CHAPTER 5: ANIDITA'S SECOND CONVERSATION AND ANIRUDH'S LATE NIGHT DISCOVERY
Anirudh was sitting in his study, adjusting an ice pack over his bruised cheek. How could Saudamini have been so inconsiderate like that? She had made him the laughingstock at the café. She wasn't like that earlier. When they had started this relationship, he hadn't thought it would be the beginning of the end of his friendship with her. He would miss her as a friend.
He let out a tired sigh. He looked at the moon outside. It was a crescent moon today, which made it look like even the moon was smiling mockingly at his predicament.
Suddenly, he heard the notification alert of his mobile. He thought of ignoring, but checked anyway. It was an unknown number. Though... Why did it look familiar?
'Hey! What's up? Are you sleeping?'
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Bondita was getting bored. She just knew that she wasn't going to get any sleep for the next few days, what with her upcoming departure to the hostel. She just wished she could have some Roshogullas right now.
She went and unplugged her mobile from the charger, wondering whose sleep to disturb. While scrolling through the contacts, she came across Mr. Wrong Number.
In a mood to do something daring, she sent him a text. Grinning mischievously, she waited to see if he would reply. And the reply came soon.
'Who is this?'
What? This guy had forgotten so soon? He really did have problems in memorising things.
'Your wrong number a.k.a. Miss Curious.'
'Oh, hey! Sorry, didn't look at the previous messages.'
'Yeah, okay. It's fine. Not asleep yet, then? Me too. Wasn't feeling sleepy. I hope I didn't disturb you or something.'
'Oh, no. Nothing like that. I'm free now. I'm not feeling like sleeping too. Btw, how was your day, Miss Curious?'
'Hehehe... Glad I didn't disturb you. My day was... fine. Alright, I guess. How was yours?'
'Doesn't sound like you've had a cheerful day. Anyways, my day was...what shall I say? Just know that I've had a nasty breakup.'
' Oooooohhh... Breakup? Wow! How did it go?'
'Why are you getting so excited? It was a breakup, madam. Not a carnival or fair that I attended. And as I already told you... it was a nasty one. Didn't go well.'
'Ohh... Sorry . Uhhh... I get excited over silly things. Hehe. And... I'm sorry it didn't go well. Was your girlfriend soooo devastated to lose you?'
'It didn't go well for ME. She slapped me across the face and I've got an ugly bruise now. And she cried loudly, swearing at me. People were giving me absolutely disgusted looks.'
'Ouch... Sounds horrendous.'
'It WAS horrendous. She wasn't ready to understand my decision.'
'Feeling sorry for you. Btw, are you a student?'
'No. I have recently finished my studies. What 'bout you?'
'I am about to be sent to a hostel for my further law studies.'
'Law?! Even I studied law. I'm an almost barrister.'
'Really? That's great, Barrister Babu.'
'Barrister Babu? Sounds nice. Though I'm not a barrister yet.'
And just like that, their conversation continued for about an hour, in which they got to know more about each other. Bondita found a good friend in him. She strangely felt that she could confide in him; trust him. It was so surreal, making a friend within two days and not even knowing his name, seeing his face or anything.
And soon after they had bid their goodbyes, she went to bed, and drifted off into sleep.
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After finishing a long and refreshing conversation with Miss Curious, Anirudh came out of his study to go into his room.
However, he first thought of checking on his younger brothers were doing.
He first went into Batuk's room. The lights were off and everything seemed alright. He was about to go out, when he noticed something. Everything wasn't alright. He looked at the bed. It looked like the blanket was a bit uplifted. No, it was way too uplifted. That too, from the middle, giving it the look of a tent.
As he went closer, he noticed slight movement inside the blanket.
What exactly was Batuk doing in there?
He tiptoed upto the bed and pulled off the blanket, only to reveal Batuk lying on his stomach, his earphones plugged into his ears, a small wooden stick that had been supporting the blanket, and a movie playing on Batuk's phone, which was propped up against the pillow.
