The Siblings

Hello people!!Sorry for the late update and a Happy Belated Holi 🎀🎀

~~~

Kol hove te, sekh lagda ae.Door jaave te, dil jalda aeeeKehdi agg naal, Rabb ne banayaRabb ne banaya-- Rabb ne banaya.

"Anu, ring the bell! We can't stand here the whole day!" Ayush said, looking at his sister who hesitated yet again.

"Dada, I'm scared!" The duo stood outside Shubman's apartment, as Anamika twisted her necklace around her finger. It was Rakshabandhan and the two had been invited by Shubman for lunch and for his sister to finally meet Anamika.

"I know, but we can't stay all day right? And besides, Shubman must be waiting too." He finally decided to take matters in his hand and pressed the bell button. "Calm down.."

The door opened revealing Ishan, clad in a sky blue kurta, who squealed pulling Anamika in a hug. "Why didn't you tell me you were here too?" She said, pulling away.

"I wanted to surprise you! You wore that dupatta!!!"  Ishan looked her up and down as Anamika stood in front of him in a pink kurta palazzo set paired with the Madhubani dupatta he had gifted her. "It looks so good on you!"

Ayush stood, with his arms folded, watching the two talking with each other and forgetting his existence. He cleared his throat, garnering his sister's attention. "Bhaiya, meet my brother, Ayush!" Anamika finally said as he extended his hand for a handshake. "And Dada, meet your favourite wicketkeeper, Ishan Kishan!" Ishan chuckled, watching Ayush get embarrassed at her statement.

"Bhaiya, where's Shub?"

"Kitchen mein pudiyan tal raha hai!!"

"Huh?" Ayush asked, confused.

"Woh.. Sangeeta mavshi ki aaj chutti hai, so we are cooking. Di made chhole, we both made puris and Shubhi said "you are bringing kheer!" Ishan shrugged.

Anamika made her way inside the kitchen, with a container of kheer and another of ice cream in her hands. And indeed, Shubman stood there, frying puris with expertise. "You could've told me, Sangita mavshi isn't coming! Jaldi aa jati main!" She said, coming up next to him, her hands on her hips, putting the containers on the kitchen platform.

"Hello to you too, Butterfly!" The tall man said, bending to kiss her forehead. Anamika felt heat rising up her cheeks as she moved towards the fridge to put the ice cream. As she was about to close the fridge door, a pair of arms circled her waist, pulling her closer. "You look so pretty...." A kiss landed on her neck and she elbowed her boyfriend.

"Thodi si sharam karlo!!" She turned around, however got trapped between Shubman's muscular frame and the fridge. He stood there wearing a pink kurta as his honey brown eyes sparkled at her.

"Ghar mera hai, girlfriend meri hai. Main kyu sharam karu??" He tried leaning in for a kiss, but Anamika's hand on his lips stopped him.

"Maine kuch nahi dekha!!" They pulled apart swiftly as Anamika's eyes landed on Shahneel standing in the doorway, her back to them. "Is it safe for me to turn around?"

"Yes..." Shubman said, moving away and picking up the casserole of puris.

As Shahneel walked in, her eyes fell on a flustered Anamika, fiddling with her dupatta. "You must be Anamika..." She said, coming up in front of her. "Nice to finally meet you!" Anamika was engulfed in a hug, as her eyes fell on Shubman leaving the kitchen and throwing a thumbs up towards her.

"Nice to meet you too!"

The five of them sat on the round dining table for lunch. Shubman watched as Anamika laughed with his sister and his best friend, as the two shared his embarrassing stories with her. One part of him wanted to kill both of them right now. But that could wait, he would rather watch his girlfriend laughing and smiling right now. Their eyes met across the table and he didn't realise when his smile grew wider.

"So they are right when they call you Simpman, huh?" He heard Ayush whispering next to him. Shubman felt his cheeks heat up as Ayush snickered next to him.

"You know, this one time we had gone to a waterpark-" The cricketer heard his sister say and his eyes widened.

"Di, NOO!!" He screamed.

"What? This is the funniest one!!" She smirked around her spoonful of kheer.

"And the most embarrassing one! You are not telling her that!"

"Aree, Shahneel please continue. I will tell you guys about Anamika's fight with a monkey!!" Ayush jumped in, smirking maniacally at his sister.

"Dada, please no!!!" Anamika looked at him with pleading eyes.

"You got to hear all of my stories. It's only fair if I get to hear one of yours too." Shubman said casually, tearing off a piece of puri.

"Shub, please..." She said, giving her best puppy eyes to her boyfriend.

"Okay guys, enough.." Who was he to resist those eyes now?

"Simp!" He heard Ishan exclaim next to him and damn he was right. He was a simp for her and he didn't mind showcasing it. The other three laughed aloud at that, as he winked at his girlfriend.

The conversation then shifted from movies, food and finally to cricket. "... I might be in Bangalore for my birthday." Shubman said, telling Ayush about the Duleep Trophy schedule.

