F L A S H B A C K

F A L A K

After a slight knock, the door to my bedroom opens. I look up from the textbook to my father. "Hello, Mr. Mehrotra. I'm Arjun, Falak's father." My father says on the line and my eyes widen. Mehrotra? Advik's father? Why him? Sahil said he's the strictest of their parents.

The rough voice from the other ends filters through the phone. I walk to my father who settles down on my bed's edge, smile on his face when my horrified eyes meets his.

"Falak? Falak Khanna?" Advik's father asks, I hear the mumbling in the background going silent. "It's Falak's phone Dadda? Can I speak--" I hear Ahaana yell in the background before her voice is muffled down. Advik's father clears throat before speaking, "Yes, Mr. Khanna."

"Falak told me about the kids' trip to Lonavala and she is interested in joining them, if it's alright with you?" My father lets me sit on his thigh.

"Yes, definitely. We would love to have Falak with us. My Bade-Papa...umm.. Sahil's grandfather is going to be accompanying the kids with our close house-helps. We have cameras installed there and I will share the details with you so you can check on Falak yourself whenever you want. They are not allowed to step out of the property once they reach, so you don't have to worry about that as well. Terrace is off limits. The swimming instructor will be coming from 5-7pm everyday and only then the kids will be allowed to enter the pool. When the instructor comes, bade-papa and our other trusted people will be around. Sahil & Advik will let Falak know other rules as well." His father starts to rant in one go which only makes the smile on my father's face widen.

"We are going to be looking after her like our own daughter, Mr. Khanna." Advik's father says in a calm voice after a moment of silence.

"Thankyou so much, Mr. Mehrotra. I will drop Falak to your house on Sunday at 10am." At my father's words, my lips stretch into the widest grin I could manage. They disconnect the call and I wrap myself around my father's body who laughs loudly at my happiness.

~~~

Sunday

There's jump in my steps when I get out of the car. My parents behind me as we walk towards Sahil who stands with a man.

"Good morning, Uncle-Aunty." Sahil greets my parents with a smile and I internally roll eyes. Such fake smiles!

"Good morning, Mr. & Mrs. Khanna. Sahdev & Mehrotra's are awaiting your gracious presence." The man smiles at us gesturing towards the elevator.

We all move into the elevator, Sahil pushes the button to their floor. The ride up to their floor is silent. I hold my mother's finger the moment the elevator chimes reaching their floor. We slowly step out and my eyes glide around the waiting area. The floor length glass window showcases the beautiful sun shining and its bright light filling up the entire floor. Another man wearing the same clothes as the man accompanying us joins his hands to greet us all. I thought we had to wait for Sahdev's and Mehrotra's in the waiting area but we are led directly towards the two door facing each other.

We are led into the one which has 'Mehrotra's' as the name plate. I quickly hide behind my family as I take in all the people waiting for us. There are so many of them. From behind my mother, I try finding some known faces.

"Shea! Stop that!" I jump at my place hearing Sahil shout from behind me, I quickly whirl around to see him but he passes by my side. I follow his figure to the bedroom on my left and spot Ahaana laying down on the floor. Her hand stretched out under the bed which has little to no space.

"Chinu! Haath aapka." One of the woman yells following after Sahil and both of them gently take her hand out. The woman who I'm guessing is Ahaana's mother carries her in arms and brings her out of the room, back to us.

"Rudra. Samyak. Our guests are here." A rough but laced with warmth, voice speaks making all the heads turn to us from Ahaana.

"Falak.." Ahaana screams and thrashes in her mother's hold. Ahaana sprints towards me as soon as her mother puts her down. "Hey." The chirpiness vanishes when she notices my parents.  Her voice almost inaudible. "Hi, Ahaana." I greet her back with a smile but I know I have lost her when she cowers behind Sahil's back. One new face is all it takes for her to go back into her shell.

My father kneels down in front of Sahil and Ahaana hidden behind him. "Hello, Ahaana. I have heard so much about you." My father forwards his hand towards her. She looks at my father's hand and then towards her mother. When her mother nods with a smile, Ahaana raises her hand and lets my father shake it.

