"COME ON, DECISIONS CAN BE HARD; BE IT IMPULSIVE OR INDECISIVE."

___________________________

"Bilirubin is a yellow chemical in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in your red blood cells."

"What does that have to do with this?" Harsh's brows furrowed in confusion. "It is present in all human beings."

"Of course, it is." Dhruv rolled his eyes. "But how did a dead person still have this chemical activated that too in excess amount only in his chest and no other part of his body? Are you getting it?"

Harsh's eyes widened in realisation. "Does that mean someone inflicted it in him after he died?"

"Why would someone do that to a dead person?"

Harsh ran a hand through his hair, huffing in frustration. "Just when I thought it was a simple murder..." he muttered.

"You know what? I think I'll be having a trip to Naveli."

"Should I come with you?"

"No, you're more needed here. I'll go alone."

"Alright. But Naveli doesn't have a railway station, let alone airport. You'll have to take a train to Ajmer, I'll ask the Naveli SHO to arrange a car for you there." Harsh informed him. Dhruv hummed and hung up the call. As he sat in his laboratory cabin, he thought about something to himself. He fixed his glasses on his nose and sighed.

"Could it be that they are misuing this chemical for something? Was his death just a coincidence? Because he witnessed something he shouldn't have?"

___________________________

Dhruv entered his house and was immediately greeted by the site of his family collectively sitting on the couch. He lived in a happy joint family.

The oldest in his family was his dad, Shivam Saxena, his dadi, Kaveri Saxena, and his father, Tarun Saxena. He was a reowned criminal lawyer. His mother, Radha Saxena. She was a homemaker.

His chachu, Vardan Saxena, he was an architect by profession. He had a son, Yug Saxena, he was 10 years old. His wife divorced him and left, just after Yug was born.

Then there were his siblings, Veer Saxena, a final year BBA student. Charvi Saxena, She was in 12th Standard.

"Dhruv bhaiya aa gye." Yug exclaimed, looking at Dhruv entering through the door. Everyone looked towards his direction, he gave tgem a warm smile. "I'll come after freshing up." He said and left for his room.

Dhruv came down, and the whole Saxena family was already settled at the table. He settled at his place. "How was your day, Dhruv?" Dadi asked him.

"It was.. decent."

"Decent? Hardly. It must've been thrilling, right bhai? Surrounded by corpses all day." Charvi chimed in, taking a bite from her plate.

"Bhaiya, didn't you see any ghosts? Like they show in the movies?" Yug asked, as Radha fed him his bite.

"Of course, Yug. He does. He plays dollhouse with the female ghosts you know. Akele akele maze karke aate hai ye." Veer said the last part slowly as to only let him, Charvi and Dhruv hear it, and smirked at Dhruv, giving a high five to Charvi, who chuckled.

[He goes to have fun there all alone]

"I go there to examine the bodies, not play with them. And Yug ghosts aren't real. Stop watching so many movies." Dhruv said and smacked Veer's head, who winced. "Stop putting things in his mind."

This was like the gazillionth time he was telling this to them. Especially his dadi, who never fails to take him to the temple every sunday to get him 'checked' as she says. To make sure no ghost had possessed him. Talk about being ridiculously paranoid and unreasonable. And his mom, who always has a grudge about him choosing this profession.

"I have to go out for a few days regarding a recent case." Dhruv said, gaining everyone's attention.

"Where?" Tarun asked, looking up from his plate at him.

"Naveli." Dhruv replied.

"Naveli? Why there? Why would you have to travel there?" Radha asked, looking slightly worried about her son.

"It's a complicated case. I have to go there to check any traces from the crime scene. It's only for a few days." Dhruv explained, giving her a reassuring look.

"Maine toh pehle se hi keh rahi thi ye ajeebo gareeb profession chune ka kya matlab tha? Arre, koi normal scientist ya doctor nhi ban sakta tha? Lekin nhi janab ko tih lasho aur criminals ke beech rehne ka shauk chada tha." Radha vented her occasional mantra. She had started chanting ever since Dhruv told about his deciding to be a forensic scientist .

[I am asking you what the meaning of choosing this profession was? Couldn't you have been any other normal doctor or scientist? But no, you had to choose to live among corpses and criminals]

"Radha, let him eat in peace." Tarun said to his wife. Radha shook her head and continued feeding Yug.

