"Di what about this one!" Gauri turned to see Kaaya hold the shervani and shook her head.
"Come on Di you know Shiv better then anyone so what type of wedding outfit is he requesting?" Gauri let out a sigh and looked over and Kaaya who was just looking at her searching for answers.
"He just said remember that promise when we were little that I would dress him as a broom and he would dress me as a bride…."
"That so cute! Wow I still can't get over how time is flying we will be in London next month and then shiv is getting married and then…." Gauri looked at her as she stopped and looked upset.
"Whats wrong?"
"I'm going to be alone and you and baba will be here and…"
"Alone of course not you will have Vivaan, badi ma and the rest of the famil…me and baba…" they looked at each other as there eyes swelled up both holding back there tears.
"Madam how about this!"
"Gauri!"
"Hi Shiv! How are your?"
"Tired long day at the office and the house is all geared up for the weddings…I come home and mom has me doing all types of chores. I'm fed up yaar!"
She rolled over in her bed and looked at the clock flash 11:34pm and heard him let out a sigh.
"Well it's a busy time for everyone and lots need to be done for the wedding!"
"So when you coming?"
"Well baba and Kaaya are coming 2 weeks early and im arriving on the wedding day!"
"WHAT? You're joking right? I mean I wanted to spend some time together before I got married catch up like and
"Shiv when baba was ill many of my studies were oh hold and my last exam is on the Friday before the wedding on Saturday…"
"Dame Gauri that ruined my plans of showing you London and…."
"hey many be you and Ipshita can show me…"
"Sorry Gauri but on Sunday we fly out!"
"Oh! I see never mind im sure I well get to see it anyway!"
"So there is no way you can come early?"
"No sorry Shiv!"
"Chipkali sometimes I don't know what im going to do with you?"
A smile formed on her lips and she snuggled up in bed….
"Vivaan said you have my things and…"
"Yeah all shipped of I hope you like it!"
"I'm sure I will love it Gauri! You never let me down and what ever you have chosen will be beautiful like you." her heart raced as his voice boomed into her ears he had never spoken to her in that manner before and was get a feeling on nervousness
"Bandar!" she said hinding her nervousness
"ha ha!"
"So how ipshita ?"
"She moaning typical woman we not married yet and she complaining already about me not spending any time together!"
"Well are you!"
"No dads got me busting my gut in the office and mom got me pinned doing her jobs! Whats a man got to do!"
"he he Shiv your in demand!"
"Yeah but I will always have time to you Gauri no matter what!… hey got to go moms just walked in! Catch you laters… bye honey!"
"Honey?" he has never called me that before… "Always have time for me?" as the mobile down . She snuggled up in bed and looked around the room. Aasta had gone home to her folks that weekend and she was alone in the room and did not like it! The lone less in the room was screaming at her and the room was closing in …….
"whats the matter?" she turned to see Aasta look at her staring at the window.
"Kaaya leaving is going to feel strange and then I'm going to be studying in London and then baba will be completely alone.
"So study here in India….
"You serious gauri!" she held the phone to her ear
"yeah I have been think about it for sometime now Shiv!"
"Liar! Your scared about leaving baba on his own!… I know how you think madam…"
"But Shiv!"
"What do you think you have made your decision and baba will just say ok ..you're wrong we all know how he been telling everyone he is sending you to London to study and your going to break his and your own heart!"
"shiv you have to understand he not will and …"
"Fine as soon as baba comes with Kaaya he stay with us you happy! Dame gauri we…"
"We what Shiv?"
"Were best friend and know how each other feels about everything and as friends we need to help come to a conclusion together…dame Gauri think about yourself for once will ya!
"Baba will not agree…"
"you leave baba to me…Now do not worry that pretty little head of you're as your going to get a headache!…hehe!"
"Shiv!"
"ok one more thing if you do not turn up to the wedding I'm not getting married I have already told everyone!"
"Oh Shiv please!"
"No im deadly serious and…"
"What about ipshita?"
" I told her without my best friend I will not sit at the mandap!"
"Shiv that stupid"
"No everyone knows where I stand on the matter!..so you better get yourself over her ASAP or else"
"Or what!"
"I will come to India and drag you to London!"
"your going mad!"
