Love Is Like A Sweet Dream

Trouble With The Family

Aadrika groaned loudly as rolled onto the other side of the bed. Her alarm clock hadn't stop ringing for the past thirty minutes and it peeved her. When it rang again, she use a pillow to cover her ear and bury her face into the comfort of the pillow and hold the quilt to her chest.

She was almost drifting back to sleep when she remembered it was a Monday morning and got up abruptly. Drika glance at the wall clock in her room and slapped herself. It was already 8:30am.

"What a mess", She grunted and climb down from the bed. Drika made a face as she walked inside the en suite bathroom.

Downstairs, Bela, the maid has set the dinning table with breakfast. Aadrika entered the room and the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee wafted towards her. She sat down quickly, poured herself a cup of white coffee and wolf down the kadhi paneer and tappa meen curry. The food was appetizing and amazing.

After finishing her breakfast, Aadrika grab her bag and books and ran out of the house.

~~~~~~~~~

Drika felt lucky she wasn't late for the literature class or else it would have been painful. Professor Gaurav was also late with the excuse he got a flat tyre.

Now, Drika was sitting in the library with loads of books on her table and nursing a cup of hot chocolate as she focus on her reading. She was deeply into the book she didn't know when Kaartik came to her table.

"Hi Drika", he interrupted her reading and she looked up. She was wearing her reading glasses and looked beautiful in her pink tee, blacks cotton trousers and black boots.

"Hi Kaartik", Drika returned the greeting and took her hot chocolate to her lip.

"It's a lovely afternoon, what do you think?" Kaartik asked as he took the seat opposite Drika.

"It's natural, the day is just warm". She respond and sip her chocolate. She love the taste in her mouth.

"Yes, and beautiful.Sundar, what are you reading?" Kaartik gesture to her pile of books on her side of the table.

"Hamlet", Aadrika showed him the cover of the book she was reading.

"Do you read all these kind of books?"

"Yes, Hamlet is written by William Shakespeare. Have you forgotten I'm majoring in Literature & Languages".

"Of course not, I was only curious", Kaartik smiled and flipped open one of his book.

"Curious, Why?" Aadrika lowered her cup and placed it on the table.

"How you read so many books and understand the stories".

Aadrika chuckles, "The books are always interesting. I think you should read A Winter Tale".

"Really?" Kaartik shook his head.

"Yes, haan, you should read real book. A real book like Romeo and Juliet".

"Oh, Drika!" Kaartik laughed.

"Seriously, Kaartik you are hilarious". Aadrika rolled her eyes at him and they both laugh.

"I'm impressed, main prasan hoon".

"Bas chup raho. Let me read", Aadrika snapped playfully before her eyes went back to the book she was reading. She really enjoyed Kaartik company, he wasn't a bad fellow, She thought and took a large sip of her warm chocolate drink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you serious, Shiv?" Dev asked over the phone as he sighed the papers on his desk and gestures to Ms. Divyanka to take them away.

"Yes, damn serious. Tanvi want a break", Shiv voice was raspy on the line.

"And, what next now?"

"She get her much needed break, really, I sulks at relationship".

"Relationship are mostly tiring, you know", Dev said.

"The worst thing ever, I also need a breathing space from that girl. She was beginning to cause trouble for me".

"Oh Shiv!" Dev chuckled.

"This is crazy, man!"

Dev could picture Shiv digging his fingers into his thick mane.

"I do feel for you, how have you been managing that girl is beyond me". Dev said, he had meet Tanvi twice and knew her to be saucy and rude with a short temper.

"I was stuck, deeply stuck. I don't even like her". Shiv whined and draw in a deep breath.

"You can't say no to chaachee, She thinks Tanvi is the best bride for you.

"Best bride my foot! I don't want a bride like her or even want to get married. Everything is freaking bullock".

"Guy, sort your mess". Dev laughed.

"You can imagine", Shiv snorted and three was a silence for two minutes. "Aadidev, are you there?"

"Yes", Dev answered. It has been a long time since Shiv last called him his full name; Aadidev.

"The hotel construction is going awesome".

"Wow. You need to be here, isn't?" Dev asked.

"I really don't know", Shiv paused. "Let's wait and see".

"You never ease to surprise me", Dev smiled.

"You never know what's next. I have an incoming call, I'll get back to you". Shiv said.

