Meenakshi rushed towards the door and opened it, finding Sakshi standing there with two cappuccinos.
"Stupid,idiot! What's the meaning of ringing the bell continuously?" Meenakshi said Sakshi with annoyance.
"Oops! Someone looks in a bad mood." Sakshi started with her drama.
Meenakshi left a sigh. Even though some drama left her life, Sakshi was always there to compensate for it.
"Nothing, just a bad day. Hey, you brought my favourite cappuccino." Meenakshi took one cup from Sakshi.
"Yes, here I bring my bestie's favourite drink and what I get in return? A scolding from her." Sakshi made a puppy face.
"Uff! Again your drama. Now, are you going to stand here forever or come inside? I mean, the choice is yours. My balcony is beautiful." Meenakshi teased.
"Haha. Very funny." Sakshi rolled her eyes and jumped inside, spilling a little bit of coffee on the floor.
"Look now, you spilt some of the coffee on the floor. Now I have to get it cleaned." Meenakshi folded her arms on her hips.
"Tit for tat! It's your punishment for scolding me without any reason." Sakshi winked.
Being petty runs in her veins.
Meenakshi raised her hands in defeat.
"You win. Now, let's go upstairs and enjoy the cappuccino."
"Aye aye, captain. Oh, wait wait wait!" Sakshi placed her cup on table.
"Now, what?"
"I can sense some rats dancing inside my stomach. Do you have something in the fridge to eat?"
"Don't worry, I will make you something." Meenakshi walked towards the kitchen with Sakshi following her.
"Oh Meena darling! You are just like an angel who fell from the heaven." Sakshi said.
Meenakshi rolled her eyes and opened the fridge.
"So, let's see what we have here. Oh, we have got bread. I will make you a sandwich."
"No!!! Are you planning to starve me to death? Sandwich won't do, Meena. I need real food."
"But there's nothing else." Meenakshi looked back at the fridge.
"That's bad news ... I am gonna die so young. I hope the angels of heaven have made a crown for me." Sakshi looked at the ceiling,as if calling the angels.
Meenakshi nodded her head in dissapointment, watching Sakshi perform her antics.
"Sometimes, I think I should put your name in the drama club." Meenakshi sighed and looked inside the cabinets to find something to cook.
"Wait. I should call him." Meenakshi turned back to Sakshi and pulled out her phone.
"What? Who? Wait, are you talking about him. No no no, no way! I will eat sandwiches and die rather than see his face." Sakshi screamed with anxiety.
"But I already dialled his number."
Meenakshi pressed the loudspeaker on her phone.
Lagawelu jab lipstick,
hella arra district.
okay...
Tu, lagawelujab lipstick,
hella arra district
jila top largely
ho jila top largely
Kamaria...
Kamaria...
Kamaria Kare lap, lollipop largely...
The bhojpuri music started playing as the caller tune.
"Who keeps such a stupid caller tune like this?" Sakshi said annoyingly.
"Hello." A male voice spoke.
"Ry, where are you?" Meenakshi asked.
"Just driving towards your house, sissy." Ryan replied.
"Good, now listen to me. Please bring four packets of chicken biriyani with you. We don't have anything at home right now."
Okay! But wait a second. You, me, and Anirudh Chacha count three... Whose the fourth one? Wait, is that chicken head going to eat too?" Ryan asked, not knowing that the phone was on loudspeaker.
"You better shut your mouth, you looney toon! I can hear everything from here. And if you have any problem with me, then you don't have to bring anything.Just drive back home to the airport and get your ass out of this place." Sakshi shouted in anger. She hated Ryan with all her life.
"Oh! chicken head. Did I tell you that you are a problem for me? No one! Because you are not a problem, you are a freaking disaster!"Ryan replied.
"Of course, happy to be a disaster for Mr Dirty socks!" Sakshi countered.
"Will you two shut up for a minute!" Meenakshi shouted in between. No doubt that these two would be the reason for World War Three.
"She started!"
