Chapter 27

 

    

It was 12 in the night and there was a chaos in the studio. Papers flying everywhere, floor totally covered in a rainbow of colour fabrics, measuring tapes, designs, an array of electronic nonsense and that's how NK found his brother buried in a mountain of work the night before his biggest fashion show. This was the quality NK found most endearing and amazing in his brother. He was that brilliant flash of inspiration who didn't fail to set your confidence on fire and make you do things that you really didn't think you could. In NK's life, he was the reason NK braved the attempt to convince his family about his career and his life. Without his support probably NK would have never done half the things he had actually managed to do.

 

He stood there, smiling when Arnav appeared from the dungeon and looked at him with wide eyes. NK smiled, "Nannav mere bhai!"

"I'll throw you out of the house!" Arnav seethed, still trying very hard to get himself up from the mess around him. NK gave him a hand, "oh come one bhai! Tomorrow's your show. Show some happy spirit will you?"

"When did you get here?" Arnav asked as he hugged his little brother. NK smiled as he patted Arnav hard on the back. A gesture they shared. "Today morning. About 9 o."

"And you are coming to meet me now?" Arnav narrowed his eyes in barely contained annoyance.

 

"Whoa!" NK held up his hands in surrender, "before you get all Ninja on me. I was present hunting for you all day! Thought of giving you something on the account of your success but you are so hard to find some gift for!"

 

Arnav smiled, "you needn't get me anything. You know that right?"

"Oh yes," NK smiled as he brought out a small package out of his pocket, "but I had to. This is just a small gift."

 

Inside was a photo frame with a black and white photo of two little boys sticking their tongues out at each other. Taken by Lavanya, this photograph was the first record shot of Arnav and NK though the old camera of the 80s took a sabbatical and got itself ruined. Arnav had thought this photo was lost in history but here it was, printed gloriously and framed, reminiscing of all the wonderful bromance moments the two boys had shared from the moment they had seen each other. This was a time when Arnav, Lavanya and NK were the three musketeers' type friends. But then everything changed when Lavanya returned to India after her parents' divorce and fell in love with him. Arnav didn't want that and that friendship suffered. But Arnav and NK held on to each other. They were each other's support system and till now, their third musketeer, Lavanya, wasn't aware about it.

 

"Lavanya knows where you are?" Arnav asked cautiously. This was one topic he treaded on carefully. He didn't want to come between the siblings.

 

"No," NK's voice was hard, laced with some unknown pain that Arnav couldn't quite place. He had no idea what to tell. Hence, he patted on his brother's shoulder, "maybe you should surprise her."

 

"Yeah," NK looked at him. "Yeah you are right. I probably should go see her. She would be really happy."

"NK, is there any problem?" Arnav asked. He knew his cousin too well. There was something bothering him but he wasn't telling. NK shook his head slightly but seemed to think better of it, "I left CA. I quit my attempts to find a decent job there. I came back for permanent residence over here."

"That's wonderful!" Arnav exclaimed. For months together, Arnav was trying to convince NK to come back to India and find a job but NK was adamant on making it big in CA. But Arnav knew how hard it was for him to manage a meagre day's work over there. That place skinned you alive. "Look, NK. There is no need to feel low. I know how much it meant for you to do what you did in CA. But it isn't worth for you to put in so much of your time and efforts and not get paid back for what you have been through. USA sure is really cool but it is not home. There was no one to count back on in that place."

"I probably should have listened to you way back," NK said miserably. Arnav closed his eyes. This self pity of NK was what he hated the most. There was only so much dismay you could show about yourself. "Could you please stop moping like a girl? It kills me!"

NK grinned goofily. One foolproof way of getting into the skin of his big bro. He was so predictable sometimes. Arnav kind of understood what was cooking in his mind and before NK could fathom what happened, Arnav was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. The fight started again. The fight which ended with peals of laughter. The fight which was the trademark of these two screwed up individuals.

 

"Oh my god!" NK breathed hard as he got up from the floor taking Arnav's hand, who was already standing and clutching his stomach in a mixture of mirth and pain, "you haven't changed a bit! You still hit like a sumo wrestler."

"I don't work out for nothing, brother," Arnav rasped and clutched his stomach again. Both of them crashed on the couch and gulped bottles of water before NK spoke again, "so how's the preps for the show?"

"All done but I ain't still happy," Arnav said, winking at his brother. "Come to think of it, I am never happy with anything."

 

NK didn't miss the irony of the sentence. It was uttered in humour but it was actually the real scenario of Arnav's life. Though NK didn't want to go there right now.

