S E R E N D I P I T Y
01 | Catching up
SOUMYA paid the vendor and proceeded to eat her third vada pav. She noticed Rudra staring at her, barely hiding his amusement, and lifted an eyebrow. He shook his head. Then all of a sudden, he started laughing and putting an arm around her shoulders said, "You're still the same, Sumo."
He didn't know why, but the fact gave him an odd sort of comfort. By saying that she was the same, he hadn't meant that she was the Soumya who he had seen last but that Sumo who he knew from much earlier time, when they had first met. During the few months prior to her surprise exit from his life, they had been distant, awkward, even bitter with each other, everything he'd rather not be with his sole best friend in the world, but the circumstances had forced their relationship into this uneasy phase. At that time, she was always seen in proper stylized outfits with heavy makeup and straight hair. She had lost weight too. She had a grown-up, serious and almost formal aura to her that made her seem less of his friend and more of an ex. However close it might be to the truth, it wasn't a pleasant feeling.
This Sumo also had a maturity to her, much closer to the kind but no-nonsense personality she had from beginning, which somehow felt more... apt. Her cute, curly hair was back. She was wearing a denim jacket too, whose sleeves she had rolled up to enjoy the various local delicacies of Mumbai she had been missing for so long. Also, Rudra felt a strong sense of dj vu as he remembered meeting her in the park sometime ago when he had been scared and confused beyond hope, much like their first meeting. He couldn't help but hope that all these were signs that he and Sumo were going to become the same again.
"And why should I change, when the vada pav is tasty as ever?" Soumya said, licking her lips, "Mmm... I. Missed. This."
"So, Rudra started, "What's going on with you?"
Soumya took a moment before replying, "Nothing as interesting as your life. Sadly, we don't get crazy Botox lomdis to create spice in everyday at my university. I have not graduated obviously, so I am here only for winter holidays. Socha, aane ke liye ek hi jagah hai, aur Christmas manane ke liye bhi tum hi ho. I actually came a few months ago for aai's funeral. But, Soumya added looking at Rudra's eyes full of sympathy and also hurt as to why he wasn't informed, "I... I wasn't sure if I could face you. I also resented you a bit for the lack of contact from your side. I... I was alone in another city, busy with so many things and I thought you didn't even care enough to call. Or maybe you hadn't forgiven our little feud to attempt that. Nevertheless, I started thinking that maybe I had just given you something you desired, an excuse to distance me further."
Rudra didn't speak for a while, didn't even look at her, then finally lifted his head and said, "I could also say that. You left without giving me any notice and now, you came without telling me beforehand too. You refused to acknowledge our... our marriage before and then, you announced in a plane full of people that I was your husband. And then, suddenly, we weren't talking. I couldn't understand what was going on with you. After your sudden goodbye, I thought you were hinting me to end it forever. I thought it was your excuse. But, I guess there is no point in this. You came back. You decided to stand by me. I am ready to forgive and forget. I hope you are too."
Soumya blinked. She had half expected an apology. For a moment, she considered telling him that it had been their mutual decision to ignore the marriage, that he had blamed her solely for the drama that happened after the revelation of their drunk marriage in front of the family when he shared some blame too, that she was the one who had initiated every conversation with him throughout and after the flight incident and that it had been her who had been waiting, hoping for him to grow up and finally giving up, she had decided to put her career on top priority. Then, she thought better of it. Firstly, it wouldn't do them any good to start arguing about their past relationship and get all awkward again. Secondly, he probably still wouldn't understand or appreciate their relation as his mind seemed to be engrossed in his and Bhavya's relationship. And lastly, she wasn't going to trouble him with bygone things when he was already in a state of turmoil and needed her. And maybe he was right. Maybe they both messed up at some point of time. She was over those feelings, anyway.
Besides, he is not the reason you are here, Soumya. There's no good in getting distracted, She reminded herself.
"You're right. Let's just leave that." Soumya answered and racked her brain for some way to keep the conversation pleasant. She needed to not mess this up. Otherwise, things were going to get difficult for her.
Rudra gave her that chance. "So how come you came here for me now?"
"Oh, actually, until a few months before, I didn't know anything about the affairs at Oberoi mansion. Then, as I got used to the hectic schedule there and found free time to become a little active on social networking sites, I started looking to what you were up to. All that I know about Bhavya and your love life is due to my stalking adventures at night of your Facebook profile. Then, I got to know how much more complicated your love life has become than it was with me... I mean, at the time I was here. And like the smart cookie I am, I knew you would do something stupid and your Sumo would have to come to help you make it right." Soumya ignored his scowl and continued, "And it isn't all about you either. I was missing Bade Bhaiya, Bade Baalon wale Bhaiya, by the way why wasn't I invited to his wedding and see his pretty wife, and Annika Di. And did Bhaiya and Di really get divorced and Di planned his wedding to some bitch but ended up defeating her and married him again?"
