by Vaanya Singh
Our families, mine and Faith’s, had known each other since we were little. Moving around in the same social circle, we had been there for each other through good times and bad. As life passed us by, we had drifted away from each other on to different paths. Perhaps our parents had decided that it was time to catch up with each other’s lives, especially since Beth and Alex, Faith’s stepmum and stepbrother, were now part of their lives, and therefore ours.
FAITH
How could he do this to me? Didn’t he remember what happened the last time? I refuse to be in the same room as Vaibhav Raina! And here he is, talking about staying in the same house and that too for a whole bloody month.
Great!
‘Faith, you’ve got to calm down,’ Alex tried telling me.
‘How do you expect me to calm down? You know what happened the last time.’ Alex was sitting on my bed while I was pacing up and down my room.
‘People change, Faith. You did. You just have to give him a chance.’
‘Ha! Vaibhav Raina has made it his life’s goal to annoy me. How do you expect me to give him a chance when I want to rip his head off half the time?’ I screamed.
Alex started rubbing his temples. ‘Look, all I’m asking of you is that you think about it. How about I take you for ice cream right now to calm that head of yours?’
Ice cream. My one weakness!
‘Fine,’ I said, giving in.
Within half an hour I was ready to go. But when I went downstairs, I got the shock of my life. Vaibhav, Samrat and Ron were sprawled on my sofa, eating my nachos!
‘Excuse me, may I ask what the hell is happening here?’ I almost shrieked, catching their attention.
‘Oh! Hey, Faith! Didn’t see you there,’ Ron said.
‘No shit, Sherlock! Umm ... no offence, but what are you doing in my house, eating my nachos?’ I questioned.
‘Apparently it’s my house too, now. At least for a month,’ Vaibhav replied with a devious smirk. I was tempted to slap him across his face.
‘Faith, are you ready? We’re getting late!’ I heard Alex shout from the kitchen.
‘Where are you going?’ Samrat asked.
‘Ice cream.’
‘Oh, please, can I come along? Please! Please! Please!’
‘Fine! Just shut up, will you? You’re giving me a headache,’ I yelled at him.
So that’s how I ended up with four teenage boys trailing behind me to the ice cream parlour. We decided to go by car since the marketplace was some distance away from the tranquil surroundings of the Sainik Farms area.
When we finally reached the ice cream parlour, bells jingled as we opened the door. I saw a girl about our age standing there in an apron.
‘Hey! How can I help you?’ she asked in an all-too-cheerful voice.
‘Hey, gorgeous! What’s your name?’ Vaibhav asked her.
Feeling a combined sense of disgust and déja vu, I left to use the restroom.
VAIBHAV
I don’t know what was Faith’s problem? She always gave me those looks that said I had killed her cat.
‘I’m going to the restroom,’ she announced before vanishing. I turned back my attention to the leggy blonde who told me that her name was Amy.
‘What’s your name?’ she asked me with a very weird look.
‘If both of you are done with your little chatting session, can we order?’ asked an annoyed Ron.
‘Sure,’ Amy muttered going all red. ‘I’ll have two scoops of mint ice cream,’ Samrat said. ‘I’ll have one scoop of chocolate with wafers,’ said Ron. ‘I’ll have a scoop of vanilla with chocolate syrup,’ Alex said.
‘Hey, what will Faith have?’ Ron asked.
‘A scoop of vanilla ice cream with a brownie, without nuts. She’s allergic to them,’ both Alex and I said at the same time.
At that exact moment, Faith came back. All of us simply stared at her. ‘What?’ she snapped.
‘Nothing,’ we said all too quickly.
CHAPTER 3
It’s okay to be a glow stick;
sometimes we need to break
before we shine.
FAITH
My life was officially over and I was not being dramatic. Wrapped in my towel, I was banging on Alex’s door.
‘Alex, I swear to God, if you don’t op...’
‘What the hell is so urgent that you woke me up so early on a Saturday morning?’ he asked, rubbing sleep away from his eyes.
