~*The Way We Were *~ Pt 6 page 5! (A ReMiX FF) - Page 4

"Timb.. I mean Tia, please listen! You may hate me now but I promise you you'll thank me in the future. Do you not want to see all your classmates again?" Ashi knew she had to handle this matter with care..it had "fragile" written all over it. "Just imagine.. all of us, being taken back in time 4 years. Those school days, we had the time of our lives. And now we can relive them for one day! Did those days mean nothing to you Tia? Please do this, for those happy memories, for your friends, and most importantly, for yourself. You know you'll regret not coming."

"Ashi sahi keh rahi hai... please think about it Tia" nodded Pri.

So Tia sat and she thought about it. For one moment she let her anger drift away and she no longer saw red. She saw Maurya High and her classmates – getting up to no good in the classrooms, forging permission letters and throwing secret parties at night. Gossiping in the canteen. Fighting with friends. Singing, dancing, living life to the fullest. Healing heartaches.. and being expected to do all the homework and revise for tests on top of all that! Needless to say those school days meant something to her. They meant the world to her.

And that's when she decided this: that for one night, instead of running away, she would have to put her fears and depressing feelings aside and once again show the world her smiling face, even if her heart is crying inside.

"Ok fine, I give in. I'll come. But just one night, understand?"

Everyone cheered.

"But you could have given me some hint.. I packed in a hurry and now I have nothing to wear!"

"Tia, that's one thing you never have to worry about.. tum chahe kuch bhi pehno, tum buri lag hi nahi sakti! But anyways, I promise you'll look as stunning as ever!" exclaimed Meher.

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Ranveer was pacing up and down. He was so angry at Aman and Vrinda for playing this stupid trick on him... that too just for some party. But ultimately they had convinced him to stay. Not just because he had spent a lot of money, time and effort on coming to Mumbai all the way from London, but also because he genuinely wanted to meet all his classmates again. And Her...

Right now he was getting frustrated at the phone for not working. There were some long-distance calls that he needed to make. On the fifth attempt he got through. First he rang his mother, to let her know that he would be away for a week or so, making sure that her and his sister would be ok without him. Then he rang his workplace, the multi-national company where he worked as a manager, to apologise and take permission for his further absence. Finally he called Nainika.

"Hi Nainika, Ranveer here"

"Ranveer! Where are you baby, I miss you! London seems to lonely without you..You left so suddenly, I was really worried!"

"Actually I'm in Mumbai right now."

"What? Why?"

"Um.. some things came up. But I'll be back home within a week."

"Oh k fine.... where are you staying though?"

"I'm staying with a good friend, Aman Chadda and his wife Vrinda. Remember I told you about them?"

"Oh yes.."

"Listen Nainika I really have to go now, I don't want Aman to get expensive phone bills because of me.."

"Ok honey, take care of yourself! I love you!"

Ranveer was taken aback by this sudden declaration of love. He didn't know what to say back to her; so he presumed (and hoped) she meant it in a casual way.

"Er..you take care too! Bye!"

He then cut off quickly. He felt like a mean person doing that, but he honestly didn't know what to do. He couldn't say something he didn't mean. They were 3 words, 8 letters, and only 1 person in the world to whom he could say them and mean it. And her name wasn't Nainika.

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"Dior...Versace...Chanel... Dior...Versace...Chanel..." Tia gently chanted.

Tia was sitting cross-legged in the hazy dawn sunshine in Pri's lounge, Tia-meditating. Tia-meditation involved picking her three favourite designer names of the day, then focusing and repeating those words whilst breathing deeply. Usually this was a simple and effective method of bringing her peace of mind when she was stressed, but today it proved useless. The combination of being unconscious for the whole day yesterday (post-fainting), and then last night's midnight drama, had meant she was hardly able to sleep for the whole night.

Oh and one other teeny-weeny little reason why she couldn't relax: the prospect of meeting Him. If she was a mess now itself, she didn't know how she'd survive the actual event! The plain notion of being in the same room as Him again, breathing the same air as him, terrified her to no end. She couldn't go on like this for another two days. She had so much time to spare, and finding peace of mind would be no piece of cake.

But she knew what she needed – to go home. So she immediately called a half-asleep Kailaash Kaka, apologised for calling at such an indecent hour, and asked him to come and pick her up later on that morning.

A couple of hours later, when Pri and Meher were awake, she let them know of her plan.

"Angels I'm going home today."

"Oh that's great Tia, I can drop you off on the way to work!" said Meher.

"NO!!! Meher, doll you know Tia loves you so much... but she is never EVER travelling in the same car that you're driving again!" Tia cried.

Tia practically skipped (well, as much as one can skip in stilettos) through the front door of her home. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and Tia loved the feeling of coming home after being away for a while – it was nostalgia, happiness, fulfilment and peace all blended together...It was a light and sweet feeling, like candyfloss.

The living room was adorned with pink ribbons, and there were pink roses everywhere. The gesture was so thoughtful, it brought a tear to her eye.

"Welcome home Tia!" cried Sonia.

