This is a work of pure fiction. All the protagonists are above the age of 18.
**
I am Ridhi. A girl next door. They say that I have a charming smile that touches the hearts. Well, to put it mildly and without sounding boastful, I must say that I am drop dead gorgeous. A real head turner.
I have long hair. Big eyes and puffy lips. The way guys stare at my bosoms while I walk past them makes me delude into thinking that I have the best pair of boobs. My flat tummy. My shapely buttocks. My meaty thighs. At the age of twenty-five, I know I have what it takes to be the hottest girl in the room.
Well, my parents are in Mumbai for a family function. They are going to stay there for a week. I am alone with my young brother. I mean my step-brother Vicky.
Vicky is a muscular boy of twenty-two. He has a caring nature and likes to help. His gym-toned body hidden underneath designer's T-shirts leave my friends gasping for breath. They know that he is a good-looking guy. But he is my stepbrother hence out of bounds.
It has been raining heavily. The weatherman has predicted heavy rains over the weekend. There is an orange alert. I am upset. I have made plans to go out with Ravi - my boyfriend. But the rains have played a spoilsport. I am sulking. I know that I am stuck within the four walls of my room even as it continues to rain heavily.
Vicky is home. I instinctively know that he is upset as well. The rains have come at a crucial juncture. He was planning to invite Maya -- his girlfriend -- over to our bungalow for a weekend. This was the original plan. We were looking to make the most of our parents' absence and have a memorable weekend. Alas...!
**
"Hello sister, how are you doing?" Vicky's question brings me out of reverie. I am in the kitchen making us dinner.
Vicky takes his seat on the dining table and smiles at me.
"I am bored, Vicky. The rains are not going to stop until our parents are back." I reply with a sigh.
"Looks like our parents have a hotline with God up there. They have called Him and prayed for heavy rains and flood until they are back."
"I think so. By the way how are you getting along?"
"Maya is down with fever. I am hungry. Bored. Thanks for asking, sis." He says stifling a yawn.
"Ravi has not called at all. Last he checked his WhatsApp was twelve hours ago. I do not know what is going on. Has he forgotten me? I just cannot believe."
French Fries. Vegetable sandwiches and water melon juice. We eat our dinner in silence. The rains are pouring down. The sound of raindrops striking against the windowpanes. The long dining table. Occupied by just the two of us. Both lonely and unloved.
I know what Vicky is thinking about at the moment. Had things gone as per the plan, he would be having dinner with Maya. They would have ordered something from some fancy restaurant out there and decided to have it in Vicky's room without bothering to come out. Who would come out when you have a company as handsome as Vicky?
I let out a sigh. Had things gone as per the plan, I would be snuggling up to Ravi in the hotel room at Ooty where we had planned an outing on his brand new Royal Enfield. Yes, my handsome hunk is a biker. Ravi loves to zip around on his Royal Enfield with leather jacket and boots on. He is not as tall as Vicky. But he is stronger than Vicky from running and playing cricket. Yes, my lover boy is a stylish man.
I miss him a lot. What to do? I let out a sigh and glance at my iPhone screen. There is no new notification. What is he doing? Where is he? I wish I knew.
**
Vicky knows that I am feeling lonely. That I have not smiled at all. That I am eating the dinner in silence. He wants to come around to my side of the table and comfort me. He wants to tell his step-sister that Ravi may be busy with some emergency in his family. That his father is a cancer patient. That Ravi is the only son. That he must be by his father's bedside attending to him.
As if on a cue, Vicky gets to his feet and comes around. He puts his arm on my shoulder and says, "Sis, please smile. Ravi is a nice boy. I know that he loves you. Maybe he is busy. Maybe his father is unwell. He will soon call you. Do not look so sad please. We are helpless. It has been raining. Let us cheer up."
I like these words coming from my step brother. Ravi is a nice boy. Yes, he is a sweet boy. He knows how to say the right things at the right time. My step brother is right. Ravi must be busy with some family emergency. His father may be unwell. I must give him some time. He will certainly call.
I look up and smile at my step brother whose words have a calming effect on me. I feel a heavy burden lifting off my chest. How caring of my step brother! I take his hand and gently kiss. "Thank you, Vicky. I appreciate your concern for me. You really know how to cheer your sister. Maya is so lucky."
Suddenly his face falls. I sense that something is wrong. I ask him, "Vicky, what is the matter? Are you guys alright? Is everything fine between you and Maya?"
Vicky puts his hand in his shorts pocket and takes out his iPhone. I notice tears in his eyes. I immediately stand up and place my hands on his shoulders. He shows me Maya's message. It reads, "I am no longer interested in you. I do not want to talk to you. Please do not call or message. It is over. I hope you will understand and respect my decision."
"What is going on? Just now you said that she was down with fever."
"Yes. This was what she told me. To be honest, she had been avoiding me for one week now. Every time some or other excuse. Just now she has broken up with me officially." He says showing me Maya's iMessages on his iPhone screen.
I check the time stamp on the last message that arrived just five minutes ago. I instantly feel guilty for having assumed that Ravi was deeply lost in Maya's thoughts and fantasising about her while having dinner with me. Whereas the truth is all along he has been trying to deal with his heartbreak while fighting back his tears.
"I am sorry, Vicky. But why this sudden decision? Do you have any idea?"
