My Lovely Family

Yaazhini's pov:

His mother slapped him across the face. 

"Is this how I taught you to treat girls? You're not just hurting her you're hurting me and questioning my parenting" she said with a tone full of disdain. 

He quickly tried to grab her hand, but she turned away from him. Then she came over to me and took my hand in hers. 

"I'm so sorry for his behavior ma" she said, guilt evident in her eyes. 

"No, ma, I didn't take it in wrong way" I replied. 

"Then you should have breakfast here only then i will assume you forgive me," she insisted in a mock stern voice, and I smiled back at her.

I glanced at him he was glaring at me with his intense eyes, but just one look from his mother was enough to break his glare. I found it amusing he was like a five-year-old with his mother. This reminded me of my own mother. I didn't have many memories of her since she passed away when I was seven, but when she was alive, she treated me like a princess and never scolded me like his mother did. Perhaps this is how the relationship between a mother and an adult  is. I am missing my mother. I started to feel afraid that I would slowly forget her as old memories threatened to pull me into darkness.

"Come inside, ma I want to see how he dare to mistreat my guest," his mother's voice snapped me back to reality. I went inside and sat on the couch, while his sister took a seat next to me, and he sat across from us. 

His eyes were still glaring at me, making me uncomfortable, so I thought about moving. Just as I was about to get up, he asked his sister, "Ishu, don't you have an exam tomorrow?"

"Actually, bhai, I was thinking of going to the theater with my friends today," she replied hesitantly, glancing at him with a look of pity. 

"okay Go to the theater" he said. Ishu smiled brightly at that. 

"Then forget about going to college because I'm going to ask for your transfer certificate today," he said calmly, though his expression remained neutral. Who talks to their sister like that? He was the complete opposite of my brother.

"Bhai, why are you doing this? Today is my birthday, and you didn't even come last night to cut my cake. Now you're putting conditions on me," Ishu argued, her suppressed anger evident. I was eagerly waiting for their argument to unfold. 

"I'm sorry for that, Ishu," he said, moving to sit next to her, prompting me to shift slightly to make room. Now the three of us were sitting on the three-seater couch. 

"That's because I had an accident; we'll go out for dinner tonight, okay?" he said softly.

"Happy birthday, Ishu," he added, kissing her forehead. 

"Thank you, bhai," she replied, hugging him with a smile. 

"You know exams are more important than birthday outings," he reminded her again.

"bhai, please don't start this again..." she said with a sad expression as she got up from her seat. He quickly grabbed her wrist and looked at her.

 "Alright, you can go out with your friends today, but make sure you get good marks on your exam," he replied. In response Ishu hugged him tightly beaming with joy. 

"Thank you, bhai! I love you so much!" she exclaimed. I felt a bit different because I had never asked my brother for permission to go out, and he had never asked me anything either. Their relationship seemed unique. She returned to her usual spot between me and her brother.

"Bhai, can I have 500 rupees?" she asked with her puppy-dog eyes, a look I recognized well since my niece often used it to get what she wanted from me.

"Why?" he questioned.

"What do you mean why? It's my birthday and I'm treating my friends. Right, Yaazhini?" she suddenly included me in their conversation.

"Yes, yes! We should treat our friends," I replied without thinking but his gaze shot daggers at me.

"Happy birthday, Ishu," I said quickly to avoid his intense stare. She immediately responded with a bright smile.

"Thank you, Yaazhini..."

"Which theater are you going to?" he asked her as he moved towards the dining table, searching for something.

"RS Theater, bhai."

"Hmm," he murmured, continuing to look for something in the living room.

"Mom, did you take my purse?" he asked his mother.

"No, dear," she replied.

Suddenly, a memory from yesterday came back to me, and I rushed over to stand beside him.I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, and he turned to me right away.