"I'll have to leave tomorrow." Dhruv informed. Tarun nodded at him and turned towards Veer.

"And you, Veer, how's your college going? And it's the final year. Did you plan what you want to do next?" Tarun asked suddenly, Veer's hand stopped mid morsel as he gulped. "P-Papa, there is still time, I'll decide soon enough." Veer mumbled, looking down on his plate.

"That's why you've been saying for the past two years now." Charvi said, glancing at him sideways. He kicked her foot uneer the table, making her yelp. But later, return his kick back to him.

"She's right. How long do you plan to say this 'there's still time left' thing? When the time has actually passed away?" Tarun asked a little firmly this time. Veer's mood fell. What could he even do? It wasn't his fault he wasn't getting clarity and surity about his future. It's not like he isn't trying. He is. More than anyone knows.. but there's only one thing worse than insecurity, anger, failure, doubt, fear-indecisiveness.

Because even the insecure move, but the indecisive remains frozen.

Anger acts in haste, but indecision never acts at all.

Failure teaches indecision silences.

Doubt questions, but indecision avoids the answer.

Even fear runs, but indecision stands still.

Indecisiveness makes you question your own worth, let alone others.

To think that you're not even able to make a simple decision on your own because of.. god knows what is just so.. nerve wrecking.

Agar tum itna hi nhi kar pa rahe ho, ek faisla karna tumhe itna mushkil lag raha hai toh uss liye faisle pe chaloge kaise? Kuch nhi ho payega tumhara. Loser ke loser rahoge zindagi bhar phir pachtaoge agar jaldi faisla kar leta toh shayad.. shayad.

[If you aren't even able to this, a simple decision making is so hard for you, then how will go on with that said decision? You won't be able to do anything. Once a loser always remains a loser. And then you'll regret not taking the decision fast that if only then maybe.. maybe]

But why don't they understand it's not easy? It's easier said than done. There are just too many what ifs, your own demons stopping you from deciding. It's not like you're choosing to be this way. You.. just are. Even if you try to change.. change for better.. it's not easy. Nhi ho pata na yaar.

Veer sighed. This was his never-ending internal battle. Which he hoped end soon.

Hope.

"And you, Charu," Tarun's voice pulled Veer out of his thought chain. Now, it was Charvi's time to gulp. Though, their father was usually a chill and laid-back person. But there were times like this when his inner lawyer comes out all of a sudden, making them stand in the dock. "Your teacher called,"

Okay, what was it for this time? You see, Charvi Saxena had only one flaw-or so she thought-she was too temperamental and impulsive.

Her habit of taking impulsive decisions and acting on impulsive thoughts never did her any good. Not yet, at least. Nor in the future, she thinks. There were a few times when the impulsive decisions she took.. okay, maybe most of the time, the impulsive decisions she took backfired on her or set the other person on fire.

She really needs to think before acting.

And not to forget her ending saga with the thing called 'temper'. It wouldn't be wrong to say she had the worst and the shortest temple among all her siblings.

So, this was her never ending hate-story with temper and impulsiveness.

Assignments not submitted? Negative, she copied Arjun's

Grades? Decent.

Behavior? Nowadays, at its best.

"Charvi."

Talking in class? Nah, that's not that serious.

Pranks? She doesn't do any.

Cheating in test? They didn't have any test this month.

"Charu."

Then what????

"CHARVI DIDI!" She flinced abruptly when she heard Yug scream her name. She looked at him as if to ask,"Are you insane?" But he shook his head. "Everyone's calling you for so long. Where were you lost?" He said.

She turned around to see, everyone was indeed looking at her. She smiled sheepishly. She just hoped they don't think anything stupid. Like, if you're a teenage girl in an indian household and you smile all of a sudden or even while looking at the phone or get lost in thoughts like this, the only thing that come to their minds is.. ladki haath se gayi. If you know.

Tarun cleared his throat. "So, I was saying. Your teacher called," He looked at her, his gaze sharp, making Charu's heart beat fast. What did she tell him? Why was he making so much suspense? This is not some wattpad thriller book!

"She told me all about your.. little outburst." Tarun finally said.

Oh.

Oh.

OH!

How can she forget about that?!!

