Looking out the window, Twinkle takes a deep breath and a small sip of her cranberry juice. She's always hated flying but the thought of where she is going has her even more nervous. Her leg bounces up and down rapidly and she closes her eyes. A warm hand is placed on her forearm and she forces her eyes open, turning to the elderly woman in the seat next to her.
"Are you alright, dear?" the woman, who's probably in her late sixties, asks.
Twinkle offers a small smile, "Yes, thank you --" she pauses, silently asking for the woman's name.
"Nadine," she supplies.
"Thank you Nadine. I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You seem very nervous."
Twinkle sighs, fingers playing with hem of her dress. "I just haven't been here in a while. I'm going to see someone that isn't very happy with me right now and I really am not looking forward to it." She laughs, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, you don't want to hear my life story. Let's just go with: yes, I'm nervous."
Nadine laughs, squeezing Twinkle's hand in reassurance, "I'm sure everything will be alright, dear
Twinkle smiles at the older woman before turning her head to look back out the window, Amritsar City coming into view. "I hope so."
After the plane lands Twinkle foregoes baggage claim, her belongings being shipped in a few days from her apartment in Mumbai on a moving truck. She tightens her grip on the handle of her bag, heels moving her through the airport at a surprising speed. She rounds the corner, tense shoulders immediately relaxing when she sees her friend. A wide smile spreads across her face as she makes her way towards the girl, wrapping her arms around her neck in a tight embrace. "Chinki."
"Hey, girl! It's so good to see you. And might I say, your style has become a lot sexier over the years. I definitely approve, you look gorgeous!" Chinki exclaims, barely stopping herself from screaming in excitement.
"Me? Look at you! Let me see it," Twinkle pulls back and grips Chinki's left hand, pulling it up to examine her ring finger. "Oh Chinki, it's beautiful. I'm so happy for you guys. I'm sorry I couldn't be there," she gushes over the white gold wedding band. A few months ago, Chinki and her long-time boyfriend Yash had gone on a trip to Las Vegas where Twinkle was supposed to meet up with them but had to cancel due to work. What she hadn't known at the time was that the two had planned to get married, otherwise she would've ditched work and been there in a heartbeat. They got married anyway and have been blissfully happy, living peacefully in their townhouse where Twinkle will be staying until she finds a new apartment of her own.
"Oh forget about it, you're here now. And hopefully for a while?"
"Hopefully for good. It's feels nice to be home. I've missed it," she hooks her arm into the elbow of the other girl, "I've missed you. And I'm excited for tonight. I haven't been to a good party in forever."
They make their way towards the main doors where Chinki's car is waiting out front, "Really? You're not nervous? It's been what... five years?" Chinki narrows her eyes, voice laced with concern.
Twinkle sighs, knowing that she'll be unable to lie to her friend. The truth is, she is more nervous than she has ever been in her entire life. The last time they saw each other, things didn't end well and who knows where his life has taken him now; he could be dating someone and she could be with him as his guest and that would be beyond awkward. Especially considering that she has been living with her decision every day for the last five years, knowing what she'd done and hating herself for it. She can only imagine how much he hates her and frankly, she doesn't really want to find out. "Can we not talk about it? Let's just focus on the fact that this is Yuvraj Luthra's engagement party. I mean even when I dated him, I never thought I'd see the day that he got married. Guess it just took the right girl."
"Yeah. And you'll have that one day," Chinki assures before opening the car door and climbing into the driver's seat. Twinkle settles herself in the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt and running her fingers through her ponytail, still getting used to the new length. "I don't know about that. The only person I could ever see myself with... Well, he doesn't see me that way anymore."
Chinki reaches over the middle console, gripping Twinkle's hand and squeezing it in reassurance, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "Everything will be okay. I know it."
Twinkle offers a small smile as Chinki puts the car into drive and pulls away from the curb. Turning her head to look out the window, she's unable to stop the complete and utter feeling of dread that runs through her veins.
Kunj sits at his desk, vigorously signing his name over and over again, flipping through pages at lightning speed just to be done with it. Reading, or let's be real, skimming, and signing contracts is probably what he hates most about his job. But besides that, Kunj actually likes being CEO of Sarna industries. He took over the job from his father about a year ago and it has been a huge challenge, testing him in ways he's never been tested before.
"Mr. Sarna, your sister is here to see you," Priya's voice reaches his ears, crackling over the speakerphone.
