Meenakshi wasn't clear on the Singh sibling equation. From what she had heard (and guesstimated), Tanvi had once been very close to her brother.
"Don't you guys speak to each other anymore?" Meenakshi asked curiously. She had met Tanvi's brother (Tej) a few times - he had seemed amicable and friendly. Of course, this was an assessment from years ago.
"Not unless absolutely required. We aren't exactly on great terms." Tanvi said with a brooding look on her face.
"I'm sorry, Vi." And she meant it. Tanvi had rescued her today, though the rescue plan seemed to bring her great discomfort. But, they were family and Meenakshi wanted to believe that something good might come out of it all.
Tanvi looked amused when Meenakshi shared her thoughts. "You're an optimist on topics that don't involve your parents, aren't you?" Meenakshi's bravado was a stark contrast to the blubbering mess of a girl she turned into when around Mr. and Mrs. Sundaram.
"Yup. My blood group changes to sunshine positive."
Tanvi laughed aloud and the troubled look on her face assuaged slightly. When the mirth died down, Tanvi sighed. "Will you at least cut me some slack and let me finalize the location?"
Meenakshi sobered as she considered the request. In all honesty, it was the least she could do but, Tanvi's penchant for adventure worried Meenakshi.
"Fine. I'll leave you to it. Can you please stay local - preferably within the state - and also keep in mind that it's my birthday that we are celebrating?"
Tanvi nodded and Meenakshi was perturbed that the nod had come too quickly. Before she could add more terms and conditions to her agreement, Tanvi declared that it was time to leave.
"What? Where?"
"To my place. I'll need to check if he's home and then we can be off."
"We are going to ask your brother now?"
Tanvi tilted her head to the side as if rethinking what she had said before nodding resolutely. "Better if we do it now. No time like the present, right?"
Meenakshi shrugged. All she had to do was show up and be there for Tanvi. Easy peasy. "Sure, I'm game. We'll let my mother know and be off."
---------------
Tanvi's bright yellow Mini Cooper was parked out front the Sundaram residence. It was beautiful, quiet neighborhood with a canopy of trees and rustic looking houses. Since it was a working day, not a lot of people were out and about. The two of them walked languidly towards the car, both lost in their own thoughts - Tanvi wondering how her brother would take the news and also contemplating if there was a way she could get away from speaking to him at all while Meenakshi fretting about the trip location.
"I like your place so much better than mine. It's so calm." Tanvi remarked.
"Dude, you live in a palace. Why wouldn't it be quiet?"
Tanvi wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "There's a lot of difference between calm and quiet, Axe. Someone could die at my place and no one would hear."
"You're being unnecessarily morbid, you know."
It was a sweltering hot day and when they finally sat in the car, the heat was more pronounced. Tanvi fired up the AC, though it would take a few minutes for them to feel comfortable.
"So, what's the plan?" Meenakshi asked. Tanvi's home was about a half hour drive from Meenakshi's (notwithstanding peak hour traffic) and it was enough time for a preparatory script.
"No plan. I'll ask him point blank."
"Go with the flow, I like it."
Tanvi snorted and as she began to pull away, a warning chime rang inside the car indicating that the driver had not worn their seat belt. Tanvi ignored the chime and continued to speed up. Meenakshi sighed internally - would it kill her to wear the belt?
"You'll want to explain the circumstances to him, won't you?"
"He doesn't like it when I try to explain too much. Short and to the point - that's his motto."
The warning chime in the car rang once more.
"Do you think he will agree?"
Tanvi gave a non-committal shrug.
Silence fell between them, only broken by the occasional chime. Meenakshi hated awkward silences and was itching to speak up.
"You decided where we off to, then?"
Tanvi gave a mischievous smile. "I have a few ideas."
"Great. Let's hear them."
"It's your birthday, afterall. Let's keep this a surprise."
A beam of sunlight shone through the windscreen and Tanvi's twinkling eyes looked bright and playful.
The seatbelt warning chime rang again and that, coupled with the teasing tone, was starting to get on Meenakshi's nerve.
