"She's got that dimple. That dimple makes me smile everyday."
...
"I need to get out of this dress," Siya says, pulling at the hem of her clothing as if that would remove it off her body. She had worn a green coloured dress with floral prints to dinner and paired it with golden loops successfully giving herself an elegant look.
I hand her a night suit and pick out one for myself too. She goes to the washroom and I quickly get changed in the room. I dump my clothes in the laundry basket and flop down on the bed, giving a long sigh.
Siya keeps her clothes on the chair and sits next to me.
"Start spilling."
I groan in response. I don't want Siya to act like how everybody else is acting too.
"Where do I start?" I speak up, still lying face down on my bed.
"Perhaps you should start with what you two were doing when I and Mark walked in." I can hear her grinning. It is usual of Siya to tease me.
"We didn't do anything. He was annoying me so I started hitting him and you came in then, that's all." My voice gets muffled in the pillow.
Siya goes silent after that.
I gather my courage and decide to tell her about what has been bothering me.
"I'm scared, Siya," I murmur so low that I think she won't catch my words.
"What's wrong?" I can hear the worry in her voice. I don't want her to be worried.
"I don't want to get hurt." My voice breaks a little. I close my eyes tightly so that I don't cry.
"Oh, Naira." I sit up and face her. She throws her arms around me and rubs my back. "You're extremely brave, Naira. I know you can distance yourself from people no matter how much it hurts. You have the courage to let go of people when it is required. If Ayan hurts you someday, you can call the wedding off. I know you're scared of having feelings. But you've already given him a chance, right? It'll all work out Naira and if it doesn't then we will kick his arse."
I snicker at that.
"Yeah." I involuntarily smile at her.
"He doesn't even know the trouble he has gotten himself in. Poor guy." I smack Siya's arm after she says that.
"What? It's true. You're a difficult person to be with but I won't have it any other way." Her words make me feel understood. If not my mom or dad or brother, at least someone understands me.
I roll my eyes at her and then take out my laptop so that we can watch a movie. I tell Siya to select the movie while I go downstairs to bring something to drink for us. It's already past midnight and I creep up slowly in the kitchen and turn on the light. I rarely come out of my room at night because I'm afraid of being alone in the dark. I quickly take two cold drinks for us. We will just eat snacks that I have upstairs.
I speedily walk past the dining room and up the stairs. I've just stepped on the second stair when I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. "Oh my God Ahhhhhhhhh. There's a ghost," I shriek. The cold drinks slip from my hands and fall on the floor.
I can hear someone howling with laughter behind me. I frown and turn, seeing Ansh holding onto his stomach while laughing out so loud. Siya and my parents come rushing out of the rooms.
"What the hell happened? Why did you shout?" My mom looks at me, heavy-eyed.
"He frightened me." I point at Ansh. There's still a tightness in my chest and I can feel my heart beating faster. I settle down my breathing.
Mom shakes her head at us. "It's 12:30. Grow up." She doesn't hide the disappointment in her voice.
"Yes. Grow up Ansh." I stick my tongue out at him.
"Yes absolutely sweetie because what you just did shows your maturity," Mom remarks.
I smile at her meekly. My parents leave and go to their room then. My father doesn't scold us much. All he does is stand behind mom. She's the one who breathes out fire every time.
I scowl at my dear brother defiantly and bend down to pick up my drinks. He gives me a mocking smile and walks upstairs to his room. He nods at Siya on the way who in reply tells him to scare me often.
"Of course. This kid needs that." He chuckles.
He's two years younger than me and he's calling me a kid. On second thought, hiding his charger doesn't seem fun at all. I know just what to do as soon as I wake up.
Content with that thought, I walk in my room with Siya behind me. After settling down, we watch Titanic and consume snacks and cold drinks.
After whining and wailing out our eyes about how Jack could have survived as there was plenty of space on the raft, we go to sleep.
...
I walk in the school hallway, towards the staff room. My eyes yearn for sleep. I just slept for four hours last night. I should have just taken a leave today.
I woke up so late and nearly missed the bus. Mark came to pick Siya in the morning. He brought Natasha along too. I just gave her a quick kiss as I was in a hurry. I wish I could have spent more time with her.
Despite being late, I still substituted the cream inside oreos with toothpaste and kept the biscuits in Ansh's room. I had once searched for pranks online and I had learnt about this there. My only regret is that I won't be able to see his face after he eats them. He must be awake by now. I wonder if he has eaten the biscuits by now.
I get his call after ten minutes. I go in the washroom as we're not allowed to pick up calls unless it's an emergency.
"What's up? You know I can't answer calls in school."
"NAIRAAAAAA!!!!"
Haha.