The story of Peaches and Sweetpea Part 2

Neiladri Sinha Jr. :-

We wrapped up the shooting of ‘The Night of death’. As planned earlier, my show Suspense Nights was a weekly show, that was set to be aired sat-sun, 8 pm. I wanted to be with my family for the grand premier of the show, and took the first flight to New Delhi. My parents are the highest Rank holders of IAS and IPS services and both their official residences are in New Delhi.

Usually I pay visit to my home once in a year during the annual festival in The Mother Goddess’s honour. So my surprise visit delighted my parents. I was glad to see my kid brother Neilesh finally excelling in studies at least.
Oh! This reminded me of that kid Tanuj, who is a year older than my brother. Poor guy! While Neilesh is leading a tension free life, Tanuj has been forced by the circumstances to bear the burden of his hopeless elder brother’s responsibilities. I decided that once I return, I would talk to him and help him enroll in a school in Mumbai so that he continues his education while making money. I talked to the resident ophthalmologist of our Hospital so that Tanuj’s mother receives proper medical attention and Tanuj can return to his normal life.

That evening, we had our dinner at 7 and gathered in the common room for the premiere.

The first episode began with a landlord Chandrashekhar (Siddhant Baruah) and his wife Sumitra (Sugandha Sharma) inviting the former’s childhood friend Chittoprosad (Tanuj Rao), a lawyer cum freedom fighter to investigate murders committed by a vampire-like creature, that injects an organic venom in its victims, that destroys the RBCs.
Chittoprosad learns from the villagers that the creature is velociraptor-like reptile with a feminine voice. It starts with cattle first, then the members of a volunteer party and then starts calling its specific victim by name.

Neilesh and I sat on the deewan as we watched, fighting for the common bowl of corn kernels. My kid brother is 5’9 and lean with developing muscles. But he is no match for Neiladri Sinha and I overpowered him by holding both his arms behind him with my left hand and the bowl with my right.

“Ma! Neil Dada (Bengali word for elder brother) is hurting me. Ouch!” Cried Neilesh in his cracking voice, expecting to be rescued.

Ma and Baba were sitting on the couch. Ma glared towards us in mock-irritation while Baba burst into laughter.

“When will the two of you grow up?” remarked Ma.

I chuckled wickedly and said “Neiladri Sinha is a grown-up guy.”

“Shut up!” said Ma and turned towards the screen. Only Ma can shut me up. After all, Damini Sinha is MOTHER of Neiladri Sinha.

Baba snatched the bowl from me and began to eat. Neilesh and I watched him with our jaws dropped in astonishment.

Ma started laughing and scorned us “Neiladri Sinha Jr. might have grown up, but he must always remember that Neiladri Sinha Sr. is his daddy.”

Now Neilesh started to laugh, mimicking my remark.

“Ha, ha, ha! Very funny.” I said in irritation, stressing upon the ‘f’ of funny. With everyone laughing, I started laughing as well.

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Tanuj Rao :-

After the shooting wrapped up, I decided to go to Nagpur. I missed Aai. Those two weeks of shooting was one of the worst phases of my life. It was hard to watch my Neil, my Sweetpea hanging out with that bitch Smita. They would laugh together, eat together, click photos together, address the press conference together.

I would think “Why Sweetpea, why did you do this to me? Why did you break my heart?” And then I would envision a vampiric visage of Neil with pale white skin and red eyes yelling at me “Is it my fault that I am hot? I don’t even know that you love me. So on what grounds are you blaming me for something I didn’t do, you imbecile?” And I would wake up at night, with my clothes and the bed sheets soaked in my sweat.
He’s right. He doesn’t even know that I love him. How can I blame him for my heart break? I alone am responsible for this. Realising the harsh reality, I would cry holding a pillow, praying to God that my tears wash away Neil’s memories.
But it seems God wants me to suffer. Maybe Aai’s affection can help me forget Neil.

I wanted to tell Neil that I can’t work for him anymore. But he didn’t answer my calls. Fearing that something must have happened to him, I rushed to his apartment and found it locked. I came to know that he has gone to Delhi, and maybe has taken Smita along with him. A day will come when my Sweetpea will marry that bitch, and I’ll be left all alone. I walked back to Sahil’s as the raindrops masked my tears.

I took a train to Nagpur and went home. Baba said “Shame on you” closed the door on my face. I learnt from my neighbour that unable to bear Aai’s expenses, Baba and Dada left her to my Ajji-Ajoba’s (Marathi words for grandmother and grandfather) home.
Aai couldn’t see me properly, but she was proud of me. After watching the first part of the show, where I investigate the murders committed by a dinosaur, Iay down my tired head on Aai’s lap. Aai stroked my wavy tresses with her fingers.

“What happened?” Asked Aai.

I took a deep breath and said “Aai, do you remember the lullaby you used to sing for me when I was a baby? Please sing it for me. I want to be your little baby once again and sleep on your lap.”

As I spoke, a vision of Neil and Smita kissing each other came into my mind and a tear tolled down from my eye.

“Someone hurt my baby?” Aai asked in a concerned tone.

“Yes.” I said.

“Who hurt you?” Aai asked, sadness creeping in her voice.

I closed my eyes, wiped my tear and faced the reality.

“I hurt myself.”

“How?” Aai was puzzled.

I started “Aai, actually I am g….”
But a couple of knocks interrupted me.

Who can be at this time?

Another knock, a little persistent.

I rose from the bed, walked to the door and opened it. I had to shut my nose due to the stink of alcohol. It was my Dada and his friend Anand. Dada gave me a bear hug, lifting my 42 Kilo self off the ground.

“My brother!” He said in a drunken voice as he lowered me. By the time, Aai realised who it was.

She said “Ganpat! What have you come for?”

Dada said “Aai, Aai, Aai!……hic…….My brother is a super……..hic…….star now. He is earning……..hic………good money. Shouldn’t we cele………hic………brate?

While saying so, he took out a bottle of country liquor, opened it and emptied its contents on the floor.

Aai covered her nose with the end of her Saree, and turned away, disgusted.

Anand said “Kaki (Indian word for father’s younger brother’s wife), give us some money. We will celebrate Tanuj’s success.”

Aai said “Enough! Get out of my house both of you. Or else I’ll call the police.”

They ignored Aai and walked into the bedroom. Aai tried to get up and stop them. “That’s my son’s hard earned money you rascals! Don’t you dare touch it.” But she tripped and fell down.

“Aai!” I rushed to her and started helping her rise.

“I am fine. Go stop them.” Aai said.

My mistake. I failed Aai yet again. It was me who insisted Sweetpea to pay me in cash, because neither I nor my Aai have any bank account, and I couldn’t take the risk of transferring the amount to Baba or Dada’s accounts.