Chapter 5 ~ "Pass the Biryani"

EDITED.

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Akira's POV

After the single word statement that passed through my pursed lips, the silence seemed to stretch on as I assessed the man across from me. He stood up to his full height, evaluating me in turn. 

"What the hell is he doing here, Kabir?" I bit out, my eyes not wavering from the raven ones staring back as intently. 

"You're level of absurdity never fails to amaze me." He snorted. "Nice to see you alive, Akira."

"It's disgusting how you can even joke about that, Ayan."

"Don't mix up awareness with morbid humour, something you would be well-known with."

"And that means what exactly?" 

"It means—" He took a step closer, "—that all those sad and quite unnecessary taunts you threw around back then, don't affect me." 

I scoffed, "I don't think anything can effect that non-existent heart of yours."

"Please don't think. Stressing those already lacking brain cells might hurt that pretty head of yours."

"The level of hypocrisy is not really something I would expect from an infamous businessman. But of course, if he is you, then I guess it shouldn't surprise me. And I doubt anything you could say would affect my IQ of 130."

"130 huh? Impressive. Only a little off from mine, so congratulations." I grit my teeth, breathing as deeply as I could to avoid punching his smug face. 

"I'd agree with you, but then we would both be wrong."

"I neither have the time or the crayons to explain this to you. Learn to accept facts."

"You know in the past 24 years of my existence, I've met a lot pricks, but you definitely rank as the pointiest cactus in the desert."

He just smirked and took another step forward, but I wasn't going to back away. "Wow. If I actually cared about your opinion, I would be honoured to rank somewhere in that dark heart of yours."

My eye twitched in anger. "Step on a lego, you ass."

"Shock me, say something intelligent," He simply rolled his eyes. 

"Keep rolling your eyes Ayan. Hopefully, you'll find a brain back there."

His brows furrowed, "so it's fine for you to stupid, but not for me to point it out?"

"I've been called worse by better."

Faking a yawn, he leaned down with a twinkle in his mischievous eyes, "Keep talking, I yawn when I'm interested."

That's it.

Shoving him away from me, I noticed his smirk grown as if he won a prize. "Oh go fu—"

"Alright! That's enough!" Kabir exclaimed coming in between us, but not like that stopped me from darting a death glare at his stupid face. I had completely forgot that the other two were still in the room. "Now, calm the hell down." He waved his palms in front of the two of us slowly in a gesture to calm. 

"Breathe," Adhaya's soothing voice reached me.

Suddenly, the front door swung open, and seconds later mom walked into the kitchen. "I was wondering where you kids were."

"Hey maa, you're home early." Kabir greeted cautiously, shooting Ayan and I a warning look.

"Namaste Auntie," Adhaya greeted and touched my mom's feet.

"Beta, I told you so many times to call me 'maa', and now since you're going to be my daughter-in-law you certainly have to." Mother smiled to her, while Adhaya returned it with a shy smile.

My mom held a surprised expression when she finally noticed Ayan was here too. She engulfed him into a warm hug "Ayan! Welcome back beta, look how much you've grown! How was your flight?"

I took this time to notice him reluctantly. Dressed in a simple grey Nike shirt with some black athletic sweats, he looked fit. His raven black hair was messy and seemed longer, but still managed to look somewhat appealing. His defined jaw was unclenching by the moment, and those dark chocolate eyes brightened as he spoke with my mother. Unforunately, his looks couldn't make up his lack of personality. 

"—good to be back home, and I'm waiting for you special biryani." He smiled sweetly as my mom playfully slapped his shoulder.

What a suck up.

"Was everything alright here?" I looked up to see that she was glancing between Ayan and me. 

"No one's hurt." Kabir shrugged, walking out the kitchen to escape mum's narrowed gaze.

Mom gave me a stern look that said Whatever Kabir is saying better be true.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the counter.

I had learned my lesson to never display our fight in front of our parents. A non-sensical argument back in eleventh grade had taught me better. It was just a normal, stupid, Akira-Ayan fight, battling for the T.V. remote for straight twenty minutes. Our shouts had raised to the her breaking point, because the next thing we knew, she had thundered out kitchen with a crimson face. The poor remote that had felt the worst of her wrath, broken against the hardwood floors, while we got a well deserved scolding.

Mom clasped her hands together, bringing me back to reality,"Let's eat." 

"Oh auntie, I have to go. Maa's waiting at home." The jerk replied.

"Nonsense. I'll call Vidya to let her know I'm keeping her son for a while." she chuckled. I groaned inwardly. 

"Yeah man, biryani nah kahni thi?" Didn't you want to eat biryani? Kabir piped in. I snapped my head to him and shot him a dirty look. 

That's your second strike Kabir.

"You just came back after so long. Stay for dinner naa?" Adhaya said looking at me the whole time. I scoffed, shooting her an offended look. My best friend had turned her back on my emotions as well. 

She raised an eyebrow waiting for my confirmation on what she said, receiving an eye-roll from me.

He sighed giving in, "I can't say no to your biryani, auntie." 

