Chapter 3

The sun was high in the sky as Abhaya and Mahira woke up and got ready to leave for their college after packing all the assignments, they had to submit today but they stopped dead looking the decked hall in front of them. Everything was covered in white orchids and Malini was standing tall in the hall giving a nice scolding to the servants who were making her go crazy.

"What are you doing?! Don't you know Adi doesn't like this colour at all and you, I told you not to go in his room and touch his things, but you broke a vase in there? Hume gussa dilana chahtey hain kya sab aaj?" her shout was enough to make all the servants bow their heads and she took a harsh breath to calm herself down.

"Aap log jaayen yaha sey." Milani said as she noticed Mahira coming down the staires wearing a white Anarkali and smiled at her before her gaze fell on her daughter who was wearing a white top with black bottoms, her smiled twitched at her way too colourful sneakers that she wanted to shake her daughter to ask why she would destroy a pretty outfit like that. Aakhir kaha sey lagta hain ki yeh hamari beti hain.

Mahira folded her hands and wished Milani and Milani nodded at her while Abhaya just hugged her. Milani wanted to ask about her sneakers or atleast let her wear something better going with her outfit, but she was called by the servants and before Mahira and Abhaya could ask what all the arrangements were about, she left.

"What is this all about? Konsi party hain jo mother India is herself going crazy about?" Abhaya said as she fingered the orchid in the vase and Mahira's gaze also wandered around her. The hall was covered with flowers, wherever one looked, there were flowers that seemed to match the beautiful pink lace and then those silver shinning drapes matched with the white walls seemed to bring out the beauty of everything in the hall together.

"..." Mahira didn't say anything to Abhaya and kept looking around before she realised that they were getting late and held Abhaya's hand to pull her out.

"Breakfast toh karle!" Abhaya said but Mahira ignored her and pulled her out of the mansion. "Yaar, college won't run away, we have to submit assignments by 12, not 9."

"But I have class in the morning and you, you also have classes right now. Chalo ab!" Mahira said and they both left in Abhaya's car.

Mahira who was feeling a little weird since morning was confused when Abhaya stopped the car before reaching college and Mahira who thought this feeling was due to not reaching college in time glared at Abhaya.

"Arey, ghoor kyun rahi hain? Chup-chap yeh golgappe kha, theek ho jayega jo bhi lag raha." Abhaya said as she touched Mahira's lips with a gol-gappa and made her eat with her own hands.

"I know that today you are not feeling well but it's probably due to uncle being away. You are just not used to not meeting him in the morning. Chill kar." Mahira looked at Abhaya who was still feeding her gol-gappe and smiled as she fed Abhaya as well and within five minutes both ate their breakfast gol-gappas.

"Ab chalen?" Mahira nodded at Abhaya who shook her head with a smile.

"Don't forget your medicines today. You ate spicy again, what if your voice–" Abhaya stopped once Mahira gave her look and she said again "Just don't forget or your throat will hurt."

Mahira finally nodded and Abhaya parked her car, then both walked out of the parking lot before Vivaan came and held them by their shoulder.

All of them together reached their classes and Vivaan left them to attend to his own.

With this, their day was filled with classes and assignment submissions that any college student goes through.

In this weirdly peaceful day, Mahira wondered why her heart wasn't at peace when Abhaya suddenly stood up and said "Damn!"

"I knew it. Mother India is so excited because bhai is returning. Shit!" Abhaya stumped her feet and held Mahira's hand to pull her to the car. Mahira who was suddenly pulled was confused by Abhaya as she questioned, "Toh kya, you should be happy, your bhai is coming home."

"I am happy but before that let's get out of the house. Let's shift to your house." Abhaya said as she smiled at Mahira and Mahira held Abhaya's hand that was holding hers with her other hand and pulled her to a stop.

"Kya bol rahi hain? Why do we have to shift if your brother is coming back?" Mahira knocked Abhaya's head, but Abhaya shook her head and said "Tu samajh nahi rahi hain. Bhai is coming back which means the whole house will become dark."

"Kyun tere bhai kya raat hain, jo ghar ko bhi dark bana denge?" Mahira giggled at Abhaya while Abhaya just whined like a baby and said "Keh saktey hain vaise toh yeh bhi."

Abhaya frowned and said "Bhai is like a cracker, but this cracker doesn't need a spark, it can burst anytime anywhere. Bohot gussa hain bhai mein."

"Accha but uncle and everyone are so calm, you are just thinking too much." Mahira said and Abhaya again shook her head.

"Dad also used to be angry young man but bhai's anger calmed his down. When bhai was here, even dad was scared from his anger. He stayed a long time with our Nanaji, so he became like him only. Bilkul Gussail."

"Phir bhi, agar hum kuch nahi kahenge toh vo kyun kuch kahenge hume. Tu bas kuch gadbad mat kriyo, sab accha rahega." Mahira said and Abhaya nodded before saying, "Ab ghar chalen? Aaj bhai ke Swagat ke liye mom ne party rakhi hai."

"Mm." Mahira said and soon they both reached Goenka mansion.

