Chapter 16: Ink vs. Authority

A few weeks later,

At night,

In a restaurant:

.

(The 3rd term exams were over and the 4 of them, Vikram, Naina, Kiaan and Kiara came out for dinner to a fancy restaurant.

The restaurant buzzed with soft chatter and the clinking of cutlery.

Vikram and Naina sat opposite each other at the table, while Kiaan and Kiara shared the same side.

The twins were animated, their eyes bright with excitement, while their parents exuded a quiet joy.

The atmosphere felt warm, like a family reunited after a long time.)

(Vikram leaned back, a small smile on his face as he watched Kiaan excitedly scroll through his phone.)

Kiaan: (showing Vikram his phone screen) Papa, look at this! Goa ka itinerary almost ready hai!! Beach shacks, sunsets, and full on masti!!!! This vacation is going to be epic!

Vikram: (teasing) Arrey, Goa ka plan pakka bhi kar diya tumne?? Aur tumhaari behen ko poocha bhi nahi?

Kiara: (interjects, grinning) Main toh kab se ready hoon, Papa!! Bas economics ke test ke baad mujhe lag raha tha ki break toh banta hai!!!

Naina: (chuckles softly, her eyes filled with pride) Aur tum dono deserve bhi karte ho, yeh winter vacation!!!! 3rd term exams mein kitni mehnat ki hai tum dono ne!!!! (smiles) You both are so focused. Kabhi- kabhi mujhe lagta hai ki humse zyada mature ho gaye ho.

Kiaan: Of course, Mumma. Hum twins hain— double brainpower!

(Everyone laughs.)

Kiaan: waise, aap bhi aate, toh accha lagta!!!!

Naina: (smiles) beta... tumhaari dadi bhi toh saath mein jaa rahi hain, trip pe. How can I come along?

Vikram: haan.... aaj hum chaaron ka bhi dinner isiliye possible hua kyun ki your dadi backed out saying ki unka pet kharaab hai, and that she will have khichdi at home.... Toh last minute I informed Naina ki tum aajao dinner pe, saath mein!!!

Naina: waise, how did you convince your dadi for goa?

Kiara: she doesn't know it yet!!! According to her, hum koi dhaarmik jagah jaa rahe hain!!!!

(They all chuckle)

Naina: (chuckles) waise, to honest, Goa has some beautiful temples... very old temples of Shiv ji and Maa Durga.... Aunty ji will have a good time there!!!!

Vikram: oh... chalo, accha hai!!!

.

.

Later,

(As the waiter arrived with their food, Kiaan immediately reached for the butter naan.)

Kiaan: This is mine!!!

Kiara: (annoyed) oh hello!!!! Butter naan maine order kiya tha.... you wanted the plain tandoori roti!!!!

Kiaan: but now I feel like eating this!!!!

Vikram: (laughs) Kiara, Sharing is caring, beta!!!

Kiara: (complains) Papa, usko bolo na!

Naina: Kiara... let it be.... (she turns to the waiter) aap, ek aur butter naan le aaiye, please.

(The waiter nodded his head and walked away. As they started eating, the conversation flowed effortlessly.)

Vikram: tumne race club mein toh bata diya hai naa? that you are going for a vacation?

Kiara: haan.... permission le li hai maine. Purab chachu mana thodi naa karte.... But Manav sir ne bola hai ki I should not stop with my workouts. Toh goa mein bhi, I have to complete my gym routine without fail.... And not go overboard with the eating.

Naina: haan.... that's okay. it's important for you to be in form, if you want to excel in sports activities. Disciplined life hona zaroori hai warna injuries ki wajah se, early retirement bhi lena padta hai.

Kiara: haan mumma... you are right. But please don't expect me to carry my study books.... I know ki final exams abhi 3 mahine mein hi hain.... but I am not going to study in Goa!!!!

Kiaan: (chewing on his piece of chicken) arrey, goa mein toh main bhi nahi padhne waala.... Why will they expect you to study there!!!!

(they all share a good laugh)

.

.

Later,

(As they finished their meal, dessert arrived: a sizzling brownie with ice cream. Kiaan and Kiara immediately dug in, fighting for the bigger scoop of ice cream.)