"So would be l!" Ishan said in his usual cheery voice. "Why don't you join us too, Anu?"

"Uhh... I would love to but his birthday falls in between Ganeshotsav."

"And it's impossible to leave our house at that time." Ayush added.

As the lunch wound up, Anamika excused herself to the washroom. She was about to go back to the living room when she heard Shubman's frustrated voice in the kitchen. She stood in the doorway watching him try to scoop out some ice cream, but failing at it.

Anamika made her way towards him, taking the ice cream scooper from his hand. "Get me some hot water.."

"Huh?"

"Get me some hot water!" Shubman did as told and brought a glass of hot water. He watched Anamika dunk the scooper in the glass and then proceed to take out scoops of icecream in each bowl.

"Smart to ho tum.." He said, hugging her waist and pulling her closer. Lowering his head, he nuzzled her neck. "You smell different today...." He placed a kiss on her neck as she tried to push him away again.

"Shub, koi dekh lega!!" But Shubman only tightened his hold, kissing his way up her neck and jaw.

"Dekh lene do..." He turned her face towards him, her lips shining with her strawberry lip balm he loved so much. He pressed his lips onto hers, soft yet demanding as she turned around in his arms, threading her fingers to his hair. Anamika felt his tongue prod at her lips and she granted him access.

Suddenly, they heard a spoon clattering to the floor. Her eyes widened as she pushed Shubman away, their chests heaving for air. He pulled away reluctantly, turning around and standing next to her as their eyes fell on Ishan. The cricketer stood in the doorway, his hand covering his eyes. "Ishan bhaiya!" Anamika's voice came out squeaky as she called him out.

"Ice cream ka milkshake ban jaye isse pehle khilado!" He said walking inside and removing his hand from over his eyes. As Anamika picked up the tray, making her way to the living room, Ishan picked two bowls before letting her move away. Oncs she was out of the room, Ishan smacked his friend on the head. "Saale Tharkiman, sharam karle!"

"Apni girlfriend ko apne ghar mein kiss na karu ab main!!"

"Ha aur uske baad, Ayush jo teri khal nikalega uska kya?"

The duo made their way back into the living room to find the others chit chatting about random things. "So Anu, have you thought of doing a PhD?" Shahneel asked, taking a bite of her ice cream.

"Maybe... I haven't really thought about it." She shrugged as Shubman sat next to her on the sofa.

"Di, didn't you have something for Anu?" Ishan said, settling next to Shahneel.

"Offo! I forgot about it.. I'll go get them." She rushed to the guest room, emerging with a velvet box a few minutes later. "Tell me if you like these and if they require any size adjustments..."

Anamika opened the box to find a set of anklets in it, decorated with intricate and elegant designs. "Wow!"

"Try them on.." Shubman said next to her, extending his hand. She gave him the box, taking out a chain from it and bending over to fasten it.

"It's perfect!" Anamika exclaimed, taking the other one from Shubman's hand and putting it on. "And I've something for you too!" She pulled out a tiny box from her bag as she stood in front of the older woman.

"These are so pretty!!" Shahneel squealed, turning around the box, revealing a set of Lotus shaped Mina earrings. "Thank you!!" She said, hugging Anamika tight.

"Be thankful those aren't butterfly earrings!" Ayush teased, making the other men laugh.

"What's wrong with butterflies?" She asked innocently.

"Anamika's obsessed with butterflies!" Shubman explained, chuckling lightly as Anamika pinned him with a death glare.

The dimpled man snuck his hand over his girlfriend's as she sat down next to him again. "Told you, there's no need to be nervous or scared!" He whispered in her ear.

"Easy for you to say! Dada loves you!" She retorted, licking off her ice cream spoon. And how Shubman wished he could make lick something else.

He shook his head, getting rid of the unholy thoughts. "Yeah! That's why he has a list of threats for me! They keep getting more and more violent with time!!" 

The two were pulled out of their bubble by Ishan's voice. "I'm leaving!!" He said, casually getting up.

"Off to meet your 'friend'?" The tall man smirked at his best friend.

"Yes.. I'm going to meet Shalini! Any problem?" The wicketkeeper replied and Anamika swore he was blushing.

"Who's Shalini?" She asked, teasing yet innocent, as her eyes met Shubman who looked thrilled with this conversation.

"She is my mom's friend's daughter."

"And Ishu's childhood crus-" Shubman chimed in.

"Recently moved to Mumbai, I helped her set up, so she's giving me a treat.."

"On Rakshabandhan? Be careful Ishan!" Ayush tried hard to control his laughter but failed, leading to everyone else following him.

"I'm not listening to you idiots! Bye!" He threw over his shoulder and made way towards the door, picking up his car keys.

The other four continued to giggle, even as Ishan left and Anamika realised she really didn't have to be as nervous as she was. She looked up when  Shubman squeezed her hand slightly and smiled softly at her.

~~~Please read the message I've left on the message board and let me know if you like this chapter 🎀