Chapter 2 : Meet Her

• few months later *

Omkara was seriously worried for his brother Shivaay. Up until now Omkara was confident that no girl could have his brother Shivaay wrapped around her finger. However, his fiancee, Anika was having some visible effect on his brother. Omkara was flipping through a magazine killing time waiting for Shivaay to come back from Goa. He and Anika had gone down to Goa to finalize their wedding venue. When Shivaay entered and made his way to the room quite lost in his thoughts, Omkara huffed and followed his brother’s trail. He really needed to know what was up with his brother.

“Shivaay, I am definitely sure something happened! Did you guys get laid?” Omkara blustered entering Shivaay’s room, vocalizing his doubts.

Shivaay sighed turning around to face his brother. “No, we did not. We stayed in separate rooms FYI. Nothing happened.”

Omkara looked closely. The way Shivaay’s lips naturally settled into a faint smile and his eyes shined, something had definitely happened. “I am not buying that. It’s written all over your face!”

Shivaay squinted his eyes and drew his eyebrows upwards, “Exactly what is written?”

“That thing…” Omkara said while thinking of the right words. “that thing when a man is satisfied.” He said for the lack of better words.

Shivaay’s features contoured to express distaste. “Like seriously, satisfied?”

Omkara nodded seating himself on his brother’s bed. “Something like that. I can’t put it into words. But you definitely had that written on your face. And….” he looked at his brother grinning ear to ear.

Shivaay folded his hands waiting for Omkara to continue.

A genuine smile drew itself on Omkara’s face, “And, you seem happy!” Realization hit Omkara, Shivaay was falling for Anika. It explained the random and frequent smiles.

Omkara sat up tensed, his smile fading. Love came with a lot of pain. He didn’t want his brother to go through that terrible pain. “Shivaay, don’t you dare say it’s love. Love equals doomed.”

Shivaay frowned meeting his brother’s serious eyes. “You’re saying as though you have experienced it yourself. And, honestly, I don’t know what it is. But you’re right, she makes me— happy.” He shrugged with his lips curving to a heartfelt smile.

Omkara looked at him solemnly, “Shivaay, you’ve barely known her. It’s just an infatuation, you’re attracted to her. Trust me once the two of you get laid. This ‘she makes me happy’ will go out of the window. Look, I am just worried about you. Anika is nice, granted. You like her, great. But, I don’t understand, where does marriage come in. You both are young, it’s…”

Shivaay cut him off, saying, “Om. Not again. We’ve argued about this before. And every damn time it leads to nowhere. You get to make your choice and I get to make mine. I choose to marry Anika. You choose to not commit to a relationship. I respect your choice.”

“Fine!” Omkara threw his hands up in defeat getting on his feet. It was as though Shivaay was holding up a cracked mirror before his face. Omkara didn’t want to argue any further. Shivaay could think whatever he wanted.

“Om!” Shivaay called, as Omkara neared the door to his room.

“Yes, Sir?” Omkara turned to look at Shivaay, who stood roughly four feet away.

“Is it still too early for you to tell me about that girl who made you like this?” Shivaay looked deeply into his brother’s eyes.

Omkara’s heart skipped a beat but his lips drew into an amused smile. “Shivaay, I don’t understand why you think a girl made me like this! I have told you before and I repeat, I’ve never been serious about any girl. No girl can ever change me.” Can words you say become your truth?

“I pray that you find that one woman who changes you for the better.”

Omkara scoffed, “Women never make a man better, unless of course, they are—” a smug grin bloomed on his face.

“Sick!” Shivaay muttered shaking his head, Omkara chuckled.

“You’ll agree soon! Good night, bro!” Omkara waved sauntering out of the room the grin still adorning his features. Half way down the corridor, he decided he needed to get out and have some fun.

---

“See you tomorrow, sweetface!” Rachel, Gauri’s best friend in the city, said on her way out.

