Page 20 of That Same Old Love

Srishti was curious. “Really, what kind do you like to listen to, then?”

“You can look at my collections on my phone.”

When Srishti went through Mahi’s playlist, she squealed. “Oh my God! We have the same taste in music. I love these songs, but I didn’t know adults listened to them as well!”

Mahi looked at her sheepishly. “Well this adult does. I used to live in the U.S. until a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t have the time or interest to follow up on the latest Indian music. So I just listened to whatever came on the radio and got hooked to that popular music.”

“Oh. That’s cool. Can I play these songs on your music system?”

Mahi synced up her music system with her phone and let Srishti play whatever she liked.

Srishti grinned. “You know my parents and uncle call most of these songs screeching and horrible noises. I’m glad to know there is hope that I won’t have a music taste like theirs when I grow up.”

Mahi smiled back.

Srishti stared at her with an uncertain look. “I have a strange favor to ask. But somehow you might be the only adult I know, who can possibly help me without jumping down on my throat… I think. I couldn’t look it up online because my parents check my internet browsing history.”

Mahi wasn’t sure what Srishti wanted. “What is it?”

“Do you know how to cheat in cards? Especially at poker? My cousins have been cheating me in cards and we even got suspended the whole of last week from school… because our teachers thought we were gambling. But we weren’t. Gambling I mean. We have a rematch soon and I wanted to know the different ways one can cheat. Not to really cheat others… but to know howotherscan possibly cheatme.” Srishti got out quickly.

Mahi looked at Srishti who was staring at her with big appealing eyes, “Well, Srishti. You’ve come to the queen of poker.”

In the next few minutes, Mahi found her old poker set and began to show the different ways one could sneakily distribute the cards or even hide the cards during the play.

* * *

Samrat just got back to his parents’ city home after two weeks and was looking forward to a peaceful evening. He was about to enter in his lock code when he noticed the hastily scribbled note stuck on the door.

Srishti is at my house. –Mahi

He frowned wondering how Srishti ended up there. He knew she was supposed to come and drop some songs collection and play Stimmulus games, the new virtual video games his company was developing and testing since the past one year. But why did she not go home when she realized he wasn’t back?

Unlocking his door, he left his suitcase inside the house neatly towards a wall, before closing the door and heading towards Mahi’s place. Her door was unlocked again, and slightly ajar. He rang the bell and realized that it still wasn’t fixed. He knocked on the door and waited.

He could hear Mahi and Srishti giggling over the ‘music’ blaring in the house. Getting impatient, he pushed the door open and saw both of them sitting on the floor bent towards a poker set. He doubted if they could hear him call out to them and he refused to shout over the music to be heard. He simply went closer and stood next to Mahi who was seated next to Srishti. Both of them had their backs towards him.

Srishti turned and saw him first and let out a screech loud enough to wake up the dead. And then Mahi turned and jumped, looking at him. She grabbed her phone and stopped the music.

Srishti stared at him with a hand on her heart. “My god, Samrat uncle! You gave us a heart attack. When did you come here?”

“And why didn’t you knock?” Mahi glared at him, letting the word ‘again’ remain unsaid between them.

“I did. Several times and also rang your bell which is still not fixed. The woman shouting on your music system must have drowned out any other sounds,” he said.

Mahi and Srishti looked outraged.

“She was notshouting,” Srishti got out.

“And even she was, hershoutingmade her the bestselling album in theworldand broke several records!” added Mahi.

He was amused seeing their outraged faces. “Fine. Fine. Themelodiousmusic must have drowned out my knocks on the door. Srishti why are you here playing poker with Mahi?”

“I got down from my school bus at the stop close to here. You told me yesterday that you would be here early this afternoon, and to come at four. Mummy said she’ll send the car at six.”

Samrat rubbed his fingers on the bridge on his nose. “Oh. Sorry, I completely forgot to tell Anu that I was getting delayed by a few hours. Anyway let’s go. Mahi thank you—”

Srishti cut him off, “We are in middle of an important game Samrat uncle. Why don’t you join us? Mahi aunty was teaching me how to play poker. Just for a few rounds. Please,” she asked flashing a toothy dimpled smile, trying to lure him to play.

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