Chapter 44: Biscuits

“I want to hear Mom play!” Aarav gestured enthusiastically.

“I think there’s one old instrument back in her study,” Aakash mused. “It’s been so long though…I am not really sure. We can ask her when she’s done.”

“You can ask her now.” Cabir eased up from his slouch, nodding towards the partition through which the dark-haired lady had just stepped through.

“Come on, we’re done.” Aanya motioned to the three sitting at the table.

“That was quick.” Aakash noted.

“Hmm…wasn’t something that was going to take long. It was just urgent.” Aanya shrugged.

“Mom, mom,” Aarav called out. When she looked over, he continued, “Dad said you are his favourite violin player! Can you play me something? I haven’t heard you play the violin before!”

“Favourite?” Aanya’s gaze shifted to Aakash, a playful look enveloping her features. The rueful grin on his face was an instant admission.

“Oh, stop displaying your lovey-dovey expressions. Are you still in your ‘just-became-a-couple’ stage?” Cabir made a gagging sound.

“I hope you choke on your words.” Aanya gave him a stink-eye.

“Don’t worry about it. He just goes on about ‘stages’ cuz he’s still single.” Aakash patted his friend on the back as he made his way to Aanya.

“If he continues on like he is, he’ll always remain one.” Aanya continued relentlessly.

“That’s exactly what I told him.” Aakash went on to impart what they had been discussing before she came in as the couple made for the living room.

“You always end up in a sorry position, Uncle Cabir.” Aarav commented snidely, then swayed away as the older man swatted at him, following after his parents.

“I’m single by choice, you know.” Cabir murmured as he pushed the chairs into their original positions before proceeding to where his friends had walked over to.

*****

“We used to perform together in the orchestra!” Mihika beamed. “Those were such good times.”

“Our performances were worth witnessing.” Aakash nodded with pride.

“Our Western Dance wasn’t lacking one bit!” Cabir chimed in.

“Well, in my school, my favourite is the Theme Song. It’s the item before the finale.” Aarav interrupted.

“You love it because you participate in the Theme Song!” Cabir mussed his hair.

“You’re praising your own events too!” The teenager complained.

“The Theme Song, huh? I took part once when in Class 11th. It was fun. But tiring too…as I also was part of the orchestra.” Aakash mused.

“You were lucky that the orchestra was the first event and the theme song was the last.” Aanya smiled.

“Class 11th…” Mihika murmured. “It was a little lonely, you know, Aanya didi, when you left school?”

“Were you two that close?” Jui leaned forward to take a biscuit from the tray on the table. “I thought you were younger than her by quite a bit.”

“It was just two years.” Aanya laughed. “She wasn’t that young.”

“Oh.”

“It’s just that when we were part of the orchestra, Aanya didi and I always performed a violin duet. When she left, I had to try and coordinate with the younger members. None of them had her skill. We couldn’t match on the complicated parts our Ma’am composed so…I had to play it by myself.” Mihika shrugged.

“Must have been scary.” Aanya chuckled, “I remember the first time I played solo for the Annual Day. The only time, by luck. It was back in…”

“Class 8th.” Aakash supplied.

“Ah, yes…I couldn’t remember.”

“Trust Aakash to know any and everything about Aanya. Even things she doesn’t know or remember. Or should I say,” Cabir drawled out with an evil smirk, “Especially things sh-”

Aakash stuffed two biscuits into his mouth, gesturing to Aanya to continue. Hiding a giggle behind her palm, she spoke to Mihika.

“I was literally trembling.” She cast a fond glance at her husband, “Incidentally, he had a solo part right after mine. I still remember him trembling with nerves while assuring me, ‘Don’t worry, Aanya. Even if you mess up, I will probably mess up big time. Nobody will remember you; they’ll be too busy looking at me.’ Those words somehow made me feel less nervous.”

“Wow, how motivat-” Barely able to speak a couple of words and Cabir’s mouth was stuffed with two more biscuits with the straight-faced Aakash.

“It’s a wonder I didn’t mess up. My hands were sweating buckets! I kept wiping them on a handkerchief all the time.” He glared at Cabir, “That’s why I remember the time so well. It was my first solo on stage too!”

Barely able to avoid being choked, Cabir swallowed the biscuits and grabbed his friend’s hands in a vice-like grip, face devoid of expression.

The white knuckles and the indifferent face made such a contrast that those watching from the side couldn’t help let slip a few sniggers.

“Why are you holding onto my hands like that? I’m not going to stuff more biscuits down your throat. We have to leave some for the others to eat.” Aakash spoke patiently.

“I trust you only as far as I can throw you.” Cabir retorted. “As I was saying,” he turned to Aanya, “Aakash’s words were so motivat-”

He recoiled in a flash; the force of his movement making him lose balance. He collapsed into the backrest of the sofa, Aakash’s hands still held tightly in his.

Cabir looked pale as his eyes locked with Aanya’s who was holding up a biscuit just where his mouth had been a second ago. Even as he watched, she slowly leaned back and bit into it.

Tilting her head as if in confusion, she asked in a deliberately bewildered tone, “What happened, Cabir? Why did you move back so quickly? Is it that shocking for me to eat a biscuit?”

As the man fumbled for words, she picked up another one, “Do you want one too? Here you go.”

“Y-you…” The dishevelled lawyer threw his hands up in the air, exhaling in frustration.

“If you want to dance, dance. Why are you pulling me along with you?” A cross voice sounded from his side. He looked over, meeting Aakash’s gaze who motioned upwards.

“Ah.” He saw his hands were still holding onto Aakash’s even when he was making elaborate motions.

“Are you done with them? Can I have my arms back?” The cross voice came again.

Scoffing, he threw them towards their possessor’s side who sighed in relief while massaging them.

Casting a look around, Cabir clearly saw the mirth dancing around in everyone’s eyes.

“If you want to laugh, just laugh. Don’t act all civilised when you are charmed by the barbaric act of murder through biscuits.” He grunted in a gruff voice.

Nobody needed a second invitation; under his trying-to-seem-severe eyes, from Jui to Aarav, everyone descended into laughter.