___________________________

Charu sat on the terrace, looking at her stars. She had to. To clear her mind from the lecture she got. She looked watching stars and moon and just sit there amongst them in peace and serenity and stability-yeah, that was a lie.

Peace, stability, and Charvi never go in the same sentence. She would rather be jumping around, screaming on top of her lungs to create chaos than enjoy a moment of peace.

Now, what was she doing here then?

The answer is simple-copying.

To save herself another lecture, her father, his energy, and her siblings, their entertainment she was here to complete her impending assignments so that there is no such next call where her teacher feels the need to have a conversation with her father.

But assignments are boring and long and tough, and to save herself the struggle, Charvi only had one solution-Arjun.

Arjun Raghuwanshi.

Her neighbor/friend/deskmate.

He was the golden boy, the perfect child, the 'sharma ji ka beta', whose examples your parents give you. The topper of the class, the most unproblamatic child, Mr. good-at-everthing, introvert, always polite, and sweet and...

The list goes on. If Charvi were to write an essay on him, the environment would be endangered by the amount of pages she'd need.

So, he was her neighbor. Naturally, they grew up together and were friends. They went to the same school, were in the same class and had the same friend group, and were deskmates too.

Talk about too much coincidence.

Charvi chuckled as she remembered the incident on how they became deskmates.

___________________________

FLASHBACK.

°•~CHARVI~•°

I walked towards my school, feeling uncharacteristically fresh today. It was nice. Waking up in a nice mood, after having a nice dream and getting ready to go to school, having a nice breakfast, without hearing anyone's lecture and nagging. Overall, going to school in good mood so early was rare for Charvi, that is me.

Sigh.. it were days like this that I crave and long for...

That doesn't come often nor stay for long.

I reached my wing and made my way towards my classroom. As I was walking, suddenly a boy bumped into me with his steel water bottle falling right on top of my toes.

ARGHHHHH!

WHY DID I HAD TO HAVE JINXED MY GOOD DAY?!

I screamed in pain, that hurt good, crouching down to soothe made toes, thank god, our school had thick shoes. Or my toes would definitely have needed their own funeral each.

The boy crouched down in front of me, and I looked up to see Ayaan, a boy from my class. The head boy of our school, the second topper of our school after Arjun, looked at me with an apologetic and worried expression.

"I am so sorry, Charvi. I didn't realise you were entering the class." He apologized, looking like he was having an internal indebate on what to do next. Let him save him the struggle..

"Are you blind! Could'nt you watch where you were going and who the hell holds a steel bottle filled with water so lightly in their hand for it to fall just after the slightest bump? Huh?!" I snapped. He looked nothing but more guilty about it but at the same time as though he wasn't appreciating my tone and words.

Who cares? My toes hurt bad. So, my anger is justified.

"Listen, I'm really sorry, okay. I didn't realise you were about to enter. I'm apologizing, right? There's no need to get so worked up." He said as if he was doing me a favor by apologizing, like I was overreacting. Guve me that bottle, let me do the same and then we'll see who overreacts when steel meets toes. I stood up, and he followed after. I looked at him. My face was expressionless.

"Toh tumhare sorry ka kya mai achaar dalo?" I asked. My voice was calm, very calm. I was trying to be composed and not lose my shit. He looked at me, confused. First, I never interacted with this boy at all. Second, his expressions are weird. Maybe that's why I didn't interact with him. Or maybe because he ìs the head boy, always the center of attention.

[Do hell with your sorry]

Aaj monday hai, Charvi, gaali nhi. [It's monday, no swearing today]

I gave him a look. "Watch where you're going next time." I said and moved past him to enter the class, leaving him with his sorry-freaking-steel bottle. My toe sting. I bet it'll turn greenish-blue due to blood clotting.

Disregarding my spoiled mood for it to not spoil the rest of my day. I moved towards my seat. I sat on the second last bench. And there, I saw my favorite two couples mingling and diving in the depth of love. (Note my sarcasm)

Karan and Aadya, Arjun and his... dear books. Karan and Aadya were chatting smiling, and Arjun was lost in his book world. Itni padhai karke kaha jayega ye ladka?

[Where will this guy go with all that study?]