 

"Why are you still like this, bhai?" NK asked out of genuine concern for his child like big brother. Arnav was still a child at heart who whooped when he saw his favourite candy out in a shop or screamed like a zombie when his football team lost the match or clapped his hands excitedly when he saw his favourite bird in his garden. For that grown up kid, life wasn't sunshine. It was a burden.

 

"What am I like?" Arnav asked looking at NK.

 

"You know what I mean," NK said sadly. "You are so adamant that you don't want to find the happiness that is waiting for you. I mean, for how many days will you wait for that childhood love, bhai? She isn't going to come back!"

"NK, we have been through this," said Arnav exasperatedly.

 

"No bhai," NK shook his head violently, "today I am not going to let you skirt away from this problem. As much as you can't see me suffer without a job, I can't see you suffer for someone who's never going to come back. You have to move on, bhai!"

"I can't NK," Arnav got up and went near the window. His eyes turned into a deep shade of black, reflecting tonnes of pain hidden in his eyes.

 

"Why can't you?" NK asked as he joined him near the window. Arnav looked at him for a while before he answered, "You can't forget someone you love NK. If I ask you to forget about Ariadne, will you?"

 

NK knew he had lost the argument there. There was no way he could answer that question. But whatever had happened with him was different. Ariadne was still alive. There was still that teeny hope that she would come back to him. But the one Arnav loved, she was dead. There was no way she would come back and there was no sense to this story as well. This was a love that had no solid foundation at all. Arnav probably mistook that friendship they shared as love.

 

"What if I refuse to believe she was dead?" Arnav asked in a dead pan tone that chilled NK to his bones. "I was the first one to hold her when she was born, NK. I have such a strong connection with her that I refuse to believe that she is dead no matter how many people shove that goddamn evidence at my face. I absolutely refuse to believe it."

"Bhai, I understand," NK cursed him for pushing Arnav into that zone of pain again.

 

"No you don't!" Arnav said sadly. "If you did, you wouldn't have asked me this question again. I grew up with her NK. I was everything to her and she was to me. I know whatever that we shared was probably childish and nonsense. But it was magical, NK. I don't feel that magic with anyone here. I can't feel that trust, that compatibility with anyone. Just think, after all these years, her memories should have ceased to exist in me anymore but day by day, the intensity just increases but not fade. What does that mean?"

"It only means one thing, bhai," NK said smiling at him, "you are one hell of a man! I just wish there is some miracle and the one you love isn't dead."

"I wish that too, NK," Arnav said hugging him.

 

As all these transpired, the two boys failed to notice the third wheel standing behind the counter and watching them with tears in his eyes. He had yearned for Arnav's love and affection all his life but Akash had never gotten this close to his brother. He was always the third wheel everywhere. Between his brother and sister in law, between Arnav and NK and between Diya and his cousin. Akash never felt this miserable in his life. He just walked out of the studio, head bent low in self loathing and misery as the other two musketeers celebrated having each other back in their lives.

 

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As the music blared, the three crazy souls lost themselves in the din. Khushi, Diya and Chris were having the time of their lives and the situation was even more hilarious as Khushi was drunk and she wasn't aware of it. As Diya and Chris stood there, laughing their heads off at Khushi's crazy antics, our lady danced without a care in the world to the most random songs that were playing. Currently she was shaking her hips to Shakira's hips don't lie so tantalizingly that half the people in bar stopped having their share of fun and took to staring at Khushi instead. That was when Chris realised the problem and with Diya's help, he yanked the screaming Khushi out of the pub.

 

"LET GO OF ME, YOU IMBECILE!" she was still screaming as they neared the parking lot. There was no way they could take Khushi back home in this state. First of all, Khushi had a brilliant image of herself in her adopted family's eyes and if her absurd buaji or step mom or her idiotic sister were to catch her in this state, she was sure to get kicked out of the house for good. Chris wasn't about to take that chance or ruin that one night of Khushi's drunkenness. He wouldn't get to see his best friend like this for a very long time. He had to make most fun out of it before Khushi was back into her shelf again.

 

"Let's take her somewhere else," he winked at Diya who understood his message perfectly. For a night party there was one spot which was both favourite of Khushi and safe. This was going to be one hell of a night. As Diya drove on, she couldn't help but laugh hysterically at the wrestling match in the backseat between her harebrained sister and her wayward bestie. God these two were adorable!

 

"Yo!" she chuckled. Chris snapped his head up, "Yeah!"

"Having fun back there?" she was totally trying to control her laughter but the total madness of her sister was making it very hard for her.

