The book of snippets

Nihil Inherit

Just like his Nanko did, does. (Strange how ketu saw through it in less than a month and abir could do nothing for a whole year.)

This time he didn't let it show.

"Aaj koi bahana nahin chalega" he said matching their smiles, "aaj hum bas enjoy karenge."

Ketu was crying, god she was a mess. She cried like she couldn't stop until there weren't any tears left he had always hated when she cried. It hurt like someone was peeling his skin off. But his legs didn't move. Atul had stopped a while ago. Someone had to take care of their sister. So, he'd swallowed his tears and threw his arms around his sister and buried her head in his crook. His eyes were moist. His jaw looked like it hurt. But he held on.

He'd grown up. (Him too?)

He fell into the chair beside them, trying to soak up any warmth, even one that hurt like death itself, to soothe his bereaved soul.

A moment passed. Ketki turned and looked at him. Then at Atul who too was staring at him. Then she threw herself into his arms.

And....

As he held her for the life of him, neither caring about all the soaking tears and dried blood, Atul finally moved walked over to him and buried his head in his crook.

"Abir sun na" Maami called. He lifted his head from his breakfast curious to see what she wanted, "Boliye na maami..."

"Woh Mishti aur uske family aayegi na aaj" Nidhi said as if reading out an instructions list, Abir nodded with a smile. He couldn't wait to see her.

"Tho rasam ke kuch aur samaan chahiye tha..." she continued, "I know ki tum busy ho mein Kunal ko bhej deti par..."

His face fell. (But Kunal hated Mishti.)

"Arey maariwaali" Mamu flew in as saving grace like always, "Kunal ghar pe hain kahan... woh tho office main hain... dopahar ko aayega."

Nidhi Maami bit her lip with her familiar guilt. Sometimes what she said hurt, but he knew she was open, they both were, they never lied or meant to hurt other people. He believed so.

They never harboured anything, they were simple people and which is why no one could ever hold any out of place comment against them. (Nanko was the victim most times, yet he always let it go... then why)

"Atul ko bhi tho office jaana hain na mamu" he answered, (he had to answer, he had to be normal, he had to be happy) he turned towards mami, "aap mujhe list de dijiye..."

They shared a look and she nodded.

His mamu and mami were free people, they never took things too seriously, never harboured anything.

They were simple people and he could always count on them to fizzle out a situation.

Yet today they had collapsed. So much so that they couldn't even go to their kids.

And he couldn't blame them, cause they tried, the few who were left standing when everyone fell. Who stood by him and caught him, made sure he didn't disappear into a vortex.