Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. It really means a lot! I was grinning as I read all the comments, I must have read each one at least ten times. So thank you again! 😃
Chapter 2
"She didn't even have her dinner properly, Shashi."
"I know that Garima. Thankfully Arnav has taken her out for coffee, I'm sure she won't let go of a chance to have some cake too.
"I remember how worried I used to be when she was a child. Always gorging on sweets. I thought she'd lose all her teeth before she hit her teens!"
Shashi chuckled at the fond memories. Khushi had walked out in the middle of dinner, he couldn't get himself to swallow a morsel after that. He knew she was upset, he also knew he was the reason behind it. But what could he do? She was his baby afterall, he had to look out for her. And if that meant being at the receiving end of her anger for some time, so be it.
"Maybe its not such a bad idea afterall, Shashi. Its just an internship. She's not talking about quitting her degree.."
"Just an internship, Garima? You too? You know that girl, I allow her to do this and she will get carried away. She will lose focus. And that's the last thing she needs at this point. She herself understands the importance and the value of this internship. This whole writing thing - its an interest, a hobby and I have no qualms about her pursuing it. But she cannot make a career out of it. She can't drop a prestigious internship and run mad after it. It may please her at this point, but it will take her nowhere, and it will be too late when she realises that."
"You are right, Shashi. God knows how much I wish I could get myself to support her. Fight you and tell you you are wrong, that she shouldn't worry about her career and just fulfil her dreams. That we are there to provide any kind of support she needs. But that's the catch, isn't it? She is stubborn, and she is fiercely independent. She would give up an arm before she asks for help, any kind of help. We forced her into engineering, yet she made sure she gets a scholarship to support her studies. Honestly, I find her sense of independence slightly twisted, bordering on extreme. And I have told her in so many words, but she wouldn't budge."
"That's the point Garima. This writing thing, if she pursues it full time, its not going to get any bread to her table. And Khushi, by the virtue of being Khushi, will never willingly turn to anyone for support, that obstinate little girl. Not to us, not to Payal, not to Arnav. That's why I want her to have a career, one that will allow her the luxury of choice in life. Some day if she is so mad at me that she walks out that door, I want her to be able to lead a comfortable life, not just... I don't want her to see the days we have, Garima. I never want her to go through what we did. I don't want her know whats its like to live in poverty... She is my baby, she won't let me protect her but I can make sure she is well equipped to protect herself. And I will ensure that happens." he ended, promising himself yet again that he would keep his words.
She knew her husband was right, and hated herself for being unable to just ask her child to forget all her worries and go for what she wants. But she knew her daughter well, and she had seen the world. It was not an unkind place, but it held some realities she never wished for her children to witness. She noticed Shashi's slumped form, a rare sight she hated to witness. She softly placed her hand on his shoulder from behind, and almost instantly felt his hand on hers.
"Do you think I'm wrong, Garima? Do you think I am spoiling her life?"
"No." She didn't speak further, and he didn't need anything more.
***
Payal Gupta had had a long, LONG, day. She was used to it, she was a medical student afterall. But she felt unusually tired today. Dinner has been an unpleasant affair, what with the tiff between her father and her sister. She felt sad for Khushi, she had caught her looking at her with hopeful eyes, wishing her big sister would stand up for her, offer her support. Say something. Anything.
She had disappointed her sister today, her little Khushi. Her sibling was a tough cookie, that she knew. But to Payal, she would always be her baby sister. What could she have said? She sympathised with Khushi, but couldn't get herself to say so because she knew her father was right. She knew Khushi was hurting, but in the long run, it would all work out for the best. At least she hoped it would. She thanked the Gods for Arnav, he had been Khushi anchor in the toughest times. She personally found him to be a goofy aimless brat, but he was a good man at heart and really loved her sister. And for that she was grateful.
His brother on the other hand... Her thoughts drifted to the kind bespectacled man who was yet to bring her daily indulgence. She took a look a the clock, it was half past 10. Now where was he?
Just then she heard her phone beep.
"I'm at the door!"
"You're late"
"It was the traffic"
"You couldn't have called?"
"I thought you'd be studying! You hate it when I disturb you while you're studying"
"You could've still called to inform"
"You were waiting for me?"
-
-
"You were waiting! Awww"
"Shut up"
"You do realise I'm still outside the door"
"Yes. I do."
-
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"I'm still here!"
"So?"
"Open the damn door!"
"No"
"What?"
"No. And I wasn't waiting"
"Fine. You weren't waiting. And I didn't find the raspberry cheesecake at Moshe's."
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"Give me my cheesecake" , she said opening the door only partially. She squinted her nose and stretched her arm out, if not for her height one would have mistaken her for a child demanding his candy. Not a trace of grace or poise in her body.
"Not before you let me in"
"You are over half an hour late"
"So you were waiting. I thought you lose track of time when you're busy?"
"I was tired, decided to take a break and that's when I looked that the clock"
"The cheesecake looked delicious. Glad I'm going to have it all to myself. See you tomorrow!"
"Don't you dare!"
"Not so loud, darling. Shhh"
"Fine." And with that she finally opened the door.
-
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And so Payal ate her cheesecake while Aakash...looked at her. They talked. They laughed. They kissed. And then he left.
Why wouldn't he say it, she thought. Men! Hpmh!
Why wouldn't she say it, he thought. Women! Hpmh!
***
He dropped her off only after he had kissed her to his heart's content. She came back to her room, showered and changed. Then she opened her laptop, sent an email and wiped her tears.
She wasn't going to JNU.
She settled comfortably on her bed and reached for the newspaper. She got to the page with the crossword puzzle of the day, and laughed at the first clue. Even her dear puzzles were mocking her today.
10 letter word for 'Renunciation of your own interests in favour of the interests of others'
Abnegation.
CID
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Bigg Boss 19
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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