AshDeep left the class before the last class started. They already messaged in the groups that they will be leaving early. They sat in Deep's car. Deep was really excited for the shopping because he thought that girls only take their best friend or the people they are very comfortable with for shopping. He was happy thinking that Ashi was comfortable with him. 

Deep acted like a taxi driver: Toh kaha jana h madam?

Ashi giggled and asked him: Tumhe kya lena h Deepu k liye?

Deep: Tum kuch suggest kro na? Mai toh use itne saalo se chocolates hi pakda rha hoon.

Ashi: Ab Deepu badi ho gyi hai kuch achha sa lete h uske liye. Jo use really pasand aaye.

Deep: Tab hi toh tumhe puchh rha hoon ki kya dena chahiye.

Ashi: Tum uske bhai ho na? Toh tumhe pta hona chahiye use kya dena chahiye?

Deep: Mujhe nhi samajh aate gifts.

Ashi sighed annoyed and asked him: Uski hobbies?

Deep: Pretty dresses pehen na, padhai na karna and painting karna.

Ashi excitedly: She paints?

Deep: Bacho k hisaab se toh achha hi kr leti h.

Ashi: Hum use achhe wale paints gift krte hain.

Deep: Perfect! Waise bhi woh bekaar se paint use kr rhi hai kabse. Cause tum Aayu ke liye kya le rahi ho?

Ashi: Main uske liye shoes lene wali hu. He is likes shoes alot. Toh chalo ek achhe se stationery store mein.

Deep drove to a stationery store and both them selected a paint box set in minutes.

Ashi: Ise wrap kr k is pe tum dono ki photo laga dena.

Deep: Nice idea.

They paid for the paints and again sat in the car. Now it was time for the thing Deep was excited for. Ashi shopping for her clothes. He wanted to see her likes and dislikes, how she looked in Indian outfits and the accessories she likes.

Deep: Tumhe shopping krni thi na? Kaha krni hai?

Ashi: Not really shopping. 2 din pehle maine aur Swati ne kapde choose kr liye bas woh alter hone k liye diye huve hain. Toh wahi leke aane hain.

The excitement and hope in Deep died.
Deep in mind: There's a long way to go Baba.

After collecting Ashi's dress they both went to shop for Aayu's shoes. After half and hour of struggle they finally select a pair of shoes for Aayu.
______________________________

The next day it was Raksha bandhan and everyone were nicely dressed up in maheshwari house. Deepu was ready to tie rakhi on Deep and Raj's wrist.

Vishakha: Beta thodi der ruk jao abhi mohorat achha nhi hai.

Raj: Mummy aisa kuch nhi hota hai.

Vishakha: Tu chup reh. Tujhe kuch nhi pata.

Everyone chuckled at this cute mother-son bickering. After 10 minutes it was finally the 'achha mohorat'. Deepu tied the rakhi on Deep's wrist and fed him his favourite chocolate. Deepu gave her the gift he bought with Ashi and Deepu didn't open the gift for now. Then she proceeded to Raj. The same process of tying the rakhi and feeding sweets repeated. Raj handed her beautiful wrapped box.

Deepu: Mummy mai gifts khol lun?

Vishakha: Na bol dungi toh tu sunegi toh nhi. Khol le.

Deepu opened the gift box given by Raj first. Raj gifted her a little video game.

Vishakha: Yeh galat cheez pakda di. Ab yeh padhai nhi kregi.

Raj giggled at this.

Deepu: Nhi mummy mai padh lungi.

Then she turned to Raj and said excitedly: Bhai yeh bohot achha hai.

Then she took Deep's gift box and saw the photo of the three siblings together on the box.

Deepu: Wow kitna sundar hai yeh.

Then she opened the box and was so happy to see paint boxes in it.

Deepu: Wow bhai. Is vaar aap dono ne kitne achha gifts diye hain.

The three of them shared a group hug.

Vishakha: Chalo ab sab lunch kr lo.

All of them enjoyed the lunch together while talking. Raj was the first one to proceed to his room and Deep followed him. When they reached the room.

Raj asked: Aaj mere room mein kaise?

Deep took a seat on chair while Raj was sitting on his bed.

Deep: Aise hi normal baatein waatein krne.

Raj sensed Deep's tension. He knew Deep and him never went to each other's room to have 'casual talks'.

Raj: Kya hua Deep?

Deep took a couple of seconds to think of how to talk to him.

Deep: Tu theek hai na?

Raj: Yeh kaisa question hai? Mujhe kya hoga?

Deep: Woh Payal wala incident. I don't know tu woh sab kaise handle kr rha hai.

Raj: Ab kya handle krna hai? Ho to gya handle. Ab woh pareshaan nhi kregi.

Deep knew that Raj understood what Deep was talking about but was dodging his questions.

Deep: Payal handle ho gyi. But college k baaki log? Aur woh Payal teri life mein buri tarah ghusne ki koshish kr rahi thi, jo ki kisiko bhi achha nhi lagega.

Raj: Mujhe nhi pata mere baare mein kya bakwaas ho rhi hai college mein. And ho bhi rhi hai toh mujhe farak nhi padta.

Deep: Tu mujhse baatein share kr sakta hai. Hum siblings hai, itna toh hum ek dusre pe vishwas kr sakte hain.

Raj: Par Deep kuch hona bhi toh chahiye na share krne ke liye. Sab toh tu already janta hai.

Deep: Mujhe pata hai Aakash ne tujhe kuch bakwaas group chats ke screenshots send kiye hain.

Raj gave up pretending. Deep knew what that Aakash was doing, so there was no reason for beating around the bush. Raj was silent for some seconds as he didn't know how to open up to his stepbrother.

Raj: Pura college fake hai. Sab group chats mein meri hi burai kr rhe h aur wahi log mere dms mein aise pretend kr rhe h jaise mere best friends h. Woh log toh ek dusre k aage bhi fake h, kyu ki Aakash mere baare mein jo bol rha tha woh screenshots kisi aur ne send kiye. Woh log baatein kr bhi rhe h toh mujhe kyu send kr rhe hain screenshots.

Deep was eagerly listening to him. He was happy Raj was letting it all out.

Raj: Jo cheezein asal mein hai bhi nhi woh bhi bol rhe h woh log group chat mein. Mai rude hoon, ganda hoon, egoistic hoon, ladkiyo pe cheat krta hoon. Seriously? Cheat krne k liye kuch hona bhi chahiye. Woh ladkiya mujhse pyaar bhi nhi krti.

Deep was still listening. It was the first time of him seeing Raj's this side.

Raj: Sabko lagta hai jo insaan popular hota hai usko sab pasand krte hai and woh sabka favourite hota hai. But popular insaan ke aage har koi fake hota hai. Agar achhe dost na ho toh woh bohot lonely feel krega.

Deep remembered that time when Jaan told them that Raj was already popular in college. He was worried for his brother. Raj's eyes became watery, he tried to cover his eyes with his hand, but Deep knew that he was on the verge of crying.

Raj in his mind: Raj stop it. Already Deep k aage bohot bakwaas kr li hai. You can't cry now.

Deep was thinking should he say something or not. He didn't want to say something that may hurt Raj or make him feel lonely.

Raj gulped the lump which formed in his throat and kept his hand back on the bed.

Raj: I think tujhe mummy bula rhi hai.

Deep nodded and left the room quietly as he didn't want to make Raj uncomfortable.

That's it for today.

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Co-author:  notyourclichechic

Bye love you all.

Riya & Mansi