It seemed like she had done the trick. Rudra entered the excited mode that he turned on every time he was gossiping about his brothers and Annika Di.
He scooted closer and started gleefully, "Oh yeah, and that bitch Nagini, I mean Ragini, uske toh tote uda diye Annika Di ne. I am going to tell you the whole story, don't worry. And even I didn't get to attend O's wedding. That was a bit of a complicated affair. I'll tell you about that too and introduce you to Gauri Bhabhi. After all, there is only so much you can know from stalking profiles, eh?"
So, Soumya paid the vendor and listened to him as he went on and on about the drama she had missed in these months. She knew about it already and from better sources than Facebook, yet it wouldn't do for Rudra to know that, would it? Besides she was of the opinion that it sounded more spicy and fun coming from Rudra than a certain insufferable bitch she could name.
She had missed this family, no doubt, especially the girl's gang. She should probably feel resentment towards the other Oberoi brothers and Annika Di too for not sending any message, she guessed, but she didn't. After all, when you are constantly bombarded with psychopaths that are threatening your life, your marriage, your family, trying the most creepy versions of all the Crime Patrol ideas in your house, managing to weasel back to you every time you thwart them, wearing the most laughable outfits until you are confused as hell whether to tease or threaten them and performing antics which make you glare and roll your eyes at the same time, taking permanent residence in your house and leering at everyone from your dad to your brother to you and... well, you get the idea, then you tend to be a little less inclined to Whatsapp and Gmail.
Meanwhile, Rudra continued till he finally arrived at the topic of Bhavya. He told her all about how he met her, how they grew close, then how they fell apart and how finally, she left, probably fed up of his thick-headedness like her. She knew that Rudra, even with his flaws, was lovable. Bhavya knew that too, she guessed. But once he develops a grudge and turns a blind eye to the other side of the story, he turns into a jerk. And then, after a period in the presence of that jerk Rudra, you decide to take a break, or give up trying to make him see sense and content yourself with loving him from a distance. That's what happened to her. And she was ready to bet something similar had happened to Bhavya.
"... And that's how I ended up here." Rudra stated. He was looking lost again. He had turned to see the expression on her face while talking many times, and she had just kept her expression attentive and encouraging, not sure what else to feel.
"I... I don't know what to... I mean, I know I want to make things right but," Rudra continued, "I don't know where to start. I'd have to find her first."
"She seems a clever girl." Soumya said, "You won't be able to find her if she doesn't want it. You can't have her be determined to avoid you."
"So, I have to make her want to want me to find her." Rudra said slowly, looking more lost with each word, "oh, okay I guess. And then, there's the whole thing about what I should do when I find her. I have to think about that too."
"Do one thing at a time, Rudra. You are already going to hyperventilate midway. " Soumya said, laughing as Rudra scowled and wiped away his sweat, "I am here for anything you need from me. Any advice, any help, any late night rants, anything. " Soumya said sincerely. If Rudra wanted a chance with this Bhavya, some things would have to change, she knew. But she would help him with what he wanted, as he was unknowingly going to help her achieve what she wanted.
Rudra smiled at her. Things were looking better already. He had his love angel back.
"I actually can't understand how to make it work. How to figure her out? I mean, she is a cop, so she knows how to act cool and not betray her real feelings, but I am supposed to see past that first, right? Then, there's the whole thing of how her heart works and I just... I can't get her. It makes me feel stupid, which by the way, there is no way I am. " Rudra said.
Soumya rolled her eyes, "Sure. Don't worry, you shouldn't feel bad about it. You are a twenty four year old boy. It is natural you have the IQ of ten year olds. But don't worry; I am here to tell you."
"Hey! You are twenty four too!" Rudra exclaimed.
"Oh, but you forget Rudy boy, I am a girl." Soumya said calmly, and added with a smirk, "And according to the survey conducted by Dolls for Boys and Cars for Girls' organization, in 85% cases, a girl's IQ is found to be ten times as great as a boy."
Then, she resumed walking with her head held high and a skip in her steps.
Behind her, Rudra chuckled inwardly at her habit of quoting statistics that, as he inwardly suspected; she made up most of the time, and moved to keep pace with her.
Some things never change, he thought.
A/N:-
Hello. I had given up all business on IF, but as Soumya returned, it made me come back and write this piece. I know that Gul is going to make a joke of our hopes. (I trust her less than I would trust Svetlana. Not her favorite fan I guess, but I believe I am fully justified in that.)So, I decided that I would post this before Monday's episode, in which God knows what would happen, and see what you guys think of this.
Cricket
