Chapter 3
1546 Words
I feel overwhelm.
After a long time, I get the chance to spend the whole day with my family. There is a difference between talking over the phone call for an hour and being in their presence in person. I never think I'm missing these feelings for long. I have always felt that I am missing something from my life. Several times, I question myself but never get the answer. Now I know what it is; It's the feeling of being pampered by your loved ones, seeing them fussing over you even for small things. Have I known it earlier, I would have packed up and come back the moment I received my degree. Nevertheless, it feels good to be here.
My cheeks hurt from grinning from ear to ear. Throughout all our interactions, I am giggling like an i***t. I can't help laughing seeing my mama and bhabhi fussing over me. They force me to eat a whole plate of my favourite biryani with a bunch of side dishes until I'm stuffed. Overfeeding is in our family, but I never think I will become a victim here.
Even though I try to deny it, they scold me for being so lean, and how I should have eaten more.
As soon as I finish eating and talking, I go back to my old room to rest.
As I look inside my room, nothing change, and it is a great relief to me. My previous birthday photos hung proudly on the wall behind my bed, covering the entire wall. Other photos of me with friends and family can also be seen on display. Those memories bring tears to my eyes, happy tears, of course.
I go through my cabinet to grab some old clothes. It's never easy for me to find my clothes. To help me with that, I always call Mama. I am smiling after reminiscing about those days when I yell for her if I couldn't find my clothes in my closet.
“Mama, where is my school uniform? I can't find it!" I cry out frantically calling my mother for help.
“Why are you shouting, Ridhi?"She asked her hand on her hips.
“Mama, I can't find my uniform and I'm getting late. Please find it for me."I said, showing her the puppy dog eyes I know she could never resist.
"Okay."She gives in and sighed. My face lit up with triumph as I move aside, allowing her to pass.
After searching for my clothes for less than a minute, she found my uniform.
"You're amazing, mama." I kissed her cheeks and ran to the bathroom to change.
"Grow up, Ridhi. You are not a child. I won't always be there for you." She said to me, but she was smiling at the moment.
"Oh, Mommy. You won't be going anywhere, so stop thinking like that." I winked at her before taking my school bag and running out of the house.
My lips curl upwards in a blinding smile as I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.
After a hot shower, I lie in bed to get some much-needed sleep.
My eyes feel heavy and I am starting to drift to sleep. I don't know I'm tired until all the thoughts leave my mind.
'Oh, how I miss you,' I mumble in a sleepy voice and take my favourite pillow into my arms, letting myself become absorbed in sleep.
*****
I wake up feeling someone's soft touch on my hair. Opening my eyes slightly, I see my maa sitting beside me, looking up at me with a smile. My head rests on her lap as I wrap my arms around her waist, making myself comfortable.
As her hands stroke the ends of my hair, I sigh softly in pleasure.
'Oh, how much I missed this'
"Get up, sunshine," she whispered.
“Hmm,” I bury my face in her belly, making her laugh.
“Sunshine wakey, wakey”
“Five minutes more maa”
My mother and I sat in silence together for a while, enjoying the touch of my mother.
“Ahem,” says Maa.
“Yes maa”
“Ridhu. We plan to go to see your aunt, Malika. "You should join us"
"Okay maa. But when?'
“Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock”
“Okay maa,”
“Now get up, Ridhu. I'm going to Shanti house. Want to tag along?" she asked.
Upon hearing that, I spring out of bed.
"Yes. Yes, of course, maa. Let me dress up"
Taking out a blue salwar from my cupboard, I head to the bathroom to freshen up.
Shanti aunty is my mummy best friend and her elder brother's wife. Her daughter Naina is my bestie.
It's been a while since I last saw her.
I missed her bickering so much.
After getting ready, we leave for their house. Instead of driving, we choose to walk since she's only a few minutes from our house.
Maa presses the doorbell. The aunt opens the door and is shocked to see me there.
"Ridhu, meri bachi"
"The one and only, Mami Ji"
I am pulled into a hug by her.
"When did you come back? And look at how thin you have become kiddo." She keeps complaining nonstop.
'Calm down, Shanti, and let us in first,' Maa says to us, making us both laugh.
"See how my pumpkin turned into a stick," she complained. Mom rolled her eyes at her comment.
"Mami ji, I am fit and fine. And you can always cook my favourite food and turn me back to your pumpkin."I joke.
A smile spreads across her face as she gazes at me, "Of course, Ridhu. I will"
“Mami Ji, where is Naina?”
"She is trying to watch a horror movie without shouting in her room" She laughs.
Naina is always like this. Although she fears watching horror movies alone, she always tries to do it.
On tip-toe, I make my way to her room. The door opens ajar and here she is on her bed, sitting with her back to the door and her arms folded. Without making a sound, I amble inside slowly.
In my mind, I count. One... Two... Three...
"Ahh," I scream.
“Ahhhh... Bhoot... Maa, Bachao... “She screams like a maniac.
“Haha... hahaha... Look at your face" She looks at me with wide eyes.
“You? Ridhi ki bachi…”
With a squeal, I sprint out of the room, followed by her.
After our little chase, we both fall into a fit of laughter and slump onto her bed.
We spend the entire day chatting and laughing. She gives me all the gossip and what's new about everyone.
When Maa calls us downstairs, saying that it is getting late, we bid our goodbyes to each other with a promise to meet up the next day and have a girls' day out.
****
"Ridhu, hurry up, we don't have all day" Maa calls up from downstairs.
I yell back, "Coming.".
Then I grab my dupatta and dash out of the room.
For the first time in a long time, I'm wearing an Anarkali suit. My presence in the living room draws everyone's attention.
Finally, I thought we would be there by next week or maybe even after that," Avni said irritatedly.
I bite the inside of my cheeks as a smile threatens to stretch on my lips. That’s Avi for you. Sometimes she irritates me like hell, but she's sweet like cake.
“Come on, let's go”
I, Papa, mummy, and Avni got into one car, while bhaiya decides to drive along with bhabhi in another one. It’s a two hour’s drive from here. I’m jumping in my seat, like a child on christmas, with a grin that can make anyone question my sanity. But who cares what others say? I’m beyond ecstatic to meet her in person.
Malik aunty is my dad's cousin. As dear to mom and papa as a little sister, she is spoiled rotten by them.
The drive there is peaceful. I catch the sight of bhai and bhabhi waiting near the entrance of her house. Then we step inside with them.
Malika aunty is speaking with someone. The moment she sees us, she ceases to talk.
We greet her warmly. When I bend down to touch her feet, my brother and bhabhi follow, but she pulls me in for a hug. My arms encircle her fragile form.
She pulls back, with a small smile dancing around her lips, and makes us sit on the brown leather couch.
We spend the day talking, eating, and laughing together. She is one of my favourite aunts. She treats me like a daughter and pampers me so much.
We will be saying our goodbyes when she stops us and tells my maa-papa to sit.
I sit there patiently, eager to hear what she has to say, but after what she tells us, my whole world turns upside down.
“Bhaiya, there is a marriage proposal for Ridhi"
No...
It can't be.
How can she say that?
'No. no, please god. kanhu I am always a good child, na. Then why does she do that?’I ask kanhu, A.K.A, Bhagwan Krishna.
- Writer
