Chapter- 10

 Radha stood before the basketball arcade machine. As Mahir swiped the card, the barriers lifted and several balls rolled down the chute. Instinctively, she grabbed one ball after another, aiming at the hoop. But the basket felt far, the machine towering nearly nine inches above her 5’3” frame, and nothing seemed to land where she intended. Each shot missed.

Radha sighed in frustration. She remembered being better than this. In her school, during free lectures, students were either taken to the library or out onto the sports field. Whenever Radha needed a break, something that was impossible at home, she would choose the court. Basketball became her quiet escape. Her PT teacher used to coach her personally, hoping she’d join the school’s inter-house basketball team.

The sport came easily to her. Even her coach had once said all she lacked was consistency and confidence. With time and practice, she could have made it. But Radha knew that wasn’t her reality. Indulging in sports would mean less time for studies, and falling behind in academics was a risk she couldn’t afford. Her parents would never allow that, and she, like always, denied it.

As the last ball bounced off the rim and the game ended, she exhaled sharply. She had lost her touch. If she couldn’t perform in front of a machine, she’d only embarrass herself on an actual court.

She glanced toward Mahir, about to suggest they should move on to another game, when her eyes landed on a nearby arcade machine.

The man was standing beside the boy, who had the same height as hers, helping him hold the ball, guiding his arm. That kind of patience and warmth was only exuded by a father. She was sure they were father and son. She wished she could have that. But then she wasn’t the good daughter her parents wanted that she could even dare to wish dream for that. And now it was already too late.

Mahir noticed the shift in her demeanor and followed her gaze. His eyes softened, and he nudged her lightly.

“Try once more, Radha,” His tone gentle. ”This time, I’ll---”

“No, bhaiya.” Radha stepped back her voice saddened. ”Let’s do something else. I can’t do it anymore.”

“Kosish nhi kregi toh pta kasie chalega, (You won’t know until you try)” Mahir replied, guiding her back toward the machine. “Ek chidiya bhi das baar koshis krne ke baad asman ki udan barti hai. Aur tu hai ki ase he chod degi? (Even a bird flaps its wings a few times before it learns to soar. And you will give up after a single round only?)”

He shook his head firmly. ”Pick up the ball, bacche. I’ll help you.”

Radha looked unsure but compelled, picking up the ball.

As she took the ball Mahir stood beside her holding her wrist, ”First straighten your back Radha, “ He instructed gently.

Radha followed standing straight as she was leaning forward to throw the ball.

“Now, slowly bounce on your tiptoes and change the angle of your wrist slightly... you are not playing on the ground but in the arcade. No need to jump too much,” He instructed gently, ”When you play in the court you should keep your wirst loosed there and throw the ball from fingers rather than the whole plam support as the hopp is on the higher point but here it’s different.”

Radha followed and listened to him calmly. As she raised her hand and shot for the aim with Mahir still holding the ball from behind, they made the first goal. Radha squealed in excitement and aimed for the basket again with Mahir still holding her hand for the perfect shot.

After three balls, Mahir slowly stepped back and observed her with a smile. She was doing much better than he had expected, all on her own!

Radha turned and hugged him as she aimed all the balls perfectly in the basket and received the teddy bear in return, ”I did it Bhaiya.”

Even the small achievement felt too much for her, because for the first time when someone was teaching her, she didn’t end up crying by the end of the session. Her Bhaiya was patient and calm. He didn’t raise his voice or have to use his hand to crack the whip for real. The little relief and reassurance made her relax on her own.

Mahir ruffled her hair with a soft smile, ”Chal ab kha jaana hai? (Come on, where do you want to go now?)”

Radha pulled back and looked at him, ”Yaha ane se phele mene ek book store dekha tha. can we go there? (Before coming here, I saw a bookstore. Can we go there?)”

Mahir nodded, ”Lead the way your highness.”

Radha gladly took hold of his wrist, guiding him out. The earlier hesitations, worries, or everything she feared took a back seat in front of the warmth she felt spreading in her heart.

