Falling For The Nerd (Slow Updates)

02| Nerd and Nostalgia

"Kunj, tang mat kar aur ja yahan se. Sneha, isse bol do, mujhse baat mat kare," replied Dadi, brushing off Kunj's hand. Sneha and Avi giggled, while Kunj pouted adorably and said to Sneha, "Massi, aap bhi Dadi ko bol do, main toh nahi jaane wala kahin bhi."

"Dekha, nani, yeh kitna tang karta hai aapko, aur main toh aapka masoom baccha hoon!" said Avi, giggling as he side-hugged the old lady.

"Haan pata hai, kitna masoom baccha hai tu mera! Har cheez mein iska saath deta hai. TU bhi baat kar mujhse, huhu!" replied Nani, playfully slapping Avi's cheek, causing him to frown cutely.

"Haww, Lata! Not fair!" exclaimed Avi dramatically.

"OYE, khotte, nani ko koi naam se pukarta hai kya?" Sneha playfully hit Avi on the head, who made exaggerated crying faces.

"Yaar, ek toh yeh har koi mujhe marta kyun rehta hai? Aur Mom, aap na chill karo. Yeh meri nani nahi, yeh toh sexy lady hain! Haina Nani, urf sexy lady?" said Avi, giggling and winking while Sneha looked wide-eyed.

"Chup kar, badmaash," said Sneha, raising her hand in a mock gesture to hit him, while Avi pretended to be scared and hid his face in Lata's dupatta. Kunj and Lata exchanged amused smiles at their playful banter.

"Dadi, please, ab toh maaf kardo. Kab tak naraaz rahogi kal ki baat ko leke? Ab jo hona tha, so hogaya na? Aur dekho, main bilkul theek hun. Kuch bhi toh nahi hua, bas choti si chot hai," said Kunj, smiling sheepishly, trying his best puppy face to win her over.

"Haww, Nani, iski baaton mein bilkul mat aana. Yeh makhan laga raha hai aapko. Yeh nahi sudharne wala," teased Avi, giving Kunj a naughty smile. Kunj glared at him, but it was all in good fun, aimed at calming Lata down.

"Choti si chot, Kunj?" asked Nani, holding out his arm, which had a bandage below his elbow. "Tu samajhta kyun nahi hai? Tu meri zimmedari hai, aur tu jaanta hai ke teray baap ko pata chala toh woh kitna naraaz aur pareshaan hoga. Woh humein yahan ek din bhi rehne nahi dega."

Lata knew all too well that both her son and grandson were stubborn, but their lives were intertwined in a way that only family could understand.

"Uffo, Dadi, papa ko kaun batane wala hai? Aap toh nahi, right? Aur please, mat batana. Aapke bete toh waise hi bahut over-possessive hain! Hehe, aur mujhe yahan se nahi jaana, bas ek choti si chot lagi thi. But you know him—last time ki tarah sab kuch chhod ke aajayenge," Kunj replied, cutely frowning and giggling.

"Uski jaan basti hai tujh mein, Kunj. Teri maa ke jaane ke baad se shayad hi koi lamha hoga jab maine usse tujhe lekar sakoon mein dekha ho. Woh tujhse bahut pyaar karta hai, beta. Isliye tujhse chhoti chhoti baaton par pareshaan ho jata hai. Woh humse door hokar bhi poora waqt teri hi chinta mein laga rehta hai. Aur maine usse vaada kiya hai, beta, ke main tujhe kabhi koi dukh ya taqleef nahi puhnchaungi. Tu kya chahta hai, teri Dadi apna vaada na nibha payein?" Lata's last line came out a little emotionally, which made Kunj frown.

"That's called blackmailing, Dadi, and it's not fair," Kunj chided.

"Everything is fair in love, war, and happiness, buddy," Avi muttered, winking at Kunj.

"Tu apna munh bandh rakhega ke nahi?" warned Kunj, glaring at Avi.

"Haww, Nani! Maa, apne dekha kaise dhamki de raha hai mujhe? Aap dono ke saamne toh socho, kaise atyachaar karta hoga akele mein," muttered Avi dramatically, making Lata and Sneha chuckle.

"Tum dono ka toh hamesha aisa hi lagega. Ab jao, jakar fresh ho jao. Main tum dono ka nashta banati hun. Phir college bhi toh jaana hai. Aaj pehle din hi thodi na late hona hai," said Sneha, smiling.

"Yeah, Massi! But pehle Dadi ko nashta karke, medicines le le, phir ready bhi ho jayenge," Kunj added with a smile.

"Main kar lungi nashta, Kunj. Tum dono jaake tyaar ho jao. Aur aaj apne baap ko call bhi kar lena. Kal se pareshaan ho rakha hai woh," Lata replied.