Sahil tries to sidestep but Ahaana mewls holding his t-shirt fabric. "Mehr, come here." The same throaty voice speaks again and this time I try to find the face. My eyes stop on the old man sitting on the couch, a huge smile plastered on his face as Ahaana reaches him and hides her face in his chest. He whispers something and chuckles when Ahaana whines a little.

"Advik. Will you not introduce me to your friend?" Sahil's grandfather asks when we all are well settled in the living room, waiting for Yug to arrive. I turn around and try to find Advik. "Oh! I meant Sahil. Advik is out for a last minute hair cut." My shoulders slump down. I feel their grandpa's eyes on me and look up at him to see him looking at me with a glint in his eyes. Sahil snorts making my brows furrow. Is he laughing at me? Rude!

"Dadu, she's Falak. Falak, my grandfather. My parents. Advik's parents." Sahil quickly points to everyone sitting with us and I wave at all of them one by one.

•

Our parents share all the information while we wait for Advik and Yug. Surprisingly, I find Advik's father the sweetest. After Yug arrives we all head downstairs to our ride. Advik comes when we are all settled up in the car. I watch Advik's father run fingers through his hairs while he whispers to his son. Advik nods to whatever his father says and then hugs all the parents, even mine, before getting in the travel van. I take the window seat and Grandpa slides in next to me. My gaze moves to Yug and Suhana who are seated behind us. Advik and Sahil sitting together on the seats next to us. I try to find Ahaana. "Shika just gave her medication and she will sleep through the journey." Grandpa speaks pointing at the front seat. Ahaana sits with her barbie doll in hand and her fulltime caretaker beside her.

My heart instantly clenches in sadness. She's just ten, and the amount of pills she has to take just to exist are insane. And why? Only because she was a premature baby? In the last one and half month that I have known her, she has been admitted to the hospital three times. She rarely finishes her meals. I tried forcing her once and she vomited instantly. She gets fever if she sits in sun long. The teachers of her class have her parents number in their personal phones because they don't want to waste time if she loses her consciousness. When I see her go through these things, I understand why Sahil, Advik and Suhana treat her the way they do. But when I see the look on her face when she can't do things her way, the way she could be happy, it leaves me so helpless.

I don't know when I doze off, but I recognise the voice instantly when I hear him wake me up. "Falak."

Even though a part of me is awake, another is still dead asleep. "Falak, wake up." Advik lightly shakes me. I feel him close. "Bugu." My eyes fly open at the nickname my parents addresses me with. I look up at Advik, leaning down to his waist with a teasing look on face.

"Come on." He forwards his hand to me, the smile on his face making his eyes twinkle. "Bugu." He adds the nickname making my eyes narrow. At my expression he chuckles lightly before picking up my hand from my lap and tugging me out of the plush seats.

"If I hear you call me 'bugu' again, I will..." I try to find the right words. His teasing smile widens more if it was even possible.

"You will what, Bugu? Bite me? Like in that werewolf book of yours you were reading that day?" My eyes go wide and I quickly look around to check if someone heard him. Finding none, I turn back to him and slap his chest making him chuckle.

"Advu, did Falak wake up, beta?" We both snap our head to the tinted window, Dadu stands on the other side of it. "Yes, Dadu. We're coming." Advik replies taking a step back and gesturing at me to walk ahead. I get out of the seats and start walking down the aisle of the van, Advik almost pressed behind me.

When grandpa sees us, he nods at me to come close. "Careful." Advik murmurs just as I hop down the van, I give him a quick glance before running towards the entrance of the farmhouse, following Grandpa.

Grandpa shows us the room. Sahil denied to share the room with Yug because he's mean like that, so Advik and Yug in one room. Sahil alone—like all devil of the universe deserves to be. Suhana and Ahaana don't have separate rooms like Sahil and Advik— Justice for Suhana & Ahaana.

