No one bothered to answer to Shradha. They knew very well that she would not stop with questions if they replied once. This had happened many times before; she would watch one scene in the movie and would start asking questions like "who is he?" "Why is she going there? " "what will happen next?". The boys would get irked and stop the movie after which they would have to watch something that shradha liked. To avoid all of that, they chose to ignore her presence and concentrated on the movie. However shradha knew their strategy as well as their weakness.
"Nishant, do you know the hot junior from our department? I forgot her name, but she asked me about my handsome friends." The last sentence caught attention of both Rohan and Prithvi. Noticing this, Shradha continued
"Apparently she saw me with some cool looking guys on Instagram. She was asking me if I can probably introduce them to her. " By now, Shradha had managed to grab complete attention from the boys.
"So I told her…. " "Shradha, we are watching the movie! Nishant interrupted her with annoyance. He of course figured out what she was planning to do.
"Let's pause the movie Nishant. Let her speak." Prithvi paused the movie immediately.
"You guys !! Don't listen to her. She is just trying to manipulate you ! " Nishant objected helplessly. Shradha smirked at Nishant and continued.
" I will tell you what I told her, but you guys have to let me watch this movie from the start or we can watch something else. "
"There you go ! As always.. !" Nishant knew no one would listen to him; being the only girl in the group and also being the bossy one, shradha always got what she wanted. Not that Nishant complained; he secretly enjoyed when she took advantage of their pampering. In their presence she was quite comfortable and never hesitated to ask for things. This was something Nishant knew that she had never done at her own home. In a way, 3 of them were like her safe place and she could be herself in their presence. So little adjustments were not a big deal.
Just like Nishant suspected Rohan gave in almost immediately. "What do you want to watch ?"
Shradha thought for a second before answering, "something cutesy! , you know, like Despicable Me, or Madagaskar"
" Not those kiddish movies again! Why do you want to watch animated movies all the time?" Prithvi tried to reason with her.
"You say kiddish as if you guys watch only mature stuff. Those anime movies and cartoons are not kiddish but my creative animated movies are? What sort of logic is this?" Shradha argued back.
"No matter what you say, we are going to watch what she wants. So stop wasting our time and give in to her demands!" Nishant murmured. Shradha then picked a movie and they all watched while commenting how childish the story was.
As soon as the movie ended, Nishant started working on his editorial piece for the magazine while the trio had to focus on their game simulation. The atmosphere in the living room had turned from movie theater to workshop of sorts. Desk by the window was Nishant's spot and he would always put on headphones while writing. This always helped him focus and also other 3 could discuss without worrying about disturbing Nishant.
Nishant and shradha reluctantly left the apartment when it was almost time for dinner. Shradha had to maintain her 'good daughter' status that she had created for herself a year back. Her father would come home only around dinner time and Shradha always tried to make it home earlier than him and be in the kitchen when he came; she would then run around as if she prepared the whole meal and her father was very happy to see that. Shradha and her mother never knew how easy it was to create this make believe for Anil.
In true sense, tables had turned; Nishant was sort of a rebel now while Shradha was ideal daughter.
***