A Promise Forever

Chapter 4

Mini

My eyes followed Ela's long fingers as he tore a large piece of his ghee roast dosa to dip into sambar and chutney before taking a mouthful with relish. As soon as it touched his taste buds, he released a satisfying moan. "I missed your cooking, so much ma.."

How can someone's action so simple be so captivating? Tearing my gaze from him, I ducked my head to concentrate on my own plate.

"Really? Then have some more both of you.." Mom immediately went to his side to serve him more dosa and some on Veena's plate. Being in the military, I guess she too missed some good homemade food because just like Ela, She didn't hesitate to have more.

"Ela.." My dad began after swallowing the food down his throat, "I needed to talk to you about Mini.."

The moment my dad mentioned my name to him, the morsel of food that was in my mouth got stuck in the wrong pipe, making me choke and cough out in the most unattractive way.

"Mini, eat slowly, di.." Mom gritted as she patted the crown of my head in an attempt to help me push down the food properly.

"Sorry.." Mumbling an apology to no one in particular, I looked up at Ela.

His eyes rove over my face, my long hair, my eyes that for some unfathomable reason, brought a grimace on his face before he settled his eyes on my lips. The tingles I felt on the seam of them made me wonder if he was studying my lips but then why would he?

Shifting his gaze to my dad, he frowned, "What about Mini?"

"She got into the Armed Forced Medical College and she will be moving to Srinagar soon.." Dad replied, his tone giving out a lack of true joy in it.

I watched Ela's eyes widen just a little before letting out a strained 'oh'. It was laced with anger and accusation I was familiar with. Did anyone else hear it? Did our family get the hint of how mad he was at me right then?

"Wow! Uhmm.. that's great, Mini!!" Thankfully Veena chimed in on behalf of Ela who was staring at me like he wanted to kill someone, "So, when are you supposed to join?"

"Thanks.." I tried not to heed Ela's murderous stare directed at me. "My classes start next week.."

"That's way too soon. You will be going there even before our leave ends.." From the way she was trying to keep the conversation going, there was no doubt she was trying to be friendly with me, and in a way, she was keeping me comfortable. If she wasn't being too touchy with my Ela, I would have liked her company.

"Hmm yeah.." I nodded.

Letting his eyes relax back to my dad, he said in a roughened voice, "Don't worry, appa. The hostel is very safe and Mini will be fine staying there.."

I winced inwardly. It might seem like a harmless assurance to everyone but he was actually making it clear that he wanted me to stay in the hostel and nowhere near him. I had no such intentions myself, for his kind information.

Dad sighed, "I hope so but promise to be there for her whenever she needs you, Ela. She may be eighteen now but she's still my little girl.."

"You don't have to ask me that, appa. I will always be there for her.."

Is it abnormal that the tender look in his eyes made my heart gooey? He had the power to make me one minute and break me the next. He just proved it when he spoke again, "I too have something to tell you guys.."

I paused everything I was doing and snapped my eyes at him. The first thing that caught my attention was the shy but wide smile on Veena's lips.

Ela didn't wait for anyone as he continued, "I wish to marry Veena and I need your blessings.."

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END. My end.

Destroyed.

That could be the only word to describe how I felt. Is it possible to die from heartbreak? I think it is because I am just moments away from it.

"Oh my god! I knew it the second I saw Veena. I am so happy for you both.." The momentary silence was filled with my mom's joyous shrieks as she pulled them both into a hug. Dad and Aadhi congratulated them after her.

"I was beginning to think he would never agree to get married whenever he rejected a good proposal.." Dad said chuckling, earning laughter from everyone. "I'm glad he met you, Veena. You two would make a perfect pair.."

With all my heart, I wanted to be part of their happiness, congratulate them and laugh like everyone else around me.

But.. I wasn't as good an actress as I believed.

I promised myself that I would keep my secrets of loving Ela hidden from him and my family until the time was right but in that split second, I feared I would break down into tears and expose myself. The news ripped out my gut and left me to die but ignoring the tsunami-sized wound in my heart, I smiled at Ela and Veena. "Congratulations!! I am.. very happy for you both.."

I don't want to remember the pain when I uttered those words. But I have to say, I was surprised by my ability to control the tears that were stinging the back of my eyes.

"Thank you so much dear.." She hugged me tight with her sisterly affection. I dared to take a peek at Ela whose face was contorted in an inexplicable expression. I didn't want to delve more into it so quickly reverted my eyes away.

"I want you to take leave a month before our wedding, okay?" Veena added. "So that I will have someone to accompany me during the wedding shopping and arrangement."

I should have simply nodded and kept my mouth shut but since you all know how stupid I am at times, I didn't. "What about your family?"

She sucked in an inaudible breath before her eyes lost all their previous glint in them. "I don't have a family.."

"What? Why?"

"Mini.." Mom hissed at me asking me to cut it out.

"It's okay, aunty.." Veena shook her head as she met my eyes in the most friendly way possible, "My dad was in the army too and he passed away even before I was born. Mom died during childbirth so, that left me an orphan when I was an infant. I grew up in a home and joined the Army when I didn't see a purpose to live but that was only until I met Elamaran."