And his eyes bulged out of their sockets when he saw my condition—hair dripping wet, standing only in a towel, bare feet.
‘What ... how ... where ...?’ he finally said, mixing up all the questions he wanted to ask.
‘I am not going to live in the same house with Vaibhav Raina, understand?’ I spoke through clenched teeth.
‘What happened?’ he asked, taking a deep breath. So, I narrated the whole story to him in the hope that he would get Vaibhav out of my room.
I had just gotten into the shower when I heard my bedroom door open. Assuming that I was imagining things, I ignored it. Oh boy, was I wrong!
After a leisurely head bath, I decided to step out. When I opened the bathroom door, my heart leapt out of my chest.
‘Vaibhav! What the hell are you doing here?’ I screamed.
Vaibhav Raina was lying on my bed, freshly showered and scrolling through my phone.
‘Faith, why do you have a lock for each app? I’m curious; do tell me.’
‘Get out of my room,’ I said, clutching my towel and controlling my anger.
‘I’d rather not. You see ... I’m quite comfortable here in your bed, but I’ll be even more comfortable if you joined me,’ he informed me, wiggling his eyebrows.
‘You’re a disgusting pig. Leave my phone alone, asshole.’ Saying this, I stormed out of my room. The guy has the guts to even try to speak to me!
I was back in my room with the door locked. Vaibhav was gone. Thank God! I quickly got dressed in a black skater skirt, a white T-shirt with ‘BEWARE’ printed on it and my leather jacket. Hopping into my Vans, I drew my hair in a high ponytail and got ready for the day.
As I went downstairs, I found Vaibhav devouring my favourite cereal.
As he was about to take another big spoonful out of his bowl, I snatched it from under him and had a spoonful myself.
‘Hey! I was eating that,’ he declared.
‘Oh, you were? I’m so sorry, I didn’t notice at all,’ I said sarcastically.
‘Ha-ha,’ he said before snatching the bowl and taking a bite. ‘Pig,’ I muttered.
‘Hey!’ he yelled. ‘Never said it was you,’ I replied before turning towards Aditya.
‘So, Aditya, what are you doing today?’ I asked the twelve-year-old.
‘Nothing much. Just hanging out with a friend,’ he answered, turning crimson.
Friend? This was interesting.
‘Oh yeah, what’s her name? The friend you’re hanging out with,’ I asked, giving him teasing looks.
Vaibhav dropped his spoon and almost screamed.
‘You’re hanging out with a girl! I bet she couldn’t resist the Rainas’ charm!’
He ignored Vaibhav and replied to my question. ‘Her name’s Julie.’
‘So where are you guys going?’
‘The park across the street. She’s getting a picnic basket and stuff.’
‘Nice. Don’t be an ass like your brother and she’ll like you,’ I said, realising that it was indeed a beautiful spot, that park. Our house was rather secluded since it was a private property.
‘Hey!’ Vaibhav exclaimed while Aditya simply laughed.
‘So, Faith, what are you doing today?’ Alex asked, entering the kitchen.
‘You’re going to the team’s place, right?’ I asked.
‘Well, Faith, I would love to hang out with you like old times but I have basketball practice, too,’ Vaibhav said.
‘I’d rather jump off a cliff than spend the day with you,’ I answered him back.<
br />
Vaibhav didn’t say anything further. An odd expression took over his face. Sadness, perhaps.
‘So, what are you planning to do then?’ Alex asked.
‘I’ll come with you to see your practice.’
‘Are you sure?’ Alex was confused because both he and Vaibhav were going to the same practice.
‘Yup! You don’t need to worry about me.’ However, I regretted my decision as soon as we reached the court.
I was met with a group of testosterone-charged boys. Ron and Samrat were a part of it, too. As soon as I stepped on the court, I was bombarded with questions and comments.
‘Who are you?’
‘You’re hot.’
‘Date me.’
‘Do you have a band-aid? Because I just scraped my knee falling for you.’
I turned towards the guy who had said the dumb pick-up line. ‘Seriously! That’s the best you got?’