Naina: (raises her hands) Ek minute!!!! We have to start making family rules now!!! sab ko equal portion milega!!!

Kiara: (giggles) Papa ka bhi??

Vikram: (pretending to sulk) Haan... haan, mujhe bhi!!!

(They being to enjoy the lovely dessert. Vikram smiled casually leaned back in his chair and smiled at the kids.)

Vikram: By the way, I was thinking of getting you both a gift....

Kiara: (leans forward) really???

Vikram: (holds up a finger to pause their excitement) But... final exams ke baad doonga. Tab tak dekhenge tum dono kitna focus karte ho.

Kiaan: (eyes glinting with anticipation) Papa, please bata do naa? aap kya laane waale ho?? hum phir finals ke liye, double mehnat karenge.

Vikram: (playful smirks) Okay, fine.... Kiaan ke liye, I was thinking of getting a scooty. He has to travel to his coaching class, toh uska kaafi time bach jaayega!!!!

Kiaan: (exclaims) Waah!!!! Thank you, Papa!!! This is going to be so cool!!! I cannot wait for the final exams to get over!!!!

(But before his excitement could fully settle, Kiara crossed her arms, raising a mock-angry eyebrow.)

Kiara: (pretends to be angry) Wow, Papa!!! Jab mujhe scooty chahiye thi, tab toh mujhe sirf lectures milay thay!!!! 'Too young, not safe, blah... blah... blah'.

(Vikram and Naina burst out laughing at her dramatic tone.)

Vikram: Beta, tumhaare time par, thodi alag baat thi... aur waise bhi, (tries to defend himself) maine kabhi mana nahi kiya tha.... it was your mother!!!!

Naina: (tries to calm her mock outrage) Accha, accha.... To make up for that, we'll get you whatever you want. Bolo, kya chahiye?

Kiara: (her lips curved into a mischievous smile) Anything?

Naina: Anything!!! Hain naa, Vikram ji?

Vikram: haan... sure.... anything!!! Jo bhi tum kaho!!!!

Kiara: (leans back with a smug expression) I want to get a tattoo!!!!

(There was a moment of stunned silence before Vikram's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.)

Vikram: Are you crazy??? Tattoo?! tum school mein ho abhi!!! Yeh sab allowed nahi hai!!!!

Kiara: chill papa, (trying to calm him) school ka kya lena-dena? Main koi face pe thodi na karwa rahi hoon! Kahi discreet jagah karwaaungi—back, shoulder, ya ankle pe. Koi dekh nahi paayega.

Vikram: (shaking his head) Nahi ka matlab nahi!!!! Tumhaare liye yeh sab abhi appropriate nahi hai.

Kiara: (leaning forward with enthusiasm) Par papa, suno toh! Main motorcycle racer hoon! Imagine karo toh sahi.... ek cool tattoo ke saath, motorcycle race karna!!! Perfect vibe baithegi!!!! Zor ka impression bhi padega, papa

Vikram: (trying not to smile at her excitement) Achhi racer banna hai, ya bas cool dikhna hai?

Kiara: (grinning slyly) Dono!

Vikram: Dekho, tumhaari personality tumhaare actions se define hoti hai, tattoos se nahi.

Kiara: Papa.... thode thande dimaag se socho toh sahi. Socho.... Perfect attitude bhi zaroori hota hai, race jeetne ke liye!!! hai.

Vikram: Arrey... mere dimaag ko, tum koi bhi temperature pe rakh lo.... Mujhe yeh baat illogical hi lag rahi hai!!!!

Kiara: but papa!!!!

Vikram: beta ji....Tumhaare logic ke liye toh, mujhe NASA tak complaint likhni padegi!!!!

(Vikram turned to Naina, who had been quietly watching the exchange with a faint smile.)

Vikram: Naina... kuch toh bolo isko!!!! Yeh kya paagalpan laga rakha hai, isne??

(Instead of responding, Naina picked up her phone and started typing.

A moment later, Kiara's phone buzzed with a notification. She frowned, unlocking it.)

Kiara: aapne kya message bheja hai, mumma???? (she opens the message) you sent me a contact?? (looks at her mother in confusion) What's this?

