The Red String Theory (Chapter 17 updated on page 59) - Page 20

Chapter Eleven: Riddle me this.

Date: 18^th July 2012
Time: 6.48p.m
Place: West side patio, Mansfield Castle Hotel, Scottish Highlands
Mood: suffocated.

Oh no, oh please God NO!' Nakusha frantically panicked as she saw him drop on one knee;

This is not happening' she continued to internally scream.

Except it was.

It really was.

"Dr Nakusha Jain," he began as he opened to small red box in his hand,

"Would you do me the absolute honour of..."

But before he could press on, someone had bumped into him, throwing him off balance. The box in his hand fell to the floor with a soft thud. Nakusha was entirely focused on the spectacle before her to have noticed who that someone was. Similarly the stranger who had just interrupted what Nakusha prayed was a dream-a bad dream-was in such a hurry that he did not even seem to have noticed what he'd done.

He picked the rock up, grumbling somewhat, looking over his shoulder to where the stranger who had just bumped into him had been. He re-arranged his posture, still on one knee, the box in one hand he now decided to take one of Nakusha's hands into his free hand while she remained frozen on the spot, praying the ground would swallow her whole.

"Sorry about that...where was I?" He queried, before his face softened into a smile again, looking deeply into Nakusha's eyes he spoke:

"Aah yes...Dr Nakusha Jain, would you do me the absolute honour of marrying me?"

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Three hours ago

"Get a grip Nakusha. Don't let him get to you!" Nakusha reprimanded herself as she stood before the mirror in the ladies room, remembering the way his hands had glided along her bare back when he asked her for a dance.

"It's just one more night. That's it. Don't fall for the trap." She told herself.

Tomorrow she would be home, away from him. Then even if he had any weird ideas in his mind about getting back together she would be able to put an end to that once and for all.

It was then, as she pep talked herself that she heard the toilet flush. Nakusha cringed as she turned a deep shade of pink.

Crap, someone's in here.' She thought.

The door of the cubicle nearest to the door opened slowly as a young woman stepped out, one hand on her forehead, she looked rather peaky.

Nakusha must have been staring but it did not seem to faze the girl, if anything she seemed rather embarrassed herself, her cheeks flushing. Nakusha could have sworn that between them they had the pink colour spectrum covered.

But before Nakusha could do or say anything else, the woman's eyes widened in shock, she spun around and headed back into the cubicle this time not even bothering to close the door; and heaved.

Nakusha instantly, ran up to her and helped her by holding her hair back for her. This seemed to soothe her somewhat. Sensing that she was now feeling better, Nakusha stepped out of the cubicle, giving her some space. A couple of seconds later the woman followed her, weakly smiling she spoke:

"Thank you."

"Not a problem. One of the woes of long hair ey?" Nakusha half laughed.

The woman seemed to smile again. But this time something odd struck Nakusha. She watched her carefully as she gargled, wiped away any forehead sweat and generally checked her appearance. Nakusha couldn't shake the feeling that she was familiar with her. There was something about her. Nakusha could have sworn she saw her somewhere before.

But for the life of her she couldn't think where.

In the end she resigned to believing she must have seen her earlier on at the reception, after all as she came to realise (and was rather happy about) there were a lot of people here, so many, that Nakusha still didn't know what the Groom or Bride looked like. She had deliberately skipped the wedding speeches, they didn't take her fancy, she didn't know the bride or groom so any story the best man was to churn out embarrassing the groom wouldn't have made her howl in laughter nor would have any sob story from the brides side bring her to tears.

Besides things were now getting rather awkward.

She felt as though she was being paraded by the guy who she had come with. The same guy who had told her (repeatedly) that they were going just as friends. The same guy who happened to be her Ex. Well that was the way Nakusha saw their relationship. But she had a sneaky suspicion that his views on the matter were completely different.

When the announcement was made that the Bride and Groom were about to make their entrance, Nakusha saw that as a prime opportunity to pop out for some fresh air. Luckily he too had gone over to another table to talk to one of his colleagues, and so without wasting time, Nakusha slipped out.

She partly exited because she felt suffocated but mostly to admire the beautiful landscape before her. Ever since she had arrived the night before she wanted to explore the castle. She had heard plenty about the grounds, but he had been so attached to her that the only time she got any peace was when she excused herself to go to the bathroom.

