Odds & Us ✔️

Chapter 3: Home Coming

She wasn't sure when and how will she forget those happy memories Aman had with her, but she was positive that one thing that Aman couldn't snatch away from her as he did with her love was those memories. They will always stay with her forever. They were her to cherish.

" Rose, are you sure?" Aavya asked holding her hand.

" 100%..." It was a bright nod with a sparkling smile.

" This call for an Ice-cream treat. And it's on Zee..." Kyle pulled Zeehan as everyone walked towards their favourite joint.

Some hearts were free, some were filled with pain, some with regret and some with insecurities, yet together they felt safe.

✿✿✿

" You're grounded... "

" For what, Papa? " A not so little anymore, 17-year-old teenage Aman asked.
He wasn't exactly a photocopy of his father but he already had half of the girls from his grade drooling over him.

" For skipping your class..." Ansh reasoned out.

" Papa, Rosie and I went to watch a cooking competition..."

" Really? Bunking your class that too carrying your cell phone along with you and on top of that you forgot to pick up Aavya from school too..." There's no way Ansh was gonna let him go this time.

" It was the Famous Italian Chef Judging the competition, Papa... "

" So, you didn't feel the need to ask for permission? You went all the way, 20 km to watch a shitty competition which you could have watched online, dumping your sister. How can you be irresponsible? "

"  If I'd ask you you'd say no... " He was really good at putting up arguments just like his mother.

" Yes as that would be the right thing to do and now you've proved it would have been a wise decision too. You're grounded... No cell phone, no soccer and no TV... "

"  Papa... Being grounded doesn't work here..." He made a face.

" Then forget those late-night parties, son. Dad never allowed me to one. So, I won't either. Forget about convincing me with all your modern world theories. " Ansh stared at his son.

" Papa... "

" Don't Papa me Aman... "

Old memories die hard, even if they aren't as pleasant as the happy ones. Those fights Aman had with Ansh were hard to forget as behind those warnings, chidings and incessant shootings it was a father's love that triumph always. Letting him down wasn't easy but desperate times need desperate measures.
No one accepts the fact but everyone knows it's true.

" Aman, what are you doing here?" Ayan entered the room they had shared for almost 15 years. Nothing felt different, the memories were fresh yet Aman's heartfelt eons of pain.
His eyes were fixated on a picture of all the three siblings together. It was Aavya's 12th B'day.

Aman turned around to find his handsome brother in a blue Armani suit. He felt proud of him. He couldn't have expected anything less from him. He had done what Aman intended to do.

" I had to attend an important call." It was a lie. All he wanted to do was gather as many memories as he could. Nostalgia filled his core and it was euphoric.