

"Nahi," I replied, giggling.[ No]

Maa rolled her eyes, but her smile was soft. "God, keep my son like this, always happy and cheerful." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I miss you, beta. Why don't you move back home?"

"I miss you too, Senorita," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

"I can't, you know. But I promise I'll be here soon. I'm planning to start a company here. Don't cry, please."

I pulled her into a tight hug, needing it as much as she did.

"Pushpa, I hate tears," I said dramatically, trying to make her smile.

She chuckled, tears still streaming down her face. I held her close. God, I miss her so much. But it's for the best.

"Okay, let's go. Everyone must be wondering where we are," she said, finally breaking the embrace. It's okay.

I'll have this later.