Grandpa asked us to rest and he will call us when the snacks are ready. Ahaana was still sleeping when her caretaker brought her in the bedroom, Suhana carefully covered her with the duvet before checking her temperature. When Advik and Sahil were satisfied that Ahaana was perfectly fine, they left the room leaving me with Suhana Sahdev— Rabba bachai!

A D V I K

"You guys have some idea or I can go do whatever I want?" Sahdev looks at all five of us one by one, his face giving away the impression of being done with all of us already. I ignore him—just like all the million times in the last thirteen years of our existence.

"Can we swim?" Ahaana pokes my arm, her eyes on the pool.

"No." Dadu yells from somewhere behind us, we all turn our heads from where his voice came to find him on the rocking chair, eyes closed. As if feeling our eyes, he peels his eyes open, "Mehr. What were the rules?" Dadu asks Ahaana.

"No swimming. No terrace. No sneaking away when I'm mad. No stepping foot out of the property. Be with you or any of them at all times." Ahaana starts counting on all the five fingers of her right hand, just like how Samyak Papa did when he was making her understand.

Ahaana raises her left hand and starts the other set of rules that are only for her, "Medicines on time. No junk food. No fighting with Sahil & Advik, no beating them. No throwing away the food." She side eyes both Sahdev and I at the fighting one. I can guarantee that she's going to hit one of us or both by the end of the day. Rules & punishments be damned!

"But Dadu..." My little sister whines before continuing, "Can we at least play hide and seek?" Dadu nods head in positive and she gets up giggling.

"I'm in Yug's team." Ahaana chirps and Sahil who was standing up to play hide and seek with a ten-year old, drops back on the couch.

"We are not playing hide and seek, Chinu, we are not kids!" Ahaana looks at me with squinted eyes, seeming mad at me for calling her out on her idea. Hide and seek is the only game she plays and she loves it. She's pro in hiding!

Ahaana gives me a little sneaky smile before turning to Falak and curling her lips in a sad pout, I huff out a tired sigh. As if Sahdev wasn't enough, she now has Falak on her side. "I love playing hide and seek." Ahaana taps her index fingers together, with that pout that she knows works on everyone.

"We'll play the stupid game!" Sahdev grumbles raising up from his spot and walking to my sister. "This pout wasn't even directed at you!" I cry out loudly at my best friend, who ignores me and murmurs something in my sister's ear.

I shake head at the duo and join them. Ahaana takes a moment to think over whatever Sahdev asked her before nodding her head in positive. Sahdev gives a look to Yug throwing his hand over Ahaana's shoulder and tugging her to himself.

"Shea, Zia, Mehrotra, Falak and I will hide." Sahil says keeping his eyes on Yug who shakes head laughing at Sahdev. "Upstairs and outside is off limits." Dadu yells behind us.

"I will count, you all hide." Yug says walking towards the corner, he faces the wall covering his eyes and starts back counting from ten to one.

I stand behind the curtains, wanting to tease Yug. Sahil tugs Ahaana in Dadu's room. Falak runs to the kitchen. My eyes move to Suhana who still lays on the couch, making no move to hide even when Yug finishes countdown. Yug walks to the couch, rests his hands leaning down on the armrest where Suhana has her head perched up. Suhana looks up, her eyes meeting Yug's who gives her a charming smile. I mentally snort. This guy needs to stop messing around with the Sahdev siblings, he's seconds away from getting punched in the nose.

"I-spy." Yug mumbles leaning down more and touching his forehead to Suhana's. "I pack a good punch." Suhana breathes lowly, my eyes widen. She's threatening him but not exactly. What? I'll need to check her control panel, there's something wrong.

"Uhuh." Yug quickly pulls away at the sound of throat clearing. I look at Dadu to see his eyes on Yug and Suhana, a weird smile on his face.

Yug takes a step back. "Suhana's out! Four more to go." Yug yells before moving towards the guest room, he enters and I come out of my hiding and run towards the kitchen. Our house helps turns to me and then points to the pantry. I quickly run into the pantry when I hear footsteps following the route to the kitchen.