"You know I don't really like surprises." Meenakshi's voice was calm, logical and reconciliatory.
"But you threw me a surprise midnight birthday party!"
"Yes, that's because you love surprises. We are talking about my birthday." Her irritation was starting to show.
Tanvi smirked. "You'll like this one. I'm sure of it. In fact, I think your entire opinion on surprises will flip after this."
Meenakshi began to wonder if she preferred the awkward silence from before.
"I probably should have planned a solo trip instead."
"Please! That would have never happened. It's not your style, Axe. Plus, it was me who came up with the idea - I definitely deserve to tag along."
Meenakshi didn't appreciate the stress exerted on the word 'never'. It might have been factually right, but she didn't like it nonetheless. She looked away, pretending to be distracted by the view outside. They were now in the center of the city and if the windows were lowered, the bustle of the city and smell of dust and smoke would have enveloped them. It was bumper to bumper traffic and bikers were sitting looking bored or peering impatiently for the traffic lights to turn green. A young child who had his nose pressed up against the car door caught Meenakshi's attention and the sight made her smile.
"It's a Friday afternoon! Where is everyone off to? Can't they just sit at home or at the office?"
"They could be saying the exact same thing about us, Vi." Meenakshi said, grinning. Tanvi huffed, drumming her fingers restlessly against the steering wheel.
"I'll play some music." Meenakshi volunteered and even before Tanvi could respond, peppy Bollywood dance numbers blared on the FM radio. The volume was too high and Meenakshi fumbled to reduce it to human decibels.
Finally - no more awkward silences or talks about surprise trips. Meenakshi sat back, her hands meddling absently with the strap of her seat belt. The sound of music had the added bonus of masking the warning tone that had continued to resound. A small smile played on Meenakshi's lips as she continued to watch people outside.
-----
Meenakshi stretched her arms as soon as they deboarded the car. They had made it home in good time, considering the traffic. It was a little dark in Tanvi's spacious basement parking though Meenakshi could still see that there were other cars parked nearby - all belonging to the Singh household. Tanvi's father was a successful entrepreneur and had gone from rag to riches. It was often motivating listening to Tanvi speak about it.
"Well, that's a great sign."
Meenakshi whirred around to face Tanvi, a questioning look on her face. Tanvi indicated her phone in response. "My brother isn't answering my phone call."
"Oh. Is he not home?"
It would have been a little disappointing if he wasn't, but, Tanvi was shaking her head. "Both his bike and car are parked." She nodded in the direction and Meenakshi saw a large bike's silhouette (the only bike in the vicinity) "He's just ignoring me is all."
"What if you were calling as there was an emergency?"
Tanvi laughed. "That's one failed Raksha Bandhan promise (Indian festival celebrating the bond between brother and sister where brother takes an oath to stay on his sister's side and protect her)."
It seemed to Meenakshi that Tanvi was using humour to hide how much it bothered her. She knew Tanvi well enough to know that she would not appreciate her sympathy just then. So, she pretended that everything was alright.
"Let's look for him then." Meenakshi almost began to lead the way before she realised they were at Tanvi's place (and not hers). "Er, after you."
As Tanvi led her towards the lift, Meenakshi's belief that something good would come out of this was bolstered.
-----
To say Tanvi's house was a palace was perhaps an understatement. Marble floors, high ceilings with tasteful chandeliers, expensive looking abstract paintings, ornate furniture.. it took your breath away. Meenakshi had been here before but it seemed to awe her everytime. Their place also always smelled pleasant (probably from the air fresheners) reminding Meenakshi of a luxury five star hotel.
"Tej?" Tanvi called as she discarded her trendy heels haphazardly. Meenakshi was almost tempted to put them in order, but, held herself back. Her own sandals sat in perfect harmony on the shoe rack. As she began to move away, she noticed that the wall swallowed their footwear and disappeared leaving no trace of the foot rack.
"Wow. That's new."
