"Do you think it's a good or a bad omen?" asked Rohit curiously.

"That we left our whole team behind swearing after us?" said Virat, who was cranky because Rahul had sent him a very cold look indeed when he'd realized they would succeed in getting away. "How does it seem a good omen to you, by any means?"

"Because we succeeded," said Rohit emphatically. "We got what we want, and they couldn't stop us."

"They just wanted to come with us," said Virat, "it's not like they wanted to spoil our trip."

"Don't fool yourself, Vi, our road trip would've turned into a babysitting trip if we'd let them come," said Ash. "And I've had enough babysitting in trips to last me a lifetime."

"Your daughters are very well behaved," sniffed Virat. "Don't play the victim card."

"My girls are monkeys," said Ash stoically. "And I'm not playing the victim card."

"Of course he's not," said Rohit. "After all we're not all like Virat."

"What?" demanded Virat.

"Shut up, you both," said Jinks, "please, please, please, stop fighting for just one day and let me have a trip without having to look over you two all the time."

Rohit and Virat fell silent pretty quickly at that.

Remembering that Jaddu had been shockingly silent so far, Bhuvi leaned over the seat to check on him. He had both his hands off the steering wheel and was fiddling with the compass.

"Jad," he said anxiously. "Maybe you should keep one finger on the wheel?"

"I've got everything under control," assured Jaddu.

"What're you doing with that compass?" asked Rohit. "We're going southwest for the NH44, right?"

"Definitely," said Jaddu. "Do let those two continue with their enlightening fights, Jinksy, they're most fascinating to hear."

"No, they're not," said Jinks firmly.

"You guys know what a road trip must have, right?" said Shikhar with a grand air.

"A compass?" said Bhuvi without thinking.

"You really think he's expecting that answer?" said Ash drily.

"Good food," declared Rohit. "That's what a road trip must have."

"So you can go from one and a half figure to two," said Virat brightly.

"What did I just say, Vi?" asked Jinks dangerously.

Virat subsided, abashed.

Jinks straightaway felt guilty and asked, "What's your take on Shikh's question?"

"A road trip must have a stolen car," put in Jaddu.

"Nope," said Shikhar. "We don't have a stolen car and we're doing well enough. Can none of you answer a simple question like this?"

"All right, you tell us," said Rohit.

"A revelation," said Shikhar, eyes gleaming. "A betrayal, long forgotten, rekindled. The friendships on which the trip stands in grave peril, nearly breaking down. A ghastly fight, maybe throwing a phone out of the window-"

"We are not re-enacting ZNMD here," said Ash.

"Aren't we?" asked Jaddu.

"No, Jad," said Bhuvi in a sickly sweet voice. "There's going to be no bull race at the end."

"No bull race?" echoed Jaddu. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't have come at all," he said, deeply wounded.

"QUIET," said Shikhar. "Did you guys get my point?" he persisted.

"No, I can't truthfully say I did," said Jinks. "None of us betrayed any of the others. At least, I think so."

"Everyone thinks so," said Shikhar. "Till the revelation of the road trip. So-" He looked around at the others. "Any confessions?"

Five faces stared back at him, and one chuckled at him through the rear view mirror.

Shikhar grew impatient. "Come on, you've got to confess. Maybe you were in love with Rohit's wife once, Virat," he said in a deadly whisper. "Maybe you considered stealing her away from him at some point in life-"

"NO," said Virat. "I was NEVER in love with Ritika, and I never considered stealing her away from Rohit."

"And it wouldn't have been any good if he did," said Rohit, frowning. "No one can steal Ritika away from me, least of all an idiot like Virat."

"Yeah?" said Virat, competitive spirit coming to the forefront. "I'll show you to call me an idiot, you idiot-"

"Aha," said Shikhar, "so you are considering it."

"You do seem hung up on betrayals, Shikh," said Rohit. "What about the time Virat betrayed you and almost ruined your career?"

"When was this?" demanded Ash, sitting up straight.

"When was this?" repeated Shikhar.

Rohit leaned over the seats to face the ones sitting behind.

"Ok, I don't know what you're about to tell them, Rohit," said Virat hastily, "but I don't think it's going to be nice, so you better shut up."

"No," said everyone vehemently. Well, everyone except Bhuvi, who remained quiet, observing the scene.

"Right," began Rohit with relish. "You guys know the worst experience of Shikhar's life, right?"

"Yes," obliged everyone.

"When his parents and coach saw that video," said Jaddu. "Y'know, that one."

"Yes, and his coach dropped him for two Ranji matches," added Bhuvi. "And his mother called on a learned pandit to ward away the evil forces."

"The pandit who suggested his name should be changed to Maheshwaraya-Shambhave Dhawan," added Jinks.

"Yes," said Shikhar emphatically.

"Virat was the one who took that video," said Rohit. "And who ensured it reached your parents and coach."

"What?" demanded Shikhar. "No, he wasn't. He was the one who tried hardest to convince my mother I hadn't gone evil!"

"Really? That's news to me," said Rohit with a snigger.

Shikhar turned to Virat. "Tell them you didn't—" His jaw dropped. "Oh, god, you did?"

"Well," said Virat uncomfortably. "You had defeated me in Atlas the previous day in front of the geography girl I liked."

"What's a geography girl?" asked Jinks.

"There—there—there was this girl—" fumbled Virat, who was finding it difficult to speak with fumbling with Shikhar's tragic eyes on him. "—she used to sit outside our coaching centre with a globe—"

Everyone except the betrayer and the betrayed exploded into helpless laughter. Jaddu doubled over, head hitting the wheel as the car swerved dangerously.

"Careful!" yelled Bhuvi, trying to stop laughing. "Jad—for god's sake park the car for a bit—"

"A girl who sits outside the coaching centre with a globe," choked Rohit. "Is either a madman or—no, there's no or. She can only be a madman."

"You know you were the only person in the whole world I told this?" said Virat. "Do you realize what a betrayal this is, Rohit?"

"Brace yourself for another massive betrayal," said Jinks, still laughing, "because I'm going to take Rohit's side and tell him 'well done.'"

Jinksy, Even Virat's eyes were aghast.

What? said Jinks. Shikhar deserved to know. What a horrible friend you are, I mean.

I have tons of drunk videos of you, Virat said pleadingly. I'd NEVER leak them!

I know, Vi, admitted Jinks. You know, I'm kind of privileged to be one of the two people in this paint van whom you'd never even think of hurting.

They both turned to Bhuvi, who looked alarmed between laughter as he said, "Why're you looking at me? Continue your eye thing."

Shikhar sent a grumpy glance at Virat and groused, "Creepy, weird eye thing."