"Perfect, Kabir set up the dining table, while Akira and I prepare the food." My mother answered while adjusting her apron. Kabir stuffed his hands in his pockets, and walked out after Ayan.

"Maa, I'm going to help too." Adhaya said, picking up another apron.

"No beta, you can help when you're married, Right now just relax."

"That's not fair maa, as your daughter I want to help too." Adhaya whined. 

I gave Adhaya my apron. If you really want to help, you're more than welcome to take my place.

"Fine beta, you can help me too." The way she emphasized on the 'too', it seemed like she read my mind. I huffed in reply, and the three of us got to work.

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After, we placed all food on the table, I sat on the farthest corner away from Ayan, and made sure to keep the biryani in front of me. Adhaya sat beside me, as Kabir was across. Just as mom, was about to sit down, in her seat between the two boys, she exclaimed. "Oh I forgot the water, I'll be right back. You can start." She smiled and walked out of the room. 

"Akira, pass the biryani." Ayan ordered. 

I scoffed. "Use those two ostrich legs of yours."

Just as he was about to reply, mom walked back into the room, with a translucent jug in her hand. He gave a disgustingly fake smile.

"Akira, can you please pass the biryani." He said again, in sickening sweet voice.

"Akira! Why haven't you given him the food, the poor boy must be hungry." My mother tutted at me. 

She was disowning me. She was disowning me for the devil himself. 

I grit my teeth and passed the bowl to Adhaya who was looking at me with slight concern. When the bowl was handed to him, he met my eyes and gave me a wink. I looked at mom to see that she was busy eating and didn't notice his evil glance.

"This is amazing auntie. And where is uncle?" 

"Oh, he'll be coming home late, because of work." Mom answered with a smile. After that, there was uneasy silence lingering in the air, which went unrecognized by my mother.

I guess Kabir noticed the awkward tension in the room too, and decided to make conversation. "I was thinking maybe we should take a trip this weekend."

"To where?"

Kabir pondered over it for a minute, "Niagara Falls? We haven't been there in a long while. If everyone is free."

"Who counts as everyone?"

"You know. You, Adhaya, Shan, Meera, and the boys." 

I nodded, swallowing the bit of food before speaking up, "I'm up for it. For old time's sake." Kabir took a deep breath, that might have gone unnoticed if I wasn't looking at him already.

Seems like I wasn't the only one. Ayan filled up Kabir's glass and slid it over to my brother, and continued to eat his food quite nonchalantly. 

"Sounds good to me! But I think we should go next week." Adhaya answered after finishing her meal.

"That works, plus I'm busy this week." He looked at me and Ayan for confirmation. I nodded my head and pushed my chair, getting out of my seat. "Well I guess I'll choose the day and tell you tomorrow." Kabir said with a smile. I walked into the kitchen with Adhaya on my heels, quickly washing our plate and walked out again to see the rest standing up from their seats. 

"Well maa, I'll be off then." Adhaya said giving my mom a quick hug. She turned to me. "Kira, I got work tomorrow and Thursday, so I guess I'll see you Friday." 

"Yeah, of course. I've got to make some work calls as well." I answered.

"I'll walk you to your car?" Kabir questioned coming up right beside her. She nodded, a faint blush creeping up her neck. I looked between then both with an amused look.

"You guys are disgusting." I remarked fondly. At the same time they snapped their heads towards me and gave me a death glare. I stepped back and lifted my hands up in surrender, chuckling.

"Hey, Ayan. Come on, I'll drop you off." Ayan nodded and disappeared into the living room. The other two went towards the main door. 

"Bye!" I hollered right before the door closed. I looked around to find that I was the only one here. Quickly clearing up the dining table, I helped mom clean up the kitchen. 

Her phone rang just as I finished wiping the counter. 

"It's nanni." I told her, handing her the phone. 

Bidding her a goodnight, I made my way out the kitchen. She mumbled a response, before greeting her own mother on the phone. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was almost ten o'clock. 

Dad would be home soon, and my mom wouldn't relax until he was back. A smile crossed my lips, thinking of the love they held for each other. They didn't need to profess their love every hour, but the small gestures were just equivalent. Turning on his news channel in the morning, with a cup of chai. Keeping mom's smile as his phone's background screen. Joking lightly. Debating intensely. 

God, am I lucky.

I was so lost in my thoughts, that I didn't notice where I was going and bumped my head into something hard. I groaned and stumbled backwards, massaging my head. 

I looked up to find an irritated looking Ayan. "Unbelievable," he grumbled under his breath. "Invest in a pair of strongly prescribed glasses, would you?"

I ignored his pointless taunt. "What are you even doing here? You're suppose to be leaving with Kabir."

"I had to get my bags." He stated, lifting up the bags in his arms up slightly.

"Whatever." I mumbled, walking past him, making sure to hit my shoulder against his. 

Finally settled into bed, I breathed a sigh of relief. Begging the nightmares to stay at bay, I closed my eyes.

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Writing that scene in the beginning was even more fun than the last time I wrote it.

Remember to vote and comment below.

Chapter dedicated to Shootingstar1998 ~> Go spam her to write shit. 

lemme get back to writing:

xoxo,

loveYJHD