That was also the reason why now she was hiding out in the ladies room.

To escape him.

Him.

Suddenly Nakusha was back to thinking about the way he had just danced with her. Why was he doing that? He promised that they were going as just friends, so why was he being so affectionate.

She must have been lost in her thoughts for a while, before she realised the woman was talking to her;

"...I'm really sorry. I thought it would get better by now. But I guess not..."

But whatever she was talking about was beyond Nakusha's comprehension.

"To top it off I'm still having my morning sickness, it should have settled by now" she moaned.

Nakusha had only just started paying attention to what the woman had been saying. She had a strong American accent, but it was what she had said last, that confirmed what Nakusha had initially assumed:

She was pregnant.

"How far along are you?" Nakusha asked smiling;

"About twelve weeks," she responded, as she gently rubbed her stomach.

Nakusha couldn't help but smile. She indeed had the glow on her face and looked really happy. Two factors that Nakusha was more than able to detect especially since Leela had fallen pregnant with her second child, five months ago.

"Aah, firstly: congratulations..." Nakusha said excitedly. Feeling truly happy for this stranger she had only just met.

"Thank you."

"Secondly I wouldn't fret; it tends to clear up round weeks twelve to fourteen. Sometimes it can last longer. But you don't have anything to worry about."

She seemed to laugh at hearing this, an odd cold laugh, for a second Nakusha thought she had said something wrong, but whatever it was it disappeared and the woman's eyes suddenly twinkled and she asked rather proudly:

"So I am in the company of a doctor?"

Nakusha blushed somewhat;

"Sorry, I sometimes forget to switch off." Nakusha responded embarrassed somewhat.

Nakusha looked away, but the woman continued to look at her. There it was again, that same familiarity she had sensed before. But this time the girl seemed to be smiling more. Her features were softer as though-and this really confused Nakusha- as though the woman knew who Nakusha was.

"Sorry I'm staring. I'm not deliberately being rude." She remarked suddenly.

Nakusha didn't really know what to say so instead laughed nervously as she pretended to wipe away (non-existent) eyeliner smudges;

"I'm just trying to figure out if you're from the groom's side or the bride's." The woman continued somewhat bemused:

"What's your verdict?" Nakusha asked cheekily;

"I think...you're not nearly snooty enough to be from the groom's side." She announced, taking Nakusha by complete surprise.

Nakusha couldn't help but raise her eyebrow in astonishment.

She decided she liked her.

The woman realising what she had said began laughing:

"Don't get me wrong, nothing against them. In fact they're practically family. But the company they keep on the other hand?" She began before she gave Nakusha a look that told her all she needed to know.

Of course Nakusha had noticed what this woman had just hinted at.

This wedding was full of posh toffs. All the men dressed exactly the same with either their pocket squares or neck ties discussing either stock markets or politics while the ladies each seemed to be suffering from LAS (left arm stiffness) as they paraded the pallu of their sari and the diamonds they wore.

Nakusha had made a mental note to thank Leela for lending her one of her best sari's for the wedding. It really complimented her eyes and for that she was grateful especially since she didn't feel as though she stood out as a sore thumb.

"...But I don't think you're from the bride's side either." The woman continued nonchalantly.

"Your instincts are correct." Nakusha earnestly replied back.

This seemed to have raised curiosity and again Nakusha could have sworn she got another wave of a dj vu from her.

"I'm from neither side. In fact I'm someone's plus one." Nakusha spoke, trying her best to keep her annoyance at him at bay.

"Ahh! That explains it." The woman practically squealed in excitement.

But whatever that it' was, was not elaborated upon as the next second the door swung open and in stepped an extremely beautiful tall woman:

"There you are! Armaan's been looking for you!" She said looking at the girl.

Nakusha noted the woman's smile fade somewhat at the mention of Armaan, (whoever this Armaan was, clearly this woman wasn't too happy about him)

"Come on, Kala's got the photographer waiting. She wants some pictures where Baji is somewhat sober" The lady rather rudely remarked.

"Coming Priya," The woman managed to respond, as Priya hurried out of the bathroom just as quickly as she had barged into it.

