17| Prank backfires too I

Started writing on 10th July 2020.

Completed on 30th June 2020.

Word count : 2440 words

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- D I V Y A -

This whole week was hell of tiring. After the sales started, everyone felt a little relief because this big project is completed. But my work isn't fully over. The proper use of finances and the gains will be under my team's check all the time.

After some time everyone came outside the meeting room. As soon as I came outside and started my journey towards cafeteria I saw many people checking me.

But why?

Am I Miss World?

Or a terrorist?

None of them. Then why is everyone gazing me?

While walking through the way to escalators everyone just looked at me and then at their phone screen and then once more towards me, greeting me with a big smile.

What's happening? Is there any rumour of mine on the phone?

Then in the main lobby, all the humans which were left stared at me with their two eyes widened, which were coming out from their sockets.

Once more I want to ask. What has happened?

I reached cafeteria and ordered coffee and some snacks for my evening food. I was pulling out my card to pay the bill but the cashier stopped me from paying and instead gave me two more puddings and cakes.

Why is everyone behaving so different with me?

All the time my phone kept buzzing with loads of messages. I went to the nearest table, kept all my food on it and then pulled my phone out. There were around hundred messages in the company's gossip group. Maya forcefully added me in the group saying that it will give a break to my machine-like mind but I've never seen even a single rumour from the group as I was never interested in it. Rest ten messages were by Maya.

I took a bite of my burger and sipped my coffee.

Because messages can wait, but food can't. After finishing my burger, both the puddings and one of the cake, I went to devour my second cake and at the same time checked the messages sent by Maya.

Divya!

Did you hear the news?

Did Ayaan spill it out?

I'm not at fault.

I haven't done this.

I swear.

I swear on my son!!

Believe me!

Where are you Divya?

Answer fast!!!!!!!!!

After reading a series of messages, I'm sure that something has happened.

In a jiffy I opened the gossip group which was flooded with the latest news.

Boss's wife revealed.

CA Divya Gupta. Now CA Divya Chauhan.

Head CA of Designing department.

26 year old.

What? She is working in our company?

Is she beautiful enough to be our boss' wife?

I thought that the lady is Gupta Company's heir?

But she is a CA here!

Is it true?

Yes, it is.

She's a bit too lucky to marry this handsome man.

I've heard that she's too bossy.

She often scolds her juniors.

She even abuses her staffs.

Everyone is sad because of her behaviour.

Oh my!! How can our hero marry an arrogant beast!..........

What is this? They're asking if I'm beautiful enough to marry that omelette. I'm way far better than him.

And what were they saying? I'm too bossy and even abuse my juniors! I mean what do they eat to even think like that about someone.

I'll sue them for defamation.

And then they'll rot in jail.

Aaaaah! What's happening with me?

I scratched my hairs forcefully in irritation only to gain unwanted gazes. I quickly ran back to my cabin to attain a peace of mind and was stopped on the way by Maya.

"Divya! What's all this? I swear on my son. I didn't do anything. Believe me. It must have been done by your husband." She said in a single breathe.

"Relax Maya. I know you haven't done anything. And Ayaan too is not at fault." I said.

"Then who did it?" Maya asked to know the culprit.

"Me." I pointed towards myself with a small suppressed smile, "It was an accident... Actually I just spat it out in anger and now this all happened." I told her and she made a tsk-tsk sound.

"You're really something. First hiding it and then shouting about it." She said.

"I know. I know." I walked back into my cabin and found a box on the table.

Who could have kept it here? Does anyone have a crush on me?

What am I thinking?

Instead of wasting time I quickly opened the box and was surprised to see it. I jumped on my place. It just stopped my breath for a second.

I'm recieving this type of gift after a decade.

Who the hell has guts send me something like this?

Only one person has this much strength to send this stupid thing to me.

It was a dark green pop out monster which had some bad odour coming from it. Is it picked up from garbage? Even garbage won't smell this bad.

