chapter 7

3 years ago

Aashi

@Forever_Fangirl

*5 years later*

“Taani! Taani utho! Flight ka time ho raha hai! Airport pahaunchna hai warna flight miss ho jayegi. Aur phir Jackie maaregi. Taaaannnniiii! Uthoo! Tauji se nahin milna kya? Fine! Main akeli jaa rahi hun. Tum soti raho. Tumhare tauji ko bol dungi, ki unki laadli Taani ko sone se phursat hi nahin hai. Uff ye ladki. Ab to Rith hii isse uthayega. Vo jaane aur iske Krishna ji. Rithvik! Rith! Aake uthao apni behen ko. Maharani ghode, gadhe, sab bechke so rahi hai.” Asha screamed into the living room. 

“Arre! Meri behen ko kuch mat kaho. Vaise bhi, bohot time baad pakki neend aayi hai. Mazaa uthane do na Asha.” Rithvik placated his fiancee, walking into the room. 

“Haan, ye accha hai. Meri nanad mazaa uthaye aur humari flight hii miss ho jaaye. Aur iss kahani mein, main kab se villain ho gayi? Ab uthao apni Tanu ko. Varna iske Tauji humaara sar kha jaayenge.” She spoke with humor and urgency in her voice. 

“Arre baba. Tang mat karo. Main uthata hoon na. Tum jao aur dekho ki kuch chhoot to nahin gayaa.” He replied, exasperatedly. 

“Taani uth. Taaniiiii. Flight miss ho jayegi.” That had no effect. He leaned in closer “Taani, tauji aur badi maa se nahin milna? Hum to ja rahe hain. Flight miss hone waali hai.'' He knew that would do the trick as her eyes shot open and obscenities tumbled out of her mouth in a rush. 

“Hai Krishna ji. Main phir se late ho gayi. Uff. Aaj to Asha mujhe maar hi dalegi. Rith bhai, jaake sambhalo na apni hone-waali patni ko. Pleeaaase? Main 2 minute mein taiyyar hokar aayi. Bas 2 minute. Pakka.” She pleaded with him. 

Her pleading eyes had always been his weakness and were to this date. He sighed, giving in to her pleading. “Fine. Main jaake control karta hoon usko. Lekin you only have 2 minutes. Uske baad tum jaano aur tumhari best friend slash bhabhi.” 

“Thanks Rith bhai!” she called out as she rushed to get ready. So much to do, so little time. As he left the room, he could hear her mumbling to herself and shook his head. “Kabhi nahin badlegi.” 

It had been 5 years since she’d stepped foot inside her home in Jodhpur. She talked to them every day, but it wasn’t the same. She knew that going back meant questions that she didn’t want to answer. Questions that she had avoided for 5 years. She didn’t know how Swayam was. She had deliberately kept from contacting anyone in Mumbai, no matter how much it had hurt her. It had to be done. They might never have considered a friend, but she considered the group her friends. She missed the boys’ crazy antics and the girls teasing her about Rey. 

Rey. Just his name brought back many memories. She didn’t have to look far to know how he was doing. Tauji gave her regular updates on Swayam and Rey’s dance academy. They’d named it D3. Dil, Dosti, Dance; everything that was important to them.  Tauji had also told her that Swayam had never revealed exactly what had happened but asked after her well-being every day, without fail. But those days when she kept Swayam updated on every little thing were gone. That ship had long sailed and in some corner of her mind, she knew that it would never be like it once was. 

She had to move on and her Rith bhai and Asha helped her do just that. That was one thing she would be forever grateful for, her Rith bhai. They’d grown closer over the 5 years and she proudly called him bhai. He showered his attention and love on her like Swayam never had. But the fact still remained that replacing Swayam was never possible. Rith had his own special place in her heart as her bhai and Asha as a sister and a bhabhi. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to call Sharon bhabhi, but now she had someone she could share that relationship with. The acceptance that Rithvik gave her was something she’d only heard about in fairytales. 

But right now, she had to get ready. She had a flight to catch and a family to meet. She was excited to see the family she had stayed away from all these years. 5 long years, she had yearned to see them, hug them. She knew this was going to be an emotional reunion. Just as she knew that her family would be proud of her. She’d finally achieved her dream. She was the head designer for Jackie’s firm, Melee of Colors. Jackie even had her working on her own designs for a big show that was coming up in Delhi. This was another reason she was excited to be going back. She would get to showcase her talent to the entire world and those closest to her would be able to sit in the audience, cheering her on. That Rey and Swayam wouldn’t be there, stung at her heart but the pain was more bearable now than it had been a few years ago. 

Looking in the mirror, she could see a changed woman staring back at her. Her long black tresses, which she had been so proud of, had been cut off into sleek choppy shoulder-length hair two years ago to make it easier to manage her more busy lifestyle. Her wardrobe was always up to date with the latest trends because as Jackie put it “You have to make your inner beauty shine with your outer beauty in this industry. The clothes make the man, my dear girl. Well, in this case, the woman. But the key to confidence is looking like you have it and that you know it.” Taani had taken those words to heart and updated her life with a shopping trip that Asha had dragged her on when she learned about Jackie’s words to her. She looked at her ensemble for the flight; dark, high-waisted, midnight blue, skinny jeans, a navy floral tank top with a pastel blue cover-up kimono. With the outfit, her hot pink stilettos would bring the perfect pop of color. She felt confident and ready to take on the world. A touch of eye-liner, mascara and tinted lip balm and she finally felt ready. The sudden sound of the door-bell reminded her that she had somewhere to be. 

Thanking her krishna ji, she quickly rushed out of her room, while running her hand through her hair. She’d still not gotten used to the short style but she liked the confidence it inspired in her. She rushed to the hall just in time to see Rithvik putting their bags into the trunk of the hired taxi. She seated herself in the back with Asha, giving her a small smile. Peering out of the window,  she took a last glance at their house, her safe haven. She would miss this. All the birthdays they celebrated here, all the movie night and crappy take-outs. She would miss when Asha and her would team up against Rith and prank him until he agreed to take them out to dinner in Chinatown. She knew that when she first arrived, the plan was for her to never return to India. Rith and Asha wanted her to have a fresh start. But going back now, after five years, felt right. It felt like she was going...home. While they had created their own little world here, in New York, their Haveli in Jodhpur would always be her home. As Rithvik got into the passenger seat, she steeled herself for the new leg in her life. She had to face Tauji’s questions and now was a better time than ever. She was at the peak of her career and any family tiff would look small compared to her achievements for him. It was time to return to the country where it all began.