Chapter 29

Sameera was really surprised by how well she was interacting with the Singhals. Last time when her Dadi or her Paternal grandmother came to her house she and her sister never once left their room. Leaving all the interacting for her mother and brother.

She usually kept quiet around others but don't let that fool you. From the first day of school to the last day, teachers only had one complaint that she talked a lot.

After bathing and freshening up, she and her friends made their way to the dining room. Pihu hugged almost every family member leaving everyone execpt Shrishti surprised. It's not like she is meeting them after a long time. What's the need to hug everyone?

Sameera sat beside Jay and smiled at him.

"I am really sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. Is it....your forehead hurting?"

She asked. And Jay shook his head in no.

"Anyway, if it was hurting what would you have done? Kiss it better?"

He asked teasingly.

Sameera internally laughed. He was trying to flirt with her. But maintained an unbothered expression like she didn't understand and said

"Nothing. Or probably have said something like stop whining it's not even that big of injury."

Jay laughed at this.

"You are really something else."

Suddenly everyone was silent. Sameera nudged Maaya and leaned a little towards her.

"Why is everyone so silent?"

She whisper asked and Maaya tilted her head towards the door of the dining room. Sameera followed her gaze and what she saw, almost knocked her breath out.

Pandit Shekhar Rao, awarded with many national and international awards. He was an Indian classical singer. As Sameera herself, has took 8 years of classical music guidance, knew him very well.

She subconsciously stood up. Just staring at the old man, whose face face held a big but gentle smile and wrinkles. Her eyes met with the old man and she pinched herself very hardly. Clearly not believing that she was seeing him for real.

A big smile, a very big smile graced her lips as she realised everything was true. Without wasting a minute she rushed towards him and touched his foot for blessings. And then started speaking.

"I'm a big fan of you sir. I've almost seen your every performance on YouTube and have attended many. The way you play with music is really fantastic. You are big inspiration for us new learners. If you don't mind can I get an autograph. And a selfie also!"

She finished her ranting in one breath. Totally breathless she looked hopefully at the old man. Only two thoughts running in her mind.

First that how lucky she was. And second how glad and happy Shrithik would have been if he was here. He was a big sucker for Indian Classical arts. Be it dance or music.

The old man chuckled and said ofcourse. The totally forgotten people once again came in Sameera's mind and all the blood rushed out of her mind.

She has probably done the most emabaressing thing anybody could do. But was she actually bothered by it? Definitely not. She just lowered her eyes to the ground and made her way to the table. Sitting down quietly she started eating. Ignoring almost everyone.

She has never done something like this before. Only after Shrithik came stumbling into her life, she has started forgetting things. She never once forgot a simple small detail. But now the only thing she could remember was Shrithik himself!!.

The breakfast went.......almost normal. She got to know that Pt. Shekhar Rao was Jay's nanaji or maternal grrandfather. And Madhu has also learned vocal from him.

Just as she and her two friends entered their rooms, she let out an inhuman noise. And started jumping around. When asked what happened she said that the goal of her life is completed.

Meeting someone as great as Pt.Shekhar Rao was a blessing itself.

Without wasting a second she called Shrithik.

He picked on third ring

"Hello sweetheart. What happened?"

"Leave that. Do you know who I met today? Pt. Shekhar Rao. The great musician. God old man, he's just amazing. I even got a selfie with him. And an autograph also."

"What? Really? You really are a lucky piece of a- I mean you really are a lucky."

Sameera chuckled quietly. Shrithik made sure to not use any kind of vulgar words in front of her or for her. What a gentleman.

"And do you know the best part? He is staying in the same house as I am! I really am a lucky piece of ass."

Shrithik laughed whole heartedly.

She never fails to bring him at ease.

Suddenly a knock was heard. As she was standing and talking, Shrishti was sitting on her bed and Maaya inside the bathroom, Sameera had to open the door.

"I'll advise you to not sing in front of him. God knows his ears might bleed."

Shrithik said and and she laughed walking towards the door.

"Shut up. I sing good. Better than you ever can."

"You've got a point there."

She once again laughed and opened the door of the room to find Jay and Madhu along with Pihu, Raj and Shivam.

Her smile slowly faded.

"Hold on, old man."

Shrithik didn't really feel excited that he was getting interrupted by someone second time in a day. But what can he do? It's not like Sameera can just ignore them to talk to him.

She spoke in her phone and then asked.

"Hi. What brings you here?"