All five of us-Me, Arjun, Karan, Aadya, and Neil-we met in 3rd standard and became inseparable ever since. Unfortunately, though, Neil got transferred in another section when classes got while Arjun and Karan sat on the last bench behind us. Karan and Aadya smiled at me. I turned towards Arjun. "You didn't wait for me." I stated. We were neighbors. He should have the decency to wait for me-I am a lady, after all. And he should know how to act gentlemanly.

"You were taking too long to tie your laces, and we were in the school premises." Yeah, well, we came together, but my lace came undone. I was tying it, but it was taking too long.

Or maybe I was doing it on purpose just to annoy him. You see, it was hard to see him lose his composure-but fun to see when he does.

But he just walked away.

Rude.

I narrowed my eyes at him, He gave his imfamous tip lipped smile, and Karan and Aadya rolled their eyes at us. Aadya nudged my arm, turning my attention to her.

"Do you know what happened yesterday?" She asked. I shook my head, confused. She clicked her tongue. Ok, so gossip. She had this look, which meant there was gossip, and the gossip was hot. "You know, Jiya and Daksh.." she began.

"The infamous couple from section C?" I asked. They were the couple of our school since class 5th. "What happened?" I asked.

"They got caught by Preeti mam in the back garden, sitting too close to not have something going on. And some even say they were holding hands." She said, and I gasped. Oh god.

"What happened to them then?" I asked, intrigued.

The boys rolled their eyes at us. "Why are you both so interested in other's matters? It's none of your business." Arjun nodded. I gave Karan a side-eye. While Aadya folded her arms, looking at him. He gulped under her stare and gave her a cheeky smile, avoiding eye contact, because now history was more interesting to him.

And they are NOT a couple.

Aadya shook her head and turned to me. "They were sent to the principal's cabin. After that," she shrugged. "Maybe their parents were called or something." She said, nodding.

"Damn, that was.. something." I didn't have any suitable word. What to call it? They were such a sweet couple. Poor them.

"Anyway, I sent a meme on the group chat. Why did no one reply to it, huh?" Karan said, narrowing his eyes.

"Simple. Because your memes are weird and boring and not-so-funny at all." I said, shrugging.

He fake gasped, as if seriously offended. "Oh accha, meri memes weird aur boring hoti hai?" He spoke, crossing his arms, leaning back against his chair. I followed his actions.

[Oh, really, my memes are boring and weird?]

"Ji ha, Aadya tu bata, hoti nhi hoti iski memes weird?" I asked Aadya, turning towards her.

[Yes. They are. Aadya you tell us, are they not weird?]

"Yes, Aadya tell us, are my memes weird?" Karan looked at her expectantly, giving her the heart eyes. Aadya looked at him, and his eyes and gave me an apologetic look, then shook her head.

"See!" Karan exclaimed, having this victorious grin on his face.

"Traitor!" I huffed. Love really makes people blind and dumb.

"Woh traitor nhi hai, bas tera taste waste hai." Karan said, looking at me with a smirk.

[She's not a traitor, it's your taste that is waste]

"Nhi, no, nope, na." I said, shaking my head.

"Objection. The witness's testimony is inadmissible on the grounds of partiality, as she possesses a demonstrable bias which compromises the integrity and impartiality required of credible testimony."

Karan looked at me confused. "You get it, your father's a lawyer. No need to make it obvious. Care to elaborate it simple civil language."

"Her statement is not applicable because she is clearly biased towards the oppostion party, you." I stated.

"What? No, I'm not biased." Aadya said and I gave her a look. I turned towards Arjun, our officially appointed Judge during the matters of conflict. "Your honor, what is your verdict in this?" I asked.

Arjun looked at all of us, shook his head. "Isn't it the universal truth that Karan has no taste in memes." He said in a nonchalant manner. I grinned. Karan gasped."The verdict has been delivered. The gavel has struck. Justice has spoken."

Me: victorious.

Karan: overruled.

Scoreboard reads-CHARVI: 1. KARAN: 0.

"Arjun's verdict is also not applicaple because he has zero knowlege outside of books." Karan said, agitated.

"I have just enough." Arjun countered.

"You're just trying to gaslight our judge because you can't take defeat well." I said, giving Arjun a pat on shoulder.

The teacher arrived and we all sat straight turning towards her. Her expression were stoic.

She glared at every one of us, moving towards her desk.

"As you all must've known by now. A intolerable, and inappropriate thing happened yesterday." She said. Isn't that quite a statement for what actually happened?