"I know one of you just came here, come out!" Yug shouts and I look at the pantry door. Come out? Why would anyone come out from their hiding spot during the game? Just because he said 'come out'? No wonder Ahaana gets along with this idiot.

I hear light rustling and turn my attention to the sound. My eyes searching for the one I know is here. I don't spot her but see the fabric of her dress and walk to the counter. She tilts her head from the back of the counter and smiles at me. I smile back, walk to her and sit down on the floor beside her.

"Yug. Son, no one's here." We hear our cook uncle shout all of sudden. Falak jumps at her spot due to sudden noise and holds my hand. My gaze slides down to her lips, she parts her lips and blows out the holding breath, carefully. Her chest moves up and down as she soundlessly breathes in and out through her mouth.

The footsteps fades away from the kitchen. Relief runs through my body instantly. I don't like this game only for this reason, it's frustrating. I hate being the seeker, it's just not in me to put efforts into looking for the hiders. I get bored. And when I hide, I don't want to be get caught. At all.

"Oh no!" My attention returns to Falak when I hear her mumble, her voice almost shaking. I follow her gaze and look at the corner she has her eyes set in. Lizard. Oh god! Don't tell me she's scared of lizards like all the other four women of my life?

My gaze comes back to Falak when the lizards starts moving, just in time to see Falak's mouth open wide. Before she can scream I place my hand on her lips. The lizard moves more and start coming towards our side. Falak thrashes. I keep one hand on her mouth and with the other tug her away from the counter. The lizard reaches where we were hidden with our back pressed to the counter walls.

The reptile stops moving, the distance between us extremely short. We both are against the wall with my hand on Falak's mouth and the reptile is on the counters' wall. If the lizard decides to jump, she'll be in our lap. I am not scared of these little things but that doesn't mean I want to get touchy with them. Or worse lull them to sleep in my lap.

"Aaa-vik!" Falak yells as much as she can with my palm against her and jumps in my arms. Her hands going around my torso. The lizard runs at the sudden sound and goes into hiding between the other side of the wall and counter.

I remove the hand from her mouth. Trails of tears running down her cheeks that my t-shirt soaks up. "Falak.." I whisper lowly. She doesn't listen and silently sobs into my chest. My heart clenches in pain.

"Falak.." I try again but it does nothing to her. I lean my head and whisper in her ear this time, "Bugu.. it's gone." At my words, she fists my t-shirt fabric more tightly and push her face deeper, in hiding, in my chest. I wrap my hand around her and start rubbing back and forth.

"Promise?" She speaks after moments of dead silence. "Pinky promise." I raise the little finger of my free hand by her side. She gently cracks the left eye open and looks at my little finger. She thinks over it, momentarily, before taking away her hand from around me and wrapping her little finger around mine.

"Sahil and Ahaana are caught! Falak-Advik, I'm coming for you." I snort at Yug's words. He almost had us but he lost us, stupid! Due to Yug bellowing like crazy, Falak realises how she's almost sitting on my lap with one of her hand locked around me and she quickly puts distance between us. I mentally plan to kill Yug in his sleep  later tonight. Kanjar!

"Come let's change the hiding spot." I say getting up from the floor and forwarding my hand to her. She looks at my palm and then my face before saying, "We will be caught sooner if we hide together." She whispers lowly.

"We won't be. I know every nook of this place, Yug does not, he's a newcomer." I give her a wink which makes her giggle a little. That little laugh, it's different than all the other fake smiles she keeps pasted on her face all time. It shows the dimple on her face. She has dimple on the left side of her face. Dimple! It's so bewitching, almost like that little dimple adds stars on her face. My favourite stars.

She places her hand in mine and I tug her up. We carefully walk to the door. I make a sound and wait for anyone to respond. "Chinu beta.." Our cook uncle calls Ahaana.

"Yes, Kakuji." Ahaana sweetly replies, the chirp in her voice makes my heart flutter a bit. I love when she's happy and enjoying.

