01: Summer starts
Khushi was ten when her parents died in a car crash. She was taken in by her mother's sister, Garima, immediately after the tragic incident. The adoption came through two years later. She remembers it being a warm summer day when Shashi and Garima had taken her to the courthouse and told her that now she was officially a Gupta. Payal wasn't a cousin but a sister. That thought cheered her up.
She was fourteen when she called Garima "Ma" for the first time as she ran out of the door to the sound of honking school bus. It was an involuntary greeting that had come as an echo to Payal's "Goodbye Ma". Now at twenty-one, the words "Ma" and "Papa" don't have a bittersweet twinge to them. The people who embodied those words were exactly what the words represented and some more. She found herself feeling guilty for forgetting to remember her biological parents on their birthdays or anniversaries. Shashi and Garima, however, didn't let her forget. For that, she was ever grateful.
Payal and Khushi were best friends first and sisters later. Being the same age helped and their dichotomous temperament had made them oddly inseparable throughout high school and for the most part of their bachelor degree. It was ironic how shy and soft spoken Payal had branched out first during their college experience while the talkative and extroverted Khushi had folded inwards.
"Khushi."
Khushi blinked and focused her eyes on the face hovering in front of her. It was Lavanya.
"Yes?" Khushi asked, rubbing her eyes to remove traces of summer induced drowsiness. She had decided to binge watch Fringe and had settled on couch first thing in morning armed with DVDs, a large bottle of Sprite and copious amount of popcorn.
"I am looking for Payal's laptop? She said she left it here last night." Lavanya said, shuffling around the cushions.
"Check under that loveseat," Khushi said. "What are you guys up to?" She cringed at the tone of her voice that sounded like a child left behind by older siblings.
"We have decided to watch B-grade Mithun Da's movies. Its summer holidays and we thought, why not, you know?" There was happiness in her voice. Khushi didn't respond. B-grade Hindi movies were always her thing. She had asked Payal several times in the past to watch them with her but Payal had been a movie snob. Why watch crap and waste time when there are better things to watch.'
"Have fun." Khushi said, dully.
Lavanya gave her a dimpled smile. "I sure hope so it will be fun Khushi. Akash is coming in with snacks." Khushi forced a smile. "A-ha! Found it." Lavanya yelped. She left in a flurry leaving Khushi alone to her thoughts.
She didn't know how it happened. A year ago she and Payal were attached to the hip and now Payal was having movie marathons, invitations to which didn't extend to Khushi. There were coffee dates with Lavanya or Akash or both. There were group outings with Akash's cousins. Khushi felt she was now standing in the fringes of her sister's life, watching her make plans and live a life that didn't always include her. They weren't being purposeful about it or blatantly disregard her existence. It's just that when they made plans, her name didn't come up unless she was physically in the same room when they planned.
She wiped her greasy hands on her pajama pants scolding herself in indulging in unwanted pity party. The laughter that flowed from Payal's room made her irritable. Sighing, she gathered her stuff and dumped it in her room. Her skin felt too tight and felt the air around her wasn't sufficient for her to breathe. Changing to comfortable cotton pants and a t-shirt, she grabbed her car keys and exited the room before the irritation under her skin erupted to something violent.
She passed Payal's room from where laughter, giggle filled words flowed and knocked once. Without waiting for a response, she peeked her head in. Payal, Lavanya and Akash were settled on Payal's bed with Payal in the middle. She had her laptop on her hap and Akash had a bag of chips on his. Payal smiled warmly at Khushi.
"You love these movies Khushi. You should join us!" She said, residual laughter in her voice making it brim with warmth. Khushi flickered her eyes to Akash and Lavanya.
"Looks like you don't have room for me." Khushi shrugged. She kept her face neutral so as to not throw Payal off from the fun she was having. The glint in Lavanya's eyes shone and it annoyed her some more. Payal only looked confused. Khushi loved her sister for her simplicity and seeing rainbows and puppies even in the darkest places. She didn't really understand what was going on around her.
"But-"
"I am going for a drive," Khushi interjected before the situation ventured to the one she didn't want to touch with a ten feet pole. "You guys can move this party to living room if you wish to. There is no one to intrude."
Without waiting for a response, she walked out. Her shoulders sagged when the noise of movie playing drifted in the hallway. Her hopes that Payal would rush out and Khushi to stay, bit the dust.
Instead, she found herself driving through the highway, windows rolled down and letting hot summer air fill the car. The road that lay ahead of her looked like a massive ink spill on brown and green canvas. It was the first summer when her best friend-sister wasn't around much and she felt herself missing Payal.
She didn't expect to feel so incredibly lonely.
Next Chapter : Chapter 2, Summer Slumming
Edited by RockBarbie - 10 years ago
Cricket
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
44