Gauri smiled waving at her and then entered inside her small cozy apartment. She quickly tidied up the living hall and then sat to relax. She unlocked her phone to find over twenty five notifications. She was almost sure at least half would be from Anika. She was pleasantly surprised when there were none. The last time Anika had texted, she had sent pictures of her parasailing adventure in Goa with her fiance. Gauri couldn’t believe it was the same Anika who was far from romance and the like.

Time definitely had a strange way of changing people.

Seems like Anika was really busy with her wedding preparations. Gauri still remembered the first time she had met Anika. Anika was a ditto copy of her mother, Mrs. Talwar. It was at an event organized by an NGO that worked towards the betterment of married women who faced abuse. She was a volunteer just like her. They were assigned duty in the same domain and that was where their friendship found roots. Ever since then, they both got so close that they were sisters without the same parentage.

Gauri quickly typed a message to Anika. “Seems like someone went on a pre-wedding honeymoon.”

“When are you coming back to India?” Gauri surprisingly received a quick response from her. Gauri smiled and began typing.

Gauri: “Worry not. There’s no way I am missing your beach wedding!”

Anika: “And my question remains unanswered.”

Gauri: “next weekend Ma’am.”

Anika: “Good girl! I gotta go TTYL.”

Gauri: “of course someone else is on top of your priority list now.”

Anika: “Shut up drama queen!”

Gauri smiled. Anika’s messages and calls to her had reduced over the past few days. She was definitely busy preparing for a wedding. Gauri went back to their older messages and clicked on the pictures of the probable wedding location. It was a beautiful place. Gauri loved the sight of water bodies. She wiped through the images. Anika’s wedding would be any girl’s dream wedding. Lucky Anni!

She sighed, keeping her phone away. She needed to get her assignments done. She looked at the time thoughtfully, maybe she could take a nap and get back to her assignment.

• A month later*

Time is ever powerful. It’s true that while we are busy making plans our fate is busy triggering actions that lead to our future. Omkara missed Daadi. He couldn’t believe it was more than three weeks she was gone, gone forever. He glanced at Anika who was helping Pinky in the kitchen. He wondered if she was actually happy with the whole rushed marriage. He quietly took his cup of tea and left the kitchen leaving Anika and Pinky to talk about their stuff.

Anika simply lingered around Pinky talking to her and telling her about Gauri as they set up the breakfast on the table. She had received a call from Rohini aunty, her neighbor, saying that the municipal corporation had dug up the footpath outside her house and hence the access to the house was not possible.

Thus, Anika had thought of arranging for Gauri’s stay in the Oberoi Hotel until the matter was resolved. However, Pinky pressed Anika to invite Gauri home. Anika couldn’t be happier. Gauri was like her sister, so she obviously didn’t want her to stay at the hotel. As for the municipal corporation, she had decided to make a complaint. They must take the due permission of the residents before digging up in front of their houses. Anika didn’t want to trouble her mother with the matter, while her mother was finally enjoying her trip.

---

Anika bubbled with joy seeing her soul-sister walk out from the international arrival section dressed in jeggings and a sleeveless tunic. Her long hair whose ends once reached her hips now ended a little above her tiny waist. The curls had transformed into smooth straight strands. She flicked her hair walking out her eyes looking around. The classic Gauri hair-flick. Anika smiled, the little woman had only become more beautiful with time.

“Gauri!” Anika waved. The pretty woman immediately turned and smiled rushing towards her.

“Oh. My. God.” Gauri uttered looking at Anika from head to toe. “Fatty lost weight! And my…look at you. Seems like your bridal touch up hasn’t faded.” Gauri gushed hugging her.

Anika smiled giving her a squeezing hug. “Forget me, look at you. India’s going to have a hotter summer this time.” Anika remarked pulling away to look at her again.

“I know.” Gauri winked, glancing down at Anika’s hands. Her hands adorned beautiful red bangles. Something Gauri had obsessed over as a little girl. “Oh, my, look at those bangles. Chuda, and all. I still can’t believe you got married. Like, you, got married!”

“See closely,” Anika grinned pointing to the nuptial chain in her neck.

“Damn,” Gauri exclaimed looking at Anika, with a smile. She seemed happy, genuinely happy.