"He started!"
This time both Sakshi and Ryan shouted in unison.
"What is this noise? Oh! Sakshi! when did you come, child? And who is this on the phone?" Anirudh stood in front of the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.
"Pranam(taking greetings from elders ), Chachu!" Ryan's voice boomed over the phone.
"Oh! Ryan! so nice to hear your voice child." Anirudh walked towards the kitchen table and said.
"Same here, Chachu! By the other way,I am coming to your house." Ryan replied.
"Sure, you kids enjoy. I am going upstairs for some work. Call me if you all need anything, Okay?" Anirudh said.
"Dad, did you take your medicine?" Meenakshi asked.
"Yes Meena. I know you will slay me alive if I don't."Anirudh danced his eyebrows and the whole room got into a fit of laughter.
"Now Ryan, where are you right now?"
"Just in front of your door." Ryan said chirpily.
"Why didn't his car tires get punctured?" Sakshi mumbled to herself.
Meenakshi walked out of the kitchen and opened the door for Ryan. She found Ryan's hands occupied with packets and the smell of biriyani waffled her nose.
"Smells nice"She groaned in pleasure.
"I know... Ryan brings the best." He appreciated himself.
"Yeah, sure! Sure you are... Just see Meenu! How beautifully he dressed himself!Looking just like a blue umbrella!" Saksh mocked him from the kitchen.
"Better than a mashed potato."Ryan winked at her.
"Did he just call me a smashed potato?" Sakshi's nostrils fumed in anger.
"Is there any doubt in that?"
"I will turn your face into a smashed potato!" Sakshi walked towards Ryan, showing him her fist.
"Can't you guys save your WWE fight for later and enjoy the food now? I am already starving!" Meenakshi interrupted inbetween, completely annoyed by the stupid fights of the duo.
"Tell her to stop it. I didn't do anything." Ryan said while walking towards the kitchen to place the packets.
'Don't blame me, okay?It's you who started." Sakshi countered.
"Okay, okay! I will get the plates. I can't keep my biriyani waiting for both of your stupid fights! If anyone wants to join me, can come to the dining room." Meenakshi stated her ultimatum and grabbed the packets from kitchen. She placed them on the dinning table and started unpacking her parcel.
The smell of freshly cooked biriyani made saliva drip from Ryan's mouth and Sakshi gulped in the delightful appearance of the dish.
They both looked at each other and communicated a peace treaty for the moment to enjoy the biriyani at hand.
"I'm starving too." Sakshi started
"Me too." Ryan added.
They both ran towards the dinning table and grabbed their parcels.
They started to dig in their food when Meenakshi heard the doorbell ring.
"I'll check." She kept her plate on the table. Both Ryan and Sakshi stealed glances from Meenakshi's plate.
"Don't even think about it!" Meenakshi warned both and headed towards the door.
She looked through the small hole.
On the other side, Ryan and Sakshi enjoyed their meal and appreciated the taste.
"Nothing more delicious than biriyani" Ryan said while he stuffed some more rice in his mouth.
"This is the first thing you said that I agree on." Sakshi said while licking her fingers.
Suddenly,they saw Meenakshi running for the stairs.
"If he asks you, tell him I'm not home!"
Saying this she ran upstairs, leaving a perplexed Ryan and Sakshi behind. They both exchanged glances at each other.
"What did just happen here?" Ryan asked.
Sakshi shrugged in confusion and then both of them heard the doorbell ring.
"I'll get it." Sakshi walked towards the door, taking the plate with her. She didn't trust Ryan with anything, especially biriyani.
She held the plate in one hand and opened the door with her free hand.
"Oh shit!" Sakshi exclaimed, generating a frown on Ryan's face who was following her. He walked closer to examine the entity that had the potential to scare Sakshi off.
"Who is it? Oh! Mike." Ryan smiled.
"What? Why are you two staring at me like that? Am I looking so handsome today?" A short and stout guy with more fat on his belly than hair on his head stood there with a frown. He was surely dissapointed to not find his one-time love Meenakshi at the door.
