Riya

My mother often called me fragile. I hated that title. But my interactions proved her right, day after day. I hated that more.

I was lying on my bed contemplating the day's events.

Some people would get over the interactions as soon as the person went out of sight. Then there were people like me, who would mull over every detail and ruin their next four weeks. But I wanted to change that. I did not want to be this person forever. Afraid of confrontations. Afraid of speaking out.

I decided to talk to Dhruv tomorrow.

Before that, I dialed my friends.

"You should've hit him." Sia's voice rang through the phone. The voice of the most popular girl in our school.

Our friendship was not something I ever expected to develop. While I do wish the circumstances through which we met were different, I was grateful to have her in my life nonetheless.

"Why do you always circle back to violence." Ruhi's annoyed voice came from the other end. She was calm to Sia's storm. Long straight hair and stormy black eyes. She had the nickname ' the lone wolf' before she became friends with us in 11th grade.

"Because you two are a bunch of sissies."

"Didn't you hide in your room and cry for a week straight after your boyfriend dumped you."

"HE DIDN'T DUMP ME. OH MY GOD! RUDRA COME HERE AND TELL HER." Sia shouted, calling to her boyfriend, who said something inaudible.

They always used to bicker back and forth because, at their core, they were very similar. They would rather die than accept that.

"Can we not divert from my problem?" I sighed.

We three were on a call, and as usual, Sia and Ruhi were bickering. I missed it. I missed it a lot. The way they would start bickering, and it would go on and on unless I stepped in and diverted their mind to something all of us could hate together.

"You don't have a problem. He's your brother, Riya. He will understand. But also, stop mothering him." Sia's voice held a sense of authority.

"I don't mother him."

"Yes, you do. You have been doing it since you two were kids. It's time you let him face the consequences and learn from his mistakes."

"That mistake will cost him a big time."

I could hear her sigh from the other end.

"How about you try to talk to him? Make him see your side. I'm sure he'll listen." Ruhi's calm voice stated.

"I'll try."

"Now, let's talk about this scary guy you talked about." I could feel Sia's worry.

"There's nothing to talk about. I'm never going to interact with him."

"It doesn't matter. If he creates any problem, call us, and we'll beat him blue." She gritted out.

"Yeah. Violence. Fun." Ruhi drawled. I could picture her rolling her eyes.

"I do not want to talk about him. Or think about him."

The silence was deafening from their end. But I wanted to stop thinking about today. Thinking easily became physically exhausting.

Thankfully, they dropped the topic. It was going to come up sooner or later. They knew how to get me to talk. I got ready for them to drop by my door anytime next week. But till then, I wanted to forget about the interaction.

________________________________________________

Mornings were fun. Early mornings, fresh air, and slow-rising sun. I loved it. To me, it symbolized new beginnings. As if life gives you another chance to live to the fullest.

I walked out of my house and walked to Dhruv's. No matter how angry, he would come around. I just needed to talk to him. After all, I was his favorite sister.

We were neighbors. Well, not really, but we lived close to each other. A coincidence that we did not expect when we were four at the end of summer vacation at our grandfather's home, planning to write letters to each other to stay in contact. We were dumb kids.

I opened the gate of his home and stepped inside with a skip in my step. I loved coming to my chachi's home. The sweetest lady ever who made the sweetest laddus ever.

I rang the bell, expecting her to open the door. It was Dhruv who opened the door.

"It's you," he said with a bored expression and turned around, probably to go back inside his room. Ouch!

"Where's Chachi?"

"Temple." His curt reply and I shriveled a little bit.

"It's good that you're still here. I wanted to talk about something." I said, following him like a lost puppy.

"What?" he asked, sitting down on the dining table. There was a half-eaten aaloo ka paratha on the table. He saw me looking there, sighed, and got up from the chair.

"I...I wanted to apologize." I stood awkwardly, looking at his back while he took a plate out.

This awkwardness, I didn't like. It shouldn't be there.

His angry eyes from yesterday flashed in my eyes. Maybe I did cross a line.

"For what?" He opened the fridge and pulled out a bowl.

He wasn't going to make it easier for me, was he?

"For how I reacted yesterday." He stopped in his tracks for a second, spoon dangling in the air.

"Hmmm," he said, continuing his work. What the hell was he even doing?

I walked closer to him, frustrated. "Look, I know you did not like that. I should've understood. I was just worried." My voice bordered on whiny.

"Sit down" - he turned with a plate full of parathas and chutney, and kept it on the table- "and eat."

We both sat down. "Are you not going to say anything?" I asked, looking at him.

He sighed. "I understand you were worried. But I'm not....this doesn't happen every day okay? You need to understand." Lie.

"That does not mean it's okay."

"Yeah, I know. It's...Abhay and I are friends. You need to accept that." Never.

"I don't mind who you're friends with. I just worry that you're getting into fights too much."

"It's nothing too serious. I promise I'll stay out of trouble. Can we both stop fighting, please?" He gave me one of his dimpled smiles.

It was serious, and I wasn't sure if he would stay out of trouble. But I did not want to bicker again.

I sighed. "Okay, I'll....try not to nag you too much about it."

"Good. Now finish your food, and I'll drop you to college." He got up and took his plate.

"Where are you going?" I asked, eating the paratha. It was heavenly.

"Getting ready. Are you coming to my game today?" He asked, washing the plate in the sink.

I stopped chewing, and the interaction with Abhay started playing in my mind. I could smell his perfume.

"I don't know. Should I?"

"Yes, you should. It's an important match. The pride of our college depends on it." He said it unironically.

I rolled my eyes at his line—typical Dhruv.

"Haan, Haan! I'll be there." Not.

He turned to look at me as if reading my mind, and I gave him my fluttering eyelash smile. He shook his head and laughed.

"I'll be back in 1 minute," he said, and walked towards his room, and I went back to scarfing the heavenly food.

Dhruv seems like he has grown a lot. The childishness in him is almost gone.

It's all because of his friend group. 

I texted in our group, fuming. Dhruv dropped me off and went to the gym. I wasn't sure if he was even attending the classes or not.

It's called growing up. You're overthinking. Isn't he older than you? It was Ruhi who replied.

I was updating them about my talk with Dhruv, which was uncharacteristically short.

I think it's time you stop worrying about him and let him make decisions.

The last time I let Dhruv make a decision, he burned down our grandfather's home. I had a feeling it was going to be like that. 

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