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|Love and hate are the two sides of the same coin. The more you try, the harder it gets to pick any one|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

Sammy was playing loud blaring music which didn't make an ounce of sense to me because neither she nor I was well-versed in understanding pure Punjabi. We had grown up in Delhi and had bare minimum influence of our native on us. But, I could never simplify Samiksha. She functioned upon her unreliable mood, like right now she played driver for me and Vivek by making us sit in the backseat.

Vivek was busy solving one of his problems in organic chemistry while I tried to find some peace amidst the chaos. A hypnotizing pair of eyes clouding my mind with bursts of untamed emotions I refused to name, afraid of the outcomes. It would get devastating if I let my unchained emotions unfurl in front of anyone especially when it had no future.

My future was methodically choreographed with Aakash as my ceramist. My family and even Sammy seemed happy with the declaration of engagement assuring me that I was heading into the right direction. The life ahead appears good if I don't let my selfishness hinder its optimism.

The car came to an abrupt halt pushing us in the front while the miscreant cheered in exuberance. Does her body burns uranium and thorium to release nuclear energy? Why did you make her a human, God? Because she's an ape kinda specimen!

"I want an ice-cream." She told to no one in particular unlocking the car, "Baby won't eat and Vivi I won't buy for you so I'll just go and bring a pistachio bowl for myself." She left.

How courteous, Sammy!

"What occupied you, Mademoiselle?" Vivek questioned shutting his notebook and facing me.

I clicked my tongue and asked about the long-term bugging query instead, "What's up with you and Sarah, Vivi?"

He was surprised but quickly masked it with inferiority which didn't go unnoticed by me.

"What about that, doe? Did she chew away your notebooks and blamed it on me?" He leered.

"No!" I affirmed, "But, she budged something in you well and good. What's up with your anger with Faiz?"

"You think I care about that leech?" Vivek supposed acidly, "Who the hell is he to take my time? I'm not blind like his girlfriend."

"You're acting weird lately, Vivi!" I stated with honesty, "And I am telling you this because you and her are getting things awkward for us. If you find some fault in Faiz then you can tell Sarah and maybe sort it out but if you continue this irrelevant blame game for longer than it could turn worse for our friendship. And you understand it better than me, I know."

He heard me with patience but it was not like him. He would've explained to me his frame of reference but he didn't, bringing a strange thought into my mind.

"Is it more than it seems, Vivi?" I impeached, "Do you have anything for Sarah-"

He literally laughed, "What are you thinking, yaar! Do you take me to be someone who would go blind in emotions? I'd prefer to retain my celibacy than running behind that crazy woman! Spare me, Ruchi!" He held his ears as if fed up by my idea.

I was skeptical but nodded anyway believing his words without any further uncertainty. Vivek was truthful since I could remember and had let my doubts subside when Sammy joined us back in the car. I held Vivek's palm assuringly and encouraged him to solve the misunderstanding between him and Sarah soon.

The moment I reached my home and stepped out Sammy reminded me to talk about the trip and earn permission else she'd do that in her own twisted way without hearing my say.

And I had to agree because Samiksha Khanna was my ultimate boss.

During the dinner, I gulped the food as quickly as I could because I wanted to ask Papa about the trip to Manali. Yes, my friends fetched all the details before the published notice was printed from the student council's president desk with the help of their reliable resources. They're adamant to not let me skip this time or kill my abrupt wish so I decided to try my luck this time. I somehow managed to make my friends not talk about this directly to my family on my behalf as ideally I should be asking for it myself.

I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to go but I'd never been into anything other than academics and this was my chance.

"Papa! BadePapa!" I called for them politely as we all sat in the living room after the dinner.

I got their attention with immediate silence and I inhaled the sharp breath mustering up courage to speak.

"Our campus is organizing a trip to Manali. I wish to go over there Papa." I said and looking at his face I immediately added, "Only if you'd want me to. I won't be doing it by violating your wish."

"Why not?" BadePapa said with a comforting smile, "What's to ask, dear? You should definitely go."

I knew he'd agree but I still waited for my father's approval. I surely wasn't going if he didn't want me to because unfortunately for me my happiness doesn't come before his. If I could agree to marry for Papa's sake then comparatively declining a trip was nothing.