"I've got to go," She began looking at Nakusha:

"Before Kala Tai turns up herself," She amused.

She turned to leave when she suddenly stopped, placing her hand on the door before she pushed it, she half smirked and suddenly Nakusha felt a pang, and the thought just struck her.

She now knew who she had been talking to.

The side profile of the girl had given it away;

"I'm Roop by the way. It was lovely to finally meet you!" She remarked as she fled.

And it all made sense.

Why had she looked so familiar. Of course; those eyes. They were his eyes. The way she spoke, the way she had scoffed at the guests as this wedding. Of course she had to be Roop. Of course she had to be;

"Dutta's sister."

Nakusha joyfully recalled remembering how Dutta had spoken about his younger sibling all those years ago in Phuket;

--------------------------------

Sometimes I wish Roop was older.' He had said.

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It all made sense now. She knew whose wedding she was at:

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Vah naam ho to aisa' she recalled thinking back to the so called ghaddah' who had phoned Dutta in the tent all those years ago in Thailand.

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The lady who had called Roop became clear too:

------------------------------------

I mean seriously, how can I marry someone with a name like Priya, or Anjali or Simran...' Dutta had joked in Sydney.

---------------------------------

Then as if she thought had just struck her, Nakusha smiled widely as her heart leapt:

"He's here." She realised.

"He's here" she gasped, her joy unexplainable.

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Date: 8^th June 2014
Time: 12.05 p.m
Place: Villa Saint Jacques restaurant, Saint Jacques Boulevard, Paris.
Mood: Co-operative

"Excusez-moi"

Nakusha turned slightly to see the receptionist rushing towards her:

"Oui" she clarified as Nakusha pointed to herself.

She and Dutta had been on their way out to brunch when Nakusha had been called by the receptionist:

"Mrs Patil..." she began.

Nakusha's eyes widened;

Crap!' She thought looking quickly to Dutta who seemed to be looking intensely at the receptionist. His face hard to read;

Double crap!' Nakusha thought;

I hate it when it does that.' Knowing full well that a million questions must have been running through his mind now, even if his face remained expressionless.

"...tonight, in the grand reception hall. Please do attend." The receptionist finished.

She handed Nakusha an invite of some sort before nodding politely to Dutta and Nakusha, as she walked off:

"Mr and Mrs Patil."

Nakusha dare not look up.

"Well that was...interesting." Dutta eventually spoke.

Nakusha glanced up quickly then to her surprise found that Dutta seemed somewhat bemused by the whole thing.

"Yeah..." Nakusha began uncertainly as her guilt surfaced;

"I probably should have told you..."

"Probably?" Dutta asked, fazing Nakusha before she pushed through explaining herself;

"I kinda sorta mighta checked us in as Mr and Mrs Patil." She mumbled as she fumbled with the edge of the invite, fidgeting a little at being caught out.

"Kinda, sorta, mighta?" He repeated her words, raising an eyebrow.

"OK, Ok. SO yes I did check us in as that."

"Why?"

"I dunno"

Dutta looked at her warily as if to say: really?'

"Ok, so don't laugh."

"I assure you Nakusha I do not find this funny. Stupid yes. Childish check. But not funny"

Nakusha scowled at him,

"I did it so that he doesn't follow me here. It's the same reason why my phone is still off. I figured if he rings and asks and they tell him a couple is resided in the honeymoon suite but they are Mr and Mrs Patil he'll believe that I didn't come to Paris and so the Hotel gave the room away to another couple."

Dutta remained silent for a while.

Nakusha didn't really know what he would make of her explantion. Of course it had been a silly thing to do, Nakusha had thought that when the signed the guest log, but in all honesty, she could think of nothing else. She needed time. Of course she would have to face the music at some point, but if she could delay it somewhat then she full well intended on doing just that.

Dutta who hadn't spoken since Nakusha's explanation now dipped his head to her level:

"So..." He began in his husky tone;

"Shall we Mrs Patil?" He asked gesturing towards the front doors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Why do you keep doing that?" Nakusha protested.

This had been the eighteenth time. Yes she kept count.

"Doing what, Nakusha?" He asked innocently as he sipped his coffee.

Now nineteen' Nakusha thought as she said;

"That."

