Chapter 37

To shop for Earth's wedding, I'll have to go. At least, let me help with the shopping.

When I arrived at the mall with my car, Earth was standing there with her girlfriend, and I was wearing a space. Moon saw me. she was also standing near a car.

I got out of my car and went to Earth. One by one, both of them hugged me.

Earth said, "Now that you've become a CEO, you've forgotten to meet up."

I checked the time and said, "Earth, I'm busy. Don't waste my time."

Earth replied, "It doesn't seem like it. You've become Geet, fallen so deeply in love with Laila that you've turned into Laila yourself."

"Don't talk philosophy here," I said, checking my phone to see if there were any emails.

Moon asked, "Payal! You were so busy, yet you came. Thank you."

"It's okay, Moon. You guys are my darlings. Without you, I wouldn't have any friends or life."

Just then, Omkara came from behind, carrying a child and teasingly said, "Excuse me, did you just say no one? Am I a ghost?"

I looked at the child and smiled, "He's grown up now. Was his name Ishaan? Your baby... Where's your wife?" I asked.

Pulling Ishaan's cheek, Omkara said, "She's pregnant, so she couldn't come. By the way, he's already 3 years old."

Everyone was about to head into the mall when another car arrived.

I asked, "Let's go inside! Is someone else coming?"

Everyone seemed stressed. I got a call and got busy. But as soon as I saw the car, I felt something familiar— a red car. Geet stepped out of it, and my phone slipped from my hand.

Geet was also wearing a same space. We were both wearing the same dress. What a coincidence. Maybe Earth was right. I've become Geet.

Geet looked at Earth, "Earth, sorry, I got stuck in traffic. Let's go inside! Omkara! This little cutie, hasn't he? Ishaan, right?"

Omkara nodded. Just as I was putting away my phone and about to sit in my car to leave, Geet saw me, stopped me, and said, "Scared? You don't even have the courage to talk, Miss Payal?"

I turned around, took off my space-themed glasses, and said, "I have the courage to meet your eyes too, but talking to fools is a waste of time."

Geet laughed and said, "Looks like you're copying me."

"That's a coincidence. Otherwise, I would have burned things like you."

Geet laughed again, "When are you planning to burn yourself?"

Earth interrupted, "Guys, you two might not want to talk, but don't create a scene here."

Omkara added, "What's going on here? You both aren't kids. If you don't want to talk, then don't."

As soon as we entered the mall, I took out a black suit but ended up buying a blue one instead. Meanwhile, Geet and Earth were shopping together. I also bought a new space.

Earth was looking at a lehenga, and I said, "This one looks nice."

Earth replied, "You also chose one for your wedding... sorry."

"It's okay, we sometimes meet the wrong people," I said.

Geet chimed in, "This color would look good on you too."

Moon added, "No, let's try something new. You could try the one Geet wore, not Payal's."

I said, "Moon, aren't you taking Geet's side a little too much?"

"No! But Geet does have good taste."

To calm things down, Earth said, "After all, Geet's choice was Payal too. So, indirectly, Payal is the best."

I got angry and walked away, standing off to the side.

Geet told Omkara, "Tell Payal not to be angry! This isn't the time for anger."

Omkara teasingly said to Ishaan, "Ishaan, my boy, are you happy being the third wheel? Shouldn't we just say what we want to say directly? Right, my cute boy?"

Ishaan started laughing. Geet came over to me.

"Payal."

I began walking away, and Geet gave Omkara a frustrated look before following me.

"Payal! You always call yourself noble, a writer, someone who understands other people's emotions. But my feelings don't matter? You won't believe me without proof?"

I stopped walking and said, "How many times will you tell the same story? Are you taking your medication? Because clearly, your craziness hasn't left you." I shot back.

"Payal, I didn't come here to fix our relationship. Be thankful I never crossed the line, or else..."

"Or else what, Geet?" I shouted.

Geet pushed me against the wall, twisting my arms behind me, and said, "Our relationship was so weak that you never even understood me. If I had fired one more shot at your dad, my anger would've been gone. But fate only let me shoot once." I tried to free myself angrily.

I said, "Touch me again, and I'll burn you."

Geet smirked and said, "The truth often dies without proof."

"So, what's the truth? I'll listen," I said, furious.

"Your dad worked under my dad. He knew him well. That voice that tried to kill me— it's silent now because your dad can't walk or talk anymore. That voice, which drove me insane, used to constantly threaten to kill me. Your dad isn't conscious, but if he were, things would be different."

"This is your logic, Geet? Just because they worked together doesn't mean he'd kill you."

