Along the Lines of Love | ✓

Chapter 71 : Hurt & Heal

"Paa, I can hear you." Akshaya said walking out of the kitchen. "Here's your tea. Have it right away. Don't tell me later that I serve cold tea."

Sharanya smiled at her sister. At least she was maturing in her absence.

"Di, come on, I want to show you the room. I reorganized the furniture and the room looks totally chic."

Sharanya followed her sister into their room, mostly her sisters now. She was surprised to find it neat and tidy. The wall, that the study desk had been put against was decorated with artwork, which he assumed was her sister's.

"It looks nice and very clean. I didn't expect you to keep the room so tidy." Sharanya said sitting on the bed. She didn't fail to notice the zebra patterned bedsheet, which was one of her favorite spread out on the bed.

"Well, I had to." She shrugged, taking a seat beside her. "You tell me, how have you been?"

Sharanya smiled as her sister wrapped her sleek arms around her. Sharanya snaked her arm around her sister's back. "Good. What about you?"

"Good. Guess what--" she said excitedly pulling away.

Sharanya looked at her with curious eyes. Her sister jumped off the bed towards her table, pulled the draw and brought out a paper and handed it to her. "What is it?" Sharanya asked curiously reading the paper.

"My assignment marks."

"Forty five out of fifty! That's amazing," Sharanya remarked.

"The sleepless nights paid off. I just got it today."

Sharanya smiled at her sister proudly. "This calls for a treat doesn't it?"

Akshaya's eyes lit up. "Treat like cupcakes?"

"If the ingredients are there."

"Let's go see," Akshaya suggested and they moved to the kitchen.

"So, has the laser hair reduction been helpful?" Akshaya asked, sitting on the counter, her eyes on her sister's arms.

"I think so," Sharanya said glancing at her arms.

"Maybe I should get it done too? Waxing is such a torture."

"It's expensive Akshu,"

Akshaya sighed. "Guess I will have to wait till I become rich!"

Sharanya smiled at her sister, "for now, I would appreciate some help. Go get the sugar from the storage cupboard and powder it."

"Yes, Boss!" Akshaya exclaimed jumping of the kitchen counter. 

* * *

A little more than hour later, Sharanya was out of the kitchen after making cupcakes for her sister, cashew curry for her father and strawberry custard which was her brother's favorite dessert. Her brother was home at around seven-thirty. He was evidently surprised to see her at home.

Sharanya waited patiently while he freshened up. She had prepared soup and potato fries too. She set that up on the table while chatting with her sister. Her father occasionally had some gossip from the building to share. It was like old days. Sharanya smiled listening to them. 

"Sorry, I couldn't return your call. Work has been hectic." Harshit spoke as he emerged from his room.

"No problem." Sharanya said. "Paa, soup is on the table," she called out to her father.

"Damn, how do you cook so well. My soup never comes out like this." Akshaya whined.

"That's because you need to keep stirring it and patiently wait for it to simmer."