Dhwani missed her parents.
Everyday.
Every night.
Every time she saw a family.
She longed to see her brother one last time.
Dhanush was Dhwani's everything. He was her world. She had felt guilty about being more sad about his demise than that of her parents.
Rehan reminded her of her brother. They both loved to pester her but loved her all the same.
She caressed the fragile jewellery in her hands. It was beautiful. The intricate temple work and the gems made it look ethereal.
But what made it special was the love in the gesture.
This was her life long wish.
To feel a mother's love again. Even if Gayathri maa was not with them , her memories and the story she left behind still shined bright. And Dhwani felt special everytime she looked at that necklace.
But again it was accompanied by the darkness of guilt. She didn't deserve such a considerate present.
Afterall she was the one who wanted a divorce. She was the person whose heart felt a stabbing pain everytime Veer looked at her with betrayal.
Still , Dhwani will not back out.
Even if it breaks her heart , she was going to do what is right for both of them.
A single tear flowed down her red cheeks.
Dhwani had always dreamed of becoming a mother. Because for her , motherhood was divine.
She grew up seeing her mother's face glow whenever she and her brother was with her and she wanted to feel that kind of happiness. That assurance that whatever happens in the future , she will always have a person to love.
But destiny is cruel. Especially to her.
Dhwani heaved a sigh.
"Jiji...." Mahi called out in a sing song voice.
I quickly wiped my tears away and kept the box aside.
I turned towards them with a smile.
A person can hide even the most broken heart with a smile.
"Why are you shouting? " I enquired.
'Bhook lag rahi hai. " She replied with a grin.
Her stomach growled as if to agree to her statement.
"Then lets go feed that monster in your stomach. "
*
Mahika was cutting some vegetables as Dhwani made supper.
Arya sat on the slab watching us.
"You know, This is the first time I feel like I have a real family. "
"Aww. We love you too." Mahika replied sweetly.
"And you are doing the dishes." I added in.
After dinner we went to the living room to see Rehan and Dhruv playing chess.
"Checkmate." Dhruv Bhai said in a straight voice.
"You cheated." Rehan accused him.
"I did not. You can ask dad or Bhai. "
"Argh. " He pulled his hair in frustration.
"Fine"
Arya could not contain her giggle.
"Can I play?" She asked politely.
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise.
"Arya. I'm saying this because I love you. Dhruv has never lost on a game of chess. " Mahika told her.
"Well there is a first time for everything right? "
"What do you say Bhai? Ready for a game or are you afraid to lose ? "
He gave me a slight smirk.
Let's start the game shall we.
*
Checkmate. I declared
Again , the eyes of everyone in the room was on me. But this time the surprise was replaced by awe.
"What? How ? "
"I'm the State level champion in chess."
Everyone gaped at her.
"Hell ya. My wife won a game of chess against you." Rehan said pointing to Dhruv nyt the hour. "
"I can die happily now. "
God I always knew there must be some reason we married.
Well played.
Same to you too.
*
Me and Mahi was lying on the bed exhausted.
Bhabhi was sitting on the chair reading something.
She has become close to the ladies during their time together.
Even Mahika. She grows on people.
I'm bored. Mahika announced.
"Hello bored I'm Arya" I replied her extending my arms.
Bhabhi laughed at that.
"Ha ha. Very funny. "
"
I'm serious. "
"And I'm voldemort." This time bhabhi joined in.
"Argh. I'm so done with you guys. "
We giggled at her antics.
"I have a question. "
"Here we go. " Bhabhi muttered pinching her nose.
"How are unicorns fake and giraffes real. Like think about it.
What is more believable? A horse with a horn or a leopard-moose-camel with a 40 fool neck. "
" What the hell. " I looked at her in shock.
"That's it. Mahi you are going to sleep.'
"But bhabhi , she has a point. "
She glared at me.
"Yep. We are sleeping. "
"Wait but I have one more. "
"Why is it called a building when it's already built. "
"Good night. "
This time it was me who shut her up.
*
All of us woke up as the sunrays filtered through the windows into the room.
All of us. Except Mahi.
"Shouldn't we wake her up? " I asked bhabhi.
"Don't bother. She won't. "
I yawned " okay. "
I'll go freshen up. Then I can make breakfast. "
"By the way. What time is it. "
"10 o clock. "
"Wait what. "
"How did we sleep that long.
We were pretty tired yesterday. " Bhabh said rubbing her forehead
"Yeah you're right. "
"Wait do you smell that? "
"It smells like pancakes. "
"I'll go check it out. "
I was going down to the kitchen to see Rehan standing at the bottom of the stairs.
I ignored him and started walking down the stairs.
To be honest Arya was terrified.
She didn't know what made her say those things to him that day. But seeing him so broken something in her hand thawed and she made herself vulnerable even if it was just for a moment. Then yesterday he had announced her as his wife so proudly. Never in her life has anyone done something like that for her. Arya was clearly lost.
She was nearing the end of the staircase when her foot slipped.
Luckily or unluckily Rehan was there to catch her.
For a moment she got lost in those deep brown eyes.
His , are you okay. Snapped her out of it.
That's when she noticed. They were close. Too close for her liking.
His hands were on her hips and there was hardly any space between them. She was holding on to his shirt for balance.
"Let go of me. "
"Why wifey? Feeling intimidated by our position. " He asked with his infamous smirk. But she kinda fixed this marriage. ,"
"No because you stink. "
He didn't.