 

"Good thing she doesn't drink," Chris rasped on trying very hard to control Khushi who now was trying to stand on the seat of the car.

 

"Actually, she is more fun when drunk!" Diya guffawed. Chris narrowed his eyes in sheer annoyance, "easy for you to say. You aren't helping one bit."

 "I don't need to," Diya smiled looking at him in the mirror, "You are doing just fine. Anyway, here we are," and she stopped the car.

 

They were on a tiny hillock near the outskirts of Delhi. The whole of Old Delhi carpeted below them with tiny pinpricks of lights sparkling beneath them, creating an amazing riot. The winding streets, closed markets, sleeping people enhanced the silence of the night, almost making it feel other worldly. This was Khushi's favourite spot. It helped her think. The old, antique Delhi had its own flavour and Khushi loved antiquity. It was a part of the world she grew up in.

 

Chris whistled seeing the view. Now he came to understand why India was called one of the most beautiful places in the world. It was because of its culture, its unique flavour and the riot of its traditions. It upheld its legacy proudly and even though it had braced the western civilization, its own essence peeked out like saffron in Kheer and that flavour, that taste, that aroma was unparallel to anything. That was the true beauty of India and Chris was knocked out, "wow!"

Diya smiled, "welcome to the real India, buddy!"

 

Meanwhile, Khushi who was completely unhinged started yelling at the top of her voice, "Uoaaah! Uoaaah! Uoaaah!"

Both Chris and Diya tackled her into shutting up her mouth lest she should wake up the whole neighbourhood. As much as fun it was to see Khushi go completely bonkers under the influence of some pretty heavy booze, it was now getting way out of control of to manage her. Chris and Diya hadn't given this situation much thought but now it was coming to bite them.

 

"AAARH!" she screamed again, ninja kicking Chris but missing it royally thanks to her woozy state. She fell down on the ground and started cracking up while Diya and Chris looked at each other exasperatedly. If this was what Khushi did when she was drunk then this was the first and the last time that both of them would mix alcohol in her drink. Enough.

 

She was rolling on the floor, laughing and muttering deliriously, "aaar deee beee!"

 

"Who's RDB?" Chris asked while Khushi still chanted the initials. Diya smiled, "R D Burman. One of her favourite musicians. But I don't think she's saying that."

 

"What else could it mean?" Chris asked as he tried to make Khushi sit. She rolled over again and puked into the bushes. Chris held back his vomit and washed her face while Khushi was still muttering nonsense.

 

"Okay, she is totally out!" he muttered, "now what do we do?"

 

But suddenly, out of nowhere Khushi shouted, "Rinnie..."

 

Both Chris and Diya froze. Khushi wasn't acting weird but she was acting melancholic now. There was a faraway look in her eyes that had nothing to do with the alcohol in her system. Something told Chris he was going to become privy to Khushi's old life. Something he wasn't sure whether he wanted or not.

 

Khushi lolled her head again and muttered, "Rinnie..."

 

"What's Rinnie?" Diya asked. Apparently even the closet person to Khushi didn't know anything about her life. Chris had no idea but he felt the name very familiar. He had heard it somewhere. Probably read it somewhere. He didn't know. But he was sure this was not a what' it was a who.'

 

Khushi leaned on Chris and closed her eyes muttering Rinnie over and over again. Sleep was taking over her but Chris didn't want that to happen. He wanted to know who Rinnie was and why was it the only name that Khushi remembered in this state where people forgot everything. He wanted to know why this name was so special to Khushi. He just didn't know how.

 

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Akash wiped his tears and stared deadpan ahead. His room offered him a breathtaking view of the whole Raizada estate but today, even that couldn't take his mind off things he wished he didn't think. It was just very silly.

 

But it wasn't.

 

From years he had yearned just one thing. Love. He did get it from his family but that wasn't the love and affection he desired. He wasn't the only one who received that kind of love. It was Anjali from the beginning in his family. She was the apple of their family and they did anything to see that dazzling smile on her face. Much later Akash was born but his birth didn't do any difference. His family still loved Anjali more than they loved anyone. Even his own brother had fallen for Anjali, hard. He didn't have any time for his little brother who returned home getting teased, being unable to complete his homework. Nothing. But if the same thing happened to Anjali, the whole family would make it huge deal. But Akash had learnt to deal with it.

 

Then Arnav came along and that hope sparked again. Akash thought he had found a new brother who would love him like he always wanted to be loved. But Arnav had his own share of problems which prevented him to be affectionate and loving. He was cold, always in pain and melancholic that Akash started hating him. But years later, when he finally understood the real man behind that mask of anger, Akash had grown to immensely respect his brother. But he still didn't get that love.