"What?"

"Calling me: Nakusha." She blurted.

Dutta froze somewhat, before he carefully placed his cup down, looking away he sighed a little, before he responded;

"It's your name isn't it?"

There right there she could sense it. Of course Nakusha knew why he had resorted to calling her by her forename; the last time they met she had stopped him from calling her Rosie. Even if in forbidding him it had felt as though someone had taken an axe to her heart. Besides hadn't he nearly slipped up last night?

--------------------------

Ro-Nakusha' he had said while she was placing their food order over the phone.

-------------------------

"Yes, yes it is." Nakusha began;

"But not for you." She insisted.

She saw his pupils dilate somewhat, but he didn't say anything. If anything he suddenly looked quite uncomfortable.

"So aren't you going to ask me?"

"Ask you what Nak..."

"Rosie." Nakusha reminded him.

"Ask you what?" He said, preferring not to call her anything.

"The question that literally burned you up all those years ago in Sydney." Nakusha said.

"Huh?" Dutta asked, trying to figure out what she was referring to.

"You don't remember? Blimey. And here I was under the impression that my response had made your raaton ki neend ko haram." Nakusha amused.

"Ok, so why?" Dutta asked, knowing full well what she had meant.

Of course it had troubled him all these years. He still wanted to know, he would always want to know. Especially since the last time she had denied him all right over that name.

"Why, what?" Nakusha asked, deliberately using underhand tactics to get him to say the name.

Dutta gritted his teeth, mocking annoyance he spoke:

"Ok, SO why Rosie?"

Nakusha smiled.

She hadn't realised it but coming from his mouth it felt so sweet. She felt at peace as though suddenly her life had started making sense.

As soon as Dutta had said it, he felt something. Well something was probably an understatement to describe what he actually felt. That same warmth he always did in her company engulfed him. He felt like he was at home.

Oh how he had missed this.

"Before the Monne conference..." Nakusha had begun explaining;

"I came across something. A video. Which brought to light some things. Things which I'd rather not have known about" She responded, as she settled back.

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Date: 15^tt May 2008
Time: 9.47 p.m
Place: New house in London.
Mood: Shock

"Egg shell blue and magnolia." Raman repeated.

"Yes." Nakusha responded admiring her room.

Indeed it was coming together. The painting was done (finally!) all she now needed to do was to get her feng shui on.

"Your room is blue and white. Naku. Blue and white." Raman replied back loudly as he dropped the colour sample sheet on the nearby pile of rubbish.

"Uff, such a guy."

"Congratulations, you are able to distinguish between genders." Raman mocked, as he placed the dirty brush into the bucket.

"And, tumne kaunsey blue walay anday dekhey hain?" He queried, as he added;

"Murga's don't lay blue eggs,"

"Ok firstly, a murga doesn't lay an egg full stop." Nakusha responded giving Raman a funny look who in turn realised his blunder;

"Secondly, there are other animals who lay eggs you know, are you sure you are qualified to be practicing medicine?" Nakusha mocked,

"Haha." Raman sarcastically said.

"Raman, Nakusha, chai." Leela yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming" they sang in unison as she went down.

------------------------------------------

"You know Nakusha, waisey chai vai se kaam nahin chalega." Raman warned as he dunked his digestive into his mug.

"Tum akele chai se kaha kaam chala rahey ho?" Naksuha teased back pointing to the half eaten biscuit in his hand.

"Hardy haha. Misses. It's nearly 9p.m I'm starving."

"We could order a pizza," Leela chipped in licking her lips.

"Lemme guess with extra jalapenos?" Raman asked, knowing full well what his wife's cravings were like.

"Yes and a double chocolate fudge cake for dessert." She smiled at him.

"The baby wants what the baby wants." Leela sang,

"And the baby shall get whatever he wants; even if Daddy has to run across town at two a.m to find the right kind of liquorice." Raman remarked recalling last night.

"He? And what if it's a girl..." Nakusha began before adding quickly remembering today Leela had gotten a scan;

"Wait..."

Leela merely laughed;

"No, Nakusha we don't know. We decided to keep it a surprise." She told her.

"Ok, so then Raman what if it's a girl?"