"Aagyi aap dono, hume toh laga tha ki ab bas gadi bhejege tabhi aayegi aap dono. Go upstairs and get ready. Mahira beta, I selected a dress for you too. Go and wear it." Mahira nodded at Milani and took Abhaya with her to get ready.

Abhaya stared at the traditional wear that was set aside for her and looked at the one set aside for Mahira and said "Yaar, terko toh mom ne ek Anarkali suit diya and mujhe ye bhari bharkam lehenga. Yeh toh galat hain. Tujhe bhi toh yahi milna chahiye tha. Akeli main kyu torture hun?"

Mahira smiled and told Abhaya to pick hers and when Abhaya picked the Anarkali suit, her arms almost fell off from the weight. "Yeh itna bhari kyun hain?"

"Because yours and mine are same, it's just mine is based on what I usually wear and thus it seems simple but is heavier than yours. Tu tension mat le, aunty hum dono ko torture krengi, tujhe akele nahi krengi. Now, let's get ready, okay?" Mahira pushed Abhaya in the washroom and herself got ready in the room only.

With each other's help, both got ready before Milani called them down.

"Chalen baby doll?" Abhaya said as she bowed to Mahira who was wearing her hairs down looking like a princess in her black and gold Anarkali. Mahira nodded and held Abhaya's elbow that she forwarded saying, "Ji, bilkul."

Both laughed and walked down the stairs.

Looking at the two coming down, Milani and Rajeev smiled at them and looked around for once to say, "Kab badi ho jati hain betiyan kabhi pata hi nahi chalta."

"Haan. Mahi bilkul Mannat Bhabhi ki tarah dikh rahi hain na." Rajeev said and Milani nodded and as soon as the two reached them, Milani took a little hint of kajal from her eyes and touched Mahira's and Abhaya's ear.

"Bohot pyaari lag rahi aaj aap dono. Go enjoy yourself." Milani said before she was whisked away by her husband to meet all the friends she invited in today's banquet.

Mahira was smiling at everyone around her when suddenly her heartbeat fastened, and she looked behind her at the entrance.

Her heart skipped a beat while a man strode into the party. His gait was calm and confident yet there was a sense of hurry, he was looking right inside. She couldn't see his face, but she could guess that it surely wasn't bad. But then, anyone with money doesn't look bad, if he does, it means he doesn't have enough money to make it pretty.

Mahira kept looking at the entrance and suddenly Abhaya pulled her arm towards that man when the lights suddenly went out and the spotlight fell on Rajeev.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the star of the party. My son, Advit Goenka." With this, the man Mahira was looking for suddenly came into light and amid cheers and applause, Mahira's glass of juice slipped her hand and broke, but nobody noticed it in the middle of the loud noise.

Meri mahi.

Mahira's ears buzzed and her head ached before she suddenly pulled at Abhaya's hand who seeing how Mahira was in pain took her back to the room and asked her "What happened, Mahi? Tu theek hain?"

Mahira wanted to answer but her throat gave out and she pointed at her throat that she can't speak, and Abhaya hit herself on her head and said "it's all my fault, mujhe tujhe khilana hi nahi chahiye tha bahar ka khana. Tu ruk, main teri medicine deti hun tujhe."

With this Abhaya helped Mahira eat her medicine and left her to change her clothes and rest.

Mahira also believing what Abhaya said about the roadside food believed that the reason for her headache is that unhealthy food and since, she used to get ill a lot, she didn't think too much and fell asleep on her bed.

-

Mahira who entered her dreamland was completely unaware of the black eyes that were looking for her.

Advit was looking around the hall as even his heartbeat heightened, and his eyes fell on his sister who came down in a hurry reaching him and hugging him to welcome him, but her smile didn't seem to reach her eyes.

"What happened? Not happy to see me?" Advit asked as he wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder and Abhaya shook her head and said "No bhai, actually–"

Before Abhaya completed what she wanted to say, Rajeev came there, and asked Abhaya about Mahira and Abhaya told him how Mahira suddenly got ill. Rajeev nodded his head and said "Your Mumma will check on her, you both enjoy."

Rajeev told Milani about Mahira and Milani went upstairs to check on her, coming down soon to tell Rajeev how Mahira was sleeping like a baby.

"Probably because she isn't used to the loudness in here." Milani said and Advit looked at Rajeev in question and Rajeev said "She is my friends' daughter. You don't know her."

Advit nodded and continued looking around because even now his heart wasn't at peace.

His face that was becoming dark at every second that passed by scared his family as one by one each of them ran away. Advit was accompanied by his friend Aditya who smiled at him and said, "Ab kisne gussa dilaya hai tujhe?"

Advit shook his head at Aditya and said, "Kisine nahi."

"Phir?"

"Bas usey dekhne ke liye taras raha hun jo meri hain par mere pas nahi hain." His hands touched his chest where his locked was smiling to himself.

"Par bohot jald mere pas hogi, mere saath hogi aur meri hogi." Advit looked at Aditya with a smile and his smile held promises which made Aditya feel a little concerned for the girl's wellbeing, but he didn't say anything.