"No! I'm deadly serious!"
"Ok BABA you happy I will be ther with bells on! Jez Shiv you're losing it!
"ok when you come ring twice so we can hear ya! Chipkali your mental…. Ok now that's over im off to mine and vivaan bachlor party…my last night as a free man dame!"
"Ok have a great time and… don't drink to much!"
"yes miss ! Anything else!"
"yeah shut up!"
"Yes miss!…ok bye I call you tomorrow ok!"……..
********
Part 6
She waved at Baba and Kaaya as they disappeared thought security as her eyes filled up… they were a close family and when she was apart from them for too long it hurt.
As she walked towards the taxi stand…..placing the phone to her ear.
"Hello is this Gauri Kapoor!"
"Yes"
"We have been advised to inform you that your final exam has be re scheduled for Monday 27th…sorry for the inconvenience but one of the examiners has had a bereavement in the family and we are notifying the candidates today. If you have any enquires please contact the main college office. Thank you.
Numb and in shock the line disconnected……
Shiv69: well u all ready to see us?
She stared at the screen with tears running down her face.. she wiped her tears and placed her hands on the keyboard.
Kolkatta_girl: Shiv my (she hesitated)
~Shiv sent nudge~
Shiv my final exam has been postponed till Monday…and im not going to be able to attend Kaya's or you're weddings
She stared at the pc for a response…….. She looked at her mobile at it rang in the bottom of her bag.
"Gauri you serious?"
As the tears ran down her face she felt the lump in her throat as she opened her mouth her words would not register…
"Ok stop crying!….Gauri!"
"Huh Sh…iv! I…."
"Ok Gauri listen to me this is just bad luck that's all!..uh Please stop crying lets see if together we can find a solution here."
"I have tried everything and they say Monday is the only option…"
"Ok I will talk to the families and move the wedding forward…"
"No Shiv everything is planned and …"
"NO!"
"But Shiv!"
"No we promised each other that we will be present at each other wedding…"
"Shiv be practical and think about how much time everyone has put in…you can't stop the wedding for me..these things happen…and…"
"NO! I will not hear what are you saying?… listen Gauri I want you here you being present at my marriage means a lot to me and…"
"Shiv stop it!.. I'm not coming and that is final! I will not left your dream of marring someone that you love and want to spend the reset of your life with halt because of me..if you are my best friend you would respect my decision and understand that this is what is meant to be…"
"Respect Gauri It's my wish that you're here at my wedding we promised each other and…"
"Shiv? We were 7 years old when we made that promise and you have a much bigger promise to Ipshita who loves you and is looking forwards to spending her life with you.. Every girl dreams of her wedding day and now your going to be breaking her heart…our promise is meaningless if it means hurting the people we love…it is hard for me too Shiv…im going to miss the wedding of the two people I love the most Kaaya and you…."
"Gauri this sucks yaar!..and I need you here I don't think I can go thought with it without you…" She sensed how upset he was on the phone.
"What you mean shiv? Of course you can look this is what you wanted?"
"Yeah I know but I'm feeling nervous what if I can't be the person everyone wants to be…what if I…"
"Stop it Shiv!…We all love you regardless and Ipshita loves you too right so what's the problem…now I do not want you thinking like that you hear.. I want to hear my best friend being happy and not worrying over me!…im fine and will still be coming to London on Tuesday instead I have changed my flight …so you may get to meet me!"
"I do not know what to say I'm feeling more hurt and disappointed then anything..I was looking forwards in seeing you here finally…but.."
"Shiv look forward what has happened has happened…maybe we were never meant to see each other…maybe this is gods way….." as the tears ran down her face you heard the silence on the phone.
"I always believed that I was blessed to have a friend like you who I could share everything with Gauri… I love you and you will always be my best friend…"
"Shiv I love you too but now you have to let me go…." The line went dead.
"Gauri…I !"
"No Shiv I want you to be always happy and have the life you always dream of with that person whom you love.. Now promise me no more talk about stopping any wedding and I want my best friend to get married!"
"Ok Gauri I promise!"
"Bye Shiv tell baba and Kaaya to call me when they land please …I need to inform them myself..please!"
"Ok! But this sucks chip kali!"
