Chapter 3

Chapter - 03

“You never realize how you keep messing around because I have been cleaning up your mess since the moment we met.”

“If that’s what you think, then I wish I hadn’t met you in the first place.”

Ansh opened his eyes slowly and sighed. At times he wondered why people always hung up on the bed memories rather than being grateful for all the amazing things in their lives, including himself. One ugly fight shouldn’t be the determinant of their relation or whether they were happy or not. He knew he was; even after all these years, she was the first person he wanted to see whenever he opened his eyes. But was she?

He shook his head as if trying to shrug off his idiotic thoughts. How he wished he could stop feeling like that! Every time he doubted if he was good enough for her, she assuaged his fear, sometimes by going out of her way. Despite that, he could never fully get over his insecurity no matter how hard he tried.

It pained him because he knew how much his apprehension hurt Piya. Yet, he couldn’t help it. He wasn’t sure whom to blame for it - his overprotective family for always keeping him first or himself that he equated their love and concern with him being a burden. All he knew was he had to get over his anxiety otherwise he was gonna continue hurting Piya.

He looked beside him and froze - Dafli wasn’t there in her crib. Just as he jumped out of the bed, he was surprised to find himself in his room. “When did I return?” He mumbled. Something felt different. There was no picture of Piya or their kids in the room. Even the interior looked familiar but different. Puzzled, he came out of his room and started looking for Piya.

“Bhai what are you doing?” Ansh was pleasantly surprised to see Neha. “Neha! When did you return? How was your trip?” He felt ecstatic seeing his cousin after so long. Last week Neha informed them that she was coming back during her summer vacation but he didn’t expect her to return so early and surprise them.

“What are you talking about? Where would I go? Anyway, forget it. Please get ready and come downstairs. We’re gonna be late for college. And where is Karan Bhai? Has he forgotten today’s occasion?” Neha’s last words thunderstruck Ansh. “What did you just say?” “I’m looking for Karan Bhai. All this time he kept blabbering about how he's gonna propose Mansi and now that everything has been taken care of, he’s nowhere to be seen. Please find him and join us in the car…”

Neha kept talking about their plans but none of her words reached Ansh. He was shaking like a fallen autumn leaf. How was this even possible? He looked at the photographs hanging on the wall and received the shock of his life - there was a family portrait of Mridul and Mohana with all three of their kids - him, Karan, and Kajal.

“Bhai,” Neha addressed him softly, “Are you alright? You don’t look so good. It’s okay if you want to stay back and lie down a little. Rishi and I’ll take care of the rest of the arrangements.” “What’s the date today Neha?” Ansh asked with much difficulty. “What?” “Today’s date; what year is this?” “Okay, now I’m getting scared. What’s going on?” “Neha I...” He stopped midway. What was he supposed to tell her when he himself was at a loss? “You were saying?” Ansh took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Whatever it was - a nightmare or some sort of spell, he didn’t want to confuse Neha and complicate the situation further.

“I need to know today’s date. Please!” Neha was about to say something but stopped midway. Clearly, her brother was going through something. Perhaps it was better to comply with his inquiry at that moment than bombard him with unnecessary questions. “It’s 3rd August, 2011.” “I gotta go.” Ansh stormed out of their apartment and got into the elevator. Before he could get into his car, his phone beeped and the message on his screen sent a shiver down his spine, “Thank you so much for such a lovely surprise Sugarlips! I had a wonderful time last night. Never knew you could be so romantic and come up with a better idea than going to the Lantern Festival. Can’t wait to see you....... Ruby”

His phone dropped down his hand. He had met Piya for the first time in the lantern festival. It was on 2nd August, 2011. If he didn’t go to the festival itself then…

“I wish I hadn’t met you in the first place!”

He had tears streaming down his face recalling what he had wished earlier. If someone up there really liked him and decided to fulfill his wishes, He couldn’t have been more wrong. Or maybe it was his punishment for taking everything he had for granted. Either way, he couldn’t just stand still and play the victim card. No matter what happened, he was gonna find his way back to Piya.

At first, Ansh couldn’t decide where should he go. Considering their first meeting had been interrupted, there was a high chance of Piya not being his classmate as well. In that case, she should have been in Bandap with Guru Maa. With shaking hands, he started his car and closed his eyes in prayer, “I know I have been wrong, and I am aware how much I have hurt Piya. But please Devi Maa! Don’t snatch her from me! I am ready to bear any punishment but this. Please! Let our paths cross again!”