Raj spent time with my parents and other members of our family more than I did.
'Papa, may I help you?' Raj said to my father.
He always came forward himself.
'Yes, beta, please pass me that stuff,' my father said.
Raj ran and immediately did the job.
He obeyed like an obedient son.
'Raj, beta, you're such an obedient boy that I've never seen anyone like you,' my father praised him.
Raj jumped with joy.
'Thank you, Papa… Thank you, Papa. It's my nature to help everybody,' Raj said proudly, swelling up his chest.
He touched my father's feet.
'God bless you, beta!' my father blessed him.
'Rascal! Acting as if he is an obedient boy,' I mumbled, feeling boiling inside.
The same manner he displayed with my mother as well. My mother also loved him.
And the rest of our family members loved him like a doting son.
He became a favorite of everybody.
Even my close friends praised Raj for his smartness and intelligence.
'Wow!' Rupali said, impressed. 'Suman, your Jiju's younger brother, Raj is so smart and intelligent. I like him so much.'
'What did you say?' I asked, gazing at her angry look. 'Say it once again,' I demanded.
'N-No, nothing,' Rupali stammered.
'If you like him and start your praises and appreciations in front of me, then right from now you're no longer my best friend,' I said firmly.
'Our friendship is over from today.' I gave my final word.
'Oho, Suman, why are you saying it like this? You're my best buddy. I was just kidding?'
'No, you can't praise him, and there's no appreciation for that rascal.'
'Okay, I'm sooooo sorry.'
I continued.
'Rup, are you my best friend, or are you the best friend of that bloody rascal?'
'No doubt, obviously yours.'
'Then, stop talking to him, and stop looking at him, right? And tell the others.'
'Okay,' Rupali replied in a heavy tone.
Now, I'll see who will stay with him, I thought.
However, whenever Raj came, everything happened upside down. All my friends joined him, leaving me alone. They all forgot my words and followed him immediately.
Whenever this rascal comes, they follow him. Why? I asked myself.
Sometimes Raj came to our house every week in a month and disrupted my peaceful life.
I am suffocating. I'll die, I said to myself sometimes.
I can't see this rascal anymore, I yelled.
The same scene happened between us whenever I visited Jiju's house.
'So, at last, Maharani has stepped into our house,' Raj started taunting me.
'It's my didi and Jiju's house,' I shot back.
'Welcome, welcome. Welcome, Maharani Su Devi.'
Raj ridiculed me and laughed.
I gazed at him like an angry tigress.
I wanted to react.
However, Jyoti didi came forward and stopped our world war.
'Raj, no!' Jyoti didi warned.
Raj went outside.
Oh! Thank God, the rascal is gone, I sighed.