"We both know you are lying. "
"No I'm not. Now let go off me. "
I said get off.
"Actually I'm not even touching you. You are the one holding onto my shirt."
Clear enough , she had her hands fisted on the fabric of his shirt as his hands laid on his sides.
Great. Now it's more awkward.
I let go of him.
Shit. Why did she come here in the first place?
Something about pan and kitchen.
"Pancakes." She whisper yelled.
"Yeah. Dad and Veer Bhai is making it. They are in the kitchen. "
"Thanks. "
Everyone ate the breakfast in silence.
Not the awkward ' I don't know what to say silence ' but more like 'all of us know what we have to say already silence. '
There were compliments for the chef's occasionally.
"I'm going to the orphanage to distribute some sweets. Your mother would have loved if you guys came too. "
"Of course we will come. " Veer Bhai answered for all of us.
We reached the orphanage and started distributing sweets to the children.
I always adored children and they
seemed to like her too.
Mahika was flying around like a butterfly among the children making them smile and laugh.
When she reached jiji , she saw that her eyes were filled with unshed tears.
" Sometimes I forget that I used to be like these children. Without anyone to call a family in this world. "
Mahika gave her a big bear hug.
"Well now that you have us. You are not going to get rid of us any time soon. "
She chuckled. " I know." I hope so.
Suddenly two more cars entered the compound.
One was black BMW.
The other,
Wait a minute.
Mahika knew that car. She would recognise it anywhere.
"Dad?" She called.
"Look Sree , your daughter remember me. "
Her father said getting out of the car.
She rushed into his arms.
"It is really you guys. "
"Yeah hug your father. Afterall I am just your mother. "
"Is my Sree jealous? "
I asked hugging her too.
"I missed you guys so much."
"Well it doesn't seem like you did. With all the calls and visits " her mother replied sarcastically.
"I was busy. "
Yeah right.
"Oyy idiot. "
But Anil, her brother, by the way who was always ecstatic to see her , who was standing just beside me ignored my entire existence.
"What happened to him?" I whispered to my father to which he shrugged.
"I don't know." He was chirpy while coming here.
"Hafiza ummi" , Veer bhaiya yelled towards the middle aged woman getting out of the car. He ran towards her and took her in his embrace.
"I missed you too meri jaan. "
"Fida didi kaha hai?"
"She is in her third trimester. Doctor has advised against travel. "
I turned towards Papa ji who was gazing at us with a smile.
"Did you plan all this? "
"Hello? Can't we visit our bestfriends favourite place on her anniversary? "
My mom asked me smacking my head slightly.
"Oww." I whimpered.
"And We knew Gauri before you guys ever did. Even you." Hafiza mausi said pointing at Raghav papa.
He raised his hands in surrender.
Gayathri Singhania, Hafiza Muhammad and Sreedevi Rai were bestfriends from their school time. They used to be The trio.
As mausi and maa caught up on things I turned towards my little brother.
"Hello??? Remember me. Your sister?" He ignored me. Then he ran towards Dhruv and hugged him.
"Hey champ. " Dhruv replied hugging him back.
Anil looked upto him with a million dollar smile.
"Good morning Jiju."
Dhruv picked him up.
Anil was not a person who would get close to anyone. But Dhruv was another thing. He knew him from the day he was born. He was a sibling to him as much as I was. And sometimes.
Sometimes.... I feel like I'm not his favourite anymore.
'I can't believe this. Your sister is standing right here and you go and hug him?"
"Jiju tell her that she isn't my sister. "
"Why not?"
" Because she always promises to do something but he never really does it. Last week she told me that she would take me to eat ice-cream on Sunday. She didn't even call me. "
Anil said then his his face in the crook of Dhruv's neck.
Oh shit. She messed up.
"Really Mahika?" Dhruv asked with a disappointed face.
"Oh come on. Don't gang up on me. "
I made Anil face me.
"I'm really sorry baby. I was busy. And I forgot about it. "
"That's what you always say. I don't want to talk to you anymore.
First you left me to go and live with jiju now you don't even visit me. "
The sudden realisation of how selfish I am was like an arrow laced with poison that striked my heart.
"I'm really sorry na. As a sorry I will take you for ice cream today and you can choose whatever ice cream you want. "
"I don't trust you. "
"You trust me right? If she doesn't take you , I will make her do it. " Dhruv promised him.
"Really?" Anil looked at Dhruv with hopeful eyes.
"Really". Dhruv said with a boop on his nose.
He started giggling at that.
"What is happening here? "
Her father joined in on the conversation.
Anil started telling him how evil eye was and how Dhruv was his savior all in a heavily animated way.
Mahika zoned out of the conversation and watched the three most important men in her life smiling together.
Anil's question brought her out of her trance.
"Didi who are orphans?"
"The children of God are called orphans." She replied without a moments hesitation.
"We will play here for sometime then I will take you for ice cream. "
"I want jiju to come to. "
"So you were talking to him on phone that day? "
"What day? "
"You know. In the hospital. "
"Yes? Why? "
"Nothing. Just curious. "
*
So what do you want? "
"Belgium choclate". Anil said with a cheeky grin.
"I will take a butterscotch. "
"What about you jiju?"
"A vanilla ice cream would do. "
I scoffed and muttered under my breath. " Basic. "
Dhruv leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear.
"I married you didn't I? "
I looked at his with disbelief.
Before I could sass back a voice called her name.
"Mahika?"
â
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