Ch.6 – Chances
Scene opens to Anya and Sumedh staring at the ring.
“You guys can take your time. We know this is a big shock but…”
“First can we get out of here???” Sumedh said through clenched teeth noticing people around them. Riya and Fiza left the scene, satisfied with the information they knew.
“But…” Jethley sir was about to say when Astha pressed his hands.
“It’s okay. We should leave now.”
“Okay fine. We’ll go…but maybe you guys should give us a chance. A chance to show you we can be good partners for your parent.” Jethley Sir said.
“This isn’t any trivia game Dad!”
“Sumedh….shut up and let’s go.” He calmly said pushing his son out while he picked up the ring from the table as they exited.
Scene Shift: Fiza’s House
(Ishant Verma- Abhilash Kumar)
“Thanks Ishu. For the bike and dropping me off.” Fiza hugged, giving him a kiss before walking towards her house.
Her phone rang, “I am almost home Faizu.”
“Don’t! Go to the guest house. I will call you when everything’s normal.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Mom’s new cancelled production has the media buzzing like crazy. They crowded the entrance, and trust me if they see you, you’re done.”
“Shit! Someone just saw this! Byee!!” Fiza said staring straight ahead at the girl with a microphone. Keeping her phone in the back pocket she ran to Ishant, who was still waiting around for her to reach her house.
“What happened?”
“The guest house. Quick!” A flash blinded them. When Fiza looked up she saw a while swarm of cameramen flashing lights at them.
Ishant took a quick U-turn and drove away. After a while they stopped, trying to catch a breath as they lost the journalists behind them.
“Want to go for a coffee?”
“Not now. I just want to be in my room on my bed sleepinhg.” Ishant kept staring at her while her lips moved and fingers were busy on the phone screen as they leaned on the bike.
FLASH! His hands covered her face instantly.
“f**k off!” He screamed at the reporter who was a few meters away in their news van. Just then a car came and stopped near them. The left side door opened, “Get in quick.” Faisal said.
Fiza sat in the car after saying a quick goodbye to Ishant. He watched her leave and then went back, noticing the phone Fiza left on top of his bike.
Scene Shift: Chowpatty Beach
“It’s so lively here, isn’t it?” Astha grinned breathing in the fresh sea breeze. All four of them were sitting on the beach, just close to the body of water but also far enough so that only their feet got wet. Astha and Manish (Coach/Jethley sir) sat in the middle while their respective kids sat to their side.
“No! MY sandal!” Astha screeched as the water pulled it away. Manish immediately went after it, trying to fight the tides. Astha slyly got up and gave a hard push, laughing as he landed face first in the sand. He looked up at her and seconds later she was pulled down as well. They soon began enjoying the water in the dark starry night, leaving Anya and Sumedh behind.
Sumedh looked at the girl next to him. She seemed oddly familiar. Something about her made him wary that she wasn’t just another human in his life.
“All good?” He strikes a conversation.
“Huh?” Anya was caught off guard. Sumedh looked down to show her the purple finger marks on her pale skin near her elbow, an obvious result of someone’s man handling.
“Kabir?” He questioned her, remembering the first time he saw that guy in school, so close to her. Maybe they were in a relationship.
Anya quickly covered up the marks, “No nothing like that.” Sumedh went back to watching their parents after her cold reply.
“Is there any way out?” Anya’s words flowed with the sea wind.
“I doubt.”
“Mumma’s weakness of trusting people too quickly always gets her in trouble.”
“As of now she seems the trouble, no need for coach to bring it on her.” Sumedh felt the need to defend his father at Anya’s indirect taunt. Even as they talked, their eyes were fixed at the 2 running around the beach.
“My mumma isn’t the least bit trouble, even tho she seems like it. She’s just a bit childish and talkative, but her sensibility kicks in at the right time. You know” Anya turned to face Sumedh, “her protectiveness for anyone she is close to will make you feel like you’re her hostage.”
“Should I be worried?”
A smile appeared on Anya’s lips as she spoke, “She will give her everything to keep her people safe and happy.” Anya turned back to her original position, “She is the perfect partner anyone can have.”
“Afraid I can’t say that about coach. He’s not perfect.” Anya faced Sumedh as he talked but he kept staring in the far horizon. “He makes countless mistakes. Be it decisions, trust, or responsibility. He isn’t bad though. Just a little flawed. He is probably the nicest human you would come across, as long as you meet him outside the gym room.” Anya chuckled softly at his words.
“Do we have any right?” Sumedh spontaneously asked turning his attention to Anya.
“Even if we didn’t, they have now given it to us. We have to decide.” Anya sighed.
“You like kulfi?” Anya was a little surprised by the random question. Before she could answer, Sumedh got up and started running, “Come!”
She tried her best to keep up with him, strutting across the wet sand in her royal blue dress. She sure looked like a maniac.
Unable to run any longer, she stopped, hands on her waist. She waited for Sumedh to buy kulfis from the man and walk back to where she was. Both of them began to take a slow stroll to their parents, enjoying the cold kulfi.
“You have no clue how much I missed this.” Sumedh freely licked the icy dessert.
“You can have this one as well, if you want.” Anya forwarded hers.
“You don’t like it?” He was in shock.
“Nope.”
“Not possible.”
“Very possible.” Anya replied. They were finally easing up.
“I can never marry my father in a house where people don’t appreciate the beauty of kulfi.”
“Dictator much?” Anya wittily asked.
“Do I sound like one?” He wondered.
“Hear it yourself.” Anya then cleared her throat and attempted to copy him, deepening her voice, “I can never marry my father in a house where people don’t appreciate the beauty of kulfi!” She held her position for a while, staring at Sumedh who’s expressions turned grave. She knew she messed up.
“I didn’t mean…” Her soft mutter was disturbed by ripples of laughter. Sumedh’s happiness however, was short lived. The wooden stick slipped out of his hands and on the ground, the kulfi, covered with tiny sand granules.
He watched the delicacy melt away, sadness overcoming him. Stepping forward he kept walking ahead. Anya walked beside him. He stole glances at her and the kulfi but she never noticed his plight. He finally gave up, walking faster so that he could avoid looking at the thing he loved the most.
As he was moving ahead he almost got smacked in the face with a kulfi. Anya was holding it very close to his mouth.
“Are you sure?” Sumedh asked courteously.
“Take it before I change my mind.” She said
Their parents noticed them walking down, talking as id they’d known each other for years. A smile crept on Astha and Manish’s face.
“You’d be a cool sis to have.” Sumedh commented enjoying his kulfi with satisfaction.
Anya laughed, “Don’t know if I can say the same.”
EL FIN!
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-Ruch <3