Anvi

******

"Anvi, don't forget to invite Sara to Arpit's birthday."

"Okay, Aunty," I replied and sat in the car. Arpit was sitting beside Driver Uncle while Adhyayan Bhaiya was sitting beside me. Oh! I forgot to tell you all, we are going to school and I will meet Sara today. She came back yesterday night only.

Adhyayan Bhaiya was busy studying even in the car while I was looking outside enjoying the nice weather and my sweet little brother was busy solving Rubik's cube. My mind went to the conversation I had with Bhaiya two days ago about that Red Journal.

He said he doesn't know anything about the journal but his expressions gave in. It was evident that he lied but I didn't dare to ask him as he clearly warned me never to talk about it and also not to eavesdrop, but that was unintentional.

Anyways, Bhaiya has been acting very weird since then only which has confirmed my doubts that there is something fishy. He has been quite protective of me like he used to be, 2 years ago.

And him sitting beside me in the car is proof of that, otherwise, he used to sit in the front seat.

The car came to a halt and all of us got down. As I was going inside Bhai called,

"Anvi."

"Yes?"

"Take care and if anything happens or anyone troubles you, you will tell me ok?" Not knowing the meaning of what Bhaiya just said I still nodded.

"Now go."

"Bye," I said and move towards my class. Arpit had already gone to his class.

"Anvi." I heard someone shouting and who could it be except my best friend. She came running towards me and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too," I said.

"How were the holidays?" I asked.

"Great. I enjoyed it a lot and you know what, I brought something for you."

"Really?" Sara's gifts are always as beautiful as she is, always classy and elegant.

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Will tell you but let's go inside. The class is about to start."

"Okay."

Everyone was busy with studies, well not everyone some of them were eating their lunch and sitting on the last benches, and some of them were playing, Sara was concentrating on what the hell our teacher was saying while I was still thinking about the same thing.

Bhaiya used to be concerned before too but never showed it. I meant he never said to take care and all, he used to handle everything behind my back, like if someone tried to tease me Bhaiya never used to spare that person. I used to get to know about all these either from Arpit or my other friends.

This concern of his was not settling well with me and I think I need to find out what's with this Journal, that he is so worried about.

"Hey," Sara whispered. I raised my eyebrows at her and she asked,

"Where are you lost?"

"Will tell you later." Nodding at me she diverted her attention back to our teacher.

During recess when we were having lunch, Sara enquired about my behaviour.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, just thinking about Adhyayan Bhaiya."

"What about him?"

"He is acting weird."

"Weird as in?"

I told her everything excluding the Red Journal part. I only told her about the way he is behaving.

"You are thinking way too much. He has to leave India soon, did you forget? I guess that's why he is behaving like this."

"I hope that's the case only." I agreed even though I highly doubt this possibility.

"That's the only solution, otherwise you tell me what would have been the reason for the sudden change in his behaviour."

Deciding not to pull this topic further I said, "Yeah, I guess you are right."

"I am always right." She said dramatically and we both giggled at her antics.

The day passed by and it was time to go home. After sitting in the car, Arpit asked,

"Di, what are you gifting me?"

"Ummm....nothing."

"That's not funny. Everyone has told me except you."

"What will be fun when you will get to know about your gift beforehand?"

"But I will die of curiosity."

"It's a matter of two days Arpit."

"Fine." he scoffed but it was decided that I won't tell him before his birthday.

'Sorry little brother, you will have to wait' I thought in my mind.

And also it's not him who will die of curiosity but it's me. I need to know what's that Red journal and whose journal is.

******

2 Days Later

******

Everyone was busy in the preparation as it was Arpit's birthday today. I and Arpit skipped school but Bhaiya had to go because he was having an important test.

I have carefully hidden Arpit's gift and he is dying out of anticipation. It's always fun to see him raiding the whole house on every birthday trying to find his gift.

"Di, please tell me. Where is my gift?"