I saw a note there and picked it up which read,

Happy 'nothing' day!!

Remember the day when you gifted me cockroaches.

It's the same day.

I just changed the gift, rest the feeling would be same.

So don't worry. Enjoy with your gift!!

Only yours,

Ayaan.

What the hell is this? Who keeps such old things in mind?

Even he did some pranks. I'm not the only one at fault.

(Flashback : 13 years ago)

Today that mad head played a prank on me.

How dare he?

He made paper planes of my notes while I was in washroom and then made whole class join in his child play. When I returned back the sight in front of me was horrible.

Number of planes flew in air, partially touching the ceilings. One place even hit my forehead.

It was just enough. All the time he has played pranks on me and I've maintained peace like a monk but enough is enough.

And that day I pledged to make him suffer.

Reaching home I quickly ate my lunch and barged into the outhouse's dark store room to search for something dirty, something which he hates the most - cockroaches.

But I hate insects too.

How will I catch cockroaches?

I saw a cockroach and went to catch it wearing gloves but it ran away.

Bad luck!

At the same time housekeeper aunty arrived in the store room and was shocked to see me there. "What are you doing here? You should be studying in your room, right?"

I went to her and started speaking while fidgeting my fingers, "Aunty, actually I want you to do something. Can you help me?" She nodded as she knew no one has ever denied my requests.

"Well, I need some cockroaches. Can you help me catching them?" I saw her with full hope.

"Cockroach?" She was shocked.

"We need to perform a project on cockroaches, so I need it. And I'm the one responsible for bringing the insect for everyone." Seeing no way to escape she nodded and started her work. Within ten minutes around thirty dead cockroaches were filled in a plastic box.

I gathered up my soul to arrange those dead carcasses in a lunch box.

Next day came the day of battlefield where I need start my plan of pranks. During a free period I interchanged his lunch box with mine.

When he opened his box his face was one of a kind. In starting he was really happy after he saw the beautiful decoration. Seeing the sight of cockroaches after opening it, he left his box and climbed up on the bench with a frown holding his legs and arms together.

This is just the starting man.

You'll pay for it.

(Flashback ends)

You'll pay for it Ayaan.

You egg! Omelette!

××

"Come on everyone. The food is ready." Dad shouted and came towards the hall where everyone was sitting calmly except both the mothers.

Mumma and dad invited mom, dad, me and Ayaan to a dinner out of nowhere. Who knows what goes inside parents mind?

Both dads were cooking in kitchen due to their wife's request, which I know was actually an order. Mom and Mumma were cozily sitting and chatting with each other while Dhruv was busy in his room doing God knows what. He must be working this time too.

I was sitting and watching all this family drama while Ayaan was no where to be seen. According to his message he had an urgent meeting, and would be a little late.

Well, no problem man. You've dug your own graveyard. Just wait and watch.

"Where is Ayaan?" Dad, my birth father asked.

"Dad actually... he can't come" I said.

"What? My son has really gone mad? Don't he know the meaning of family time?" Mom shouted.

Thank God mom knows that her son is mad. I knew it from the time I saw him in playschool.

"Mom. He didn't do it intentionally. I mean in a way it's his fault. It's really a pitiful situation for him." I said.

"What pitiful?" Dad, my father in law asked.

"How should I say it? You wouldn't know but he's very unhygienic." I blabbered.

"What are you trying to say Divya?" Dad, my birth father asked.

"He... He's suffering from infection down there. You know what I mean to say is. He's just very unhygienic. He bathes once is a week and doesn't even changes his underwears." I said. I want to show Ayaan that I'm better than him in everything, and also to take revenge of his prank.

"Do you mean yeast infection?" Dhruv asked coming down through the stairs.

"Yes... Something like that." I said.

All the time I was lying and I don't have any regret about it. He has to take a taste of his medicine. He's the one who started all these prank stuffs.

