The First Life of Vikram Roy (Many Lives Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

steal a samosa while the food is still being cooked, I risk a tongue-lashing from Mum. She is a tiny lady. At five feet three inches just a little taller than me, but she has a terrible temper.
    Finally noticing me, she turns around, completely blanking Vishal as usual. I put my arm around the younger boy and look at her. Please? I plead with my eyes, trying to look suitably pathetic, and hungry.  
    "So, samosa ?" she asks, her voice like honey. But I am not fooled. It's the tone she uses when she is trying to bargain with me.
    "What do you want in return, Mum?" I ask, my voice cautious.
    "Babysit Seema."
    This isn't a new occurrence. Mum often tries to trick me into taking care of my little sister. So far, I have always managed to evade that particular trap. Today I sense the jaws of the inevitable closing in around me.  
    "When?" I ask. No, don't answer that, I think I already know.
    She pulls out two piping-hot golden triangles, laying them on a steel plate. Bringing them over, she holds the plate below my nose. They smell so good. I look at it hungrily, and when she moves the plate to the side, my nose follows it, eyes fixed on it in desperation now. Beside me, Vishal's body tenses, as if to grab the samosas and run away with them.  
    Since the incident at the aquarium he's become my shadow. I'm still not sure how much of the conversation between my parents that day he understood, but something of my mother's dislike of him must have transferred, for he has since avoided her as much as possible, preferring to follow me around instead. I press down my palm into his shoulder, signalling him to stay quiet.
    "Ah!" I sigh aloud. "You are trying to bribe me, Mum."
    "Fair negotiating tactic, that's all." She grins, and raising the plate she turns as if to move back to the cooking range.
    "Wait!" I say in desperation. "Okay."
    "Okay what?"
    "Okay, I'll take care of Seema while you go to your girls' card session or whatever," I say, already regretting it. Damn! I'd rather be out in the basketball field, tossing a ball with my friend just now.
    "Great!" Without giving me a chance to change my mind, Mum comes over with a samosa in each hand. She shoves one into my mouth. Holds the other one out in front of Vishal. He reaches for it and she drops it into his hand. She doesn't want to risk touching him, but he doesn't notice. He's too busy popping the samosa in his mouth. He chews. Swallows. Lips turn up in a smile. Easy to make him happy, this one.
    "Okay, then." She wipes her palms on her apron, before taking it off as she brushes past us towards her room.
    "What? Right away?" I blubber, spewing a mouthful of samosa.
    "No time like the present, right? Besides, my hair appointment is in half an hour." She pretends to check the time and gasps. "Oh! My. I am late. Have to rush. Vikram," she orders, "the nanny will be leaving in the next ten minutes, so make sure you keep Seema entertained."
    Her face already wears a half-dazed expression, as if already at the hairdressing salon. Now that the semi-food-coma brought on by the samosa is fading, I realise with horror what I have let myself in for. No, no. I don't want to be left holding the baby for the next three hours. Her appointments are never quick. She'll probably be gone for half a day. Or more. Oh! No.
    "M-u-u-m!" I gasp, opening my mouth to argue.
    "Meera, we need more beer!" Dad hollers from the living room, loud enough to be heard over the noise of the thousands of people screaming in excitement at the cricket ground.  
    Taking off her apron, she thrusts it into my face, and I have no choice but to hold it in my hands.
    "Oh! Darling, while at it, you might want to make sure you keep the beer supply running, to keep those beasts out there pacified too." She grins, her eyes shining. She's really enjoying it.  
    My lower lip trembles. I can't take care of a little thing like Seema. What if I drop her, or she crawls out of the window when I am not looking? I bite down on it.