"Mama!" Tia hugged Sonia. Tia had longed to call someone that all her life and Sonia had been a wonderful mother-figure even before she had married Tia's Papa. "I missed you so much.. And this is such a sweet surprise! When did you do this all?"

"Just this morning, after you called to say you were coming. Tia coming home after so many days, it needs to be special just like her."

"Thank you so much! You look so beautiful; did Papa buy that sari for you?"

"Yes he did! Who knew he had such good taste? Well actually, he did marry me..." Sonia laughed. "But Tia, what happened to your taste?"

Tia looked down at her outfit – a cute white blouse and a high-waisted black skirt, and white heels. She took a mirror out of her purse and checked her face – nothing stuck in her teeth; her hair was still up in a high ponytail. She couldn't figure out what was wrong.

"What do you mean? Is it the hairstyle? The outfit? But this style is completely in fashion! "

"No sweety it's not the style... it's the colour. The lack of colour. Tia, why has your life turned into a black-and-white film? We're living in such a colourful age darling!"

"Mama I'm older now; I'm not a schoolgirl anymore. I don't wear the clothes I used to wear."

"Neither am I, lekin maine aaj tak apne life mein aise boring kapde nahi penhe hai! And let me tell you Tia, you may be older but you're not old! Sometimes I think you forget how young you are. You have your whole life ahead of you. Now I refuse to let this black-and-white movie continue."

Just then a voice spoke from the doorway. "Now what filmi nonsense are you filling my Princess's mind with, Sonia?"

Tia ran into her Papa's warm embrace. She didn't want to leave it. Tia would always be her daddy's little girl, and she adored that. After all, there's only one man in a girl's life that she can always depend on, to love her and be there for her, and that's her father.

"I love you Papa"

"I love you too my Princess. I'm so happy to see you! And now that you've come home, we're not going to let you go so easily!"

"But Tia's sorry, Papa, she really has to get to work.. She has a big project to work on at the moment. As soon as the reunion finishes she has to leave."

"Ah yes, the acquisition you were telling me about..."

Tia appreciated the way her Papa was interested in every detail of her work, that he understood the importance of her work. It made her immensely happy knowing he was so proud of her, for doing so well in her career all by herself. And despite his complaints about her living all alone in Dehli, he was understanding and just let her be. And all these things were just the surface of the ocean of reasons why Tia loved her Papa.

"Papa, Mama's given Tia such a beautiful welcome home, isn't it?"

"Yes of course, I can see that! Thank you so much Sonia for turning the house into a flower shop."

"You're welcome mere pyaare pati ji. Face it, mere aane se tumhaari boring si zindagi mein beauty aur elegance aa gaye hain."

"And kaafi saara drama bhi!" smiled Sumeet, putting one arm around his wife and the other around his daughter. "So where would you two beautiful ladies like to go for lunch today? Can Anvesha join us?"

"No Mamam's busy today, working with Yuvi at his record company, you know launching another rising star."

Tia thought that Yuvi's idea of setting up a record company to give new musical talent, like Remix once was, a chance was just superb. It was now a really successful company, and the best platform for budding singers and musicians.

"So looks like it's just us three for lunch today. But first Tia, you have to go and change into something more colourful!" reminded Sonia.

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Tia's candyfloss feeling continued with her into her old bedroom. That too had been tidied up for her arrival. She sat on her bed... and despite the silence, it was as if she could hear the echoes of her childhood, her adolescence. She looked in her dressing table mirror. She looked so out of place in her dull attire against the colourful background of her former self.

"Oh Tia Ahuja what happened to you?" she asked her reflection.

It's true she had wanted to escape from her old life, and she had matured as a person, but that didn't mean she had to act old and boring. Like so many times before, Sonia was right again. Tia loved her words of wisdom; right now she needed colour back in her life!

She scoured her suitcase but the closest she could get to colour was a skirt in the palest of yellows. How could she have done this to herself, and not realised? Out of desperation, she turned to her overflowing wardrobe...despite donating so many of her clothes, she still had heaps. Who knew if her old things still fit her anymore? She was instinctively drawn towards pale blue floral dress. It was still a perfect fit! She let down her hair, put on some pink lip gloss, some silver earrings, and looked back in the mirror.

"Now that's someone I recognise!" she smiled to herself. The dress made her feel funny, but in a nice way. It made her want to sing and dance and do something extremely juvenile and childish.

"Papa, let's have ice-cream for lunch!" She called out. Let those calories have a day off.

And then she realised what the dress was. Oh how could she have ever forgotten?! It was the dress she had worn the first time she had met Him... and fallen in love at first sight.

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"Nainika? Naini, what's wrong??"

"I miss you, thats what's wrong!"

"Oh...I'm coming back really soon."

"That doesn't matter!" she giggled on the other end of the line.

"Er.. ok... listen Naini I really have to go now, I'm running late. But I promise I'll call you later. Take care of yourself, OK? Bye."

"Bye! Love you!"

Ranveer put down the phone, once again without reciprocating the affection. Did she not notice, or did she not care? he wondered. Anyhow he carried on getting dressed. Vrinda had left early to help Ashi with the party preparations, leaving him and Aman to join them later. Although now they were running late... and he didn't want to waste any time; a moment more here was a moment less with Her.

