Chapter 27: You Disappoint Me...

“...Harshil’s being a responsible adult. I’m surprised.” Cabir commented snidely.

“But just remember, having friends like Cabir here around you for a long time is just going to give you headaches.” Harshil advised Aarav, “So staying in touch with such friends is a chore.”

“And what about Uncle Jeet and Uncle Jatin? Is staying in touch with them a chore too?” Aarav asked cheekily.

“Cheeky brat!” Cabir grinned from the other end of the table.

“Not at all! Those two are my oldest friends. And they are great company…unlike this walking, talking headache!” Harshil replied jovially, happy to get one over Cabir. “You haven’t ever met them though, have you, Aarav, my boy?”

“No, Uncle Harshil. But Dad and Uncle Cabir told me all about that time you all worked together to hide your music teacher’s harmonium for a ‘Song&Dance’ battle!”

Harshil’s brow creased for a minute. Then his eyes widened in surprise. He snapped his fingers in recollection. Sneaking a quick glance at Janya, he snickered and then meeting Cabir’s eyes, winked.

“In case you have the misconception that I don’t know what you are chuckling about, I just want to tell you that I do. Aanya told me about it during our tour.”

“Oh…you do? Hahahahaha. It was so funny, right?” Harshil smirked.

“If you mean being blackmailed and forced to run up to the top floor to find a harmonium then no, it wasn’t.” Even as Janya spoke, Harshil’s smirk grew.

Her next words completely wiped the said smirk off his face.

“But if you mean that I managed to spoil you boys’ plans and interrupt that ‘battle’, then yeah, it was fun!” Janya beamed even as she shared a high-five with Aanya.

“Whatever.” Harshil grunted even as Cabir made a face.

“What? Nothing to say, Harshil?” Aanya teased.

“I don’t think so. Look, his face fell.” Aakash replied even as he ladled some gravy onto his plate.

“Hey, why are you so happy? Janya interrupted a game that you were a part of. And for that matter, Janya, why are you high-fiving her?!” Harshil pointed at Aanya, “She was just a part of the audience!”

“I’m just cheering for my bae’s victory over annoying guys.” Aanya shrugged, “It’s natural for her to be happy about it.”

“You know...'bae' means ‘poop’ in Danish?” Cabir spoke out.

Even as Aakash shook his head, Harshil glared at Cabir.

Janya rolled her eyes.

Even the two children looked balefully at their uncle.

“Do you have to say ‘poop’ when we are eating?” Anay asked irritably.

“Well, I could have said crap or fecal matter or-”

“Cabir…” Harshil interrupted. As the lean man turned to him, the psychiatrist spoke matter-of-factly, “One more word on the subject and I will beat the crap out of you myself.”

Cabir wrinkled his nose while Janya commented, “You guys are disgusting!”

“Yeah, seriously. Let’s just go back to the harmonium conversation. Aarav?” Aakash steered the conversation back.

“Well, Dad and Uncle Cabir also told me about their badminton match against your two friends!”

“Which match? They had loads of them!” Harshil questioned,

“I think first? They said it was due to the brand COSCO.”

“Ah, that one! The one about skill and brands. Stupid me. Of course they talked about it! It’s the most memorable match! Did they tell you? These two lost all three games!”

“Yea! They did!” Aarav laughed with Harshil even as the two other men looked over the boy with a bemused expression. When their gazes shifted to Harshil, however, there were only bored expressions.

“Sadly, they didn’t remember the scores. That would be fun to know.” Aarav shrugged.

“They don’t remember the scores?!” Harshil looked at the boy incredulously. “How can that be?!”

Aarav tilted his head curiously, “What do you mean, Uncle?”

“What I mean is that we have talked about that match so many times over the years…no way have they forgotten! They can forget the first two games' scores…even I have. But! I remember clearly that due to almost no time remaining we changed the final point for the last game.”

“Uh-” Aarav cast a look at his father and Cabir who were pointedly staring at their food.

Harshil cast a glance at them and then broke into a guffaw.

“Hahahahahahaha. I get it now! Aarav,” Turning to the boy the psychiatrist said, “It’s not that they have forgotten. All five of us remember that last game’s scores very well. They just didn’t want to tell you. These two lost 6-0 that final game. It was like serve-miss-point…a service ace for at least three of the points. Hahahahahaha.”

“Hawwww…Dad! You lied to me?” Aarav asked him, “You too, Uncle Cabir?”

“Aakash?” Aanya enquired with a slight smile to which the professor replied with a sheepish grin.

“Who’s gonna tell the boy about it anyway?” Cabir murmured from where he was seated, imitating Aakash’s voice. “Isn’t that what you said when we went out?”

“Oh, shut up! I don’t remember you telling him either when he asked.” Aakash replied.

“Tch tch tch tch tch. You disappoint me…What kind of elders are you, lying to a little boy? How can you ever be role models for the kids?” Harshil shook his head in mock sadness, “Listen, Aarav. Don’t believe everything they say. They might be fibbing.”

“If that’s an attempt by you to make your beating on the first day of Class 3 seem like a tall tale then-” Cabir began but Aarav interjected.

“Uncle Harshil, does that mean Dad and Uncle Cabir made up the story of them beating you up when Dad first met you?”

“…It’s a failed attempt.” Cabir finished.

Harshil’s face changed hearing Aarav’s question. He hadn’t even heard Cabir’s statement. And his face said it all.

“You already told him that?!” He erupted at Aakash.

“I did.” The man replied with a beaming face and a casual shrug.

That shut Harshil up. The psychiatrist sank into his chair with a sigh.