"Then?" Raman began;

"Then I'd still be luckiest and happiest guy alive!" He answered as he gazed at his wife lovingly.

Nakusha couldn't help but smile at her two best friends. Nakusha wasn't sure if she believed in the idea of soul mates, but looking at these two: she knew she wanted too.

"You guys go ahead and order. But I'm going to eat from home." Nakusha smiled.

It felt so good to call it a home. Indeed, how long was this in the pipe line? When Nakusha had bid (and won) the house in auction she realised just how much of a mammoth of a task she was taking up. It was in dire need of a do up.'

That was no easy task.

TV shows always made it seem so glamorous and an eye opening experience, but after chasing around after builders and plumbers Nakusha was on the verge of dumping this place and simply permanently renting out a small apartment closer to the hospital. But soon enough it was time and what a time it was, as things settled at work, as she readied herself for the Monne conference she now had her own place. Her place. Her own house. Her own home.

"What are you going to eat? I got the biscuits out of the car and had to politely ask for some teabags from next door." Leela responded.

Nakusha who had been so determined to finish the paining today so that she could spend her first night in her own home had not found the time to shop yet.

"You carry digestives in the car?" Nakusha amused, realising Raman had not been exaggerating when he said Leela's craving had become insane.

"Well?" Leela asked.

"I have cornflakes." Nakusha remembered.

That morning she had bought a variety pack on the way to work (she had had no time for breakfast so she had decided to tear open a small box of Frosties' and eat them on her commute-she had been given some funny looks, but Nakusha couldn't care any less)

"And there's enough milk." She argued as she picked up the near empty pint bottle of milk.

"You guys go ahead and order."

It may have seemed weird, but Nakusha wanted her first meal in her house to be from home.

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"This is the ten O'clock news..." The TV was on in the background, while Nakusha walked around emptying her boxes; she had just finished with the box marked: Kitchen, when she nearly walked into another that was settled near the single seat in the corner.

Nakusha didn't recognise the box; it looked rather tatted and old. If anything the dust that accumulated on it gave her the impression that it had not been touched in a while. For a moment Nakusha assumed that it wasn't hers, Raman may accidently have brought one of his own with Nakusha's stuff which temporarily was stored in their guest room while Nakusha settled. But then Nakusha remembered how she had emptied out her storage unit earlier that week.

Before Nakusha went off on her medical placement in South East Asia four years ago, she had had rented a storage unit to keep her mother's stuff in. The house had been sold a while ago, when it became clear that Sheila would not be leaving rehab anytime soon. In the meantime Nakusha wanted some peace of mind that her mother's belongings would be safe in her absence.

Truthfully she had forgotten about the unit: since the payment was set up by direct debit and so each month the amount was directly taken from her account, it wasn't until last week when she arranged to have all her correspondence changed so she received the post in her house, that she came across the letter from the storage guys confirming the change of address.

Her initial instinct had been to donate the stuff to charity. It wasn't much merely three boxes full. Most of it was rubbish, and anything of value she had dropped off to Oxfam. But there was one box, it didn't have anything written on it, but it was sealed well. Nakusha had intended to open it, but in the business of work, Leela's pregnancy, and moving into her new place, Nakusha had forgotten all about that box.

Well may as well open it.' She reasoned, as she found the scissors she had used to slit the tape covering the other boxes.

Tearing the tape she opened the lid, dust flew up, Nakusha coughed as she accidently inhaled some of it.

Her first reaction was confusion.

The box was a mishmash of everything. At the very top sat a doll. One which Nakusha did not recognise at all. It looked rather worn out and tatted, the hair matted and the clothes ripped in one corner-presumably from where the child who played with it must have held the doll. Nakusha looked at it for some time. Although she could not remember it, she felt as though she knew it. There was something mysterious about it, the blue eyes, the honey blonde hair and the pink and white dress. Nakusha couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity as she touched it.

Tearing her eyes away from it she placed it delicately by her feet, she then looked into the box again. She saw two rather large leather bound photo albums. She decided to flick through the brown one (that was on top.) But she only made it through page one before she felt a wave of anger surge up inside of her.

It was her baby album. Pictures upon pictures of her milestones lay adorned with a neat scrawl highlighting:

"Nakusha's first step" or

"Nakusha's first holiday" or

"Nakusha's first day at school."