Tanvi had disappeared in search of her brother and Meenakshi slowly followed her into the drawing room. The first thing that Meenakshi noted was that the television was running and a steaming cup (coffee, perhaps?) sat on the table (on a coaster, of course). She looked around expecting someone to walk in, but, a few seconds passed and noone came by. Shrugging, she sat down on the plush sofa and waited for Tanvi.
"Would you like something to drink, ma'am?"
Meenakshi looked up to see one of the staff greet her with a kind smile. "Oh - no, I'm fine, thank you. Someone seems to have left behind their coffee, though."
"Oh. I'll clear it, ma'am."
Swiftly, efficiently, the cup and coaster were removed. Meenakshi was just starting to relax when someone else greeted her.
"Meenakshi, right?"
She nearly jumped to her feet from the surprise - she hadn't expected to meet anyone and definitely not someone who recognised her name. Just a few feet away, leaning casually against the wall stood a tall, young man. The resemblance to Tanvi was unmistakable. He looked amused when Meenakshi didn't reply.
"Tanvi's friend?"
Meenakshi finally nodded. As he stood there waiting for her to say something, Meenakshi felt uncomfortable.
"She was looking for you." Meenakshi managed to say.
"Ah. That explains that annoyingly loud yell from earlier. Be a dear and don't tell her you met me, yeah?"
"Wh-what?"
"I'm having a rather pleasant day and the fact that she's looking for me sounds like unwanted trouble."
Meenakshi blinked in response.
"Am I making you nervous? Or are you the shy, quiet type?"
It seemed like both the siblings lacked social filter and tact. Meenakshi scowled (though internally) and before she could think of a response, Tanvi came to her rescue.
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you."
Tej looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "I heard you. What do you want?"
"What makes you think I want something from you?"
Tej's brown raised as he considered his sister. "Why else would you turn the house upside down looking for me?"
"You could have made it easier and responded."
"I was in the restroom."
Meenakshi blushed.
"Do you turn dumb when you're in there?"
"I prefer to keep my mouth shut, yes."
"Um.. maybe I'll just go wait in the car."
Tanvi glared at Meenakshi. "Stay right where you are!" Meekly, Meenakshi backed down, though being here was the last thing she wanted.
"You're making my friend uncomfortable."
"So are you - you could have let her go."
"I'm fine.."
"Clearly you aren't, Meenakashi."
"Oye, leave her out of this!"
Tej was rubbing his temple in an attempt to erase an incoming headache. Wearily, he considered his sister. "Fine. What do you want?"
Tanvi hesitated and looked at Meenakshi beseechingly. It was perhaps that look that gave Meenakshi the courage to speak up.
"We want your help."
"We?" It seemed to have caught Tej's interest. "This involves you too?"
Meenakshi nodded and quickly filled him in on what had transpired earlier that day. Tej listened without interrupting and when she finished, he looked thoughtful.
"You've never been on a trip with your friends?"
"That was the first thing you noticed about everything she said?" Tanvi seemed annoyed.
"No, I haven't. Will you help us?" Meenakshi didn't want another row between them.
"I need to think about it."
"Ok. Let us know."
Meenakshi stood and this time walked resolutely towards Tanvi. She grabbed her friend's hand and dragged her away wanting to put as much distance between Tej and them as possible. Her heart was beating so loud that she was sure anyone would hear it.
"This way!" Tanvi said directing her towards her room. When they reached the room, Meenakshi almost screamed.
"You kicked ass, Axe though I think that was a bust."
"What do you mean?"
Tanvi sat down on the elegant couch by her modern four poster bed.
"He is not going to agree. The only reason he didn't say no right away was because the request came from you. I don't think my ploy worked very well."
"Your ploy?"
Tanvi rolled her eyes. "I knew you'd come to my rescue if I asked you for help - so that's what I tried to do and you did exactly what I expected you to do."
Meenakshi felt affronted that Tanvi could play her so well, but, in the light of the fact were doing this for her, after all. "So what do we do now?"
"We wait for his rejection."
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