Chapter 8

Dekha hazaro daffa apko,
Fir bekrari kesi hai,?
Sambhale sambhlta nahi yeh dil,
Koch aap mai baat esi hai…

｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡

Jaipur, Rajasthan.

I was wandering around the lake when suddenly I noticed a girl standing very close to the water, staring at it for a long time without moving.

I knew what that meant. People who are depressed do things like this. And some end up attempting suicide. I couldn’t let that happen.

I walked up to her and grabbed her arm.

She didn’t even blink. It was like she saw a ghost or something.
Am I really that bad?
Or maybe… no.

She just kept babbling to herself, so I patted her head and walked away.

But something about that moment stayed with me, a strange connection, a strong feeling like I’d known her before.
But we never met, not even once.
Maybe I was just imagining things.

✧

(Time skip)

I’m returning to Punjab now.
I only found out my sister-in-law’s name is Inaiyat, such a pretty name,  along with her college and house address, and a little about her family.

But I still haven’t seen Yash’s dream girl because his loyal guards are always around.

And if that Raju ka bacha (Rajvinder Singh, one of Yash’s trusted friends) spots me here, he’ll definitely tell Yash  and I’ll get a good beating.
Plus, the biggest reason I’m heading back is because Daddi (grandmother) is coming home.

So sorry, Bhabhi ji. I’ll meet you later. For now, I’m going.

✧

I was doing my homework but got distracted thinking about the man I met by the lake.

His eyes, they kind of got to me.
It felt like we’d met before, like there was some connection. Maybe…?

Ahhh, Vani, what’s wrong with you?
He was such a jerk. Don’t you have better options?

I snapped out of my silly thoughts when I heard Mom calling.

I went downstairs.
“What happened, Mamma?”

“Whose tiffin is this? It’s not ours, I know.”
“Calm down, a girl gave it to me.”

“A tiffin?”
“No, actually I forgot my lunch today, so she made a cake for me and I forgot to give the tiffin back.”

“A stranger? Are you making friends again? Is she your friend? Why did she bake a cake for you?”

“Indian moms… how can you ask so many questions at once? Take a deep breath. She’s not my friend, just a classmate. I helped her once, so she baked a cake to say thanks.”

“First, what do you mean by ‘Indian moms’? When you become one, you’ll understand. Second, it’s not wrong to make friends. But it’s your choice. Also, we don’t return someone’s utensils empty  it’s not auspicious. I’ll prepare something for her, and you remember to give it back, okay?”

“Is it necessary?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Okay, fine.”

✧

(Time skip)
Ludhiana, Punjab.

I was relieved Yash didn’t ask where I’d been. Since we live together, it’s obvious he’d notice. But he knows I deal with some stuff, so maybe he chose not to ask. Relief.
I went straight to bed because I came home late.

✧

(Next day)

I just finished a meeting and saw Yash coming too.

“How are you, dude?” I asked.
He gave me a deadly glare.

“Aren’t we living together? So why ask how I am?” His tone was annoyed.

I love teasing him even more.
“Just asking because it’s been a week since you last saw Bhabhi. I know you’re dying inside to see her.”

I sang a line from a song:
Mai sunya ajj kal teri akh na lagdi ratta nu…

(I heard you can’t sleep at night these days.)

He tried to control himself. I knew he was about to beat me up, but I didn’t care.

“Just think, what if Bhabhi starts dating another boy?”

I loved getting on his nerves.
But his reply shocked me.

“If the boy is good, I won’t have a problem.”

“Seriously? Won’t you be jealous? You’ve been stalking her for over two years and you’re ready to let her go to someone else?”

“You know what? She’ll never be mine. I don’t love her; I’m obsessed. I’m trying to move on. Once she finds a good guy, I’ll leave her.”

My heart cracked. How could he just give up? If I were in his place, I’d fight for her by any means. But he…
It hurt, and I didn’t want to talk about it more. I knew it hurt him more than it hurt me. Maybe I should just shut up.

We reached home.

✧

We went straight to the living room, expecting Dadi to be there.

I touched Dadi’s feet.
“Sat Shri Akal, Dadi ji, ki haal chaal?”
(Punjabi greeting: How are you?)

“Sat Shri Akal, puttar ji, Rab tenu hamesha hasda kheda rakhda rahe.”
(Greetings, may God always keep you happy.)

“mai ta moj vich hi huna dadi , ah saadu vste mang ah chiz”

( I am always great dadi, ask for this blessing for this irritated person )

Dadi and I looked at Yash and laughed.

We all talked for a while, then the marriage talk started. Everyone wanted Yash to marry someone  a friend’s daughter, bua’s jethani… like, God please ask him his choice!

But no one cared about his feelings. I don’t like it, but I can’t say anything.

Tau ji said Yash will marry his friend’s daughter, and maybe someone is already looking for her.

I just pray Yash marries his dream girl. God, please don’t break his heart.

______________________________________

Exact Words:-1057

And that’s a wrap for this chapter!

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Heading off!!

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