PART 1
'It's been over 5 years now Sid. I won't go. You know I won't be able to face him.' I tried to reason out for the umpteenth time. Though Sid wouldn't relent. He just wanted me to go.
Sid, Siddhant Malhotra, my best friend in Mumbai since the last 5 years. Destiny bought us together. Two heart broken people. Sid, basically from Delhi , fell in love with a girl, Tamanna. All was well, or so he thought until he found out that Tamanna was cheating on him; his heart broke. But it was when he learnt that it was with his best friend Raj, Sid decided to leave his life in Delhi and start afresh. I met Sid on his way to Mumbai. As for me, what was I doing on the there?
I am Arohi Ahluwalia, basically from Chandigarh. Working as a journalist and a part time writer in Sid's firm. With me, life was always strange, I fell in love with a guy who was not approved by my family. After many trials and reasonings they finally realized that he was indeed a gem of a person. Everyone was happy. It was when I was beginning to feel everything was normal that this happened. It made me move away from him. Without giving him any explanations I just moved away from him, his life'. My life.
Now here I am in Mumbai, after 5 years holding a wedding card in my hand. Salil Mittal weds Purvi Ahluwalia. Purvi di, my cousin, my best friend, who had been with me throughout. Who knew me inside out, who kept wondering why after all these 5 years I still hadn't told her the reason for my sudden departure. A path which led me away from my family, away from my prince charming, away from my happiness itself. It was her wedding here. How could I not go? But then Arjun? He was bound to be there. Salil Mittal, rightly known as Arjun's best friend. They'd probably known each other since the day they were born. They had stood by each others side even when no one was there. Arjun would surely be there for his best friend's wedding. How do I face him? What do I tell him? And more importantly how would he react to seeing me after all these years?
With all these thoughts and a great push from Sid, I went home- The Ahluwalia house, Chandigarh. During my journey home I couldn't help think of my family. I loved them like anything. There was a time when I couldn't think of living without them. It was not that I missed a particular person, I just missed the essence of being in a family, being a part of them. No one thought that a day would come when I would leave them, disappear without any notice or any words. Though I would call them once in a while to assure them that I was fine. I careful never to mention where I was incase Arjun came to know about it and gradually even they stopped asking me.
I was very happy to go back to my beloved family. Daddu and Dj, my grandparents. Katar Singh Ahluwalia or Daddu for me. A retired police officer. A man of principles. A person strict of rules and discipline. A person of whom others were terrified of, others as in apart from his family. As for me, I was daddu's apple of the eye, he would always support me. At times he'd be partial when it came to resolving fights between us cousins, and thinking back I just loved every part of that. DJ or Diljeet. She had aged ofcourse but apparently her heart was forever young. Trying out new stuff. Getting to know about the new new happenings around, in short gossip, was her favourite pass time. The last I knew was she trying to learn the word wassup! That was hilarious. But ofcourse that was 5 years ago. Long time. Tayaji or Arvind Singh Ahluwalia. The head of our Ahluwalia business which dealt in construction. Tayaji, Preeti Ahluwalia, a fashion designer, who had left her profession long ago though she'd always want every person in our family to be perfect. Perfectly dressed. Sanchit and Purvi di. My cousins. Purvi di who was getting married now, and sanchit, one troublesome brother you hope you'd never have. Though both of them had always been very supportive of me and Arjun during hard times. It was very hard for them to digest my sudden plight, especially when everything seemed normal and beautiful. And chachu, Rajveer Singh Ahluwalia, my bestest friend ever. Though he hated Arjun a lot at first. Probably he felt very insecure seeing me with him. Chachu along with my dad, Sudhir Singh Ahluwalia helped Tayaji in our family business. It was said, 5 years ago that sanchit would eventually join hands in it. Though he never wanted to. I hoped he would've fought for it by now. Though I wasn't sure about it. I hoped.
Each and every person in my family meant a lot to me. Probably that's why my eyes are filled with tears right now. The house from a distance seemed the same. I was happy to be back home. Back to where I belonged. Back with the people I loved. I wiped away my tears and my lips curved into a smile automatically. 'Daddu.. Daddu..' I rushed and hugged my grand-dad and took his blessings. After which I met my entire family.
'Aru.. how are you?' 'you've forgotten us?' 'where were you?' ' did you miss any of us?' ' why didn't you call?' 'did you talk to Arjun?' That was the bombshell. I had to end this. ' maa.. where is Purvi di?' Sanchit will always help me. ' obviously, she'll forget the rest of us since she's here only for di's wedding na. she's gone out with her college friends. Will be back soon.' Though I couldn't help wondering what would Salil be thinking about me? About his best friend's girlfriend? The house was full of laughter and talks when the door bell rang. I got up and rushed to the door at a lightning speed. ' It must be Purvi di, I'll get the door, it'll be a great surprise for her.' I smiled to myself at that thought. But the smile didn't last long. As soon as I opened the door, the smile faded away, and instead I stood shocked and saddened to what I saw in front of me.
Edited by gauri12 - 14 years ago
