The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard moving through the hallways. The thud sound the wooden floor made with every step someone took was kind of scary to Chhaya when she knew that someone was heading closer.
" Oh No! What the hell happened? Did I leave my test paper out and he found it? Did I accidentally doodle on his notepad? Did I somehow get caught with my funeral lie?
What is it so early in the morning? "
Chhaya sat upright in the bed as she heard the thuds getting closer and closer. She had been sleeping until a minute ago but there was no mistaking this sound. If she was found sleeping through this, she might never see the light of the day again.
As she worked up her mind to come up with excuses for whatever it might be, there was one last thud before it stopped - right outside her door. Someone was here. And she knew who it was.
" Uh- Brother, Actually I-"
She was cut off by the door abruptly opening and in came the person she was nervous to face right now.
" Darpan Bhaiyya* , What happened?"
She meekly asked not daring to make eye contact with what she knew was her Very Angry Brother.
" Hmm, Chhaya, what is it that I hear from your Gurukul* ? Do you want to take a guess?"
The male spoke up in a questioning tone. If Chhaya didn't know better, she would have never guessed he was angry.
There stood in front of her, her eldest brother, Darpan. Just like his name, pure, clean and bright. He was currently leaning against the wall adjoining the door looking at her with narrowed eyes. His white kurta* and golden dhoti* fluttering in the wind rushing in through the window. His hair tied up neatly in a small bun with a few strands sticking out near his ears. His brown skin glowing in the early morning sunrays that fell on his face . He looked like a beautiful painting depicting peace, and tranquility - if only not for his expression right now.
Darpan stepped forward and yanked the bedsheets that Chhaya was holding on.
Chhaya wasn't necessarily always afraid of him. He wasn't short tempered and rarely got truly angry. He in fact, would be described as the most calmest person in the whole family, in a lot of ways.
Anyways , No matter how angry he got , he would never hurt her. Oh but she might have to sit through 5 hours of his lecture on Life . And for that reason, She was pretty much terrified now.
" Chhaya", sounded his calm cool voice as he plopped down on the bed beside her.
" How many times have we gone through this? huh? I already knew how you skipped Gurukul for three days. Today I met Guru Akshay and would you like to know what he said ? "
Quietly adjusting her posture and putting her feet on the ground, she slowly looks up.
" There are too many possibilities, I don't want to,I won't like the answers.". She says while trying to read his emotions in his eyes. The rage he previously displayed had disappeared but she could still feel he was frustrated.
" Haa, Tell me, why did you hit Anil? Were causing mischief and lazing around not enough for you that you have started rebelling by violence?"
Darpan asked his eyes holding genuine concern and frustration.
" I didn't hit Anil, he just himself planted his face on my hand, hard."
Chhaya immediately responded knowing where this conversation was headed.
" Really? Now tell me what was the actual reason. I don't want excuses , miss. "
Darpan asked with the determination to find the truth shining clear in his eyes.
Chhaya looked down towards the ground, pouting her lips and making a silky face, hoping her brother would not probe further on this topic. But that didn't work at all.
" Chhaya , tell me, I highly doubt my sister would just smack a boy across the room because he didn't let you copy his work. So?"
Darpan was sure she was hiding something. Why would she skip lectures and not go to Gurukul for three days? Though Chhaya was weak at academics, he knew that his sister was better than that. No matter the situation, Chhaya used that little brain of hers for rebuttal by words. Never would the sharp tongued Chhaya stoop so low to hit somebody just to prove a point.
" Okay, but don't you start lecturing me then. If you do, I am bolting out of this room"
Chhaya said as she turned around to face her brother. She would have much preferred if he actually found out about her hidden test papers or her pending homework. Chhaya didn't remember asking for some emotional melodrama today.
" Well, I had asked Anil to let me copy his Arthashastra* work and he just refused. So we got into a little argument and ....he, well he brought up your.....uh ... marriage issue."
Chhaya spoke while searching her brother's eyes for a reaction. She hesitated continuing but had no choice. She saw her brother's eyes go wide at the last part.
