The Big Swap - Part 30

~THIRTY~

The first time her phone rang with Rishi's name on the screen, she could only stare at it blankly for the whole of the forty two seconds that it rang for.

What does he want NOW? Hasn't he wreaked enough havoc in my life already?

She had never felt any emotion this intense before. It was vile and venomous and very, very taxing mentally and brought her thinking about the way Vedant had questioned her on the same the previous night.

"Meera I've been hanging out with the guy for a while now and I think it's safe to say he really means no harm. He misses you, you know." He'd started, when their open discussions had started to flow.

She had stared at him agape, surprised at how much he noticed as he'd continued, "Okay, I get that he kicked you out of his room MOST unceremoniously in front of his friends that day. But that hardly justifies your anger for him Meera. There's something more to it, isn't it?"

When Meera had still not responded he'd sighed, "My intention is not to irk you. If you're not comfortable opening up with me, so be it. I will not force you and you know that. But if there's something bothering you, it is my duty to help you deal with it. And I'll be honest Meera, I like him."

She took his word for it. There was no denying that Vedant was fond of Rishi. For it was more than obvious to her that somehow, Vedant saw himself in Rishi. And every time he sensed the tension that loomed in the air between Meera and her brother, he unconsciously compared it with his beautiful relationship with his doting younger sister and felt an acute need to intervene.

So typically caring of him.

There was something stopping her from opening up. And it annoyed her to think it was this obscenely tiny part of her that felt that whatever Rishi and her shared; love or hate; was something quite personal and not something she would even want to tell Vedant.

It was irksome too, at how she felt responsible for protecting Rishi's budding friendship with Vedant.

Was it weird that she somehow liked the idea of them hanging out together?

It was after all, a subtle way of having one of her family members approve of her relationship with Vedant. And that was a start, wasn't it?

Meera sighed, as the phone got disconnected on account of her not picking up.

But then his call, was succeeded by a call from home and she instantly sensed some trouble. Her response through the answer button was immediate,

"Rishi?"

If there was one thing she had always appreciated about Rishi, it was his habit of cutting to the chase without unnecessarily beating around the bush. That's what he did this time too.

"It's Dadi. She had a severe heart attack...." His voice trailed off, as Meera felt a weird sort of a trance grip her. It was that peculiar kind of zoning out where some of the surroundings grew hideously clear, while the others seemed like a distant blur. Like the ticking seconds' hand of the clock, like the specks of dust lining the sides of the very same clock, like the little dark stain on the freshly painted taupe walls.

No, she wasn't shocked. And she was certainly not sad for the lady.

In fact, that was the problem. No matter how hard she tried to feel something, anything, for the woman's plight, she felt absolutely nothing. Not even hate.

What was she to make of that?

"...are you even listening to me Meera?" Rishi snapped unceremoniously, and Meera found herself breaking out of her trail of thoughts.

"How bad is it?"

Her question sounded awfully ridiculous to her own ears, she could only imagine what a cold and heartless bitch she must've sounded like to Rishi. After all, acknowledging her lack of emotion for her paternal grandmother to herself was one thing, but loudly announcing it to her other grandkid who clearly harboured more feelings for her than Meera ever had in her combined twenty five years of existence was a whole new level of cold heartedness. And she wasn't sure she was ready to show that side of her to the World just yet.

"You know what? Forget that I called."

His voice was dismissive, but gave out no shock or surprise at her reaction. It was almost as if he had expected this kind of a reaction from her.

So why has he called? And why hasn't he hung up yet?

Meera found herself roll her eyes at the little stream of conscience that begun tingling at her suddenly.

Oh welcome! She addressed sarcastically. So you decide to pay me a visit AFTER I've sounded heartless enough. Perfect timing after all!

"No wait." Her voice was a bare whisper, and she didn't even know why she'd said those two words, considering Rishi was still on the line, waiting expectantly. No matter what their present relations, she was aware of how well he knew her, and as much as she hated it, she had to give him credit for showing acute patience with her more than dynamic mood swings that instant.

"How is she now?"

Rishi sighed on the other end of the phone, "Not good. Papa and Chachu just rushed to the hospital with her...."

Even though he didn't say more, she could sense there was something more he left unsaid.

"What is it, Rishi?"

He took some seconds to form words, "Can you come?"

She had hoped he wouldn't get to that. Why was he asking her to go anyway? It wasn't like anyone out there needed her. In fact, this was probably the first call she was receiving from her 'family' ever since her move to Delhi. Surely expecting a call or two in nine months wasn't too much to expect on her behalf?

"They don't need me Rishi."

"Why do you always say that?" his voice was frustrated now.

"Because I know that. If they really did need me, one of the elders would be giving me the news. Not you."

She'd gotten so used to this treatment by now, that she actually felt pretty bereft of emotions. Well, the kind of emotions you got for family at least. Her conscience however still tugged at her.

Cold. Merciless. Conceited. A self-absorbed bitch. That's what you are Meera! She's your grandmother for God's sake! Show SOME compassion.

"Seriously Meera? In a moment of panic, with you having gone completely M-I-A on us, you still expected people from home to call you? Well for the record, Chachu did try to call you the first instant. But your number was unreachable. And I'll let you guess who put me up to this call too."

A part of her didn't want to believe him. So, to prove to herself how right her gut was, she scrolled through the call logs, and stopped short at it.

Two missed calls from Papa at 10:04 am.

How had she missed both calls?

Damn it!

"That still doesn't prove anything Rishi."

"What proof do you need that we're your family?"

Now, she felt irritated. What right did he have to ring her up after years of zero contact and give her lessons on family? They were far from that actually. The Modi household was nothing short of a stupid joke and they both knew that in their hearts.

"Look Rishi, we've stayed under the same roof long enough for you to know fully well my relations with Dadi. I hope she gets better, but that's all the help you're receiving from me."

Rishi gave no response.

"Besides, doesn't she have like three sons and two daughters all in the same God forsaken town to take care of her? Not to mention, seven...no eight...or is it nine grandchildren too?"

She could sense that she'd ticked Rishi by now.

"You really expect either one of the buas to be of any help at a moment of crisis?"

No, she didn't. The two Buas had always played their role of materialistic daughters to the T. She was sure they'd have turned up for Property papers if Dadi had been declared dead this instant.

But she wasn't dead. Yet. Hence, they had every reason to be a no show.

"No."

Rishi gave a short, sarcastic laugh, "Our Fathers have rushed to the Hospital no doubt, but our Mothers are already quarrelling over ghar ke kaagaz and what not. And I think you and I both know my Father isn't going to be of too much help either. That leaves Chachu all by himself-"

"-are you emotionally blackmailing me Rishi? Besides, what will I be able to do there which you or Papa can't?"

He chose not to reply, and instead sighed with the longest pause,

"Forget it Meera. Sorry for taking so much of your time."

And just like that, the line went dead.

... continued The Big Swap - Part 31