"Where is Sahil?" Uncle enquires her. I wait for Ahaana to reply. A few seconds later, I hear tiny slaps of her feet getting close to the kitchen.

"Kaku, Shai is helping Yug find Bhaiyu and Faklak-- sorry sorry, Falak." I smile when Ahaana messes up her name. The name's new for both Suhana-Ahaana and they usually end up mispronouncing. Ahaana more than Suhana. I look at Falak who has a beautiful smile stretched on her face. My mind then register her initial words and I want to knock out my idiot best friend's teeth instantly.

"Okay. You go sit with your Dadu and I will bring you fruits." Our cook speaks to Ahaana. "Can I have mango, Kakuji?" Ahaana asks.

"You already had mango twice, I'll make you a fruit platter now, okay?"

"But only put mangoes in the platter. Bye kakuji." Ahaana runs away laughing thinking she fooled Uncle once again by asking to only give her mangoes. She doesn't realise Uncle gives her only mangoes because he cannot say no to her and also because it's the only thing she actually finishes unlike her meals.

Once Ahaana is out of the kitchen, Uncle coughs and I pull open the door. I quickly mumble 'thankyou' to him before sneaking out of the kitchen. Falak stays hidden behind me as I quickly make my way down the arcade and towards the common washroom. We gently close the door behind us, I pull Falak inside the shower area and then slide the shower curtain, hiding us in. It's the only washroom in the house with curtains and that too dark ones.

Falak looks around the washroom, trying to find something. "You won't find any here, I promise. Ahaana-Suhana are scared of every lizard that exists so our parents get the house properly pest controlled twice before we come. I don't know how that one is here. I'll inform Dadu and he'll make sure it's removed as soon as possible." I try to ease her heart. She exhales a loud breath, I sit down on the floor and tug her along me.

We stay silent for a long while before she starts speaking, "I was once alone at home. I was seven then, I guess. It was small house in a... bad neighbourhood. It used to smell so bad at all times. I can still sniff that smell, it's etched into my memory." She lets out a little humourless chuckle. Her fingers push between mine and she tightens her hold, lacing our fingers together. Her head on my arm.

"I wasn't afraid of lizards before that day. That evening, when I went to use the washroom... a lizard... it-it fell down... on me. I-I felt it move from my hairs to my forehead before it fell down. The feeling of that thing... that moving on my bare skin..." A shiver runs through her body and I quickly pull her in my arms. She tries to swat the imaginary lizard away from her head, hitting herself with her hand.

I hold her hand and swipe the back of my finger over her forehead in a feather like touch, "Shh.. it's not here. See nothing's here. It's just my hand." I whisper in her ears, she continues shaking a little and I hold her tight. I continue moving my hand back and forth on her skin, later place a tiny kiss on her head, to tell her that there really is nothing on her skin.

"Since then I'm scared of every insect, reptile, animals... everything. I see anything and instantly feel how it felt when it crawled down my skin." She mumbles lowly.

"I-spy Advik Falak!" Yug loudly yells before the curtains are slid away, I come face to face with Sahdev and Yug. Falak quickly pulls away from me. My eyes momentarily meet Sahdev's who looks pleased at the scene in front of him, aka, Falak and I tangled together. We both raise from the floor as Yug runs out of the washroom yelling he caught everyone.

I keep looking at my best friend who finally stops smiling like crazy murderer and speaks, "Zia saw you both come here and helped the idiot because he went on his knees and begged her to tell him if she saw you both." I huff out tiredly. Suhana? Sympathising someone? What is happening? Where are we?

Sahil walks out of the washroom and I follow him, Falak close behind me. "Advik.." Both Sahil and I stop when she calls my name, Sahil shakes his head at me before leaving us alone. I turn sideways to see her. "You can call me Bugu if you want." Her words bring a huge smile on my face, her face turns pink at my expression. "But no one else, just you." She adds.

"Just me. Only I get to call you Bugu." I whisper, she gives me a slight nod before leaving me alone in the washroom.