" Ma, I'll be leaving now!" Darpan yelled through the door closing it behind him after he heard the 'okay' response from his mother.
As soon as he turned the corner from the street, he could see the newly decorated and illuminated stalls. They really lit up the place even though it was daytime. Seemed like a lot of new artists had started their own business. The walking path was a middleway in between stalls and shops of all kinds. Good thing it was broad because the amount of tourists that stop and wonder at the artworks created mobs. The Shops and stalls were usually segregated by type of artifacts or objects at sale. For example. The first phase of stalls were all bedsheets, clothing and curtains made with traditional Nakshi* techniques. The stalls opposite to it on the other side of the pathway were all clay art pieces, marble sculptures, and artifacts like lanterns, kites, lamps etc .
A little bit down the path were , of course the food stalls. All types of delicacies of Nakshghati presented to you on a tempting platter. The tourists flocked here like birds to grains. You'd have to squeeze yourself through the tiny space to avoid pushing people here. Would not want to disturb people's lunch time. A small open path that connected all stalls doubled as an aisle where people walked and strolled deciding to visit any particular stall or shop. Though Darpan felt that the food stalls were the ones making the most business this way.
Walking a bit further, he could see a blob of yellow anxiously pacing around in front of their shop. Darpan smiled as he knew exactly what that blob was. He slowly crept up behind her to try and surprise her with a 'boo' but to his dismay, she turned around just in time to be unaffected by any of it.
The woman before him glared through her eyebrows upwards at him.
" Seriously, Darpan Bhai*. You are really stupid. Did you really think I'll be scared of a little Boo?"
She replied to the attempt, adjusting her hijab.
Her brown doe eyes attempt a death glare at the giant standing in front of her. If anything he was more scared of her yelling. She might look harmless with her midget size but nobody really messes with Amina here. So it's natural to feel scared when she threatens, she does not simply bark.
" Amina, I think you're having problems with your Hijab. wanna fix it? Come inside then."
Darpan said while he opened the lock of the door, signalling her to get inside the shop. He had seen that expression many times to know little Miss Amina was mad at him . You wouldn't want her to yell out on the streets and Darpan knew better. Using this as an excuse , he dragged Amina in the little space.
The shop wasn't very big. Two rows of statues and artifacts lined up on two opposite shelves facing each other. A few unfinished work in the back and pottery stuff. All the unopened material, register and small paintings lined up on the front desk. a little barricade to distinguish the within and outside of the shop and a small passageway leading all the way to the back.
After pulling her in and closing the window curtains, he calmly made the fuming lady sit on a chair. He too sat himself opposite to her on the table.
" So? What is bothering the little Miss? Why are you in a bad mood so early in the day?"
Darpan started, wondering what got on the girl's nerves today.
" Darpan Bhai! Stop acting like you don't know. I saw Chhaya and Mama-ji* while heading towards the shop. They told me you'll be organising the Sharma event!
What has gotten into you? huh? Do you not remember what happened that day? Why would you do this to yourself?"
Amina ranted in one breath. Still angry and worried with the way her brows were frowning.
" You know, they are like the absolute worst people. Could not beat you so decided to humiliate you. Such cheap tricks of theirs I swear! And you! The first mistake of yours was forgiving them back then. And now what? You are doing them a favour? Who knows what they have up their sleeve this time-"
The angry blob continued but was cut off by Darpan forcefully shutting her up. He tightly closed his hands on her lips.
" Shhh! Be quiet. Relax. Take deep breaths. Don't yell". Darpan said, quietly retracting his hand and nodding. After a minute or so when she calmed down, he placed a glass of water in front of her.
" Now, tell me why did you accept their offer?" Amina demanded to know after taking a sip from the glass and thudding it on the table. Her brown eyes bore holes in his being with the way she pointedly stared at him.
" Alright, listen. First of all, Yes I did accept the offer BUT..... there was a reason behind it." He assessed her reaction and continued.
" I know we can't entirely rule out the possibility that they have something evil planned out but think about it; Maybe they want to better their relationship with us and start anew. Maybe they're ashamed of what they did and want to straighten things out.