"And the school authority do not tolerate such behavior in our institution. You all think, you're old enough to indulge yourselves in such activities. You are not. You are in 12th. It is a high time to focus on your studies, not waste your time in such stupid things." She began.

Her eyes roamed all around the class. She sighed heavily. "The authority has descided to take a step against it." Whispers and murmurs spread through class. "Quite! We have decided that no girl and boy will sit together."

Aadya nudged me. "Don't you think it's unfair? I mean, not everyone is like that. And what's wrong with being in a relationship? We are all eighteen." She asked with a frown.

"True. There is nothing wrong with being in a relationship if you truly love and care for someone. You can't control your feelings. But at the same time, you should know the boundaries of the relationship that comes according to your situation. Which most people fail to. Maybe that's why the adults think a relationship at a young age is wrong. But yeah, if you love someone, you love someone. You can't let them go without trying. You should just be careful of the limits and not let it become a distraction." I said, shrugging.

"Wow," I heard Karan from behind me. I turned behind to look at both of them. "Charvi-the relationship expert. Contact no. 123123. Feel free to call her for any relationship advice and consulting." Karan said, in a mock serious tone. I rolled my eyes at him. I shook my head, but Arjun caught my eye. He was looking at me intensely. As if thinking something deep. Real deep.

The teacher's voice pulled my attention back to her. "All the boys and girls come, stand in line here, respectively." Huh? Is she changing everyone's seats? No, no, no. But we are sitting accordingly, right?

All four of us shared a look. Three of us, horrified, one serious. You know who's the odd one out.

All of us went to stand in the queue. But sitting on the back benches of the last row. All four of us were standing at the back. With Arjun being at the last of the boy's line and me being at the last of the girl's.

The teachers started making our new sitting arrangement by calling the girl's, and boy's names who were standing consecutively in their respective lines.

Yes! That's means Aadya will still sit beside me because I was standing behind her. We shared a knowing cheeky grin. I entangled my arm in hers.

The teacher started arranging the students on the benches. By the pattern of it, we will get our seats-last row, back bench. Good. I guess god is with us today.

Soon, it was the students got settled, and only 5 students were standing in each line of girls and boys.

Wait.

5 students?

Odd number?

Shoot!

"Tanvi and Siya, go to the second bench of last row." Mam said. Now, there were only three girls left in the girls' line. Me, Aadya and Diya.

I don't like where this is going.

Will I have to sit alone? No, please krishna ji, no. Whose answers or notes will ai copy then if I loose concentration in class?

"Sarthak and Mayur, 3rd bench of last row. Behind them, go." Now it was 3 boys in their line too-Arjun, Karan, Ayaan.

Mam turned to look at us. By the look on her face, I guess she was thinking the same. Odd numbers. "Aadya and Diya, 4th bench, last row." She said.

Oh no! Aadya and I shared a gloomy look. My arm was still entangled in hers. Why god, why? Why are you punishing us for someone else's mistake? Why? Why? Why?

Mere toh bhagya hi phoot gye. (Insert the elaichi's mother's infamous cry, iykyk)

[My stars betrayed me]

Okay, I guess it was too much. Jyada overacting ho gyi. [I did too much overacting]

"Charu." I heard Arjun's voice. I turned to look at him with the same gloomy look on my face. "The teacher is watching you both. By the looks of it, she doesn't seem to be enjoying waiting." He whispered.

"Ha, tum dono ka 'hum saath saath hai', 'kabhi alvida mat kehna' ho gya ho toh, chalo apni seats par." Karan added. Huh! What would they know about our sentiments? The feeling of seating away from your bestie.

[If you're done with your dramatic goodbye, then move forward to your seats]

I looked at the teacher, who was standing there crossing her arms, raising an eyebrow at us, tapping her foot on the ground, impatiently. "I'm not asking you both to break your friendship. Stop bring dramatic and move. We don't have much time." She said.

Aadya and I shared a look and she went towards her seat. Now it was me alone..

"Karan, Ayaan, sit on the last second bench of the last row." Mam said.

Now, it was only me and Arjun left. And only the last bench of the last row was vacant. Will I have to sit with him?

I am fine with that!

The teacher looked at us, seemingly lost in thoughts. Maybe, considering whether she should make us sit together or not. I don't think she would. After all, no girl and boy should sit together, right?