"Just a few more hours brother and then I will tell you."

"Badi Maa, Di is not giving me the gift," he complained to Mom.

"Anvi, just give it to him now. Why are you behaving so childish?"

"Leave it Bhabhi. Can't he wait for a few more hours? It's not like his gift will run away." Nivedita Aunty said to Mom taking my side.

He started to make puppy eyes and was irritating me with his cute antics.

"Arpit, if you won't stop then I will not give your gift."

Pouting at me he mumbled, "But I want the gift now."

Realizing that my brother will not give up this time, I decided to give him the gift now only as I can't see my brother sulking on his own birthday.

I took him to his room and asked him to take out the gift which was kept under his bed.

"You hid it here?" he asked, being surprised at the fact.

Ruffling his hair I replied, "Yes my idiot brother."

He took out the gift and tore the packing paper in a hurry in excitement to know what he was getting this year from my side, but the moment his eyes landed on the gift I didn't receive the expression which I had been waiting for.

"You didn't like the gift?" I inquired.

He looked at me and I could see the tears in his eyes, and before I could comprehend the situation he hugged me tightly.

"Why are you crying?" I asked while rubbing his back.

"Bade Papa was about to gift me this video camera on my 14th birthday. I wanted it for so long. Thanks, di. This is the best gift I have received."

I remember Dad's gift used to be the best and I also remember the promise he made to Arpit. So what if he is not in our life anymore, I can fulfill everyone's wishes now, the way Dad used to fulfill them.

I can never take his place but at least I can try to be his shadow and walk on his path.

"I loved the gift di. Thank you so much." Pulling back from the hug, I wiped his tears and teased him,

"Now don't be a crybaby otherwise I will tell your friends."

"What? No," he said and wiped his tears instantly making me chuckle at him.

Adhyayan Bhaiya came home early and we had our lunch together while chitchatting about all the gifts Arpit had received. It was so good to see Bhaiya being cheerful but still, that was very unusual of him. Arpit too noticed the change in his behaviour and asked me through gestures what has gotten into him. I shrugged my shoulders in response not wanting to let him know, at least not now when I myself had not a clear idea about it.

I was going to change my dress for the party when I heard that a parcel came for me. I went down and received the parcel and there was only one thing written on the parcel, to be precise a name, Sara. I thought it to be the gift which she brought for me from her hometown but I couldn't understand why she parceled it when she was coming to the party. I thought I will ask her at the party itself.

I kept the parcel in the room and got ready in a baby pink gown and was all dolled up for the party.

Everyone started to come and soon Sara joined too. We had a lot of fun and clicked a lot of pictures together. While we were eating the snacks I remembered about the parcel.

"Why did you send the parcel when you were coming here yourself? You could have brought it with you." I asked Sara.

She looked bewildered at my question and asked, "What parcel?"

"The one with a brown cover."

"I didn't send you any parcel."

At first, I thought she was lying but looking at her expression I got to know that she wasn't.

"Then the gift you were about to give me? What about that?"

"That gift? Oh! I forgot. Here it is." She handed me a small box with a pearl necklace. It was so beautiful that I can't even describe it. It had to be, after all, it was Sara's choice.

"It's so pretty. Thank you so much."

"I knew you will like it," she replied grinning.

The party went on and I forgot about that one parcel which was kept in my room. After the party, everyone retired to their rooms tired. I changed into my nightwear and was going to bed when my gaze fell upon the brown-covered parcel kept on my study table.

Since it was not from Sara, I thought it might be for Arpit and maybe any of his friend's names could be the same as my best friend's. I thought to give it to him the next day and with that thought decided to sleep, but sleep was nowhere to be found as my curiosity was not letting the sleep come near me.

I had two options, A:- Either I don't sleep the whole night and give the parcel to Arpit the next day.

B:- Let the curiosity take over me and open the parcel.

I chose the latter.

I opened the parcel but was left astounded looking at the content of it, THE RED JOURNAL