Or... I don't want to go get ahead of myself but .... maybe this is their way of apologizing by asking for help? "
She kept quiet for a minute. " So it's nothing but maybe's? " she asked cocking up her eyebrows.
" It's not like that , I mean they are even paying us for it. Plus it's Vaidehi's wedding. Wouldn't their daughter's marriage mean more to them than sabotaging some rival? I don't think they'd want to create drama on the day of their Daughter's wedding."
Darpan replied shrugging his shoulders.
He truly was going with maybe's here but he really wanted this rivalry to end so he had to trust them this time.
" I don't know honestly. They had really not held back last time and I doubt they're good enough to even spare their daughter the embarrassment. Just think about it. You're really risking your reputation here."
Amina tried convincing him but well they have already accepted it. No going back without results now.
" Trust me Amina, I know what I am doing. If anything happens, I would be risking the family name but well Batra's are Batra's you know? ". He giggled and looked up at the clock. It was already opening time. He got up to start cleaning and get ready for the day's sales.
" Your attitude will be the death of you one day, Bhai. You're too forgiving and kind. Unfortunately, not everyone is like that. "
She slowly got up from her seat too and picked the broom. Dusting the other side of the small room , she quietly muttered.
" What can I say. it's not like anything I say is going to change your mind." It was evident she was now sulking.
If Chhaya and Amina had any one thing in common then it was this. The sulk when nothing is going your way. Times like this are when Darpan really thought that Amina reminds him of his younger sister. She had always been like that to him. She had also wanted to try this little tradition of tying a rakhi* to him every year at Rakshabandhan*. So it was impossible to even think she would ever wish anything but good for him and his family.
After all their families had been close for a long time. And Farida Phuphi* had also looked after them since their childhood. They were close to siblings at this point. He smirked at her behavior and lightly patted her head so as to not mess up her Hijab. He'd have another fit coming his way if that happened.
" Hey , Bhaiyya-" came a voice through the front door. As Darpan had expected. It was indeed Aryan.
" What is this shortie doing here so early?"
He asked with a poker face. The thing about Aryan was that he was extremely unpredictable in what he says and does. And he did it with such a stoic face , it was hard to tell if he was truly joking or not. He seemed pretty no nonsense for having such an exterior though. He confused his own family so much that Darpan felt like Aryan had two personalities that actively contradicted each other.
" That is really mean of you , I must say Mr.Batra "
Amina replied deeply offended by that comment on her height. If looks could kill, Aryan would be dead a hundred times over.
The way she was glaring was very dangerous for Aryan. Darpan felt like he had to intervene or this would escalate as he has a similar experience in. the past.
" Oh, but I'm nice to everyone, Ms. Amina. Maybe you should think about what it is that makes you feel I am mean?"
Aryan replied shamelessly smirking and taking a few steps closer to her. Darpan noticed that he had put a lot of effort in his appearance now compared to how he had looked in the morning. His Blue kurta fluttered with the breeze and his hair combed and slicked back to reveal his black earrings. He towered over both of them and the small peek of the dimples at his cheeks.
Darpan could tell he had put a lot of care into the outfit selection too. It somehow just seemed weird to him.
He saw Amina about to open her mouth when he jumped in hastily.
" Okay, guys! let's not fight okay. It's such a good morning today. Wouldn't want to ruin the mood , right? "
He tried putting some distance between them and seemingly succeeded when Amina turned her back with a 'Hmmph' and Aryan quietly went back to the front desk.
Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder how the relationship between Aryan and Amina was the total opposite of him and her?
Darpan felt the answer was right before him but still he could not see it clearly.
---------------------------------------------------
1. Bhai- Another form of calling your older brother or a male older to you/ close in age to you. A less formal version of Bhaiyya
2. Nakshi- The art technique of sculpture used in Nakshghati.
3. Rakhi- A thread or a small designed thick thread that sisters tie around the wrists of their brothers as a promise of protection from their brothers.
4. Rakshabandhan - The festival of Rakhi , the day which it is celebrated on.
5. Mamaji- A term used for someone who is either like a brother to one's Mother or the actual brother of the Mother. Sometimes also used as a form of respect towards older males.
6.Phuphi- Used as a term to address the sister of one's Father or as a respectful term for someone like the sister of your Father. Also used as a form of respect for older females.