On Mumbai Street

Chapter 7

“Wow. I love this dress!” Tanya exclaimed, looking at herself in the mirror while I munched Lays.

“Hmmm….” were the only wise words that could come out of my mouth at this time. I swallowed and then asked, “What if I don’t come to this party?”

And all hell broke loose.

“WHAT?! YOU ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO SAY THAT! DO YOU KNOW—“ Tanya started screaming and I stood up and made all the expressions and movements to calm her down.

She exhaled loudly and said in a calmer tone, “Its’ Siddhant’s sixteenth birthday.”

That was very much true. Though Siddhant was the tallest of us (excluding Jeremy), he was still the youngest. He was turning sixteen today and as usual, he has a huge birthday bash at home and I was never really a party-kinda person.

“Plus, we took twenty two hours to make that,” Tanya continued, pointing to a really fat album sitting on the end of my bed.

That was again, very much true that we had spent twenty two hours to make an album that consisted of all the photos of Siddhant and the rest of us since we were seven and that’s why it took a hell lot of effort. Trust me when I say that sorting out years and years of memories is a huge task and getting them into an album was even harder coz every time we looked at a new photo, Tanya and I would be like, “Oh my god! I loved that day? Or “Remember when…?”

In all honesty, we had spent hours reliving memories by retelling the stories, even though we both were very much present there when it happened. We were so easily distracted and it was a surprise how we even got all it all done in the end. Then, we went six hours hunting for a good charming Titan watch to gift him along with the album.

Our gift was the best in the entire era!

“But—“ I tried to explain.

“Trisha Shetty, why don’t you want to come?” she asked, looking away from the mirror and saying every word after a little pause.

“First, my knee is still sore. Second, I can’t dance with a sore knee, so what’s the whole point? Third, I don’t wanna watch all of you dance while I sulk in the corner. I don’t want sympathy, either. Fourth, Masterchef Australia Finale is airing tonight and I can’t miss it!”

“Frankly speaking, your first three points are just exaggerating your first point and about your fourth point, I know the guys are cute in that and all but seriously, you can’t even boil water—“

“Hey! I can cook maggi and tea and I will survive in this dark world where no one understands what I feel and need—“ I said, putting on my emotional front.

“Of course you will! Okay, now lets go!”

I looked at her in disbelief. Didn’t I just say that I am not coming? Was I speaking in Latin?

I looked down at my shorts and my eyes wandered off to my knee. It was still a little sore but it has been two days so it didn’t really hurt that much but I still didn’t wanna go!

“Come on, Trisha? I know you have a sore knee and we will tell the others that we will do something that doesn’t require you to strain your wound—“

“Like what? Snake and ladder?”

“Something more fun than that. But please, pretty please with a cherry on the top?”

“Tanya…”

“Trisha…”

“Tanya…”

“Trisha, lets make a deal. If you come tonight, I will treat you anything you want.”

I looked up at her. Now, that was a good deal.

Food and I have been dating ever since I was born. My senses went numb whenever I even thought about him. Wow, I really do love my boyfriend…

“Trisha!”

“What?!”

“You went to wonderland again!”

“Maybe…”

“Come on! Siddhant would be hell angry if one of his best friends didn’t come! It’s his sweet sixteen. He wants to see you there…”

“Okay, fine!” I said, getting up from my bed.

“Really?” she squeaked in delight before crushing me with her hugs. “But in this?” she asked, after pulling back and scrutinizing my shorts and tee.

“So?!”

“Okay, whatever, as long as you are coming.”

I checked myself in the mirror. Not bad! I thought to myself. Shorts, cute tee and me!

Could anything go wrong?

But I was in for a big surprise that night.

***

I walked into my living room and a popcorn hit me on my head. I turned around to see Manav grinning, sitting on the couch with his legs on the coffee table and his hand deep into a bowl of popcorn.

Beside him, Rohit sat in the same posture.

“Do you even have a house of your own?!” I asked Manav, crossing my arms.

Manav was my neighbor, Rohit’s best friend and seeing him in my house was not really a surprise to me. He was always there at my house and the day he doesn’t visit might be the day the sky turns green. He was just another family member. He even has his bed here. In fact, he was as much of a brother to me like Rohit was. They both qualified as twins even.

He threw another popcorn at me and before I ducked, it hit me right on my forehead.

“Score!” he screamed, fist pumping the air and obviously, ignoring my question.

Rohit and he burst out laughing. Evil twins.

Rohit threw a popcorn at me and it hit me on my nose.

“Dude, that was a higher score!” Rohit shouted.

I stared at them in utter shock and disbelief. To say that they were eighteen would be the ‘overstatement’ of the century.

“Now how’s that?” Manav asked, turning to Rohit.

“The nose is smaller than the forehead and thus, a difficult spot to hit,” Rohit explained as if he was giving a very scientific answer.

“But the nose is nearer to you than the forehead. Makes it an easier target,” Manav argued and I decided that it was the dumbest conversation I have ever heard in my entire life and that’s a lot to say considering that I have Jeremy and Siddhant as my best friends.

“Where’s mom and dad?” I asked.

“Dad has some meeting while mom‘s gone to some friend’s house.”

I nodded and shouted out to Tanya to come out of my room.

“In case they come back before I do, just tell them that I have gone to a party.”

“Which party?” asked Rohit while Manav asked, “Which boyfriend?”

“I do not have a boyfriend,” I said, glaring at Manav and added, “Sid’s birthday bash,” looking at Rohit.

“When will you come back?” asked Rohit while Manav asked, “Will you be back today?”

I glared at Manav and shrugged my shoulders at Rohit.

“Hi Rohit! Hi Manav! Bye Rohit! Bye Manav!” Tanya called out before walking out of the apartment.

I wiggled my eyebrows at a blushing Manav. Manav has been liking Tanya ever since I remember and I don’t think that Tanya ever notices that. I really sympathize with him, sometimes. The times when he is not annoying or when he is not pissing me off. And trust me, those times are really rare.

“Bye!” called out Rohit as I walked towards the door.

“Use protection!” called out Manav at the same time.

I banged the door shut louder than usual.

That guy always gets on my nerves.

***

I watched everyone dance and jump to the music blaring in Sid’s house. I was dancing for a while too, but someone accidently, kicked my knee and I limped my way to the couch.

“Hey!” I turned towards the new, yet familiar voice. I saw Arnav slumping down next to me.

Seriously, what is with this guy and not leaving me alone during parties and functions!

Not that I have to complain about.

God, I really should stop thinking.

And honestly, I have to stop thinking about Arnav Malhotra!