Naina
By the time I reached home, I was fuming with anger. Just who the hell does he think he is to walk out without an explanation or apology? The worst part was that I couldn't even remember what he looked like very clearly. I just recall that he had fluffy hair, thick eyebrows, and was muscular. His forearms were covered with veins and small dimples had formed when he smirked.
As I swing through the front door, I hear my mother's dramatic gasp. "What happened to you? Did you get in a fight with coffee on the way home?"she inquired curiously. "Haha, very funny, Maa. Actually, some idiotic guy bumped into me at a cafe, and my white T-shirt ended up brown," I said while removing my shoes."So, what are you planning?"Maa inquires.
"About what?" "Listen, problem child, I know you very well. Once, when your brother had misplaced your headbands by accident, you put your dad's shaving cream in his football cleats and that was when you were eight. Eight years old, Naina, so don't tell me you don't have something in mind for the poor guy because I know you do. Spill." she said.
"Well, you don't have to expose me like that. I'm not planning to do anything maa; I've matured a lot since I was eight."I sip on a glass of water while she continues staring me down. I can't tell my mom about my plan for that guy otherwise she'll tell Akshay bhai and it will be this whole new mess that I don't want.
I head back up to my room and start running a bath while I sit on the bed and stare at the blank screen of my phone. Suddenly, it starts vibrating and I see Ira's name on the screen.
"Hey, did you reach home fine?" She asks. "Yeah, I did. You know, five people asked whether I came back from playing Holi with coffee." "I swear, people are too nosy these days. They need to start minding their own business."
"You were judging people on the street today." I reprimand. " Well, we all can't be perfect. Anyway, I'll swing by in a couple of hours. I'm meeting Reyansh by the lake. Come with me?"
"Sure, see you then." I hang up the phone and take a well-deserved shower.
By the time I started getting ready, Ira was already declaring her presence to my mother. I quickly rush to put some clothes on, knowing the blabbermouth Ira is. I hastily run down the stairs to see my mother feed a brownie to Ira.
"Naina, your mummy makes damn good brownies dude. I've tried making them myself but they never come out so fudgy." she says, dragging the sound of 'so'.
"You need to add more chocolate to your brownies. I just know that you eat most of it and make do with the rest." Maa reprimanded her with a slight shake of her head. "Okay, we need to head out," I say while dragging Ira with me."Maa, we're headed to meet some friends. I'll be back before 8:30." "That's fine, beta. I'm making another batch of chocolate chip cookies now."
She grabs a bowl and starts pouring a mixture into it. Ira's eyes widen and she mouths 'chocolate chips'. "bring some for me too next time, mmkay?" "Yeah, I'll grab you a couple. Let's go. Bye, maa."I swing the door shut and the last glimpse I have is of Mother, humming 'Je hum tum chori se' while she happily bakes.
Ever since Maa developed arthritis, it felt as if she let a part of herself go. Being a gynecologist was her biggest dream and she was one of those people who loved their job. I remember when I was little, she would go to work with a bright smile on her face. After turning 51, there was no way she could've worked in the labor and delivery rooms every day without worsening her already deteriorating condition. After lots of convincing from Papa, me, and Akshay bhai, she finally quit.
In the beginning, she'd started going crazy, being cooped up in the house was not for her. But, I motivated her to join yoga classes and now, she loves to spend time with her friends. Baking was a recent obsession of hers, she has tried several things- painting, writing poetry, and pottery, but the only thing that has stuck is baking.
"What's the deal with you and Reyansh?" I ask her as we start walking. "I love him." she sighs. "I know that, Ira. Does he know that?" I look over at her and she has this swoony look in her eyes that I always dreamed of experiencing.
"I know that I met him just 4 months ago but... I've never felt this way, Naina. When I'm with him, life feels a little easier. It's not like my problem fades miraculously, it's just that...he makes them easier. He makes my life easier without even doing anything. I'm grateful to have him." she finishes.
"Listen, Ira, you will feel this way if you love him, you and I both know that. But it will harm you in the long run. I think you should tell him how you feel. Best case scenario, he feels the same way and I wear pink at your wedding, or worst case scenario, he doesn't feel the same way and you have to move on." I tell her as we approach the creek.
I know that Reyansh loves her. You can see it in his eyes whenever she's in his vicinity. I've told her this a million times but she just doesn't understand.
"By the way, Reyansh wants us to meet his cousin.Oh! There they are. See," she points at two people down at the lake.
As we approach them, Reyansh turns around, and his dimples pop as he smiles."You said you were coming in 20 minutes. It's been an hour, " he says. Calm down, Romeo. It's been 30 minutes," the boy near the edge of the river speaks in a deep, steady voice, his gaze lost in the endless current of the lake.
"This is Abhay, my first cousin." Reyansh introduced us. Abhay turns around and a strange sense of deja vu washes over me. "Have we met before?'' Ira asks. "I don't think so. I landed in Mumbai today and except for going to a cafe I've not been anywhere," he states.
"Oh yeah, get this, apparently a crazy chick bumped into him and spilt milkshake all over him. You should've seen his face when he came back." Reyansh says with a laugh. Realization slams into me and I turn to Ira, who's staring at me open mouthed.
"Reyansh,I'm that crazy chick that he bumped into," I reveal. "You?" Reyansh and Abhay shout simultaneously. "Yes, me" Reyansh whistles and shakes his head, "Man, of all the people in Mumbai you bumped into Naina.''
Abhay's ice eyes meet mine and he remarks. "I didn't bump into her, she practically assaulted me." "I did no such thing. Do we have to do this again? Everyone in the cafe agreed that you were not paying attention." I respond with my arms crossed. His intense gaze was locked on me as if he was trying to figure me out.
"Okay, how about we all calm down and put this behind us?"Ira attempts to break the ice."I will if he apologises." I state. Abhay leans on the pillar and crosses his arms, "Not a chance.''
"You have to get over your silly little incident, guys. I've booked tickets for us to go boating. Ira and I will be in one boat and y'all in the other. Suck it up and befriend each other," Reyansh insisted.
I guess I'm not going." I lament. "No, you are going, because you own me one, remember? From the party?" Ira utters mischievously. "Fine, I'll go with this insaan ke naam pe kalank," I gesture over to Abhay. "You don't have to sound so excited," he remarks dryly.
Great. Because of Ira, I now have to go boating with the guy who humiliated me in front of my new friend and my favourite cafe. I knew I shouldn't have offered her that favour so willingly. She always ends up getting me in such situations.
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That's it for this chapter!
I promise I'm working on the upcoming chapters.
If you liked my book, do comment :)
Word count: 1400
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Adi<3
(spicyvixen)
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