 

But today, seeing NK and Arnav sharing that wonderful bond, everything had snapped inside him. He was hit with that hard truth that he would always be the third wheel. An unwanted person. He didn't know what he had done to face such desperation. He had no idea why he drowning himself in self pity. He wasn't someone who moped. That was not something Arnav had taught him to. Thinking about Arnav panged his heart but he knew his brother would be the one disappointed the most if he ever came across Akash in this state. He didn't want that. No, he didn't.

 

Whatever it took, Akash would make sure he wasn't the unwanted anymore. He wouldn't rely on something he couldn't get. He would make his own path. The first one was finding out if NK and Diya were really a couple or not. He couldn't believe that even for a second he hadn't actually stopped for considering the possibilities. This was not what Arnav had taught him. There was innumerable stuff happening in the world, countless possibilities. There was nothing that was static in the machine called universe. Some gears were constantly in motion. Some things were always clicking and whirring and he knew, being the engineer at heart that he just had to turn on the right switch to make the world tick in his way.

 

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Lavanya waited for his text but it never came. Not a hi' or a bye' or a how are you'. Nothing. She threw her phone on the bed in disappointment and started working again. Tomorrow was a big day for her. Actually, a big day for everyone at AR but she still couldn't grasp the actual reason behind this fashion show. None of her colleagues expect a few chosen people- the people on board ASR's team- had seen the designs. It was all kept wrapped up.

 

Lavanya knew all the designs were done by Arnav. He had worked really hard to perfect each and every design but he had done it all in secret. That Lavanya found extremely annoying. They were just designs and obviously, she had all the rights to be in team, being one of the top designers and all. But no! Stupid ASR and his stupid rules. Expect his sidekick, Aman and two of the head designers, Mita and Akira, and of course, the tailors, nobody saw an inch of the clothing that was designed. Ridiculous!

 

This was like an all new way of insulting Lavanya. She was one of the most talented designers and her inputs would help him. She wasn't new like Mita or she wasn't typical like Akira. But Arnav had chosen them to oversee the designs and every time those bitches came near her table they would gush in the most annoying voices about how awesome Arnav's designs were and how some people were really unlucky not to be on board. It made Lavanya want to strangle them with her bare hands. But she kept her cool. She wasn't someone who blew her fuse on some unworthy morons and ASR had to pay for all the stuff he had made her go through. She sat there, gritting her teeth when she got a call and to her extreme surprise, it was from the devil she was cussing all the while, ASR.

"Hello!" she barked into the phone.

 

"Woah, there..." Arnav replied. His voice sounded very different. Somehow excited. Lavanya narrowed her eyes in confusion. Was it the same OCD managing director speaking to her, "Lavanya! I am not going to bite you. Why the hell are you shouting over the phone?"

"Come to the point, ASR," she bit back, clearly annoyed by him. Arnav probably sensed that much because he just said in his clear ASR voice, "I have some work for you. I want you to come to the studio right now."

"Are you crazy?" Lavanya almost yelled. Now this was the limit. He called at the middle of the night and asked her to drive all the way to AR studio? Seriously?

 

"What?" Arnav asked innocently. Another person to strangle with a telephone wire. "Are you asking me to drive all the way to AR studios now? At 1 in the night? I know you are the boss but you are crossing your line here. I am not driving 20 km now."

"I am not asking you to drive to AR studios, Lavanya," Arnav's tone was amusing. "I am asking you to come to my studio. The one near the west gate of Raizada estate. Surely you could walk half km?"

 

Lavanya froze. Her phone fell on the bed with a soft thump and her hand was still stuck in the same position near her left ear. All that didn't bother her because she was still unable to believe that ASR, the devil, had actually called her to his personal studio something he never did with anyone. He hated having someone in his personal space. That was so not him. But she couldn't understand why Arnav was acting all crazy and different all of a sudden. Then she thought: jitters. A creepy smile crept across her face. ASR the great was having last minute jitters about his show. Oh this was going to be so good. Now the big guy realized it would have been better to have Lavanya on board. Hell, she was going to use this as her leverage.

 

Meanwhile, Arnav was yelling over the phone, "Dammit! Lavanya! Where the hell did you go?"

 

She picked up her phone in hurry and muttered, "Sorry. Brain freeze. Be there in five!" and she hung up before he could say anything scathing. She grabbed her jacket and ran out of the room and into the open. Soon she was walking along the narrow lane that led to his studio.