"You forgot? We have an appointment right? We have to go to the parlour."

Madhu spoke enthusiastically.

"Oh yeah. But why are these three guys here? I hope they don't plan on having-"

"No!"

Shivam interrupted, totally getting what she was going to say.

"We are not going to a parlour. And if we wanted go there are many men's parlour."

He completed narrowing his causing a teasing smile to form on her face.

Shrishti walked up and placed her chin on Sameera's shoulder.

"Oh hey Jay."

She greeted Jay and smiled at Madhu.

"So should we get going?"

Jay asked and Maaya yelled from inside the bathroom.

"Hey wait! I'm not there yet."

Madhu chuckled.

"We'll go downstairs. Come fast."

Smiling, she said and made her way downstairs along with Jay.

While Pihu, Raj and Shivam made their way inside the room.

"So, what are you two gonna do?"

Shrishti asked.

"Just gonna take a tour of this big city."

"Do you even know how big Mumbai is? People living here don't know it properly."

"Doesn't matter. We'll see how much we can. We'll go to famous places. I've booked two bikes for a day. So it'll not be a problem."

Hearing this Sameera quickly spoke bye to Shrithik, told him that she will call him later and hung up.

"And whose idea was it?"

Sameera asked this time with a serious look on her face.

"Raj. Why?"

Shivam answered. And Sameera got a hardened look on her face.

"And are you planning on going to Dharavi?"

"Of course. I just want to get a look of what the biggest slum in this world looks like."

She clicked her tongue and looked at Raj with deadly stare. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for what was about to come.

She covered the distance of 23 metres in 3 big strides, took a hold of Raj's elbow and dragged him to the corner.

Pihu watched this. Her smile, which was always there on her face, faded slowly. Raj and her story was not like a typical story of a closed up boy and sweet girl, where the boy finds peace only and only from the girl.

No. In their case Raj was most comfortable around Sameera. Most. More than Pihu. She knew Raj more than Pihu.

Pihu sometimes felt hurt thinking of this. She wanted to be his peace. She wanted to know him whole. She wanted to not feel jealous of Sameera. She wanted to not misunderstand the holy and pure relation of a brother and sister into something else.

She faked a smile and resumed talking with her friends.

"You planned to go to Dharavi? Am I right?"

Sameera asked and Raj nodded.

"Why?"

"I just want to visit my house. For once."

"No you can't Raj. It's a sensitive thing. Your mother's killer lives th- leave it. Just don't go there. Please."

Raj's mother was murdered by his father. And his father is still alive, he lives in Dharavi. Due to the lack of evidence he only spent some months in the jail. And Sameera knew this more than anyone how much he loved his mother and how damn murderous he was. His father is still alive because he was in the jail.

She was afraid that a small spark can light a big fire of revenge in him. Shrithik always told her that there is nothing more dangerous than the feeling of revenge. It burns you to the core and when you take your revenge you are still not satisfied. After sometime, gulit chews you till you are hollow from inside. It's always better to back down, than to take revenge. It just dirty your hands.

Raj groaned in frustration. And rubbed his face.

"Sameera you are talking senseless things. I'm not going to do anything."

She clenched her jaw and then after a minute of silence spoke

"Okay. Go wherever you want. But promise me you are not going to your house or meeting your father. And have you told Pihu about you mum?"

He shook his head in no.

"Not yet."

Though Pihu was talking to Maaya her whole attention was on Sameera. She was not able to properly make out what she said because her voice was low. But the thing she said next lifted Pihu's mood.

"Tell her about it as soon as you can. Don't let it be too late. She might feel that such information was hidden from her. She might feel betrayed. And Pihu doesn't deserve that."

He nodded.

"I will. And.......I will try not to meet my father. By the way...... there are many good shops which provide good cosmetics. Want me to bring some for that face of yours?"

He teased and Sameera glared at him.

"I'll kill you!"

She exclaimed and both of them started the game of Tom and Jerry.

Pihu laughed looking at the tose two adults trying to catch each other.

That day, she started respecting Sameera. A small smile graced her lips and she resumed the things she was doing.

Still smiling softly and admiring Sameera.

______________________________

The song above and the song at the start of the chapter are both bhajans in Indian Classical music and are sung by a renowned classical singer named Pandit Jasraj. I'd recommend you to hear both if you want a idea of how Indian classical music is. And let me tell you that both are bhajans which means devotional and spiritual song. They might help you connect with God.