"He would be in pain. So bad!" Dhruv said and sat beside me.

"Call him to come here. He don't have to feel shy. Human beings make mistakes." Mumma ordered and I nodded.

I quickly texted Ayaan to come fast.

Everyone thinks that he's in a vulnerable state and is feeling shy to come. So they asked me to call him.

While in reality he's in a meeting and would be coming anytime. So I texted him to come fast.

I just want to see his reaction.

After around five minutes he came and everyone's gaze involuntarily went towards him. He came inside like a model walking in a fashion show thinking of himself as a star. While in everyone's sight he was not comfortable.

"Are you alright beta?" Mom asked.

"What type of question is this? Your son is in pain." Dad, my FIL told her. Ayaan came towards the sofa where I was sitting.

He doesn't even know what's happening with him.

"Have you taken medicines?" Dad, my birth father asked staring towards Ayaan's lower body.

Oh my !!

"You should maintain your hygiene. Bath more. Change your clothes. You're not a child. And I'm telling this to you not as your brother in law but as a doctor." Dhruv said in his soft voice while Ayaan was still alienated from the topic.

For others Dhruv is a cold and closed person but for his near ones he's someone soft at heart. He has trust issues.

"Why are you all behaving like this? What......" Ayaan was going to say something but I quickly stopped him.

"Let's go to eat. I'm really hungry." I said and everybody nodded getting up.

"Should we bring your food here?" Mumma asked.

"Aah..why....I can go....." He was just unaware of everything going around.

"Mumma. Don't worry." I called off her idea and pulled Ayaan towards the dining table. Everyone sat down to eat dinner prepared by both dads.

I wonder how it will taste !

Men make a really good chef but about dad, I'm not sure.

I just started eating all my food and surprisingly it tasted good. Just delicious. I'm the only foodie in this whole family. And everybody knows it. Because you need food to make your mind work. My mind and stomach are close relatives. Please one you'll get close to the other.

That's when I felt a pair of eyes staring me. And I know who it belongs to. Just someone whom I don't want to face but I can't fulfill my wish.

"Don't you think you eat like a pig?" He whispered coming near me.

"Atleast I can eat what I want. Not like you whose life depend on tasteless food, protein shakes and workouts." I whispered giving him his answer.

Fitness freak!

"Good. Keep going." He said and turned towards his food. After this there was just a pin drop silence. No one said anything and just ate their food.

"Divya, are you sure you are not having any infection?" Mumma asked.

"No. But why?"

"Because you're his wife and you know what I mean to say is. Just don't get close in the coming days." Mumma said and mom nodded her head in anticipation.

Oh God! What are they even thinking?

"I'm alright." I said and stabbed the spoon in my food.

"Ayaan, just stop eating all those processed food in your lunch." Mom ordered out of nowhere, "And start eating leafy vitamin rich salad."

Why is she saying all this suddenly? As per what I know we're eating dinner not lunch.

"And your coffee too, just cut it."

"Alright. But what happened? Why are you saying all this out of nowhere? And can't you spare coffee?" He asked mom.

"So that you both don't have any difficulty. These food increase sperm count. Talking about coffee, caffeine decreases sperm. So just cut it down from your daily life. And no alcohol. Not even occasionally." She said and I just choked my food.

Conceiving!

Child!

For which we have to.....

Aah.... Why am I even thinking about it?

"What are you saying Kritika? They're newly married. Let them enjoy their life for now. Child planning can be done afterwards." Dad, my FIL said to mom.

"Whatever!" Mom rolled her eyes, "But you can't run away from the responsibility. I want a grandchild soon." I looked towards Ayaan who was already looking towards me and then just turned my face away from him instantly.

I just hate these situations.

Till now the situation was alright but when dad asked us to stay overnight, the land beneath my feet slided. While staying overnight, we need to stay in the same room, on the same bed and share the same pillow.

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Thanks.