"You can ofcourse go, Baby! You don't need to ask for it. It's time for you youngsters to enjoy." BadiMa interrupted when she looked at my troubled face.

"It's okay, I'm fine if I don't go." I murmured and was ready to go to Bhai with our coffee mugs when Papa finally uttered.

"You can go, Ruchi!" He said, making my eyes train to him instead of the floor when he smiled lightly.

"Are you sure Papa?" I was a bit doubtful about his approval.

"Yes! You should go. It's your first experience of the outside world."

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Papa and everyone. I will just register my name along the said amount for it on the upcoming Friday." I tried hard not to literally hop in joy in front of Papa who wasn't very fond of such things.

"Take the money from me and shop for yourself, Baby. Either you can go with Mamta Ji or your friends."

"It's fine, BadePapa. I have a lot of clothes."

"Girl, you hardly shop so keep quiet and go with your friends." BadiMa made me shut up in an instant.

Who can deny this lovely lady?

"You're not going with that Samiksha? Are you?" Bhai asked once I sat beside him on the swing in the backyard.

"Bhai she never misses any adventurous trip. So of course she had to be on the trip as soon as it was announced."

"Why were you even friends with her?" He repeated that question maybe an uncountable number of times.

"C'mon Bhai! She's not bad like you think. She's just outspoken and a tad bit extrovert or else she's gold at heart." I answered. "Sammy is 24 carat gold, Bhai. You can't get anyone else like her."

"Who even wants somebody like her!" Bhai breathed inaudibly but I heard it anyway.

"Bhai!!" I objected.

"Yeah! I know you are my possessed sister and you can't hear anything about your friend." He posed pulling on my cheeks, "It hurts, Bhai-Leave me!!" I whisper yelled annoyed by everyone's obsession with people who possess fluffy cheeks.

Tumhara to kuch nahi, hum logon ko bewajah dard hota hai!!

["It's nothing to you, we suffer unnecessarily!!"]

After a while when I was blowing on my coffee Bhai out of the blue complained, "Am I not lovable enough to you, Baby?"

"When did I say that?"

"Then why do you need to keep up with her?" He probed.

I whacked my brain hard to think about this 'her' only to roll my eyes at my brother's childishness upon attaining the realization.

"Bhai! How can I choose anyone between you two? You both are a part of my life and both are lovely to me." I said, "Samiksha ho ya aap, dono hi mere apne ho na! Toh phir main kaise ek side loon?" I pointed, side hugging him and soon his sulking switch was turned off.

["Be it Samiksha or you, both of you, are mine own, right! Then how can I take any one's side?"]

"Alright! Alright! I can bear her for you!" He said as if he was ready to bear the expenses of war equipment for our lives.

That made me laugh, startling BadiMa who brought Bhai's phone that was ringing without a break with a lifeless default ringtone. Sammy probably would've thrown his phone on the ground hearing it.

"We were just talking about an upcoming earthquake, Maa." Bhai lied on both of our behalf picking up the call and excusing himself for a moment.

"Kiski baat chal rahi hai?" BadiMa wiggled her eyebrows as I made space for her to sit beside, "Nothing, BadiMa..."

["Whom are you talking about?"]

"Acha ji, meri billi mujhi se meow..." Badima entreated, "Chal ab bata de jaldi se kiske bare baat ho rahi thi."

["Oh really, my cat dares to meow at me... Now tell me quickly about whom were you talking?"]

"Just like that, BadiMa-" I stuttered, she got a valid hint of me making up things so I spilled whatever first ridiculous thing came up in my mouth, "Aapki hone wali bahu ki baat kar rahe the aur maine kuch start nahi kiya ha, BadiMa." I said defensively heedless about my blabbering, "Bhai hamesha pehle shuru karte hai uski baat."

["We're just gossiping about your to-be daughter-in-law and BadiMa, I didn't start it. Bhai always starts talking about her first."]

BadiMa's face contorted in enthusiasm which I had a partial clue about. I hope my little make up story isn't going to make things hard for my Bhai else he's gone!

"Sachi??"

["Really??"]

"Muchi, BadiMa!!"

["Really, Badima!!"]

BadiMa hugged me in sheer happiness and shot the questions one after the other, "Kon hai? Kaisi dikhti hai? Tu mili kya usse, beta? What does she do?"

["Who is she? How does she look? Have you met her, dear? What does she do?"]