Ranveer looked in the mirror while he hurriedly did up his tie. His mind was oscillating between the prospects: She'll come but ignore me... She'll come with her new boyfriend... She'll come but we won't talk...She won't come at all. Out of these potential unpleasant scenarios, the last one was clearly the worst.

His eyes were yearning to catch a glimpse of her, to make sure she was alright, and happy. He knew that if she was happy, all the torment he had been through these past few years would be worth it. Only he knew how he had survived the anguish of being away from her, unable to hate her or love her, see her, touch her, talk to her. And then just as he was starting to pull his life back together, life had once again played an evil game on him by bringing him back here. Now the meeting was so close, so tangible, he just had to see her. Despite trying not to, his hopes had now been built to dizzying heights. If she didn't turn up, he'd fall a long way down.

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Tia thought she'd be over the moon about meeting her classmates again, but things weren't going as she'd expected. Tia had known not everyone would graciously avoid the topics she didn't want to talk about, like her loved ones did. But she didn't know how much more of this she could handle. Everyone seemed to be singing the same song: "You're a banker?? Tia Ahuja, a banker??" "Tia, we always thought you'd be in fashion, especially with your dad's contacts"

And then came the worst parts:

"Tia! Ranveer didn't come with you?" "What?? Not together?? Even Ashi and Yuvi are still together!" "We thought Tia and Ranveer would be forever."

"So did I!" She felt like screaming back to them. It just goes to show, life throws things at us that even we can't fathom. If Life was a bottle of perfume it should come with a warning label: This product will never smell the way you expect it to, and it won't always smell nice...

Instead she smiled a honeysuckle smile and carried on making casual small talk. She had to do something to pass the time. When eventually she needed a break, she walked over to the table and poured herself a glass of water.

"Kyaa hua Tia?" asked Vrinda, seeing the visible irritation on Tia's face.

"Vrinda, why do I have to explain myself to everyone? Why do they judge me? Can't they let me be? I mean, is it SO shocking that Tia's a banker?"

"Honestly I'm not surprised.. Tia, you acted like a Barbie doll in school, but the truth is, when you put your mind to something you always succeeded. We're all really proud of you! But..."

"But?"

"But... someday you have to come up with the answers to the questions you've been hiding from... not for anyone else but yourself. You have to come clean to yourself. Is this the life you want Tia?"

Tia pondered over that question, and then gave her straightforward reply: "No. But it's what I have. I've been so incredibly lucky...I got given everything I could possibly want for 18yrs. And now it's like I'm balancing out by having a little less. But I still have my family, my friends, a job which I worked for myself.. I'm content."

"And love?"

"Puh-leez Vrinda..."

"But you were always so optimistic, a dreamer and a true romantic."

"I guess I grew out of that phase."

"Love's not a phase."

"I don't care anymore! I stopped wishing for my fairytale ending."

"Why an ending? Love never ends; its forever! And you better start caring, because you're a good person Tia, and you of all people deserve everlasting love. And you'll get it, even if I have to do the wishing on your behalf. Especially tonight..."

"T..tonight?" Tia whispered, too scared to speak louder, as if her voice might shatter this fragile fantasy of a possibility.

"He's on his way," Vrinda whispered back.

Those words made the dormant butterflies in Tia's stomach go delirious. She walked away as if in a trance. She felt queasy and uneasy, and (for once in her life) foolishly dolled-up. Would He think she was trying to hard? She had wanted to wear something less dressy, but Meher had insisted on this creamy silk gown and all these pearls. "Tia Ahuja's place is in the limelight, not in the background!" Meher had said.

Spending time with her family and friends had kept her occupied and had been a good distraction. She had written herself mental notes and stored them neatly at the back of her mind – stay calm and composed, act mature, be gracious, etc etc. But nothing (NOTHING!) could have prepared her for the actual event of meeting Him.

She paced up and down the room, a nervous wreck, hyperventilating, incapable of speaking. If she was already such a mess what would she be like when He-

Tia froze in her tracks. Her heart stopped beating there and then, as if its batteries had died. In a rush of adrenaline, she spun around.

And there He was.

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And there She was.

Tia Ahuja... Heartbreakingly beautiful Tia Ahuja. Tragically magical Tia Ahuja. Just when Ranveer thought she couldn't get any more stunning, she did. Standing there in the glowing light, she honestly looked to him like an angel descended from heaven. A delicate, dainty, breathtaking angel, adorned in pearls.. but all alone, with sorrow in her eyes. He wanted to hold her in his arms and protect her. Please smile for me Tia, happiness looks good on you, he felt like saying. But how could he talk to her. What would he say to her? After all this time.. What were they now? Friends? Enemies? Mere acquaintances?

Who said time was the greatest healer? Even now when he looked at her, he felt as if his heart had been torn out of his chest and smashed into a million pieces. He couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't look at her. Oh, but how could he not! With every glance he fell in love with her all over again...

But before he could do anything else, a cloud of classmates drifted over to him, showering him with questions and blocking his view.

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