Mahir messaged Arjun about his whereabouts and told him to come there once Abhi was satisfied, though he knew his baby brother wouldn’t be done any time soon.

Radha smiled as they approached the bookstore, a quiet little nook nestled between a cozy café and a quirky handicraft shop. The moment Mahir pushed the door, the scent of old paper, polished wood, and faint traces of brewing coffee hit her.

It wasn’t like the chain bookstores she had seen, not like she had visited many in person, but she had spent hours scrolling through Abhi’s tab and reviewing them online, wanting to visit them. But the one she was standing in felt like something out of her imagination.

From the outside, it looked small, almost like it could be browsed through in ten minutes flat. The space opened up surprisingly big and beautifully organized compared to the local bookstores with a bunch of books piled up, getting eaten by dust and dirt.

The dim colored lights were a contrast to what she saw outside the shop. It felt like walking into a secret world, just like she had always wanted. In each nook was placed a comfortable chair, a soft rug underfoot, and a mini tea table beside it stacked with bookmarks and sticky notes. It was the kind of place that didn’t just sell books; it invited a reader to stay, to read, and to breathe, riding in the world of fiction.

Mahir looked at Radha, ”Which book do you want? Do you want to ask at the counter?”

Radha shook her head, adding to the brownie points of the store. Each section was different and systematically organized, making it easy for her to see what she wanted.

“I will go and check if the book is available?” She asked rather than told.

Mahir nodded, ”I will wait here on the couch.”

Radha nodded and turned to leave but stopped before she turned to look at Mahir, ”A—aap bore ho jayenge na? (But… you’ll get bored, won’t you?)” she asked hesitantly.

Mahir shook his head, ”Mene car se utrne se pehle kya kaha tha? Aaj jo tu karna chahti hai kar, (What did I tell you before getting out of the car? Today, do whatever you want to do) I will just follow. Whether I get bored or not, let me deal with that. You just carry on.”

Radha stared at Mahir for a moment, giving him a small nod she wandered over to the fantasy section. The place wasn’t crowded, just a few readers roaming around in different sections, something she was glad for. She liked the empty space.

Radha went through the shelves, searching for the novel she wanted. She wasn’t the kind to pick a book just because it was trending or an influencer had suggested praising it. That never mattered to her. She simply kept track of new releases; she had a whole list written in her book, but when it came to actually choosing what to read, it was always about connection.

She trusted the synopsis and the impact the first few pages left on her heart. For Radha, books weren’t about popularity. They were personal. Intimate. The outside world and its opinions could go to heaven. Between her and her book, it was simple; either the story spoke to her, or it didn’t. And she liked it that way.

Radha almost squealed in excitement as she found the novel and looked around to see if someone noticed her. Controlling her excitement, she rushed to the empty chair and settled down. She had read the blurb of the novel. She wanted to read the first few chapters; if she liked it, she would buy it.

Mahir, who noticed a mini happy dance, chuckled and went towards the café. His sister hadn’t eaten anything, and he knew that when it came to her novels, she just got lost in that world and didn’t even pay heed to time or her need to eat something at intervals. So he simply ordered a hot chocolate and a sandwich.

✨✨✨

Arjun palmed his face, shaking his head in disbelief. It was Abhi’s tenth target. They were in the shooting range; the game was simple: you aim for the balloons, burst them, and receive gifts written on the board under the balloon. But much to his dear brother’s usual luck, every balloon Abhi aimed at was a perfect shot, yet he didn’t receive any gifts. All were blanks.

Arjun would have even doubted that the shopkeeper was playing them, but the people around them were aiming and receiving gifts, so doubting was out of the question.

Abhi groaned as he aimed again, and the shopkeeper shook his head. He slammed the rifle down with a thud. ”How can I be so unlucky, Bhaiyu?” he hissed, annoyed.

Arjun shook his head. ”It’s not about luck, Abhi. It’s just aaj tera din nahi hoga. Koi baat nahi, (It’s just that today isn’t your day. That’s okay), we can try again next time.”

Abhi pouted dejected, he was simply trying his luck. He had noticed the big coloring set in the gift range and wanted to take it for his sister. He sighed maybe not today.