Nakusha didn't want to see anymore. Closing the book rather abruptly she placed it down, further away from her and turned her attention back to the box.

There was a small trinket box inside, silver with a blue butterfly on top. It was beautiful. She assumed it must have been her mother's. Although as she sat their taxing her brain she could not ever recall her mother ever wearing any jewellery. Not even a wedding ring. (Which admittedly she had assumed her mother had disposed of the day her husband walked out on her and their child) but still Sheila didn't wear jewellery.

Nakusha decided to open the box, and gasped when she saw the beautiful pendent inside. It was dainty, a thin light gold chain with a small emerald stone adorned by white crystal work. Although it wasn't much, Nakusha could sense that it may have been worth a small fortune. It indeed had looked like a family heirloom.

Ha family heirloom,' Nakusha mocked, recalling how far removed the Jains were from a family.

She quickly placed the lid back on the trinket box and placed it back inside the box. She didn't need to know who belonged to or what it was.

Next to it lay a pile of letters all addressed to the same person;

Ganpath'

Nakusha looked at the envelopes but there was no address or a surname. Merely just the name Ganpath' was written in the same scrawl that had been used in her baby album.

Nakusha gaped at the thick wad of papers for a while, repeating the name over and over in head, as though she was trying to jog her memory. But it didn't matter how many times she said the name or with what intonation, she received no epiphanies.

Deciding it wasn't worth her effort, she placed the letters back and rummaged through the bottom of the box, where laid several video tapes. She briefly scanned over them when her eyes stopped on one:

She read the label, it was faint but she could make something out:

Ganpath weds ...Sha.' It read.

Who is this Ganpath?' she thought, thinking hard again;

And why do I seemingly have his wedding vid?' She pondered.

Placing it aside she saw another;

Nakusha's first birthday.'

Her heart she could have sworn stopped for a second.

--------------------------------------------

"Did you watch it?" Dutta suddenly spoke.

"Yes."

---------------------------------------------

"Rosie, here. Here. Come here. Come to me. Come to Mama." The voice spoke.

"Rosie, Rosie..." The first voice said yet again, as the patter of small feet on grass made their way stumbling somewhat towards a lady in a plain pink salwar kameez.

"Mama," the child spoke.

Lifting her arms up, along with a dolly she had just gotten as a birthday gift, towards the lady who in turn swooped down and picked her up effortlessly before sloppily kissing her several times.

"My baby!" The lady bellowed as the child kissed her mother.

"What about Daddy? No kissy for daddy?" The second voice moaned from behind the camera, instantly the child started thrashing like a fish in her mother's arms insisting on being let down so she could run up to her father and kiss him.

"Ganpath, she wants you now." The first voice laughed, as she placed the child down.

Nakusha turned the TV off.

She'd seen enough.

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Dutta didn't say anything.

He didn't have too; he knew what had been going through Nakusha's mind then and even now. He knew the pain. And that is probably why he instinctively placed his hand over hers.

"You know, only two people my entire life have ever called me by that name." She half laughed fighting back tears.

Dutta looked up at her;

"Her..." she said, but Dutta knew who that her' was.

"And..." she added, placing her other hand on top of his;

"You."

Then Dutta felt it all over again.

That same swoop of the heart, that same desire to kiss her, that same urge to take her in his arms. But as soon as she had spoken it lapsed.

Dutta retracted his hand.

He noted how Nakusha was hurt somewhat by his act. But nonetheless, as she glanced back at his hand-his ring-to be more specific he could tell what she was thinking. It was probably for that reason why she straightened up and seemed to pull herself out of what Dutta knew was the ache he too felt every time he saw her.

Oh, if only you knew Rosie' Dutta thought looking at his ring.

"I guess at the time I was still reeling from seeing the video." Nakusha spoke as she began explaining why she had recoiled all those years ago in the lift.

But Dutta knew.

Nakusha didn't need to explain. He knew. It was a fresh pain. After years of resentment coming from her mother and the fact that her father was well and truly out of the picture, of course it would have hurt seeing that video. Of course it would have felt like salt being rubbed into a wound. Especially as she embarked on a new chapter in her life.

"And so I didn't answer your question that day." She finished.