"I know! Good bye Shiv! I pray you always be happy!"…..
Asatha looked at Gauri as she stared out the window "Why did you not tell them that the exam can be taken in a months time instead?"
Tears ran down her face as she turned to look at her…
"Because I love him and can not bear to see him get married to anyone else….."
********
Part 7
"Hi Kaaya congratulation!"
"Thanks Didi…I missed you here in fact we all missed you here!…"
"Kaaya please don't be upset if I could be there I would have…"
"I know but baba and I missed you loads…and so did Shiv…"
As her eyes watered up she could feel her heart ache as she opened her month.
"How did he look Kaaya?"
"Fine Didi.. Both of them looked nice.."
"But he was not all that happy at the mandap as he performed the ritual..we could all tell he was somewhere else…."
"How was Ipshita?"
"Very nice didi..she was really sweet everyone likes her a lot..She looked really nice at the mandap in gold!"
"Yeah Shiv mentioned she was wearing gold…"
"Didi I have to go we leaving for Paris and then Switzerland.."
"Ok give my love to Baba and say hello to everyone for me…Ok!"
"I will di! I really wished you where here I feel alone and…"
"Duffer what you mean alone…your going to spend the rest of your life with the man you love now stop complaining and good start this joruney happy with Vivaan…Ok!"
"Thanks Di I really need to here that from you… I will call you when we get to Paris..Ok"
"Kaaya forget about me and have fun I will be fine….."
She looked at the clock as she time was nearly over and the examiner placed his book on the table to look over at everyone…
"You have 5more minutes everyone then its pencils down!" ….
She let out a sigh her heart was not really into taking the exam and she knew she did Ok but it to get the pass …….
"Hi Gauri!"
"Shiv?" surprised to here his voice she placed the mobile to her phone.
"Well you coming to London tomorrow right!"
"Yeah I said I was about 6pm Uk time…"
"Ok could I ask you to get me something?"
"What kind of question is that Shiv just ask? Bandar!"
"OK! Ha ha I want you to get me some files for a project im working on..I will get the office manager Ram to give them to you…"
"yeah sure not a problem…"
"Im not going to be there as we going to New Zealand.."
"Yeah sure"
"Please give the files to dad when you get here…ok!"
"Fine Shiv!"
"Ok I think this will be the last time I will ask you for something…."
As she picked up her suitcase she turned and looked at her room for three years she stayed in the hostel to complete her studies now it was her time to say goodbey to her life here and more on with her life…. As she walked downstairs she was surprised to see everyone smiling at her all ready to say goodbey……
"Aasta im going to miss ya!"
"Well I hope you get want you want for a change..and be true to yourself!"
Gauri hunged her Aasta was the only one who really knew her….
"Madam this is your seat!"
"You sure im not booked in first class!"
"Madam you are Miss Gauri Chaterjee?"
"Yes. Well it courtesy from Mrs Kapoor!"
"Mrs Kapoor? Yes Mrs Nikhila Kapoor.."
"Oh Ok!"
As she sat in her seat she was a stranger come by and place his bags on the over head compartment….something about him was familiar but she did not know what….as he sat down next to her and fasten his seat belt……
"Excuse me! But could I have that business paper?" that voice… no it cant be he's on his honeymoon……
******
Final part....
She turned to look at him as he fastened his seat belt.. nervously she placed her hands on the air rest this was her first every flight and the butterflies in her stomach were to much to handle…. Closing her eyes she remember Kaaya, Baba and Shiv when he was 9 years old…
"Bandar! I can't believe you talked me into this" she said under her breathe.
"Excuse me!" opening her eyes she looked at him as he stared at her confused.
"Huh sorry I …"
"Hi this is your Captain Tony Rooke speaking…im afraid we have a slight technical problem and are not going to be taking off until this problem is investigated.. For now I would like all passengers to leave the plane with there hand luggage and proceed towards the exit… into the waiting area. We apologies for the delay…."
"No mum flights been delayed and I will call you when I arrive!" she couldn't help but to notice the way he spoken on the phone as he sat behind her in the waiting area.
That voice was also familiar and so was his telephone manner. Looking in front she noticed everyone on the phone calling there loves ones and decided to do the same.