“You colored your hair?” Anika suddenly asked astonished seeing the reddish hues at Gauri’s hair tips.

“Yep. Two months back.” Gauri answered with a grin.

“I thought you didn’t like experimenting with your hair. And now it’s all chopped and colored.” Anika muttered taking a bunch of her hair in her hands.

“A girl who changes her hairstyle is all set to change her life.” Gauri winked.

“Hmm.. Boyfriend?” Anika quizzed raising her brows.

“Nah, didn’t find a single deserving candidate. Maybe India is lucky.” Gauri replied haughtily.

Anika laughed, while Gauri giggled. Anika’s phone joined the merry moment by ringing. “Hello, yes Shivaay… We are leaving. Bye.” She smiled turning to Gauri who waggled her brows teasingly.

“Let’s go.” She said ignoring Gauri’s look.

“Someone seems to be waiting for you!” Gauri grinned nudging her, walking ahead.

Anika shook her head, “Madam, I don’t think that’s yours…” Anika pointed to the baggage Gauri had totally forgotten about in excitement.

Gauri bit her lip, sheepishly. “Sorry, excitement..”

Anika laughed, helping Gauri push the trolley out. The driver soon came and took charge, addressing Anika as Madam.

“Madam?” Gauri teased smiling, and Anika shrugged her shoulders.

“I am so, so, so happy for you,” Gauri said seeing the smile that never left Anika’s face.

---

Gauri got off the car and walked with Anika inside the huge mansion marveling at the place Anika called home now. Only now she understood what Anika meant by he’s a rich guy. The driver followed them with her luggage. Pinky was there to greet them.

“Gauri, that is mom, mom that’s Gauri!” Anika introduced looking between the two.

Anika was taken aback when Gauri hugged Pinky. She smiled toothily. “Nice to meet you Aunty!”

“I haven’t even spoken yet and you’re already feeling nice?” Pinky exclaimed smiling.

“The vibes aunty and Anika has told me a lot about you.” Gauri smiled warmly. Pinky totally reminded Gauri of her late aunt, Jayshree who had brought her up after her parents passed away in an untoward accident. Maybe it was the smile specifically.

“Really? Now, tell me what Anika has told you about her mother-in-law.” Pinky demanded, Gauri smiled.

“Sorry, Aunty, that’s classified information.” Gauri spoke and then leaned towards Pinky whispering, “I can tell you later when we are alone!”

“Gauri, shut up!” Anika protested hugging Pinky.

“She’s my mom!” Anika kissed Pinky’s cheek.

“Aunty, that’s how Anika butters people!” Gauri warned.

“Hey, Bhabhs!” Rudra greeted Anika.

“Hey, Ru! Meet Gauri. Gauri, meet Rudra, my sweet bro-in-law!”

“Hi, Rudra!” Gauri said stepping forward slightly to shake her hand.

“Hello, Di!” Rudra greeted her back. “How was your flight?”

“I slept well!” Gauri answered honestly, “and now I am hungry!” she added and the others chuckled.

“Come on girls, go and quickly freshen up I will get the dinner table set.” Pinky instructed.

“Looking forward to it, Aunty!” Gauri beamed as Anika led her up the stairs.

Pinky smiled looking at the two of them which Rudra noted. “You’ve always wanted girls, right?”

“They fill the home with happiness.”

“It’s not that we guys spread sadness!” Rudra muttered.

“But, you don’t have time for family.”

“haww, you’re lying Choti Ma! Only yesterday evening, you sent me to buy curd for making raita, which by the way was eaten by everyone. Logically, I actually spend a lot of time for family…”

“Rudra, shut up. Or you are not getting custard today!”

“You made custard?” Rudra asked, his eyes brightening up.

Pinky gave a winning smile.

“You are always right. Girls are more happy things than guys. Come on, let me help you set up the dining table.” Rudra said, he definitely needed a bigger proportion of the custard.

“Shaitaan!” Pinky remarked twisting his ear dragging him towards the kitchen.