Chapter 19: You Didn’t Tell Him

“The scores! Do you remember the scores?!” Aarav asked excitedly.

“Uhm...not exactly.” Aakash said casting a quick glance at Cabir who just raised an eyebrow.

“Seriously? Nothing?!”

“It happened in third class, Aarav. It’s hard enough to recall the events; forget the scores! We lost all three, I remember only that much!”

“Awww, how boring.” Aarav made a disappointed face.

“Hey, you cheeky brat! Go and change. Enough joking around.” Aakash rose to his feet from the armrest. “C’mon, Cabir. Let’s go. You can play after we return if you want.”

“Hey, why are you treating me like a kid, now. Like I’m addicted to a game?” Cabir stopped the game and stood up, seemingly in indignant righteousness.

“Weren’t we waiting for you to finish that game before this story about our badminton even began?!” Aakash spared him a disgusted look before rolling his eyes.

“Anyway, Aarav go up and change before your Mom-”

“Before I what?” Aanya appeared right behind the teenager, almost making him jump out of his skin. As her attention went from her husband to her surprised son, her gaze caught onto his dirty clothes. “Didn’t I ask you to change?”

“Um...” He held up the racquet, “I came to get this.”

“That takes a long time?” Aanya shifted ever so slightly, giving him space to leave.

Getting the hint, the boy quickly squeezed past her answering quickly, “I’m going, I’m going!”

As she turned back to Aakash, he just raised his hands with a weak smile, “Just recalling old times. He stumbled upon us so I just let him join us for a while...”

Shaking her head, Aanya walked over handing him a small page, “Buy me the things listed on this too. I need them for tonight’s dinner. So, be quick.”

“Yeah, sure.” Aakash nodded. “C’mon, Cabir.”

The three walked to the door and Aanya closed it behind the two as they stepped out.

*****

“I remember there’s a shop near here where we can get the drinks. No need to take the car; let’s walk.” Cabir spoke.

“Sure.” Aakash nodded. “The convenience store is nearby that place too. Let’s go.”

As the men made their way down the road and made a turn, the road widened into huge parking area on one side and park on the other. A low barrier had been erected on the parking side to make sure the cars didn’t cross into a wide sidewalk that had been demarcated with lines to form a badminton court.

“We used to play with Aarav here when he was young.” Cabir remarked from his side.

“He’ still young. He’s just sixteen.” Aakash snorted.

“True.” Cabir conceded. “By the way, you didn’t tell him-”

“That I do remember the score of one of those three games?” Aakash grinned.

“Well, yeah. Act your age, man. What are you even hiding from the kid? The scores of a game we played as kids.”

“Oh? If you are such a great person why didn’t you tell him, then? Embarrassed?”

“Umm...” Cabir ran a hand through his hair laughing weakly.

“I’m sure you remember, we didn’t have enough time left so rather than playing another 21-point match; which the two matches previously were...and we also lost them, the four of us decided to make the last one into a 6-point match.” Aakash related. “We already told Aarav that we lost all three matches. Is there any reason to tell him that we lost the last match 6-0? It’s embarrassing...not to mention, we never won a match against them!”

“You are his Dad, you shouldn’t lie to your son!” Cabir whistled coolly.

“You are 47, don’t act like a smartass teenager.” Aakash gave him a disgruntled look. “Plus, I’m not lying to him...well, not completely. Ah, forget it. It’s just a little detail I’m embarrassed to tell him. Who’s gonna tell the boy about it anyway?”

Cabir shrugged at that.

“While you steered the conversation away last night when we mentioned Prish-” Aakash jeered.

“Are you seriously comparing that and this?!” Cabir rounded on him. “Asshole! Shut up!”

With that he flung an arm around Aakash’s neck, dragging him forward in a vice-like grip. Just like that, the two best friends walked towards their destination laughing and joking like old times.