21 Questions

“Let's play 21 questions!", Rishi exclaimed from the couch as he watched me get up and stroll into the kitchen. I craved my mother's warm cup of chai and I knew that nothing else could quench my thirst for it. Half-heartedly I went for my next best choice, hot coffee.

"Just because I said that I was bored, doesn't mean that your nosey ass is any better than boredom" I called out rolling my eyes at his so-called wonderful ideas of having fun.

"But why not? Don't you want to know me more?"

he whined coming into the kitchen with a lollipop settled in his mouth. He bent down to my eye level, winked at me, and whispered, "Perhaps we'd find each other interesting after this".

"Shut up" I smacked him across his chest and it rumbled as he laughed. That stupid laugh and those silly dimples. He has always been like this, flirting with me endlessly not knowing how much it affected my poor heart.

“What? I was just suggesting that-" his words were muffled as I shut him up with my palm.

"Oh you shut it, Rishi! We've known each other for what? A decade? And we've been away for less than a year and you're telling me that we forgot each other's favorite colors and birthdays?".

"Who says we've to ask each other such questions? We could also talk about the things we've never brought up before" he said going back into the living room and I did not miss the slight glint of discontent in his eyes.

I heard him strum his guitar as I poured the coffee into two mugs; it softly bubbled and soon the aroma made me take in the smell as much as possible.

I went to sit beside him and gently handed him a mug. He sighed taking it and mumbled something like,

“Why don't you ever understand?”

I turned to him and said, “What?”

"What?" He looked at me.

"Did you say something, Rishi?"

“I said, I can't believe that you don't like Disney movies”.

And I can't believe that you don't like me, I pouted at my thoughts.

"Oh wow! Let's not start that over again!" I said, shaking my head.

"Why? Do you, my lady, finally accept defeat in our war?”

Little did he know that I was already on my knees, holding out this wild heart in my hands for him.

"No, I still don't like them. I mean why do people even bother to watch that shit when they know how impractical all that is?"

"Come on, princess! Life toh boring hain, cinema mein kuch magic hona chahiye na!" he smirked.

He knew that I had nothing to oppose him. I just narrowed my eyes and took a sip of my forgotten coffee.

"Acha..let's start! Let's play the stupid game, shall we?"

"Careful, sweetheart! You sure you are nice enough to answer all my questions without being rude?" he raised his oh-so-perfect brow.

"Haha, funny. And yes, I promise not to cheat in the game, but only if you play fair".

He looked at me momentarily as if he comprehended whether it was right to utter the next words and ruffled his hair. I shamelessly gazed at how cute he looked with his head down, lips in an invisible pout, and a frown adorning his face.

 It took me back to the first time I saw him differently, a way that a friend isn't supposed to look at the other. It was during the summer holidays after we finally finished our schooling and that was the first time he made chai for me. As petty as it sounds, what impressed me was that it tasted so good, that even Maa would've called it her new favorite.

“Okay. Do you have someone that you like romantically, not fictional but in person?” he finally asked.

Oh, it's always been you silly, I giggled but dared not to say it out loud.

He frowned as his eyes searched my face gingerly.

I straightened up and cleared my throat to say, “Yes”.

His face held an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.

“Who is it?”

“One question at a time”

He ruffled his hair in frustration and nodded.

“Umm..what do you like the most about me?” I asked eagerly, leaning forward with my face in my palms.

“Easy. Your voice”.

I resisted the urge to ask him why and huffed impatiently. “Go on. Your turn to ask.”

“So whom do you like?”

“What do you mean? I like everyone around me”.

I grinned childishly as he face-palmed.

“So why do you like my voice?”

“I don't know. I mean, remember the first time we talked in the music room at our school? It wasn't a coincidence. I had to beg the captain to pair us up for the competition. I guess I was really attracted to your voice when you sang for the selections and I couldn't just let you go sing with others” he shrugged.

I blinked my eyes rapidly to compose myself. This piece of information is new to me, he never told me.

“Oh”

“Yeah. Now, who is the guy that you like romantically?”

Great! He did not mention fictional or real and I smirked internally. I pretended to think as I tilted my head at him mischievously.

“At first I thought no man could ever be as good as Atlas, but these days my heart beats only for Warner”.

“What the! That's cheating!” he glared angrily.

“You did not mention anything, babe! You could've asked in a better way, like the very first question” I giggled at him.

“Oh that's enough, you little liar! I don't know who the guy is but let me tell you something. I want to take you out on a date tomorrow. There's a local musical fest at the CHAIWALA and I want you to come with me”.

I felt dumbstruck.

He continued with a small smile as he held my hands in his rough, warm ones.

“For me, everything started with music in your case. Attraction, feelings, and lately love. I wanted to confess this at the fest tomorrow, but Your Highness wouldn't spare a chance to make me jealous”.

I gasped audibly as I took a moment to grasp his words.

For me, everything started with chai in his case. Oh, how he bribed me with it, after our first fight at my home. Not to mention, it tasted heavenly. ‘Totally a husband material’, my teen ass wrote in the diary that day.

It melted my heart into a puddle when I realized how much he disliked the idea of taking care of someone, but has always treated me like a baby. He hated expressing what he felt; but with me, it's hard for him to not let it out. I've always, secretly, admired the special attention that he gave me and I've always wished to be more than friends with him.

“Don't be so cruel, come on. Please go out with me tomorrow. But then, I promise I'll not force you for anything if you like that guy”, he squeezed my hand nervously.

I laughed, feeling overwhelmed.

“What's so funny?”, he mumbled as he looked at me with a confused gaze.

“Nothing you're looking too cute feeling jealous of yourself”

“....oh….wait WHAT?”

I bounced excitedly on the couch giggling like a mad woman. “Stupid you!” I exclaimed.

“You little ass!!”

He lunged over to hug me while we laughed falling onto the floor.