He would just ask his Bhaiyu to buy it from the stationery shop. Radha would never say it, but he had seen how worn-out her colors had become. Their sister loved painting on canvas. She had completed four large-sized canvases that were kept in his room.

His parents lived in the delusion that he was the one who painted and praised him, but the reality was that it was Radha who used to sneak into his room at midnight just to do what she loved since his Chachu and Chachi never allowed such interests, for obvious reasons. He and his brothers kept the truth hidden, knowing it would be Radha who would get scolded by her parents, not them. But by now, things were different… weren’t they?

Arjun snapped his fingers before his brother, “Kya hua? Kahan kho gaya phir se? (What happened? Where did you drift off to again?)”

Abhi looked at his brother, ”Can we buy canvas and colors for Radha?”

Arjun looked at him, startled. His eyes darted back to the area where prices were kept, and realization dawned on his mind. ”You wanted to get that for Radha? Not for yourself?”

Abhi shrugged. He got what he wanted without any hesitation. It was Radha who hesitated and thought ten times before she needed anything. He knew she never asked from their elder brothers too, as in the end, what she could use or not whatever was everything decided by her parents. When they denied, she accepted their decision rather than turning to her brothers, and Abhi hated that.

Arjun ruffled his little brother’s hair affectionately before guiding him to the gaming shop. Abhi was just sixteen, one year older than Radha, but the boy was growing too soon for his liking.

Somewhere his heart warmed at the thought that their sister deserved all that. The unity and love they shared among themselves spoke volumes. They stepped back for Radha because their defiance was the punishment their sister faced from Raghav and Payal. Now the things were different; situations were different.

But somewhere it bothered him too. Abhi was growing mature for his age, and he was determined to protect his brother from their mother.

A child never needs protection from a mother’s love, but at some point, he knew Abhi would also face what he had faced in his earlier teenage years, the pressure of expectations to satisfy his mother’s needs just because she wanted it.

Arjun made peace with the fact that he wouldn’t ever receive his mother’s love from the day he chose his career, his dream to become a lawyer, instead of going into business to help his father.

After that day, his mother didn’t even look him in the eye with proud eyes; despite his success, all he received was anger and indifference. Arjun was determined to never let his baby brother face any of that, no matter what.

“Bhaiyu, look, my new game’s cassette!” Abhi squealed excitedly as he saw the display outside the shop.

Arjun nodded. “First at least find out if they actually have it or not.”

“So come on quickly then,” Abhi chided, dragging him to the shop. ”Why are you so slow?”

Arjun shook his head, letting him do as he pleased. His brother was unbelievable. If Abhi wanted, he would pray to the gods for wings so that he could fly always in a hurry.

✨✨✨

Radha immediately liked the book, it was about alternate realities, something similar she had read before but from a completely different perspective. The illusions in the novel seemed too real to even be called that, and that was what held her captivated.

With a wide smile playing on her lips, she made her way to her brother, who sat there reading a business magazine. Radha rolled her eyes, sometimes her brother behaved more like a businessman than any rockstar, forcing her to think he had been born into the wrong world. Her brother seemed too engrossed in his work. Mischief sparkled in her eyes as she stepped slowly around the couch and went behind him.

“Bhaiya…” Radha slowly whispered in his ear.

Mahir jumped out of his skin, the magazine flying from his hands and landing on the ground, while the little devil of his stood there laughing at him like a wicked imp.

Radha cleared her throat, trying to control her laughter as Mahir stood there glaring her down. But for now, he looked too cute with that flushed face of his.

“Tujhe toh mei.... (You....)” Mahir took a threatening step towards her but stopped as Radha clung to him tightly.

“Okay sorry.” Radha looked up at him, still sticking herself to him like glue. ”Gussa mat karo na. (Don’t be upset please?) I have decided what novel I want.”

Mahir gave in, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“Wase Bhaiya, mujhe nahi pata tha aap itne bade scaredy cat ho, (By the way, Bhaiya, I didn’t know you were such a big scaredy cat.)” Radha teased and immediately stepped back as her brother raised his hand to whack her.