"But you still haven't?" Dutta suddenly said taking Nakusha by surprise.

"Huh?"

"I asked why Rosie? As in where did you get that name from? You said your mother and you've now told me why you resisted answering the question-it was too soon. But you still haven't told me why she called you rosie?"

Nakusha stared at him for a while before her lips curled into a small smirk;

"I guess I should call you Sherlock Holmes from now on, ey Sir Patil." She began and then carried on,

"Indeed, I haven't told you why...yet."

"I'm listening," Dutta said.

"Now now, dear hold your horses: you first."

"Me first, what?"

"She's not in my life anymore" Nakusha repeated his words from the night before.

Dutta felt a weight drop in his stomach.

Of course she would have done this. Dutta now wanted to kick himself. How had he not caught onto what she was doing? This was Rosie.

His Rosie.

She knew what she wanted and hell hath no fury if she didn't get it. Of course she would now bargain with him.

"Tell me what that meant, and I'll tell you why." Nakusha negotiated.

Dutta who had been leaning back casually straightened up, moving closer to her, he whispered;

"Only if you tell me why now?"

"Why now what?"

"Why, it took you until your wedding day to realise I was right all those years ago about-now what is it that your best friend calls him: oh yeah that's right grade A arse wipe. I'll tell you what I meant Rosie, but only on the condition that you first tell me why you now walked out on him and not all those years ago, when I had told you to do so."

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*Till next time ;)*

Well Naila! Let me start off by saying this was quite an UD. And we're still left with many loose and even more questions!

It's a sign. Bhaag, Nakusha! Bhaag! Sheesh I mean the world is seriously coming together to tell her something and I'd just like to know what was going on in her pretty head when she made it as far as her wedding day *shakes head* cause we all know where this story started!

But it's a little comfort to know she was panicked knowing what was coming when her Jerk got down on one knee. And I suspect (only because you mentioned neither she nor the stranger saw paid any attention to the other) that perhaps the stranger isn't really a stranger but rather her stranger. [I feel a Friends moment here 😆]

Alright, three hours ago...she was in the bathroom trying to escape the man SHE agreed to accompany. Honestly (side note here) if you end it with someone, wouldn't you avoid things like being a plus one'. I mean seriously. Its one thing to say okay let's have a coffee to say we can still be friends. But being a date to a wedding? I'm just saying :P So no need to be surprised that he'd try to woo her. Maybe his ego's wounded from the breakup and he needs to prove he's still got it...'cause I don't believe for a second he actually misses her or loves her. I mean seriously, the man barely paid her any attention.

Hmm, Priya? Wasn't that Dutta's prospective bride long ago?? You know, if my memory is correct...Nakusha's conversation with Dutta where she presents his situation from the other girl's shoes (when he refused marriage that first time) was important...in that Dutta realized a few things...not only that you mentioned that this conversation was significant...I am wondering whether his present situation (being married) has something to do with things realized from that conversation...???

"I'm Roop by the way. It was lovely to finally meet you!" < Uhmm finally ? So she knows about Nakusha?

But at last, she finally figure out just whose wedding she was at. I'm telling you the world is trying to tell them something 😛😉

But her joy in knowing he's here. I assume it is here that something big also happens. Sending them in opposite directions. Of course, we're still left with the puzzle of Dutta's wife and the reasons that is even the case...

2014...back to the present:
And here are two people who should really get talking and clearing the air who keep dancing around topics. Which is interesting considering how open and comfortable with each other they are otherwise.

Him being stubborn about not calling her Rosie only piques my curiosity further on what happened that last time they met.

Oh they are soo attracted to each other and yet they keep withdrawing from the feelings...

Oh, if only you knew Rosie' Dutta thought looking at his ring.< Perhaps Dutta you should enlighten us all!

His Rosie. < how great of him to recognize it...silently *rolls eyes*

"I'll tell you what I meant Rosie, but only on the condition that you first tell me why you now walked out on him and not all those years ago, when I had told you to do so." < Yes, I want to know tooo...but of course you end it here 🤓

Chal, that was a very good UD...even though the questions I want answered are still left up in the air. But I hope you UD soon!

Take Care, Naila! Hum phir milenge chalte chalte