CHAPTER 13: GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF!
The next morning, Aarav woke up early, around 6:00 am. It was Monday and his favourite Webtoon, ‘Tower of God’ always updated around that time. He read through the pages on his mobile, while brushing his teeth.
The next hour, he read through all the other comics he was interested in as they rapidly uploaded the latest episode on the app, lazing around on the bed. The teen also flipped through the news headlines, waiting for the inevitable call for breakfast from his mother.
Soon enough, hearing her voice, he rolled off the bed, stretched and walked to the dining room. Greetings of “Good Morning” went around.
Cabir, yawning, heaped a pile of white-sauce pasta on his plate. “Aarav, my boy, it’s holiday time! Do you always wake up this early? My eyes just snapped open, so I came over now. Or else, I was gonna laze around till 10:00 or so.”
“He wakes up at this time to read his comics; it’s become a habit now. By the way, where’s your teacup?” Aakash asked his friend rubbing his eyes.
“Ah, I washed it already.”
“Oh, okay.”
“By the way-” Aarav began tentatively.
“Not now, Aarav. Those two are still half-asleep!” Aanya reprimanded him.
“I was just-”
“I’m your mother. Do you think I don’t know you? You want to ask about Harshil. Wait until everyone is bathed and fresh. Then you can talk for hours. They’ll both be at home.”
“Yeah, my client has some problems, so he’ll be arriving tomorrow. So, I’m free today.” Cabir said.
Aakash checked some messages on his phone silently.
*****
“I’ll be leaving now.” Aanya informed the three people who were lying languidly on the sofa. All bathed and refreshed, the three were chatting about some video games that had been recently released.
Smartly clad in a light-grey business suit which accentuated her grey-eyes, Aanya closed the folder that she was rifling through with a snap.
Before she could get another word in, Cabir spoke up. “I know what Aakash is thinking right now.” Mimicking is high-pitched from last night, he squealed, “Oooooh, the grey eyes-”
Smack!
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Aakash clapped him on the back of his head.
Aanya too, cast him a withering glance before bringing her attention to her son. “Don’t play too long outside with your friends. You had a high fever a few days ago only. Don’t overexert yourself.”
“Yes, Mom!” Aarav sighed. Aanya had been nagging him repeatedly about not playing too much for the last few days.
Fixing the position of her navy-blue handbag, she began to say something to Aakash who interrupted her by standing up.
“I’ll walk you to the door.” He smiled.
“A date till the dooooooorrrr!” Cabir drew out the last word behind them.
With tacit agreement, the couple ignored him and walked away even as Aarav instinctively rolled his eyes at his uncle’s childish antics.
*****
“I’ll be done by 5 pm today and try to hurry back. When is he coming?”
“Um...he said that he’ll be here by 7...so; let’s take it as 8 pm.” Aakash mused as he leaned against the doorframe.
“True. Even Janya hasn’t been able to cure him of his habitual laziness.”
“The only time he isn’t lazy is when he’s hatching or executing pranks.” The middle-aged man made a face.
“Stop acting like you disapprove. You were always readily participating in his pranks.” Aanya admonished, nudging him with an elbow to the side.
“...Well, that is true.” He gave a rueful smile. Then, he asked something completely out of context, “How are you going to the company? Driving?”
“No.” Aanya shook her head. “Naina should be here anytime now. I’m hitching a ride with her. She’ll give me a call when she’s here.”
“Oh, okay-”
“What are you going to do in the meantime? Share stories?”
Before Aakash could reply, Aanya’s phone began ringing. Picking it up, Aanya spoke to her assistant, “You’re here? Great! I’ll be right out!”
Ending the call, she gave her husband a quick hug and was about to walk away when he answered her earlier question.
“I’ve to go the university in the afternoon. Have to check some reports, pick up some assignments and stuff. I’ll come back home after that but...I guess I’ll have to go out in the evening just before those three arrive. I don’t drink so I have no idea what these two will prefer. Cabir does, but Cabir being Cabir, he’s bound to drag me with him to buy them so...”
“Okay, then.” Aanya nodded her head.
“So, after I’m done at the university, I’ll probably make it by then but if you are done by 5:00 pm and I’m not there, wait a little while. Don’t just leave on your own.”
“Wait? What?” Aanya looked confused.
“I’m saying that I’ll pick you up. Been a while since I have, hasn’t it?” His eyes twinkled. “We’ve both been too busy as of lately. Off course, that’s no excuse to not-”
He was cut off as she leaned in to give him a quick peck on the cheek.
“Such a hopelessly romantic...old man” Aanya giggled softly. “Cabir would say.”
Aakash still hadn’t registered her words; but still made a face hearing his best friend’s name, “That guy...”
“I say so too!” Saying so, she skipped away.
“...Then it’s different- Wait! Old man?!”
But Aanya didn’t hear him; she had already reached the main gate. Giving a cheery wave towards him, she opened the gate and walked out, closing it behind her.
Aakash was still a bit bewildered. Even so, his face had on a stupid grin from the moment she had kissed his cheek. When he registered it, he immediately wiped it off, admonishing himself.
“Get a grip on yourself! You are almost 47 years old already! Don’t get so flustered! Acting as if you are still a teen!”
Even so, as he entered the house and closed the door behind him, he unconsciously beamed.
*****
“So, you were friends with Uncle Harshil before Class 3? How?” Aakash heard his son ask as he stepped into the living room.
“That’d be because-” Cabir cut off his words and questioned Aakash with an evil smirk, “Something good happened, huh? Come on, tell your bro here!”
Aakash just collapsed onto the sofa, simultaneously hurling a pillow at him.
“None of your business!”