The whole class was looking at us. Anticipating what was about to happen. Argh, I don't like this attention. Look somewhere else, guys.

After a good amount of time, she finally opened her mouth and then closed it. Just say something already, lady, my feet hurts. I just had a toe accident a while ago.

"Arjun.. Charvi, go sit on the last bench." She finally said. We both turned to move there. "I'll sit by the window." I said and he nodded.

After we settled, Karan turned behind to look at us. "Wow, isn't this partiality?" He gasped, dramatically. "Girls and boys can't sit together, unless it's Arjun and Charu.. discrimination alert!" He said.

"Konsi partiality, konsa, discrimination be? Ye bolna ki you're just jealous because it's not you sitting beside Aadya." I teased, with a smirk. Arjun had a teasing smirk on his face too. Karan looked flustered for a moment, he cleared his throat.

"Oh please, you.. You're just happy because you're sitting beside Arjun." He said.

"Of course, he's my best friend too. Bachpan se saath hai hum." I said nonchalantly. Poor him. Was he trying to tease us? Jokes on him. Arjun and I go way back. I looked at Arjun smiling, but he was giving me a weird look.

[We're together since childhood]

"What?" I asked, turning towards him. "Nothing." He said, turning back to his book.

"Ae nhi, bata na padega. Jaldi bata kya baat hai, aisi ajeeb shakle kyu bana raha hai?" I insisted. Because I'm a curious little thing. I don't take suspense well. If I want to know it, I gotta know it.

[Hey, no, you'll have to tell. Say it. Why are you hiving me these weird looks?]

"Ajeeb? Mai ajeeb shakle bana raha hu?" I asked, almost in disbelief.

[Weird? I am giving you weird looks?]

"Ji ha. So you better spill, why?"

"Maybe he was just trying to match your weird face." Karan chimed in from front, grinning like an idiot. Well, he is an idiot. Idiot.

"Chup karke samne dekhle warna yahi se book sar pe de marungi, samjha?" I placed a hand on the thick book in front of me.

[Shut up before I decide to smash your head with my book, got it?]

"So violent." He muttered and looked in front. Arjun chuckled beside me and I turned to glare at him. "Itni hasi kyu phoot rahi hai? Meri shakal sach mein ajeeb hai kya?" I snapped.

[Why are you laughing? Is my face really weird?]

He raised his hand in mock surrender. "Sorry, didn't mean no offense, madamè." He said. "And about the face.." he stared at me, as if taking in every little detail, he then shook his head. "Ajeeb toh hai." He said, with a smirk.

[Weird indeed]

I gasped and hit his arm. He chuckled again. The teacher started teaching and all of our attention turned to him. Well mine turned towards the pigeon sitting on the window beside him.

The period was over and the teacher left. I was now, staring out the window beside me. When Arjun nudged me. I turned to them and saw Karan and Arjun both staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Why are you so silent?" Arjun asked.

"Don't tell me you took the weird face joke seriously." Karan said in disbelief.

"Hatt! Who would take you both seriously?" I said, dismissing him.

"Then, why are you so silent?" Arjun asked again. "Can't I be silent for some time for my mental peace?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"Knowing you, yeah, you can't."

Wth. Is it really that hard to believe I can be silent too?

"Bata na kyu chup hai." Karan promted. I huffed in defeat.

[Why are you so quiet?]

"Mai bas soch rahi hu.." I said, looking at both of them. "What?" Karan asked.

[I was just thinking..]

"Seating arrangements. And I came to a conclusion." I turned towards Arjun. "Ya toh mam isse ladka nhi samjhti ya mujhe ladki." I said, nodding my head seriously. Karan burst out laughing, including the boy beside. That's when I noticed it was Ayaan. The steel bottle dropper. Arjun shook his head with a smile and turned towards his books.

[Teacher either doesn't consider you a boy or me a girl]

__________________________

Charvi shook her head, opening her book, waiting for Arjun to come with his notes.

Why was he taking so long? I'll probably doze off here at this rate if he doesn't show up soon? She thought.

____________________________

You meet the Saxena family!

So, do you relate to anyone-Charvi or Veer?

Whats worst—Impulsiveness or indecisiveness???

Till next time...

Adios, Mariposas🦋