Nia barged in the kitchen in a loose T shirt and shorts to see Pari making an omelette. She told Pari to make one for her as well while Nia started making tea for them. By staying with each other, they know their weaknesses and making tea was one of Pari's weaknesses. She makes bitter tea and Nia could swear that no amount of sugar can redeem that because Pari had f*cked up the tea powder and sugar ratio.

"How can you make such a poisonous tea? Do you want to kill me?" Nia asked, making faces after taking a sip.

"It cannot be so bad. I know how to make tea." Pari defended herself. She made tea on very few occasions. Till the time, she was in college, her mother or aunt used to make it. She only made it when there was absolutely no one and she craved it.

"Sure, you know the steps. But your ratios are ..." Nia stuck out her tongue, showing how bad it was.

Pari tasted it for herself. Yes, it was not sweet but a little sugar and she can drink it.

"It is because you cooked this poison, so it won't harm you." Nia said.

Strange.

Even Salem used to drink the tea she made on a few occasions and he never complained. Upon asking, he used to just say that the sugar is less but it was good for his diet and Tiger used to always deny the tea.

So, does that mean she always fu*ked up the tea and made it bitter?

"Why call it a tea when you can call it kadha?" Nia went further to insult it.

"That's too much. He used to drink tea, whenever I made it and not call it names or make faces, unlike you." Pari blurted out. Nia understood who she was referring to.

"Then, he really must like you." Nia replied back.

Since that day, Nia didn't let her make the tea at all and took it on herself to make it for both of them.

Pari could feel Nia's gaze on her. So, she asked what was the matter with her eyes boring a hole in her.

"I was thinking it's so funny ...you should not be impressed with me. I mean you are his sister. You should be saying that I am not good for Kabeer but everything is just opposite."

Kabeer, that as*hole! Pari thought. Why did he tell her that he is her brother? But looking at Nia's body language, she doubted if he had revealed anything more to her. Nia told her about her call with Kabeer and on Pari's advice, she won't be taking things ahead.

"I didn't think you would trust me. Let alone follow my advice." Pari told her honestly.

Nia gave her half a smile and said, "I know! I know! Everyone thinks I am this stupid young kid but I am not Pari. If you are saying this, there must be some truth in it. To be honest, I feel bad to do this to Kabeer because I really like him. But let's see."

***

Two days later, Nia was surprised to see Kabeer on the door of their house. They had not spoken to each other in these two days. Yesterday night, Kabeer messaged but she was too tired to reply and dozed off.

"So you are not even going to talk to me anymore?" He was charged up. The anger was oozing of his body and his eyes were raging.

"No, Kabeer. I told you we can be friends. And I was about to -" Nia was explaining herself when he cut her off.

"You believe so her so much that you want to lose this" His hands moved in the air in between them, to indicate their bond.

"Yes. I do. Pari would never lie."

"So, she tells you everything?" Kabeer asked mockingly, both of them knew that Pari hadn't told Nia everything about her life.

"No, she doesn't. But she never lies. Hides the truth, yeah. But she won't lie. I know there must be a meaning behind her words." It was a simple rule. If your well wisher, tells you end a situationship, you should.

"Where is she? Where is my sister? If she is the one influencing your opinion, I should talk to her directly, hmm?"  He stepped up and entered the house.

"She didn't say you can come in. Have some manners!" Pari's voice came from the living room. Thankfully, Mrs. Sharma had gone for some function in the neighborhood and wasn't going to return before the dark.

"The thing is I grew up with you around me. It's hard to have manners." Kabeer replied back.

Nia sensing the tension between the two, asked Kabeer to come in. She closed the door,not wanting outsiders to witness the drama.

"Mind if I talk to you alone?" Kabeer asked but Pari denied him. Apart from the fact that she didn't wish to talk to him, she also wanted revenge for their last conversation.

"Say it nicely, I might consider. Common, say it again." She used his words. Kabeer's hand turned to a fist but he said the word "please" and only then Pari took him to her room.

He entered the small room. He was a tall guy who lifts. The room looked smaller than it was when he entered. He looked around and gave his sister a questioningly look. Nothing made sense to him.

"You had been running from this, all your life" his fingers moved pointing to the small room, "only to land up here?"

Even though Kabeer was much younger than Pari, he remembered Pari expressing displeasure at their living conditions. She always dreamt of bigger house and more money.

"Have you come to talk about my living conditions? Say what you are here for and leave." As expected, she came straight to the point.

"I kept my promise. I didn't utter a word to him about you. But you....you meddled in my life." He said with anger on his face.

"And what about you? You very well know that I wouldn't support you doing anything wrong with a girl. As I said, she deserves a good life, without you."
She was not going to be quiet, as most people were in her case.

"Okay, Since you broke your promise, I will break mine too. Keep your bags ready." The only reason why Kabeer didn't reveal her location to Salem was simply because he didn't ask him. If he had asked him, he would have told him the truth.

"It's a disgrace to call you 'brother'." She said it in a low voice but he heard it.

"Am I? Then what are you? You are a disgrace to all your relationships. Not a good sister, worse wife and yeah, what kind of a daughter are you who killed her own father?"

"Kabeer!" She yelled loudly for the first time. "I didn't kill him. Take that back."
Her eyes looked murderous at his accusation.

