Chapter 16: No Idea

As Aakash’s jaw fell open in surprise, Cabir slapped the backrest of the sofa with one hand as the other clutched his stomach; he was doubled over from laughter with tears streaming down his eyes.

Shaking his head, Aakash stood up and gave his son a light tap on his head.

“Trying to act smart with your father, eh? Don’t get too cocky, kid.” With that, he gave a good-natured laugh and left the room giving a hefty kick to his best friend along the way.

“Where are you going, Dad?” Aarav asked.

“Just to get changed. I have to go to university for a little while.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Well, why don’t you set up the PS4 then, Aarav? We can play some Dragon Ball Z: Xenoverse while Mr. Professor of Shakespearean Drama is out. It’s been a long time!” Cabir called out.

“Sure! Let’s have a go!”

*****

When Aakash came down fifteen minutes later, he heard the two people discussing, “What was the score, kiddo? I’m in the lead, right?”

“It’s 24-16, Uncle Cabir. 24 wins for me! We played three times the last year when you visited and you lost all three battles.”

Aakash could picture his son rolling his eyes at Cabir.

Smiling to himself, the man walked into the living room. As he crossed the two, he deftly motioned to Aarav, “Close the door after me, will you, Aarav? Just pause your fight for a second.”

Aarav nodded and stood up after pressing a button on the console. Just as he walked up to his father, he suddenly yelling, “Don’t cheat, Uncle Cabir!”

The man in question was grinning. He had resumed the game using Aarav’s console and then picked his own back up. He was happily dishing out combos when Aarav paused the game again.

“C’mon. You can’t even beat him without cheating?” Aakash sighed in mockery.

“Oh, yeah? What’s your score, then?” Cabir demanded.

“It’s 19-19!” Aarav told him matter-of-factly.

“Uh-” Cabir choked.

“Yeah, I’m better than you.” Aakash quipped. “Now, stop messing around. I have to go.”

With that, he turned and walked towards the door. Aarav quickly went after him, “Dad, walk faster! Uncle Cabir will resume the game! I have to run back.”

The middle-aged man acquiesced with a slight smile.

“Bye, Cabir! Bye, Aarav!” He ruffled his son’s hair who motioned him to leave impatiently.

“Bye, Dad!”

“Yeah, see ya!” Cabir called from behind them.

Shaking with mirth, Aakash walked to the main gate while the door to the house slammed shut behind him.

*****

“Have a taste, kiddo, of my...Kaaameeeeee Haaameeee Haaaaaaa!”

“Too late, Uncle Cabir! Final Flash!!”

A stunned silence set in for a minute. And then...

“Goddamit!!!”

Cabir slammed down the console onto the sofa. “Not again!”

“That’s 26-16 now. 2 straight losses for you, Uncle Cabir. 5, if you count the three from last time. Not to mention, you cheated in the game before this one.”

Aarav gave a contented grin as he set down his own console.

“Hey, kid. Go out and play or something. We’ll have another match in the evening!” Cabir slapped Aarav on the back.

Laughing, the boy stood up, “What? You’re gonna practise while I’m playing outside, Uncle?”

Cabir just picked up Aarav’s console and changed the game mode by way of answer.

“But Uncle Harshil and Aunt Janya are coming over in the evening, so...”

Cabir, glanced up in shock. He had forgotten all about it. Then he grinned and murmured to himself, “I’ll drag Aakash to buy us some...”

Aarav had already moved left the room and didn’t hear the whole sentence. He went to collect his badminton racquet and changed into his sports shoes.

“Uncle, can you shut the door?” The boy called out as he crossed the man fiddling with the console in the living room. Cabir looked up and saw the sixteen-year-old walking towards the door, a Cosco badminton racquet swung over his shoulder and texting furiously in his mobile.

“Sure.” Cabir accompanied him to the door and as the boy put away his phone, commented, “Badminton, huh? Reminds me of Jeet and Jatin.”

“Uncle Harshil’s two friends?”

“Our friends too.” Cabir laughed. “We clashed often in badminton. Jeet, Jatin, your Dad and I.”

The boy looked interested, “Ho-”

“That’s a story for another time. We can chat when you come back. Or maybe we can chat when Harshil comes around.”

“Okay.” The boy nodded and was about to turn around when he suddenly recalled something.

“Actually, I wanted to ask something but I forgot since we began playing DBZ. In that story about when you met Uncle Harshil, Dad and you mentioned some other friends of yours. Um...Lak-”

“Lakshya, Aman, Sameer and Mandhan. Yes, what about them?”

“Umm...I haven’t heard about them at all before. Are they-”

“They are a few of those old friends with whom we have lost touch.” Cabir smiled sadly. “I’ve no idea what happened to them after I left school. No, actually...we didn’t hang out as much as we used to from around 7th only...different classes and all. As I said, Aarav, even the closest of friends can drift apart.”

“But you can use social media to-”

“Get in touch? Maybe...maybe not. I mean, I can’t even recall their surnames. And it’s been so many years. We probably won’t even recognise each other and...”

Cabir then laughed aloud.

“Look at me, getting so sentimental over this. It’s all because of you, kiddo. You rubbed off on me and I’m getting so emotional! Haha!” He ruffled Aarav’s hair.

“Don’t worry about it! Go and play! I need to train to beat you at Xenoverse!” He pushed the boy towards the main gate who obliged.

But after a few steps, he turned back and saw the man looking up at the sky as if lost in some old memories. Suddenly, Cabir looked over, laughed a little and gestured the boy to leave.

Waving goodbye to the youth, the jovial man who somehow seemed...melancholic now went back in, closing the door behind him.