"Of course, jald hee phir milenge". Dev added and hang up. Shiv was indeed shrewd and ruthless, Dev loved those qualities in his friend and Shiv was always loyal.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"What have you done to my books?" Drika questioned as she entered the balcony where her two cousins were seated and sipping fruit punch.

"What sort of question is that?" Koel asked instead, her face a vicious mask.

"Those my books, I ask what you did to them". Drika said as she looked from Koel to Raja.

"Oh please, your books are not our problem". Raja interpolated.

"Then tell your sister to give them back to me, I need them". Aadrika snapped. Both of the girls haven't got along since their girlhood.

"Awfully sorry, but those books are in the trash". Koel gave her a vile smile.

"How dare you throw away my books?" Aadrika was now enraged.

"They are ordinary sheet of papers". Raja mocked. "You make a noise".

"You girls are disgusting, you have got no right to touch my books".

"Did you just called us disgusting?" Koel asked.

"Yes, I did and it's true. You knew those books were important to me and yet you threw them into the trash. Have you gone crazy? kya tum paagal ho?"

"Don't you yell at us, you spoilt little brat". Koel spat at Drika.

Drika was at the verge of losing her anger and rationality. She clenched her fist and her breathing was shallow as she stood and glare at her, her eyes glowing with an unquenchable ire.

Drika took the magazine on Koel coffee table and torn the book into million pieces. Koel stood up and Raja gasped.

"Equal. I've also torn your favorite magazine so what will you do, eh? You guys are cowards and losers". Drika said the words clearly, "Now pick up your trash and read".

Raja wanted to say something but held back herself. Drika dart them one last look and walked out leaving the sisters astound.

The sun was setting, leaving the sky in hues of pink, orange and a dark purple colour along the horizon. It was a quiet evening as the family had dinner but Aadrika was outside, sitting alone in the gazebo and watching the strays of flowers around her as a cool breeze blew.

Drika was still on her brown cotton shorts, a blue tank top and flip-flops on her tiny feet. Her iPhone was laid beside her on the bench and her chocolate brown wavy hair was held in a low messy bun. Drika was lost in the whirlwind of her own thoughts when Shakira came to join her carrying a Stainless Steel food flask.

"Aadrika", Shakira called softly as she laid her hand on Aadrika shoulder. "Are you fine? heek hai aap?"

"I'm fine", Drika respond.

"You didn't came downstairs for dinner".

"I wasn't hungry", Aadrika lied and Shakira saw through it.

"You don't have to lie, Bela told me you haven't eaten much today except for your multiple cups of chocolate drink. You should eat something".

Shakira was the only daughter of Aunt Bhavini and Uncle Veer. She was a year older than Aadrika, beautiful, radiant, serene, pure and endearing. She and Drika were very close as they grew up and trusted each other.

"Do you remember that night we slept in this gazebo?" Shakira asked, her voice low and silky.

"Yes", A smile lit up on Drika face. "The mosquitoes almost killed us so we wrapped ourselves in the thick blanket".

"We thought it was fun", Shakira was also smiling.

"It was more than fun", Aadrika chuckled. "We were nine and ten".

"It had been so long".

"Yes, I remember we always water the flowers and one day I fell one leg into a rabbit hole".

"And you won't stop screaming", Shakira added and they chortle. "I love those memories, let's eat something". Shakira opened the flask. There was aloo gobi, kofta, brushed naan and dal makhani.

"You can't refuse to eat or I'll force you", Shakira threaten but her voice was light.

"Alright, alright, I'm no baby so don't force me". Aadrika said and take a piece of naan. "This taste good", Drika chewed and swallowed.

"You can say that again, now eat more". Shakira told her taking a bite of kofta. The Indian meatball, minced with pork and spices was hot and delicious.

"I think I'll be finishing the entire food". Aadrika joked as she stuffed her tiny mouth with aloo godi.

"Really, tum paagal ho gae ho?" Shakira teased as she opened a bottle of water and drank.

"Nahin, chachere bhaee bahin", The way Aadrika said the word "cousin" made them laughed and their laughter echo in the garden with the soft scent of roses and white lilies. Twilight has already fallen and the mansion fifteen meters away was bright with so many lights.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Aadrika yawned as she woke up and stretched out her arms and limps. She wiped the trace of drools around her mouth and walked to her bathroom for a fresh morning bath.

