Chapter 1
Mumbai, a city of dreams, some broken and some fulfilled. Nupur stepped out of the train compartment to see her destination Mumbai from her own eyes. Coming from Delhi, Nupur had thought Mumbai wouldn't be as different but boy was she wrong. Just sensing Mumbai's air sent a good vibe down Nupur's back. She had finally made it to Mumbai and that too to fulfill her dreams. Nupur smiled seeing everyone hurry on towards their local tGuptan, some hurrying for collage, some for university, and some for work while some just enjoyed being part of the daily morning rush hour 'like her. Nupur drags her suitcase off from the train and decides to walk it towards the exit. She loved Mumbai already.
"Ticket please." The ticket master asked Nupur as she got closer to the exit.
"Yea, hold on." She says, taking out her 'Delhi 'Mumbai' ticket from her bag and passing it to the ticket master.
"Thank you." He says, ripping the ticket and ushering Nupur to leave. She smiles before dragging her one suitcase and one handbag out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Nupur's phone rang. Her house number flashed on the screen. "Hello ma, how are you?" Nupur says into the phone. It had been really selfish of Nupur to not have called her mother earlier to inform her that she had reached Mumbai safe and sound, but then again, it wasn't her fault that her train took forever to get parked on the right terminal.
"Nupur, are you okay? You got me worried when you had not called me earlier!" her mother sounded furious making Nupur laugh.
"Ma, my train just reached Mumbai right now. I was going to call you once I found a place to live!" Nupur replies back to her nave mother.
"Very funny Nupur; only you know how to get your mom tensed! Now tell me, you are going to meet your aunt Devika aren't you?" her mother questions Nupur.
"Ma, do I have to go to Devika aunty's house? I can also go find my own place to live!" Nupur says, not wanting to go to her aunt's house because compared to her past experiences, this meeting was going to be horrible. For 4 consecutive years, Devika had been asking her to same questions. 'So Nupur, when are you going to get married?' and last year, it had gotten worse to Devika aunty bringing pictures of bachelors for Nupur and asked her to choose. Her excuse? 'Nupur is 23 now, and she should start thinking about her future. If she doesn't get married now, then when will she get married? Don't tell me she is planning to get married when there are no more good guys remaining!' And now that Nupur had arrived in Mumbai, her mother was forcing her to stay with the same Devika aunty. Sometimes it made her wonder that the only reason her mother had said yes for Nupur to go to Mumbai was so that Devika had a chance to show her more bachelors!
"Nupur, Mumbai is a city not known to both of us. Devika has been staying in Mumbai since she got married and that is well over 30 years. You are a young girl Nupur, and Devika is my sister. She knows better and now I don't want any arguments. You are going to be going to staying with her until whatever it is you want to do is done and over." Her mom replies back. Nupur could feel her mom's concern very much showing in her voice and decided to go to Devika, just for her mom's happiness.
"Okay mom. I will go to Devika aunty's house." Nupur replies back.
"Okay good. They are already here to pick you up. You will see her wearing blue jeans along with a maroon t-shirt." Her mom replies back, almost making Nupur angry. She had emotional blackmailed Nupur into something that had been pre-planned long ago! Great, just great!
Nupur turns to look towards the parking lot and not to her surprise, she saw her aunt Devika walking with her husband Suraj and her son and Nupur's cousin Benji. Nupur smiles watching her baby cousin Benji to grow up and become such a good looking and handsome man. Benji was 5 years younger to Nupur and that was her only sympathy for her aunt and uncle who had become proud parents to Benji after 11 years of their marriage. Doctors had told them it just wasn't going to be possible but they had had hope and finally they had been gifted with an angelic boy.
"Di!" Benji says, coming to give Nupur a hug.
"Dodo!" Nupur exclaims hugging Benji back. He was 19 now, and it surprised her that Devika hadn't started bothering him about his marriage yet.
"Aunty, uncle, hello. How are you guys?" Nupur says, giving hugs to both her aunt and uncle.
"Amazing like always. It's good to see you here in our town." Nupur's uncle, Suraj says, smiling.
"What can I say uncle? Your town is so special that no matter how many people want to run away from it, they just can't." Nupur says laughing along with Suraj and Devika.
"Okay, let's go home now. I am sure Nupur must be tired." Devika says placing her hands around Nupur's shoulders and walking her towards the car. "Dodo, bring the bags." Devika commands to Benji who was busy texting away on his phone.
"Yes mom." He replies, carrying Nupur's bags towards their Mercedes. She was sure the Mercedes was Benji's choice. He had been a big fanatic of Mercedes.
"Nice car Benji." Nupur says, winking at Benji.
"Thanks Di." Benji says, packing Nupur's suitcases in the bonnet. "Want to sit in the front?" he asks Nupur.
"Ya sure." Nupur replies, taking her seat in the front passenger seat while Suraj and Devika grabbed the back. Benji starts to drive the car, leaving the terminal behind.
"You drive well Benji." Nupur says, smiling at Benji who looks embarrassed. Nupur looks out at the views of big buildings and the people of Mumbai. It was just like Delhi but still a big difference.
"So Nupur, how is my little sister doing?" Devika enquires about Yashoda, Nupur's mother.
"Mom is fine. She wanted to talk to you on the phone. I told her you can talk to her after I meet you." Nupur replies, turning her head towards Devika who nods her head.
"Nupur, what are you going to do tomorrow? Have you started thinking about what company's you are going to contact first?" Suraj asks Nupur.
"Yeah, I have a friend who helped me fix a meeting with MusicBeats Music Company. Tomorrow I have to meet them after which I will decide what to do later. I don't know Uncle'becoming a singer is a dream I want to fulfill and now that I have come to Mumbai, I hope it just works out alright." Nupur says, looking at the pessimistic side of what will happen if nothing works out right. It had kind of been a bet with her mom. She had said that she would release at least one album within one year or decide to quietly get married where her mother had wished.
Nupur didn't have anything against marriage and was willing to even have an arranged marriage but she didn't like the fact how her marriage was a bigger issue compared to her dream. Even Nupur wanted to get married and find her Mr. Right but not like this! She wanted the Mr. Right to be her Prince Charming. Her Mr. Right had to be smart'romantic'sexy'humorous'respectful.
"You know Nupur, I am very happy that you are in Mumbai right now. You'd be able to help me pick a good girl for Benji." Devika says, sounding serious about it.
"Mom please! I am only 19!" Benji says, as if he was tired of hearing the same dialogue again and again.
"Now you know how I felt when aunty was after me to get married." Nupur says laughing, making Benji smile.
"I am still not off your case either Nupur." Devika says, this time making Benji laugh. Nupur frowns.
Benji parks the car in front of the Gaur house in Andheri West. "We are home!" Benji says, finally happy that he wasn't going to hear his mom chatter about his wedding anymore.
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