"No Baba don't worry I will call as soon as I arrive…ok bye!" Placing the phone down she notice two small children cryin and there mother looking very worried.
"No Mummy I want to have some of that juice and not this one..it not nice!" the little girl pointed at the shop opposite as she cried.
There mother stared into space as her eyes filled up… Gauri could tell she was very upset about something and looked at the children as they were trying to get there mother attention in vain.
"Here you go sweetie!" She looked up at him as he handed the girl the juice as he walked over towards them. Everyone was looking at him smiling at the children
Hesitantly the little girl looked over at her mother before looking at the drink of maaza he was holding…
"Mummy will not mind…" he looked over at her as the tears ran down her face. As he turned to look at Gauri sitting opposite them it was as if he's glance made her realize what she had to do.
Gauri gentle sat down next to the crying mother and handed her a tissue… she looked at the stranger who was now amusing the kids with his psp.
"Sorry you must think im…"
"It's ok we all have our moments…."
"My husband Raj …I have left him…im going back to London…." Gauri turned to look at her as she sobbed uncontrollable next to her… Taking hold of her hand she sat there and looked over at the strangler who was staring at them… as the kids were in grossed with playing games…
"He never makes time for us… his business is more important then us… for 6 year I have put up with the being at the end of his list…I have to make an appointment just to be with him…he cares only about making money…we don't matter"
"I am sure he does care for you"
"No we had an argument… he said…"
"Mummy don't cry daddy will come to get us!" the looked at the little girl drink from her drink as she jumped into her mother's lap. Her mother wiped her tears and gave a weak smile to reassure the little girl.
"Gauri sweetie did you say thank you to the nice man…"
"Yeah mom he said his names Shiv and he has this ladies picture on the mobile when she was little…" Gauri stared at the little girl as she placed her head on her mothers shoulder and looked over at the stranger playing with the little boy in his lap.
"Your name is Gauri too." Gauri started at the little girl as her eyes swelled as she nodded and looked over at him as he starting at her…
"Thank you both!" Gauri smiled as they helped the children onto the plane.
"Jatin and Gauri are really sweet…" Shiv placed the sleeply boy into his seat and covered him with a blanket.
"I wish there father paid some attention too…" She said tearfully.
"Maya? Where you going?" they turned to see tall handsome man standing there taking hold of her hand.
"Raj?"
"Well I had to get them to stop this flight just to get here!"
"Daddy!" the kids looked up to see him smiling at them.
"Jatin! Gauri!" He picked them up and smiled at he looked over at Maya still shocked by what she just heard.
"Are you coming to see Dadu to daddy!"
"Yes I was just packing my suitcase your mummy forgot…Now get into your seats please… Maya!" he took hold of her in his arms…
"I was 12 year old when I knew you would be my wife…I love you since then…how can you think I don't…. mittu you're so crazy!…I would follow you to the ends of the world!"….
Shiv took hold of Gauri's hand and lead her to there seats on the plane. The silence was uncomfortable between them as neither one knew what to say..
"How badi ma?"
"Fine…You're not going to ask how I am chipkali?" tears ran down her face as she tuned away to look at the window.
"Hey! Why are you crying? Did you think I could ever…" He took hold of her and held her in his arms…
"You lied to me and…"
"I love you….Sorry I wanted to know how you felt and when I spoke to Aasta she told me how you could have extend the exam but didn't as ….you love me too!"
"Ipshita?"
"Like Anupam she does not exist!"
"You Bandar….I could!" He pulled her close to him and kissed her………
"Jaan?" She let out a sigh and looked over at the clock
"Shiv its 2am! I just got the baby to sleep im shattered!"
"Honey! Give Shanti a kiss from me… and a big kiss to her mother"
"Shiv when you coming home?"
"Get up!" She raised her head from the pillow to see him tiptoes towards shanti cot…
"She looks like you!" he said turning to see her by his side.
"She has your smile!" she whispered as he lead her toward the bed.
"I'm…complete free for the next 2 months no more work…I want to cherish this time with you and Shanti.." He took hold of her in his arms and kissed her….
"Now do you want me to explain 69 again or……"
"Bandar stop it!" She buried her head in his embrace in embarrassment.
"I love you Gauri never forget that!"
"I know now!"
Love Kat😳
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