After bathing, she sat by her vanity table to do her hair. Her hair was damp and disheveled when she released it from the turban. Drika comb her hair down from the tangled curls and styled it in a side fishtail braid. She applied small amount of makeup, mascara on her eyelashes, blusher on her cheek, eyeshadow and lip gloss.

She was wearing a sleeveless lemon yellow jeans gown that stop above her knee with pockets and a tiny black belt around her tummy. Aadrika felt comfortable in her dressing, she put on a pair of black moccasins, took her phone and head downstairs.

Bela was in the kitchen brewing up tea for everybody when Drika entered the kitchen. The maid smiled at her and said good morning.

"What are you making for breakfast?" Aadrika asked as she walked to the fitted cupboard on the wall and took out a tin of powdered chocolate.

"Pakora, fish curry, korma, beef roast and parotta". Bela answered.

"Nahin rotti?"

"Haan". Bela nodded.

Aadrika served three spoonful of the powered chocolate into her mug and took the kettle on the electric cooker, bent it and pour the hot water out of the spout into her mug. She placed the kettle back on the cooker hood and stir her chocolate drink.

She kept her iphone inside one of her gown pocket and took her mug of chocolate from the worktop.

Aadrika blew her drink and sip, she loved the taste of the drink and smile. As she took another sip, Koel bounced into the kitchen.

Koel wore a pea green kurti, black leggings and scandals on her feet. Her mouth was a shade of bright red and her hair held up in an exaggerated chinese style top knot. She eyed Aadrika and made to walk past her but intentionally bumped into Drika and made her spill her drink.

Aadrika squeak as the hot chocolate poured on her dress and let go of her mug. It fell to the floor and the china shattered into broken pieces.

Aadrika turned and gave Koel a mean look. "You did it intentionally".

"What are you saying?" Koel feigned ignorance as she walked to the refrigerator.

"Of course you know what I mean". Aadrika retort.

"Oh please!" Koel waved her hand in delight as she took a juice box out of the fridge.

"You are so repulsive, why are you always jealous of me?" Aadrika fold her arms over her chest and glare at Koel.

Koel shrugged, "I don't like you". She said.

"You can never beat me, even if you try you will fail".

Koel took her glass of chilled juice to her mouth and smirk. "Is that a challenge?"

"Yeah, a challenge and I don't even went to see your disgusting face". Aadrika said, her tone sharp and smooth. "You are a swank". Drika snarled.

"Aadrika!" Mr Iraj Sharma screamed and Drika turned to face him.

"Pitaajee", Aadrika called.

"Did you just called your cousin "a swank"?" Mr Iraj, Aadrika father asked. He is a man in his early sixties with thinning hair and grey on the temples.

"She was being mean", Aadrika said.

"Is that the way I brought you up, tell me?" Iraj questioned.

"Nahin", Drika voice was tiny and low.

"You will apologize to your cousin, right now".

"No!" Drika shrieked. "I won't say sorry".

"Aadrika, don't be pigheaded". Iraj cautioned.

"Nahin, pitaajee, See what she did to my dress". Aadrika gesture to her gown and the floor littered with the broken glasses and spilled drink.

"It was a mistake", Koel said feebly.

"Aadrika, apologize immediately". Iraj said, his tone stern.

Drika bit her lower lip, her face working. She wasn't a kid anymore and nobody would force her to do anything, not even apologize to Koel, She thought.

"I won't apologize, Koel is the witch here". Drika yelled, she glance at Koel and the girl has a smug smile on her face looking chuffed and satisfied.

Drika shook her head furiously and walked away. She was boiling with anger to the stage of explosion. She entered her room, walked to her wardrobe and took a change of clothes. Her gown was already messed up, stained with brown colours.

She changed into a sleeveless tea green pale kurti and palazzo trouser of the same tea green material with a light net dupatta around around her neck.

After dressing up, she released her hair from the fish braid and style it into a side braid. The door of her room creaked open and her mother, Madhuri came in.

Madhuri saw her daughter standing beside her vanity table and went to meet her. She stood close to her and could feel the heat of anger within Aadrika.

"Beti, kya hua?" Madhuri asked, she was holding the hem of her saree wrapper and her dark hair was held in a sleek chignon bun.