Sakshi and Ryan exchanged glances with each other. Mike was their neighbour who always tried to hit on Meenakshi. He was a total nuisance.
"Say something." Mike looked at them.
"How come you are here?" Ryan asked while letting his right arm lean on the door frame.
"Can't I come?" Mike asked with his frown digging holes in his wrinkled face.
"Not like that. I'm just curious." Ryan replied with a fake smile.
"Anyway, is Meena home?" Mike blushed while taking her name, making Sakshi feel like killing herself. The guy looked like a dead tomato while blushing.
"Umm. She went to the hospital." Sakshi started,but her voice was in unison with Ryan who's statement barely matched hers.
"She went to eat chicken biriyani."
"Huh? She went to the hospital to eat chicken biriyani!? Doesn't make sense." Mike scratched his head. The center of his head had almost nothing,so Ryan wondered what he was exactly scratching.
Sakshi glared at Ryan who ducked out his tongue.
"What kind of a hospital provides chicken biriyani?"
"It's a special kind of hospital." Ryan added.
"Oh. What is its name? I will go there too." Mike scratched his non-existent stubble.
"Uhh... Chicken Hospital!" Ryan said to which Sakshi turned at him in suprise.
"What?" She exclaimed.
"Chicken Hospital? In Chicago? What kind of a name is that?"
"Uhh. It has a speciality for providing the best chicken to the patients. It's completely new." Ryan made up.
"Sounds more like some kind of restaurant than a hospital. Okay. Then, if she comes home from the Hospital inform her about me. I know she is dying to see me." Mike blushes again, making Sakshi feel nauseous.
"Okay. Will do." Sakshi smiled while leaning in to close the door.
"Huh, Chicken hospital?" Mike thought over what Ryan said. What hospital serves biriyani to the patients? If it's present, then he would definitely like to be admitted to it. It would be a good riddance from his tormenting wife and he will get free good food too.
*
*
*
"Chicken hospital? Seriously?" Sakshi folded her arms over her chest.
"Don't worry, he is a pea brain. He will never figure it out." Ryan winked.
Sakshi rolled her eyes.
Meanwhile, Meenakshi peeked down the topmost step of the stair. Finding everything clear as far her vision went,she took a few steps.
After a few steps more, Sakshi and Ryan came into sight.
"Is he gone?"
"Yes, your brother here sent him to Chicken hospital to eat chicken biriyani." Sakshi glared at Ryan and nodded her head in dissapointment.
"What? What hospital you say?" Meenakshi tried hard to control her laughter from hearing the wierd name.
"Hey! that was a good idea." Ryan pouted.
Sakshi rolled her eyes and picked out her phone as it was vibrating in her pocket.
"It's Priya." Sakshi frowned.
Ryan immediately turned his head towards her, as if he heard about One Direction.
Meenakshi noticed that,but she dropped the idea.
"Why is she calling? Meenakshi asked,her face flashing similar confusion as Sakshi.
"I don't know. Madam always has one motive or the other. I'll let it ring." Sakshi said.
"But isn't she your friend? What if there's something important?"Ryan interrupted.
Both Sakshi and Meenakshi were confused with Ryan's sudden change in behaviour. There was irritation clearly flashing in his eyes.
"Why do you care so much?" Sakshi arched her eyebrow.
Ryan,as if living in a moment of trance, blinked his eyes.
"It's nothing. Just saying. Why would I care? I don't. I don't care. Not at all." Ryan mumbled the last lines to himself and walked away from the place.
Sakshi turned towards Meenakshi,who was staring at Ryan's retreating figure.
"What was that?" Sakshi asked.
"No clue." Meenakshi twisted her lips in thought.
"Hello? Isn't he your brother? He is supposed to share the dirty secrets with you." Sakshi said, while Meenakshi approached her.
"He has his secrets,Saku. He won't tell me everything now, would he?" Meenakshi countered.