All the tears that I thought I had controlled well sprang out like a rainstorm as I leaped forward to hug Veena, "I'm sorry. I am so sorry.."

To say she was stunned by my action would be an understatement but she wrapped her arms around me. "Hey, it's okay Mini. It was a long time ago. Believe me, I don't even miss them anymore.." She said rubbing my back comfortingly.

I no longer knew what I was crying for, the love that I knew I had lost, the guilt growing inside me for wanting something that didn't belong to me anymore, or for Veena who had no family but was hoping to build one desperately.

Ela too was an orphan until he found us.

Maybe Ela and Veena understand each other due to their similar grievous pasts.

Maybe their bond was deep-rooted and beyond my understanding.

Maybe their love was stronger than my stupid one-sided love that might never make sense to anyone.

That very instance I made the decision to respect their relationship, even if I couldn't accept it wholeheartedly. It was mandatory for me to back off and let Ela be happy once in his life.

When I pulled back wiping my tears, all pairs of eyes were fixed on me worriedly but as I said before I always cried upon real-life tragedies, and so no one held me under suspicion.

"It's okay, Mini. Stop crying now, my baby.." When my mom wiped my cheeks of any tear strain and kissed one of them, I truly felt like a child. I didn't want to grow up anymore. The only reason I wanted to grow up faster was for Ela but there was no reason for it anymore.

"I will go to my room.." I said picking up my plate from the table, knowing how much my mom hated it if I left it there after a meal but to my surprise, she grabbed it from my hold.

"Don't bother about it, okay? I will take care.."

I nodded and left from there, feeling all sorts of emotions coming to strangle me at once, but not without hearing my mom apologize to Veena, "I'm sorry Veena. Mini's always a little sensitive.."

***

"I don't want to go to Srinagar anymore, Navi. I think I should just stay here and try some local medical colleges." After the crying fit of a phone call I made to Navira, she hurried to my house as early as possible. "I feel like a villain in their life.." I sobbed against her shoulder.

"You are not a villain in anybody's life, Mini. You are the sweetest person to walk on this planet and you can still attend college in Srinagar even if you want to move on in life.."

"I'm not sure about it anymore.." I cried more.

"It's okay. Cry it all out, Mini.." She consoled me by patting her palm on my back repeatedly, "Just make sure you get him out of your system by the end of it. Go there, make new friends, fall in love and just move on. This definitely is not the end of the world, understand?"

I nodded. What else could I have done?

However, I didn't think it was even possible. How do you delete the feelings you have had for someone your entire life?

Every single part of my life, Ela was there for me.

Every memory and every dream, he was there in me.

At every milestone, he was there to celebrate it with me.

From teaching me to slide down the handrail of the staircase to riding a bicycle, he was there to guide me.

How can I simply pluck him out of my heart when he's the greater chunk of my heart?

"Do you want to stay the weekend at my place?" She asked and I didn't hesitate to jump at the very first offer she made.

At least I could spend the night crying without having to worry about explaining to my mom the reason for my swollen eyes the next morning.

"Okay, let's go then.."

I packed a couple of nightdresses, my toiletries, and some clothes I would need during the stay at her place. It wasn't difficult to convince my parents as it was our usual practice to spend our weekends at one another homes and considering my recent breakdown, she agreed to it extra fast.

As we were making our way down the stairs, I came face to face with Ela. Veena was nowhere around him and even though, I have promised myself to try moving on, my heart celebrated her absence.

Pressing a hand on my shoulder, Navira spoke, "Hi, Ela anna.."

"Hey Navira, it's good to see you.." He was so casual as he spoke to her against how strained he was always around me, I mean after I kissed him. I stood there awkwardly as they exchanged pleasantries.

"I would come home to meet your parents.."

"Sure anna, they would love to meet you.." All throughout the conversation Navira never brought up his wedding, knowing it would only stab my already cracked and plastered heart. I was so grateful to her for that.

Once he was done talking to her, his gaze dropped to the bag that I was carrying, "You going somewhere?"

"We are having a girls' night at Navira's place.." Keeping my eyes connected to his, I said in a low, soft voice, sanded over my heartbreak.

"And when will you be back?" His eyes were soft, full of concern in addition to something unnamed that made my heart race abnormally.

Do you now understand?

How can I not fall in love with this guy all over again when he looked at me like that

Though I didn't want to be, I was bursting with happiness. "Sunday evening.."

"So, it's more like a girls' weekend.. Huh?"

I grinned even when the grief was slicing my insides, "Yeah, something like that.."

"Alright. Stay safe, okay?"

"Sure.." I moved past him and got down the remaining stairs. Kissing my parents goodbye and getting into Navira's Audi that was waiting outside, I sighed in relief to finally leave the house, even if it is just for the weekend. It made me depressed and relieved at the same, depressed because I was spending time away from Ela and relieved that I didn't have to torture myself by witnessing him together with his fiance. I can't remember when my affection for him turned into a crush and such a heart-shattering love but if it meant him happiness, I would try to move on for his sake.

A/N:

Hey fellows!!

How many of you feel sorry for Mini? :(

Don't forget you leave your comments and feedback. You can check my sss author page for the next update.

Love,

SwaRam