Mahir shook his head, lowering his hand, the brat she was. He gave the novel to the counter, paying for it. No one dared to do that to him except his sister, as his brothers were the biggest scaredy mouse compared to him to do something like that.

Mahir guided her out towards the gaming zone, hoping his younger brother was finally done for the day. But to his bad luck, Abhi wasn’t. They found him still struggling near the claw machine while Arjun stood beside him with an annoyed expression, looking close to banging his head against the glass.

“What happened?” Radha asked before Mahir could.

Arjun thanked his stars and immediately turned to his elder brother. ”I’m telling you, Bhaiya, just order this machine at home to satisfy this kid of yours.” He pointed at Abhi, who looked least interested in his surroundings. ”He’s been torturing me for the past twenty minutes, and still hasn’t managed to get a single toy for himself, nor is he letting me help so we can move on.”

Mahir shook his head in disbelief. It wasn’t a game for his little brother, it was about pride, something he simply couldn’t afford to lose.

“Abhi,” Mahir called out softly.

Abhi nodded, eyes still fixed on the claw, determination written all over his face. ”Five minute, Bhaiya.”

Radha sighed and stepped in, pulling Abhi back gently. ”Let me try.”

Abhi gave in immediately, he never denied anything to his sister, especially when she herself was asking for it. Still, he was annoyed that he hadn’t been able to get the action figure inside the machine.

He was head over heels in love with his figures. Truth be told, he had many, but never had he bought one, except for the two his Bhaiyu had gifted him on his birthday.

The rest of them he had claimed himself through claw machines over the last few years, proudly lining them up in his room, except for this one. This particular figure he had been trying to win for days, but it always slipped out of reach.

Radha pressed the button and kept her hand steady on the handle. With a quick push, she pulled it down, and the claw descended to grab the soft toy inside the machine. Her eyes twinkled in excitement.

With another push to the side, the claw shifted, and finally, she gasped as the soft toy dropped neatly into the collection box, rolling out from the chute below.

Radha picked up the soft toy that was a monkey and looked at Abhi, holding it out to him with a teasing smile. ”Here, your friend… oh, I’m sorry, your twin. How is he?”

Abhi glared at her, snatching the toy from her hands. ”Ha ha ha, very funny. If you’re that confident, then get me that one…” He pointed at the figure lying in the pile of soft toys. ”That one, take it out.”

“Challenge?” Radha asked, raising her brows.

“Yes!” Abhi said eagerly, his eyes lighting up.

“And what will I get in return if I win?”

Abhi shrugged. “I bought you a gift. If you win, I’ll give it to you. Otherwise, your gift is mine.”

Radha nodded and turned to the machine. It wasn’t rocket science for her. Repeating the same process, she guided the claw perfectly and dropped the figure into the collection box that rolled down, making her squeal in joy. She picked it up and turned to Abhi with a triumphant look on her face.

Abhi scoffed, ”It was easy, that’ why you won. Even I can do that.”

Radha grinned playfully. ”Like you’ve been doing for the last 20 minutes, I can see that. Do one thing, actually get the machine delivered home. At least it’ll help you practice.”

Abhi glared at her and turned to his brothers to complain, but stopped as he found Arjun and Mahir standing behind them with a done look on their faces.

“Aise kyun khade ho aap dono? (Why are you both standing like this?)” he asked, confused.

“We were thinking of banning you two from gaming zones forever,” Arjun drawled, making both Radha and Abhi glare at him.

“Okay, time up guys!” Mahir intervened, ending the glaring match.

He looked at Radha with a faint smile. Compared to the hours they had spent here, she looked more relaxed and carefree, something he was silently relieved about. ”Aur kahan jaana hai? (Where else do you want to go?)”

Radha shook her head. ”House. But before that… can we go to the sunset point?”

Mahir agreed without a word. It was almost evening, the sun dipping down the horizon, and calm around nature was all he needed when he wanted to talk to his sister. He only hoped she was ready. And he hoped he wasn’t rushing things.

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