Samiksha Khanna. Sammy looks like a Panda wrapped in tomboy clothes. I meet her almost everyday, BadiMa. Well for starters she sucks the life out of my brother as he suggests.

Did I dig a hole for my brother by uttering nonsense?

Bhai returned after ending his call and looked stupefied at BadiMa who gave him heart eyes while I passed on a nervous smile in a form an apology.

"What's going on?"

"You tell me what's happening, huh!" BadiMa started hitting on his arm, "Jab main kehti hoon shadi kar le tab toh tu muh pe mana kar deta hai aur khud ladki bhi dekh kar rakhi hai. Bada chupa rustom, nikla tu beta!!"

["When I ask you to get married, then you straight away refute and you have already kept a girl in sight. You have turned out quite a surprise package!!"]

"What are you saying, Maa-?" He was annoyed.

"Main bol rahi hu, ab! What about you? When were you planning to tell me when you get me two grandkids?" Bhai's face transformed in horror but BadiMa didn't stop her charade, "Abhi bata de, ek hi sath tum dono ki engagement karwa denge."

["I'm speaking now! Spill the details out now, both of you brother-sister will be getting engaged together."]

"Maa-"

"Bhai! Bhai!" I intervened concluding his dilemma, "BadiMa was asking me about what we were talking about and she turned persistent so I told her that the girl we were talking about was your supposed wife!" I chewed my lips in anxiety while I mouthed an apology.

Bhai shook his head at me. Oh! I know that I made him stand in a spot of bother but what could I have done? I don't know how Bhai lies because I am a bad liar. Jhoot bhi bolungi toh shayad sab sach maan lete hai par mujhe bolna hi nahi aata. And Bhai lies so perfectly himself yet he blames Sammy for being a bad influence.

["If I lie then maybe everyone might believe me but I don't know how to lie."]

"Usko aankhe mat dikha!" BadiMa hit Bhai's head a little too hard making him wince, "Tu sach bata jaldi warna abhi main tere Papa ko bulati hoon!"

["Don't glare at her! Now, tell me the truth fast else I'm calling your father here."]

"Par Maa-"

["But mother-"]

"You won't speak, right?" BadiMa confirmed. Bhai shook his head and BadiMa asked me, "Baby, go and call your BadePapa from inside."

"Maa!!!" Bhai groaned, "I was talking about that witch-"

"Witch?" She was unsure, "Your generation is so silly! You give a nickname to your loved ones, a witch? Seriously? Where are you manners, Kartik? You can't call my daughter-in-law with such a lame pet name." She chastised him and I couldn't stop laughing my heart out at Bhai's unfortunate state.

My poor big brother!! He calls his to-be wife a witch! What an amar prem katha!!?

["Eternal love tale!!"]

"Maa!! Meri baat to sun lo puri..." Bhai beseeched, "I am talking about Samiksha Khanna and not my..argh!! She's definitely not my future wife! Not now or ever!!"

["Mother!! Listen to me completely..."]

BadiMa glared at Bhai with anger and slapped his face. I never knew she could be violent too. She had hit him three times in a row.

"Never make me content by marrying at the right age. Because anyway you've turned forty by marrying your stupid work and deciding to father a cat." BadiMa came down on him furiously, "Aur Sammy kitni pyaari bachi, hai. Tu pata nahi kyun uske piche pada rehta hai!!"

["And Sammy is a sweet girl. Don't know why you keep berating her!!"]

"Yes BadiMa, Sammy is the epitome of innocence." I added in conviction, ignoring Bhai's glare, aware that he's harmless, "Pata nahi kyun Bhai us bechari ke piche pade rehte hai!!?"

["No idea why Bhai keeps on hammering her!!?"]

"You changed the team." Bhai grieved sitting beside me, "Bhai, if you're my first half then Sammy is the second half." I admonished, "Ab chido mat zyada, I love you too!"

["Now don't get jealous, I love you too!"]

He was content yet he still cribbed about Sammy. I feel that he had developed a weird obsession with her because my bestfriend remained the center of his talks even if it was to criticize her illegitimate actions.

I just pray to God that please! Please! Please make my brother and bestfriend friends too else my entire life is going to pass while trying to establish a peace pact between them.

Phew!

This is so tiresome.

Lots of Love,

ANKITA