"Your dad's business used to belong to my dad. That company? It's my dad's."

"You think telling me this will make me believe you?"

"Google it. You can do that much."

"Maybe your dad gave the company to my dad under his name."

"Oh, so where's your logic now? Since when do successful people hand over their companies? Your dad was just an employee there."

"You're lying."

Geet let go of my hands and said, "I don't want to fight, but remember this— your dad took a bullet to the head. He'll live like that for the rest of his life, and that's his punishment. Your punishment is that you'll never come into my life again, or next time, the bullet will be for you. I trusted you, and you killed it in a second."

Geet said this and walked away.

I took off my glasses and wiped my tears, finally Googling it. For so many years, I had avoided this truth. My hands trembled. "Dad, please, just tell me this isn't true. I want to hear it from you."

Omkara noticed that Geet and I had returned together. He asked, "Now I'm hungry. Let's talk about this later. Moon and Earth, why don't you two share your love story with me? Ishaan is asleep too."

We all sat down in a café.

Earth, taking a sip of her juice, said, "Moon and I were friends, but about six months after Raveena's wedding, Moon came to my house. I opened the door, and she started kissing me. She smelled like alcohol, like she was drunk. In shock, I pushed Moon away."

"Moon! Moon!" Moon stopped...

Moon said, "No! I need to tell the truth, Geet."

"Geet?" I asked, a bit confused, and laid Moon down on the bed. She was all over the place, clearly intoxicated.

The next morning, when she woke up, I asked, "Moon?"

Moon looked shocked. "I'm here?"

"You forgot Geet's address. Here, I've written it down for you," I said, handing her a note.

"What?"

"You kissed me last night. What is this? After all this time, and this is how you show up? Have you been seeing your therapist?"

"Stop scolding me! It was my birthday yesterday, so I drank too much. I was alone, and your house was close to the bar."

"Why were you celebrating your birthday at a bar near my house in a different city? What kind of joke is this?"

"Earth, please, I felt so alone. Payal and Geet are both busy, and even Omkara is off on his honeymoon now. Who do I have except you?"

"I told you, I can't stay friends. I'm trying to build my career and life here."

Moon stood up and said, "Well, I'm here, aren't I? I'll help you."

"Why would you? What's your fee?"

"Ugh, no! I'm talking about sharing a room with you."

"No way!" I shouted.

"You're acting like I'm asking for a kidney."

So, Moon and I started spending time together, and one day I met a big investor. We had a small party—Moon was there, Payal was there too, but she left early. I was drunk, and God knows what happened. When I woke up, I saw my naked body. I lifted the sheet, and there was Moon sleeping next to me. I hit her with a pillow.

"What did you do?" Moon woke up in a jolt, holding her head. When she saw me naked, she quickly closed her eyes. "Sorry! What happened last night?"

I said, "Moon, don't joke around! Did you do this? Because of you, I can't even stay friends with you anymore."

Moon teasingly replied, "What, are you going to get pregnant? It's done, now just forgive me."

"It's so easy for you! But what about my feelings? You kiss me randomly while chasing Geet, and now you sleep with me? I'm not Geet, Moon!" I shouted, and Moon opened her eyes.

"Yes! Geet and Payal aren't here, and if I wanted Geet, I would have gone to her. She lives in my city, doesn't she? You're the blind one who can't see the truth. I'm here, sleeping next to you on this tiny bed without air conditioning. I drink cheap tea with you every day, and you know how I used to need avocado toast to start my mornings. I eat ₹10 pani puri with you when I used to sanitize everything before. You're blind."

"I'm blind? Can't you just say the truth instead of going in circles?"

"What should I do? If you rejected me, where would I go?"

"Why would I reject you?"

"You hate me."

"No, Moon, I'm just... sad... there's no hate."

"So, will you date me?"

"No!"

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"No."

Back to the present

Moon continued, "I kept coming closer to her, and even though she said no, our lips met. she closed her eyes, and tada! Since then, life's been great. So, friends, how did you like the story? Tell me, Omkara."

Omkara wiped his eyes with a tissue. Geet and I both reached for a tissue, and our hands touched. Geet took out a tissue and handed it to me. I looked at her for a second, then took a tissue myself. Geet used hers.

Moon asked, "Geet, are you crying?"

Earth added, "Payal, are you crying too?"

I replied, "There's something in my eye."

Moon said to Omkara, "Duffer, stop crying! Who cries this loudly?"

Geet said, "You two have such a beautiful story! Not everyone gets a happy ending."

Hearing that, I looked at Geet.