Naina: (smiles calmly) He is Rehaan. Woh ek amazing tattoo artist hai!!! Agar tattoo banwaana hai toh, you should definitely go to him. And, he is not only just good at his work, but his place is super hygienic. All his equipment are sterilized and segregated. Wahaan jaake mera naam le lena. Theek hai?

(Kiara's jaw dropped, and so did Vikram's.

Even Kiaan froze bite, staring at his mother as if she'd grown a second head.)

Vikram: WHAT?! Seriously, Naina? Tum toh meri hi team mein thi. Aur ab yeh tattoo artist ke contact share kar rahi ho?

Naina: Vikram ji—

Vikram: Main uske sar se tattoo ka bhooth utaarne ki koshish kar raha hoon... aur tum usse aur encourage kar rahi ho?

Naina: Relax, Vikram ji. I got my first tattoo when I was 16...... Kiara toh phir bhi ek saal badi hai!!!

Vikram: (exclaims, his voice going up an octave) You, WHAT?!

Naina: Haan.... and mere time pe itne acche tattoo artists toh nahi thay. Toh, jo galti maine ki thi, I don't Kiara to repeat those same mistakes.

Kiara: what mistake?

Naina: I got my tattoo done from some random place. Tab toh cleanliness aur hygiene ki koi parwaah bhi nahi karta tha.... and because of that, my tattoo got infected. Tumhaare nana ji se chup- chupaake, doctor ke paas gayi thi and got it treated.

Kiaan: (eyes widen) Are you serious?

Naina: (nods, laughing at the memory) Haan, bilkul.... I was 16!!!!  young, stubborn, and obviously overconfident!!!  Thoda drama ho gaya tha. But then just a few months ago, I came across Rehaan—yeh jo artist ka contact diya hai maine—and I loved his work. Mere old tattoos fade hone lag gaye the, so I got them redone by him. And I must say, he has done a fantastic job.

Vikram: tum kehna chah rahi ho ki you've had tattoos this whole time?? (Confused/ curious)  Where??

(Naina grinned mischievously, enjoying the look of shock on their faces.)

Naina: Ek back pe hai, aur ek mere left arm pe.

Kiaan: Back and arm?? (confused) How come we never saw them?

Naina: (laughs, shaking her head) Simple. I never wore sleeveless or deep-back blouses. Toh dikhta kaise?? (she tilts her head, her tone light and teasing) Dekho, tumhaari dadi ki condition thi, ki mujhe sirf saree hi pehenna hai.... she never specified the type or the design of the blouse that I had to wear.... Mere blouse ke designs were always my choice.

Vikram: oh....

Naina: (explains with a sly smile) the designs of my saree blouse, were not some attempt to look like a simple, traditional, sarvagunn sampann, aagyakaari types ki bahu!!!! Nahin.... (She laughs, shaking her head) It was a practical decision to hide my tattoos from everyone else.

(For a moment, the entire table fell silent as they stared at her—shocked, amazed, and thoroughly entertained.)

Vikram: (blinks, running a hand through his hair) Unbelievable!!! Aur kya- kya raaz chupaake rakhe hain tumne???

Naina: (leans back smugly in her chair) arrey dekhte jaao.... Yeh toh sirf trailer tha.

Kiaan: aur Kiara ko lagta tha ki she is the rebel in this family!!!! Mumma ne tumhe haraa hi diya!!!!

Vikram: (mutters, half to himself) Mujhe toh apni shaant, seedhi-saadhi wali wife ki yaad aaraha hai!!!! (mock groans, covering his face with his hands) Hey bhagwaan!!! Maine kya paap kiya tha yeh din dekhne ke liye??

(Naina burst out laughing and hit him playfully on his arm with her napkin.

The kids laughed too seeing Vikram sit back in disbelief, shaking his head at the family chaos.)

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Author’s Note:

WHAT?! Naina had a tattoo this whole time?! Well, she did manage to hide her identity as Raftaar for years… a tattoo is nothing compared to that! But still, Vikram’s reaction—priceless!

How did you like this chapter? Tables have truly turned—Naina is the cool parent now, while Vikram is the strict, no-fun one!  Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

If this chapter made you laugh, gasp, or roll your eyes at Vikram, hit that ⭐ VOTE button! Your support keeps me going and helps this story reach more readers! See you in the next update! ❤️