Deepak was preparing the home for Deepika's welcome. He was happy she was coming back. He would make it up to her.
“Hi! Thank you for coming back, Deepu!”
He whispered softly seeing her keep her bag in her room. She didn't turn to face him but spoke in a harsh tone.
“I didn't come back because of you. This is my house too. And don't call me that.”
Deepika slept through the day. She came out of her room only to fetch something quick to bite because she was starving. Deepak who was casually sprawled on the living room couch sat up straight seeing her.
She ignored his presence just like he used to and went to the kitchen. When he saw her come out with a plate of sandwiches, he got up and said.
“Mai kuch bana deta hu. You've not eaten anything since morning.”
But his words went unheard because she slammed the door to her room behind her. Ok! So that's how she felt when he did that.
But she hadn't eaten anything. Should he check upon her? Taking a determined breath he knocked at her door.
“What?”
She snapped and he was taken aback.
“Umm-you want something to eat? I can-”
“Get lost!”
He heard her yell and took an instinctive step back. She was giving him everything back. He deserved it.
Deepika on the other hand felt bad yelling at him like that. But she had to be resolute on what she decided. If she let him off the hook so easily, he'd never realised how he'd damaged her.
The following morning, Deepika went to open the door, hearing the doorbell and stumbled back due to fear on seeing the person who had attacked her standing there. He looked torn up but the trauma was fresh in her mind.
Deepak who had peeked out from the kitchen to see who it was when he heard the doorbell, ran towards Deepika and stood between her and the man putting a protective stance.
“Woah dude! I asked you to call before showing up.”
Deepika's eyes snapped up hearing her brother's words. And here she was feeling bad for treating him that way.
But what happened next shocked her.
The man fell near her feet and stuttered out an apology.
“I-I am really sorry. I-I am ready to bear whatever punishment you have for me. Please forgive me.”
He pleaded while throwing fearful gazes at her brother at every other word. Tears welled in her eyes but she refused to cry in front of her tormentor and brother.
“Ask him to leave!”
Deepak did as asked but not without warning the guy to never show his face again.
“They won't be visiting ever again. Any of them. I broke it off with them.”
He said nervously making her snicker.
“Ofcourse you did. It's a child's play for you afterall. Forget people like they never existed.”
Rolling her eyes at him she started going back to her room to call Chirag. She needed to hear his voice. She was stopped by a soft tug on her arm. She jerked her arm and scowled at him.
“Don't touch me!”
“I-I am sorry. Wo umm-breakfast is ready.”
“Not interested.”
And she yet again slammed her door. A reminder that she is still not okay with him. He remembered how he used to do it in the initial days after their mother's demise. Karma really is a bitch!
Her behaviour continued for a long time. Her ignoring him. Not eating the food he made. Slamming doors behind her. Not talking to him. Throwing taunts at him. Hurting him with her words.
Deepak took it all knowing he deserved it real well. He'd hurt her for 9 long years. He'd deserve it even if she continued this throughout their lives.
Almost a month and a half later, Deepak saw progress when Deepika sat with him on the breakfast table. He quickly scurried off to get her food and coffee.
She calmly took a sip of her coffee only to spit it out and yell at him.
“What the hell is this? Are you trying to kill me? Waise hi bol do. Why are you feeding me poison?”
Banging the cup on the table she stormed out of the house, straight into the arms of a waiting Chirag. She drew her strength from him. He silently supported her. It was her fight. And he could only support her.
Deepak on the other hand, sat shook on the breakfast table. His appetite lost. Tears welled in his eyes and he didn't bother stopping them. Placing his head on the table he cried.
Why did it feel like he wasn't making up to her but losing her even more.
A few more months went by like that. No improvement. Although Deepika felt her restraint breaking. His sad face, puffy eyes and tired form concerned her.
He may have forgotten her existence but she had always loved him. But she was enjoying all the attention she was getting from him. The attention she had craved since a long time.
Deepak saw his sister sitting on the living room couch working on her laptop and sat beside her, waiting for her to retaliate.
He frowned when she didn't react and saw her engrossed in something. She was reading something with great concentration. He peeked in and saw her going through some bill.
Monthly electricity bill. He realised and frowned. Why was she sitting with it? When she clicked on the pay option, his eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
She looked at him with a scowl.
“Dancing! Dikhna band ho gaya kya?”
“Why are you paying the bill?”
“Who else is supposed to?”
She asked so casually while filling in her details that he felt irritated and snatched the laptop from her.
“What is wrong with you?”
She asked with irritation.
“What is wrong with you? Why are you paying it?”
He countered and she took a deep breath.
“Because that's what I have been doing since two years now.”
Her reply shocked him.
“Two years? Since dad left? I thought he was the one paying it since always. Why didn't you tell me?”
“Were you ever there? Did you ever bother knowing it? Ghar mai kya ho rha hai kuch pata bhi hai aapko?”
He shut his mouth having no answers for it. She tried to take the laptop but he held it firmly.
“I'll pay from now on. Jo bhi bills aate hai. I'll pay.”
“And where are you planning on getting the money from?”
He frowned. What did she mean by that?
“I earn Deepu. Where else will I get the money from. I work in a corporate firm as the Head of Product Department.”
She looked shocked and that hit him somewhere. She didn't know this. She thought he was jobless. Did this mean, all this while she had been paying for all the expenses of the house.
“Wow! This is what we've become. I don't even know the most obvious things about you. I don't know isse jyada bura kya ho skta hai. Do whatever you want. Just don't bother me.”
Taking deep breaths to stop his tears he paid the bill. He checked all the other bills and paid them as well. He feeded the reminders in his phone to do the same every month.
He wasn't good in grocery shopping. So he'd let her do that. But he could share the other needs of the household.
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