Interlude
Tamanna sighed as she looked out the window. Myra was playing with some of the kids from the chawl. It warmed Tamannaās heart to see Myra finally opening up to her, and also finding friends in the kids who lived in her parentsā chawl, but she couldnāt help but feel caged. Living with Armaan had definitely spoiled her. She was not used to the million questions she was forced to answer here, not just to her parents, but to their neighbours as well. She absolutely couldnāt stand all these restrictions that were suddenly placed on her. In New York, no one questioned Tamanna about what she wore, what she ate, where she went, or what time she came home. As long as she was safe, nothing else mattered. But here, everyone was up in her business all the time, and she didnāt like it.
Tamanna had always harboured hope of coming back to Mumbai and settling here for good. Not in the near future, but some day. She had plans of coming back to the place that had been her home for most of her life and making it her home again. Now, it seemed futile. She didnāt think sheād ever be comfortable in Mumbai, not with so many people breathing down her neck. And they would be, she knew. No matter whether she lived with her parents or not, they, especially her mother, would have a lot of expectations from her. She didnāt want that. She had lived her life according to others for too long. Now, she wanted to live it on her own terms.
That was a huge reason why she had not said yes immediately when Sid had all but proposed to her a couple days ago. To say that she was shocked was definitely an understatement. She would not deny that something had been brewing between the two of them back when they worked together, but it was years ago. It was just a silly little crush. She had gotten over him within weeks after getting to Canada. She hadnāt known that he had still been carrying a torch for her all these years later. She had wanted to say no outright, but had not. Some of it was because she didnāt want to seem too rude, but a part of her had also been excited at the prospect. She didnāt like Sid romantically anymore, but maybe, if she gave him a chance, it could change? She hadnāt given romance a thought in the past few years, but then it wasnāt like there was anyone jumping at the chance to be involved with her. Sid was the first person sinceā¦ well, since Aniket.
Now, more and more, she wanted to say no. Would Sid expect her to move back to India to be with him? She couldnāt do that. The past few days were testament enough that Mumbai would never be her home again. Even if she could grin and bear it, she would never let Myra be brought up like that. With so many restrictions, the way she had. She remembered how meek and pliable she had been before, how easily scared and flighty. It had taken her a lot to let go of that girl to become the woman she was today. She did not want her daughter to feel even an ounce of fear that she had.
And anyway, even if Sid turned out to be a decent partner, she did not think he was anywhere close to a passable father, let alone a decent one. The way heād talked about Myra was proof enough.
I donāt even mind that you have a daughter, heād said, as if her having a child made her lesser in any way.
I will try to accept her as well, heād said, as if her daughter was not the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Iām sure sheāll understand. Even if she doesnāt, sheās just a kid, heād said, as if she wasnāt the centre of Tamannaās world.
No, she didnāt think Sid was ready to be a father. Maybe in the future that might change. But as of now, he was not fit to be in her daughterās life as a caregiver of any capacity. And that was enough reason for her to say no. Which she would, at the first chance she got.
The ringing of her phone brought her out of her musings. She smiled as she saw Rahulās name flashing on the screen and quickly answered. āHey, Bhaiya! How are you? Things with Bhabhiās family going well? Did they agree to get you married?ā She fired her questions back to back.
Rahul chuckled at her exuberance. āRelax,ā he told her. āTake a breath.ā
Tamanna did as he instructed, knowing there would be no more talking till she complied. āGood girl,ā he praised. āThe reason that I called isā¦ wellā¦ Tamā¦ Iām ā Iām getting engaged.ā
It took a moment for his words to register. "You'reā¦ What now?"
"I'm getting engaged," Rahul repeated. "Well," he sighed. "Not engaged, exactly. Mera aur Muskaan ka roka hone wala hai. 4 din mein."
"OH MY GODS! BHAIYA, THAT IS SO GREAT! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!" Tamanna shrieked.
"Tamannaaaa! Spare my ears," Rahul replied. "But yes, I'm happy for me too. Mummy took care of everything otherwise I don't know what I'd have done. So, justā¦ Get packed. Aai aur Baba ko bhi bol and all 4 of you get here ASAP. I'm going to call Champ and Nikki too, after I'm done talking to you, and I think Muskaan is going to invite the others from your intern batch. And, of course, Dr. Keerti & Dr. Shubhankar. So, co-ordinate with whoever you're comfortable with to get to the airport. Armaan is buying everyone's tickets as we speak."
"Waitā¦ Dada is there? With you?" Tamanna asked, shocked. She knew for a fact that Armaan had never come back to India in years.
Rahul bit his tongue. He had gotten too carried away and hadn't realized what he'd said. Of course, Tamanna would zero in on this little tidbit. She might know Armaan's entire history with Riddhima, but she knew enough.
"He is," Rahul finally replied. Making up a reason on the spot, because he himself was unaware of what Armaan was doing in India (though of course, he had his theories, and he was pretty sure they were right), he said, "Apparently he got too bored in the house all lonesome so he came here. He was going to surprise you, but I called him to tell him I was planning to elope with Muskaan, so he rushed here."
"You were going to elope?!" Tamanna cried, quickly forgetting about Armaan's detour. These boys were intent on giving her shock after shock. She was finding it hard to keep up.
"Muskaan's parents were very against us, you know that," Rahul explained. He had kept Tamanna somewhat apprised of the situation in the sense that his attempts to talk to Muskaan's parents had been fruitless. So, she wasn't completely unaware.
"So you were just going to elope?" Tamanna questioned, surprised. Rahul was the one who thought a hundred times before doing anything. An elopement seemed to be the most spontaneous decision in life. Had he considered how that would probably break Muskaan's relationship with her family forever?
"I kinda was, yes," Rahul sighed. "Not the best idea. I know it wasn't, but I just couldn't think of anything. That's why I called Armaan, because I knew he'd talk me out of it. I just didn't expect him to turn up at the door with Riddhima in tow."
"Waitā¦ Now Riddhima Di is there too? What is even going on, Bhaiya? I'm so confused!" Tamanna exclaimed.
"Don't ask. I don't know myself," Rahul replied. "But, Riddhima was always the smartest one out of all of us, so of course, he asked her to come. She's Muskaan's best friend, you know. And she did help in smoothing things with the Chaddas, so he was right in asking her to accompany him. Butā¦ Whatever. That's a story for another time. I need you to be here for the roka, Tamanna."
"Of course, Bhaiya," she said. "As if I would miss such an important day in your life. Tell Dada to email me the details. We're taking the first flight out."
"Thank you so much," Rahul answered. "I love you."
Tamanna smiled. "I love you, Bhaiya. I'm so happy for you."
Tamanna hung up after they said their goodbyes and immediately rushed to her mother. They had a trip to plan, immediately. Her brother was finally taking the first step towards his happily ever after.
Edited by DMGThings - 2 years ago
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