"You did! You did. Your ego was so big that you couldn't even keep it away for your father. He kept waiting for you, calling your name, begging you but no, my di's heart never had mercy for anyone, especially for those who love her. Aunty was right about you, even a stone could melt if we'd shown it love and affection for years, but never you." His harsh words pierced her heart, especially the accusation that she was the killer of her own dad.

"You will never understand, Kabeer. But I will not give you justifications. Believe what you want to." She was hurt by his words but she never gave anyone justifications. If somebody was accusing her, she believed they had already made up their mind and how futile it would be to explain them?

"Of course, but let's see what Salem will have to say about this whole situation. And if you will give any justifications to him. Hmm" He smiled mockingly and got up from the bed and was ready to leave when she held his hand. He turned around to see his sister's face with worry and her eyes close to crying.

Who was this person? His sister would never show herself weak in front of him or his family, that too because of his few words. How has she changed to this emotional person? First, she was protective over Nia and now, she is showing her vulnerable side to him. 

She shook her head at him, her eyes conveying her helpless state. Kabeer sighed and went closer to her. Her face had worrisome expression but her eyes, they were the same as before - almost dead. He had often heard about the eyes being the window to the soul. But was it true? Or can everyone read it? Because to him, Pari's eyes looked lifeless. Years ago, he faintly remembers there was a spark in his sister's eyes. But then, things changed and she became the worst version of herself, not caring for the world. Today, he felt she had something humane in her. But her eyes, they were same like before.

"I...I won't tell. But if he asks, I will have to." He mumbled. As much as he wanted to love his sister, he had a difficult time doing so. What she said was correct, he never understood her,nor he will.

All Pari wanted was money and a lavish lifestyle, when Salem entered her life, he made sure to give it all to her but how did his sister react? She was never happy. Kabeer then started believing that Pari was either too greedy or just on some high horse, looking down on everyone.

When Kabeer was 14, he first saw Salem with his sister in an alley, close to their area. At first, they were just talking but when Salem held her wrist and was not letting her go, despite her attempts, Kabeer got angry. But he was no fool, the man in front of him looked strong. Kabeer had just started working out and he could tell that this man infront of him was well built and religiously works out. He also looked somewhat familiar but where had he seen his face, he couldn't recollect.

There were many questions in his head. What was his sister doing in an alley. As far as he knew his sister, she never had an affair. And seeing these two from far away, these two didn't look like love birds. It looked like his sister was angry but that man, he had no right to hold his sister when she wanted to leave. He wanted to save her but he didn't want to get beaten up for his annoying sister. He can imagine how hard that man would punch.

So, he just called out her name loudly and the man left her hand. Pari ran from there to Kabeer and they both left.

Two days later, Kabeer came across that man and his friends but he looked away and walked. However, that man followed him. At first, Kabeer thought of running. What if they beat him? But the man called his name and asked him if they could talk and Kabeer obliged.

The man crushed his cigarette beneath his shoes and sat beside Kabeer.

"Want to hit me?" Kabeer was surprised that this was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

"I am Salem." He forwarded his hand for Kabeer and Kabeer shook it lightly. "I will understand if you want to hit me. If someone was talking to my sister and holding her hand, I would want to hit the guy too. But, I like Pari and I am serious about her." Salem confessed. Although, Kabeer was a teenager, Salem thought it is better to explain the young boy himself.

"Why?" Kabeer was genuinely confused as to why would someone like her and be serious about it. They were a family and for him, it was  an obligation because he has to stay with her. This guy must be like others who liked her face.

"Pari kutti hai." Salem raised his eyebrows at the word Kabeer used for his sister. He also controlled his laughter and told the boy it is wrong to address his elder sister a bitch.

"Seriously! Save yourself and find someone else." He adviced like a love guru to Salem. But there was no saving for Salem. He was already deep in his love and obsession.

"I would, if I could. But I am stuck on her." Salem answered.

"Pari would make your life hell if she would stay with you." Kabeer stated.

"Manzur hai." Salem said. (I accept.)

"If you have a huge bed, Pari will take most of it and on other days, she will kick you out of the bed." On most days, they fought on who would sleep on their small bed at home. They came up with a solution to divide the days but Pari used to kick Kabeer even when it was his turn to sleep.

Salem laughed this time and repeated, "Manzur hai."

"Pari would love to shop all day. She will empty your pockets." Those were rare days when Pari got allowance to shop but she would pick so many things for herself! Their parents always asked Pari to buy things in budget and it would cause huge fights at home.

"Manzur hai." Salem repeated.

Kabeer shook his head, seems like this guy wanted hell for himself.

"I was angry at you for what you were doing with Pari di. However she might be, she is my sister. Next time, if she doesn't want you to hold your hand, leave it."

Kabeer snapped to present when his sisters body shook with sobs. Kabeer didn't know what to do but took her in his arms. "Hey, di. What happened?" But his sister kept crying.

Where was his strong, emotionless sister?

He soothed her and reassured her that he won't tell Salem unless he asks and most likely, he won't ask him anything about her.

"Di, what has happened? See, I promised you. So why are you crying?" Kabeer really was confused.

"I know you hate me, but don't tell him even when he asks." She said sobbing.
"I am preg.... pregnant." She dropped the bomb on him and he instantly pulled her away from him.

"Are ...are you crazy? You are pregnant and you ran away from him?" He lost his control and raised his voice.

"What the fu"*k, di!!" Kabeer thought for a moment and said, "pack your bags. You are coming with me."

------

23/07/2023

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