As soon as he felt the blanket slide away from over him, Batuk was taken aback. He knew he had been caught.
As he got up and sat, his wide, fearful eyes met his Big D's angry ones. Batuk gulped. He could already feel his ears hurting from the fear of what was sure to come.
"BATUK ROY CHOWDHURY!!", Anirudh yelled.
'Here it goes', Batuk thought.
"IS THIS WHAT A STUDENT SUPPOSED TO DO AT NIGHT?! DON'T YOU HAVE YOUR STUDIES?! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOLIDAY TOMORROW! YOU HAD ASSIGNMENTS! Assignments Batuk, your homework! AND HERE YOU ARE, WATCHING... what is it?", he yelled and picked up his mobile to check what he was watching.
"SQUID GAME! YOU ARE WATCHINGSQUID GAME! DON'T YOU GET VACATIONS TO DO ALL THIS? TO WATCH THESE DARNED WEB-SERIES?!! YEAH? TELL ME!!", he continued yelling.
Sometimes, Batuk felt really sorry for his Big D's vocal cords. But he was in awe of his throat and vocal cords. How could he shout so much, and yet, never get a scratchy throat?
"How does that happen?", he wondered out loud.
And unfortunately enough, Anirudh heard him.
"What did you say? What? Here, you are being scolded, and you are daydreaming?!", he shouted.
"But, Big D, it's night!", Batuk said. When he realised what and where he had said, he clamped his hands over his mouth.
"BATUKK.....!", Anirudh shouted, and was about to say more, when a voice interrupted them.
"What's going on? Anirudh, why are you screaming like a madman in the middle of the night? What's wrong? What did Batuk do?", Trilochan asked.
"Ask that to your nephew, Kaka! He's having his studies, homework and assignments and he's watching movies and web-series at night", he said to Kaka.
"Oh God, Anirudh! Give it a rest! He must not be feeling sleepy. He's already having so much pressure of studies. It's just a movie. Let it be", he said to Anirudh, making him look at his Kaka disbelievingly.
But then Trilochan turned towards Batuk, and sternly said, "Batuk! Why don't you listen to your Dada? Whatever he asks you to do, is for your own good, isn't it? Come on, you can watch movies later, right? It's not running away. Sleep now, dear".
"This! This is exactly the thing that's spoiling him. Aren't you the one, Kaka, who always pays for renewing his subscription in Netflix, MX Player, etc.? Aren't you the one being excessively gentle with him? This is wrong Kaka! A balance between being strict and loving, must be maintained. I am strict with Batuk. But does that mean I am never affectionate to him? You, on the other hand, only shower him with love and affection. Zero strictness. Doesn't that spoil him?", Anirudh argued.
Batuk looked at his Kaka and his Big D fighting and arguing like a married couple that fights over the topic of handling their kid.
"This is why I chose to be a teacher before I start my career as a barrister, Kaka. And you know I am leaving in two days. And while I am away, I tell you Kaka, you MUST-NOT-LET-BATUK-BUNK-HIS- STUDIES!", he firmly stated.
"What do you mean, while you are away? You are going to teach in foreign?", his Kaka asked.
"No Kaka! I am going to teach in a hostel. And you know, hostel teachers have to stay there for most of the time", Anirudh replied.
"Please don't do this, dear. If you become a teacher in a hostel, you would have to be away from home for too long", Trilochan pleaded.
"No, Kaka. I want to build an interactive relationship with my students. And I have already chosen what I want to do. I'll come back, soon. And I'll keep visiting during weekends and holidays, Kaka", Anirudh said, determinedly.
"But...", Trilochan started, but stopped. He knew, there was no point in arguing with Anirudh. His eldest nephew was too stubborn.
PRECAP: "What were you doing? Are you mad? You suicidal maniac! Stupid girl!", Anirudh shouted.
"SHUT IT! Just shut up, you screeching banshee!", the girl yelled back.
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