‘I’m Luke; and you are?’ he said, extending his hand.
‘Your worst nightmare.’ Saying this, I walked towards the bleachers. A lot of ‘ohhh’ and ‘woahh’ were heard, giving me a feeling of déja vu ...
They all divided themselves into two groups. Ron, Samrat, Vaibhav and Alex were in one group along with Luke and some other boys.
Halfway through, I got bored with the game. It’s not that I don’t like basketball; I play myself but their game was really boring. Only Alex and Vaibhav had made a few baskets. That’s it!
‘Hey, Alex, I’m going back home. Catch a ride with Vaibhav!’ Saying this, I started walking towards the car.
I was almost there when Luke called me. ‘Hey! You’re going already?’ he asked.
‘Yup. Your game is pretty boring.’
‘I, for one, am offended,’ he said, faking the anger.
‘It’s true! Let me tell you, your left side is really weak.’
‘Do you even play?’
‘National level champion.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, I can give you a few pointers if you would like.’
‘Sure.’
‘Just straighten your arm and bend a little towards your...’ I never got to complete the sentence because I lost my balance and slipped.
Two strong arms encircled my waist and saved me from falling. I looked up and my eyes met Luke’s grey ones.
‘Easy there, tiger,’ he said with a chuckle.
‘Thanks. The name is Faith, by the way.’
‘You’re welcome, Faith.’
We were in that position and Luke started lowering himself towards me when all of a sudden a basketball came and hit him on his head. Startled, he dropped me on the ground.
‘Oww!’ he exclaimed, rubbing his head while I rubbed my sore butt.
‘Get your head in the game!’ Vaibhav yelled from across the court.
‘Yeah and stay away from my little sister, man!’ Alex added.
I simply rolled my eyes and walked to the car. Little sister, what, by a month? We were only a month apart, Alex and I. I made a mental note to remind him of this.
overprotective idiot!
CHAPTER 4
If my heart was a canvas,
every inch of it would be
painted over with you.
VAIBHAV
When Alex and I came back home from practice, Faith was nowhere to be seen.
‘Let’s watch a movie,’ Alex suggested.
‘Sure, dude.’
‘I have some movies on my pen drive; let me get that.’ Saying this, he went upstairs.
I decided to make some popcorn. While it was getting ready, I grabbed a few packets of Doritos and some cans of coke.
‘Hey, Alex, do you mind if I call Ron and Samrat over?’ I yelled from downstairs.
‘Yeah, go ahead!’
Within fifteen minutes the snacks were on the table, the movie ready to be played and Alex and I were waiting for the other two guys to show up. Five minutes later, they arrived.
As soon as they came, Ron and Samrat were overenthusiastic about partying and turning a part of the house into a bachelor pad.
We played American Pie Presents: Beta House and hogged on the finger food. Halfway through the movie, Faith came downstairs.
‘What’s all the commotion about?’ she asked, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and booty shorts that were barely visible. Her long hair was piled up on top of her head in a bun. Those shorts were really distracting!
‘Stop ogling at my sister,’ Alex commanded, snapping all of us out of our fantasy. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one getting distracted.
‘Nothing, just having a guys’ night. Were you sleeping?’ Alex asked her.
‘Yes, but now I plan on going out. I mean it’s a Saturday and only 8 PM. But I do want to eat before heading out. Let me see what I can whip up for us as a quick meal.’
‘Sure.’
Faith went to the kitchen and we continued watching our movie but I couldn’t concentrate on it anymore. All I could think about was Faith in those shorts and how good she looked. Dude, snap out of it!
The movie got over but before we could play another one, Faith’s angelic voice came from the kitchen.
‘Boys, dinner!’
A delicious whiff filled my nose. Everyone moaned in anticipation.
‘What is that aroma?’ Samrat asked.
‘It’s Faith’s famous spaghetti and meatballs. If you haven’t eaten that, you haven’t lived.’
The dining table was set with dinner plates and cutlery. A big bowl of spaghetti was placed in the middle, along with meatballs, breadsticks and a jug of lemonade.