"Hmm. Point. Leave it anyways. His thoughts are wierd like him." Sakshi huffed in annoyance.
"Whatever. I think you should callback Priya. She barely calls. See if it's something important." Meenakshi added,to which Sakshi made a sour face.
"Can't you do it? I don't want to hear her jabbering. She's very annoying and self-centred." Sakshi said.
"I would have. But she didn't call me. She called you. So call her back." Meenakshi pointed her finger at the phone.
Sakshi sighed.
"Fine!" She stomped her way out of the room and went to the kitchen.
Meenakshi nodded her head at her stupid friend. She then turned around to search for Ryan. He wasn't near,so she dropped the idea and walked back to her room.
Entering her room,she found her desk quite disorganised with all the stuff out of place.
She walked over her desk and started putting the books in order. While stacking the books,her eyes caught hold of a box on the table.
She pulled the box and allowed her fingers to skim over the design. It brought a smile on her face.
It was the same box that Anirudh gave her while she was--
Meenakshi stopped her thoughts midway. She felt the pain in her chest coming back. It was the same pain that emerged everytime she thought about it. Thought about him.
Old memories crossed her mind like the unpredictable waves of the ocean. Some were two huge, that consumed her entirely.
"Give it to him when he wakes up.Tell him that I give the key to my heart for him to cherish forever!" It was the line she said to Iqbaal while Dhruv layed down unconscious in her arms. She gave him the necklace. Somewhere, she knew that it was her last day with Dhruv.
Anirudh wasn't very happy to hear that Meenakshi gave it to Dhruv. He hated Dhruv.
Meenakshi felt her vision blurring with the tears. She wondered how he was. Would he think about her? Atleast, for once?
Sakshi was right when she figured out that Meenakshi was keeping track of every news related to Dhruv. She left him,but her heart couldn't.
She secretly collected every newspaper article about him.
"You still love him?" She heard a familiar voice coming from behind. She immediately wiped her tears.
Meenakshi turned around to face Ryan,who was leaning on the open door frame. His face was hard to read.
"W-what do you mean? Whom will I remember?"
"Dhruv." Ryan spelled the name, which was somewhere forbidden in the house. It was like taking Voldemort's name in Hogwarts. They avoided talking about him because they didn't like to and mostly, it would have created suspicion in Sakshi's mind. Sakshi knew nothing about Meenakshi's life or her past.
For this place, Meenakshi was not Mrs. Meenakshi, the deadly mafia Dhruv's so-called dead wife, but Ms. Meenakshi Sharma, Scientist Anirudh Sharma's daughter. Nobody knew about her, except Ryan and Anirudh.
"N-no. Why would I?" Meenakshi avoided any eye contact with Ryan and engaged herself in cleaning her desk.
"You know,you are not the best liar out there." Ryan said in a serious tone.
Meenakshi noticed her body freezing at Ryan's statement. But she kept quiet.
"You can't hide it from me, Meena. Anirudh Chacha may get fooled from your act,but I won't. I've lived long enough to understand your emotions. Atleast, don't lie infront of me."
"What do you want to hear, Ryan?" Meenakshi interrupted him and snapped.
Ryan saw her eyes red and her cheeks soaked in tears running down them.
"Yes, I still love him! I still love the man who cared the least for me. I still care for the person who took thousands of lives. I love Dhruv! So much that even if he's centuries away from me, a part of him will still remain there in my heart. " Meenakshi broke down on the floor weeping, admitting her feelings.
Ryan felt sad for his sister's predicament. He wanted to do everything in his hand to make his sister forget that devil of a person. But he knew better.
He knew that love doesn't look for what the person is. It's blind and can stupid enough to forgive and forget someone's sins, just for the sake of minutes of happiness. He knew all of it.
Ryan felt a presence behind him. He turned around to gasp at the sight of Anirudh standing there.
"Oh shit!"

I need BIG COMMENTS FOR THIS BIG UPDATE, AND it's COMPULSORY!!