" Ahem, so why did you hit him?"
Darpan asked, maintaining a poker face.
" Why? What do you mean why? I am not hearing anyone talk shit about my Brother. He should have just refused and I would have backed off, there was no need for that little poo to bring up your - uh . Anyways, he should have just minded his own business!"
Chhaya retorted, as she was about to continue, a sharp look from her brother stopped her in the middle of her tracks.
" Yes, Language. I know " Chhaya muttered while quietly adjusting her position.
" Chhaya, listen. I am glad, like really glad that you did this for me but.... do you think smacking him and hurting him would have made him understand? "
Darpan asked while slightly tapping Chhaya's hand. All that anger from before had dissipated and all that was left was concern and worry for this little sister who worked on impulse . This could seriously harm her in the future.
" Alright, I know what I did was wrong, but I also knew that if I had just told it to you straight up, you would have punished me and then would have felt bad yourself. I didn't want to put you through this so I just waited until the matter resolved itself".
Chhaya was only a preteen, but she knew that she just couldn't let her brother take the flame for something he didn't do. if only the adults listened. But then again, they never do.
" Problems do not solve by itself, Chanu* , If it was that way, none of us would be any worried. Right? so now that we know where we went wrong,and what the reason was, what do you think we should do? "
Judging by how her nickname was now used, Chhaya figured she was out of danger. " Sorry?" She asked while slowly standing up and tying up her hair that never was neat.
" Uh-huh, Yes but not to me. Go and apologize to Guru Akshay for skipping class and to Anil ..... no matter how much of a gremlin he is, he's still your classmate. "
Chhaya didn't move an inch but grimaced at the mention of apologizing to that shitface Anil. Of course she didn't say that out loud.
Darpan, now helping her do her bed, said
" If you insist on being so stubborn , I guess I have to bring out the Ganit * workbook that you promised we would do last year."
Before Darpan could turn around, the little blizzard was already gone.
' Haa, that girl , really. Didn't even do her pigtails correctly and is now probably running around town like a crazed dog.'
Darpan thought to himself, his lips curling up at the thought of his sister cutely running in panic to apologize to Anil. After neatly tugging the bedsheet and folding the blanket, he turned around to find a pair of stern eyes looking at him .
" Maa was calling out for breakfast but you were taking forever. If she didn't wake up then you should have just let her be. I'd eat her share of Poha* for her. "
Aryan started as if Darpan just let his efforts go down in vain.
" So you purposely didn't wake her up?"
Darpan asked, amused at the love -hate relationship his little brother and sister share. For him it was the cutest yet most annoying thing to be honest as he had to often break their fights ,be it verbal banter or a full blown physical showdown.
" You don't really hate her, huh?"
Darpan stated after Aryan gave him the look that one would give to their enemy .
" Don't tell her anything weird." replied Aryan with a stoneface as if he knew his eldest brother was going to try something.
" I wasn't planning to, unless you are inches away from each other's throats , I won't interfere. "
Darpan patted Aryan's back who stood in the hallway near the window gazing at the Sun. A smile playing on his lips as he rushed downstairs to the kitchen. Today was a good day, he felt.
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Notes:
1. Bhaiyya- a common term used by siblings to address their older brother. Mostly used for biological older brothers but sometimes for older friends too.
2. Gurukul- An old system of school, not really school but more like an educational institute. Teachers are Gurus .
3. Kurta / Dhoti. Kurta Dhoti is the traditional wear for men of Ancient India, . There are a lot of complementary mixes and matches of this with other outfits. Like Kurta- Pyjama, Kurta- Patiala, Kuta- Salwaar. Etc The traditional wear differs per area and region in India but here I will be using everything in a general view. In a way, Mixing cultures
4.Arthashastra - The Sanskrit word for Economics.
5. Ganit- The Sanskrit word for Mathematics.
6. Chanu- Chhaya's nickname.
7. Poha- An Indian Dish made of seasoned Puffed rice with chillies, onions, etc. Look it up if interested.