Chapter 3
The flight had just landed and Ranveer, who was Payal & Antara's close friend & Piya's boyfriend, along with Raghav Singhania, Payal & Piya's dad, had gone to receive them from the airport. "Aayie. Welcome to Kashmir. Main Ranveer hoon. Payal ka dost." said Ranveer. "Hi Ranveer. Kaise ho tum? Namaste uncle," Ishaan said. "I'm fine. Aap sab ayie na. Aunty aur Uncle ne aap sab ke liye pure intezam kar rakhe hain." Ranveer led them to the car and told the drivers to take Rukhsana, Mach Mach & Ishaan with Raghav straight to the Singhania house and that he would bring Riya & Raghu. "Toh guys. Aap logo ko Kashmir kaisa laga?" asked Ranveer. "Bauht khoobsaurat hain. Jitna suna tha, uss se bhi kahi zayada khoobsorat hain. Hain na Bhai?" Riya asked. "Haan. Khoobsorat to hain." Raghu replied while staring at a girl. "Dude, shaadi mein na, isse bhi zayaada khoobsorat ladkia bhi hongi." Ranveer said. "Hum chale?" Riya asked. "Haan haan, chaliye" Ranveer said and they left for the Singhania house.
"Antara beta, zaara aarti ki thal lana." Priya Aunty said. "Ji Aunty, abhi leke aayie." I hurried to the front door where Piya's mom was waiting for the thal. "Yeh lijiye Aunty. Waise Piya ko Ranveer ka phone aaya tha. Usne kaha ki woh sab ghar aa rahe hain." I said. "Acha theek hain. Beta, mera ek kaam karna. Zaara upar dekhna ki saare guestrooms theek toh hain na." Priya asked. "Mama relax, main abhi check karke aayi hoon. Sab theek hain," said Payal walking in with Piya. "Haan Mom, aap please relax kijiye. Jeeju abhi aate honge. Phir toh Di ka intezaar khatam. Hain na Di?" Piya said. "Pagal. Chup kar. Mom isse khena ki Ishaan aur us ki family ke samne yeh aise ulti phulti baaten na kare." Payal complained. "Come on Di. Agar hum unhe taang nahi karenge, toh aur kaun karega?" I said. "Maam, bahar woh log aage hain," Ramu kaka said. "Theek. Jao jaake unhe receive karo," said Priya.
I walked into the house with chachu. It was a pretty nice house. Just then, I saw a girl. She was looking so beautiful. Bilkul ek pari ki tarah, I thought. She was standing there wearing a white salwar suit. I was just standing there and just looking at her, wishing that time could freeze right there. I could swear that I had seen her before... but where?
I walked in with Raghu and instantly saw Antara. It was the same face. It was my sister. My Didu. Par iss bahar woh meri behen nahi hain, I thought. Ab woh koi aur hain. I looked towards Raghu to find him looking at her. Exactly the reaction that I had expected. I quickly prayed to God that this time, their love story would be complete. I quickly exchanged looks with Mach Mach & Rukhsana, who were shocked at seeing Antara. Suddenly, we were interrupted by a voice. "Arre are rukiye rukiye. Zaara hume humare hone wale damad ki naazar toh utarne dijiye." Priya said and did aarti on me. I bowed down to touch her feet and she blessed me. I looked up and saw Payal. I gave her a smile and she smiled back.
Ranveer walked past them and went straight to Piya. "Aunty bas bhi kijiye. Unhe andar bhi to bulaiye." Ranveer said. "Haan, haan. Aap aayie na. Bathiye." Priya said. She turned to Antara and said "Antara beta, zaara nashta leke aana." "Ji, abhi leke aayi." And she turned towards the kitchen.
Antara, toh yeh uska naam hain, I thought. What a beautiful name. Is she the sister that Riya was talking about? No, I don't think so.
Toh Antara ab bhi uska naam hain, I thought. This time, I won't let anything bad happen between these two. Yeh Allah ka ishara hain. Yeh dono ek dusre ke liye hi bane hain. I turned to Mach Mach and gave him a small smile and he smiled back at me. I would talk to him later about this whole matter.
"Ishaan, aap ke Mom Dad kahan hain?" asked Priya. "Mom, maine aapse kaha tha na. Ki voh..." Payal said. "Arre haan haan. I'm so sorry Ishaan. Vaise aane mein koi problem toh nahi hui na? Sab theek tha na?" Priya asked. "Ji saab theek tha," Rukhsana said. "Payal, tum sab ko chai serve karo na." Priya said. "Nahi, main karti hoon na. Payal Di, aap Ishaan ji ko ghar nahi dikhangi?" Antara said. "Haan Payal. Tum jao, jakar Ishaan ko ghar dikhao." Priya said.
I was lost in my own world. Woh itni khoonsorat kyun hain? When she extended her hand to give me the cup of tea, my hand brushed hers and it was as if I had been shocked. I looked up at her. The touch, her eyes, it all seemed so familiar.
I moved the cup towards him while looking at him. He was quite good looking. But how was he related to Ishaan ji? His hand brushed across mine and I looked at him. The eyes, the touch, it all felt so familiar. It felt right. Just then, his hand hit the cup and he dropped the tea onto my suit. "Sorry, sorry. I am so sorry," he said. "It's ok. Aunty main abhi kapre badl ke aati hoon." I said and ran up the stairs to the room that I was sharing with Piya. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw that my face was red. Why? I didn't even know his name and I was so affected by his touch, by his one look. Why did I feel as if I knew him from before? I quickly grabbed another suit and headed to the bathroom to change my clothes.
I saw her turn around and run up the stairs. So she wasn't Payal's sister. Than who was she? And why did that touch feel so familiar? I don't remember ever meeting her... so who was she? And why was I so attracted towards her?
A/N: hope you guys like it, leave your comments please 😊
Cricket
Indian Mythology