Sitting down to eat, we filled our plates with the delicious food. Alex was right; the preparation was awesome. How I wish my stomach was a never-ending pit!
When I looked towards Faith, wanting to compliment her on the cooking, she seemed worried. She was playing around with the food on her plate.
‘Hey, Faith, is something wrong? You haven’t even touched your food,’ I said.
‘I’m fine. Plus, why do you care?’ she snapped.
‘I ... I...’
Alex cut me short before I could finish my sentence.
‘Faith, please finish your food,’ he said in a pleading tone.
‘It’s just that I’m not hungry,’ she said in an equally pleading tone.
‘Please. At least have half of what’s on your plate,’ Alex urged. She had two bites before pushing her plate away. ‘I’m going to get dressed,’ she said before walking off.
What just happened?! A thousand questions popped up in my mind. But I didn’t ask any of them. We ate the rest of our dinner in silence, simply enjoying the meal.
‘This lemonade is really good,’ Ron said, taking a sip. But as soon as he took the sip, he spat it out on Samrat who was sitting right opposite him.
‘Holy shit!’ he shouted.
I turned around to see what the problem was and found it pretty soon. Faith was hopping on one foot trying to slip on a black heel on the other one. She was wearing a ridiculously short black dress. And it got worse when she turned around; the dress was backless. Her long, ginger waves were straightened. She was wearing no make-up except blood-red lipstick.
‘Alex, I’m going to the local pub with Luke. Most probably I’ll be staying at his place tonight. Don’t wait up!’ she finished before walking to the door.
But I wasn’t going to let her go without asking a few questions. ‘You’re going out with Luke? Luke, of all people!’ I exclaimed.
‘That’s what I said.’ By this time everyone was walking to the door along with her. ‘And you’re fine with it?’ I asked, pointing a finger towards Alex.
‘Believe me, I’ve tried before and it did not go well.’
‘And you’re going to wear that.’
‘It’s my life, Vaibhav. I can wear whatever I want,’ she snapped.
Before I could ask another question, the doorbell rang. Luke was stand
ing there with a white rose.
‘Hey,’ he said when he saw her. ‘Hey,’ she replied. ‘You look really pretty,’ he said, taking her hand.
‘You don’t look so bad yourself. Now, gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us,’ she said to us before walking off.
She was halfway across the lawn before Alex called Luke back.
‘If my sister comes back home in a bad condition or in tears, consider yourself a dead man.’
Luke gulped and nodded before going back to his car. The way Alex had threatened him sent shivers down my spine.
I really hoped that Luke became a dead man.
CHAPTER 5
‘You will love him to ruins’
VAIBHAV
I appeared like a man who had spent many a sleepless nights. Well, it was just one night but seemed like many, the reason being ... Faith. We had a history and I really didn’t know how or where to place her in our current setting. Was I attracted to her? Was she ignoring me on purpose?
After finishing the food that Faith had cooked, we watched another movie and ended up sleeping on the couch.
When I woke up, I took a shower and wore the previous night’s clothes and feeling hungry, decided to heat up the leftover food. By the time the food was warm, everyone else was up, too.
‘I’m so tired,’ complained Ron.
Alex asked, ‘Did we fall asleep while watching the movie?’
Samrat’s entire focus was on food. ‘I am hungry.’
Everyone grabbed a plate and taking big servings of the spaghetti and meatballs, we settled on the couch again.
‘Someone switch on the lights!’ Ron said before pulling the curtains apart. But no one complained about the sudden bright daylight invading the room because the scene in front of us was much more important and troublesome than the daylight!
Luke’s car came to a halt outside. He stepped out of the car and opened the door for Faith. I literally broke the glass in my hand looking at her condition.
She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and boxers. Her black heels were in one of her hands. Her long hair was a mess, and she was carrying a small disposable bag in her other hand.
Luke appeared as if he was on top of the world. I wanted to punch him so hard. My blood boiled as she kissed him before entering the house with him.