Oliver looks up at that, surprised to in fact see Zoya standing in front of Priya's desk, tapping her foot impatiently and rolling her eyes at him. "Send her in," he instructs before hanging up and straightening the stacks of papers on his glass desk. He remodeled the building since taking over, making it more modern and industrial-looking, glass and chrome being two of the more prominent features.
Zoya opens the door with one hand, strutting into her brother's office and flopping down on his dark grey sofa with her feet dangling off the edge. "Remind me again why I have to wear this stupid badge? It's not like everyone doesn't know who I am," she asks, fingering the plastic ID badge clipped to the jacket of her school uniform.
Zoya sighs, a wide smile spreading across her face, "Hello, dear brother-o-mine, it is so lovely to see you. "
He stands and loosens his tie, making his way over to his office's makeshift sitting area. He looks at his watch, noticing that it's only just after noon, "Why aren't you at school?"
"I got bored and came to see you instead."
Zoya shifts uncomfortably, pulling her lower lip between her teeth and looking down. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"What is it?"
"Are you okay?"
Kunj furrows his brows at her question, "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm just worried about you. She'll be there tonight, won't she?"
Realizing that she's talking about Yuvi's engagement party, he immediately tenses at the thought of seeing her there. He sighs, trying to relax and nods his head lightly, "I'd assume so. She was invited, after all. But I really can't say that I have any idea what she does nor do I care."
"Kunj, come on. You might be able to get away with that with Mom or Yuvi, but not me. I know that you still love her."
"Zoya," he snaps, taking a deep breath because he really doesn't want to have this fight again.
"No! Look, Kunj, I'm mad at her too. But even I still care and I wasn't in love with her for basically my entire life. The possibility of seeing her tonight after so many years is probably freaking you out but I just want you to know that I'm here for you."
Kunj shifts the papers in front of him in an attempt to stay calm and to not rub his index finger and thumb together like he always does when he's uncomfortable or nervous. "Thanks, Zoya. I appreciate your concern but I'm fine. I actually haven't given tonight much thought. Whatever happens, happens. Our relationship ended almost five years ago. I'm over it. I've moved on," he reassures, pointedly nodding his head toward the picture frame on his desk to make his point.
"Fine. Whatever you need to believe Kunj. But I know what I know, and what I know is that you still love her. But whatever, don't listen to me. I'm just a dumb kid, right? " With that, Zoya turns on her heels and walks out of his office, nodding towards Priya before disappearing around the corner towards the executive elevators.
Kunj leans forward on his elbows, rubbing his hands over his face and through his cropped hair, considering his sister's words. Zoya is wrong, she has to be. It's been years and she broke his heart. He's moved on. Which is what he repeats to himself over and over again for the rest of the day. If only, deep down, he actually believed it.
Nursing a glass of scotch, Kunj leans against the bar, eyes focused on the tabletop. A hand claps on his shoulder and he turns his head, locking eyes with his best friend and smiling.
"Well if it isn't my best man. Where's your better half?" Yuvi jokes with a grin of his own, signaling to the bartender to pour him a scotch as well.
Kubj chuckles, downing the rest of his drink in one swig. "She's working tonight. How are you doing? Get cold feet yet?"
"Nah, man. My feet are the warmest they've ever been. I don't even want to wait, if I had it my way we would've been married yesterday."
Kunj laughs and shifts so that his back is to the bar, leaning against it. He listens half-heartedly as Yuvi tells him a story about his encounter with Anya's Uncle Chopra, his eyes darting around the room. Suddenly, he freezes, his entire body tensing when he sees her. In an all-too-familiar occurrence, Yuvi's words become white noise and everyone around him fades away when his eyes land on her. Twinkle. She's talking to Anya, head thrown back as she laughs at something the other girl said. Her hair is shorter than he's used to, falling just below her shoulders in light curls. His eyes move down her body, taking in her sparkly mermaid dress. She looks breathtaking, like she always does and he has to take a deep breath to try and center the sudden flood of emotions he'd filed away a long time ago. His heart beats faster when she turns her head, her smile becoming softer as her eyes meet his. Kunj is feeling so many emotions right now: relief, hurt, anger... love. But he can't seem to take his eyes off of her.
The look in her eyes becoming too much, he begins to feel claustrophobic and he rushes out of the room, muttering a weak excuse to Yuvi. Kunj makes it outside and leans forward against the railing of the grand front porch, gripping it so tightly that his knuckles turn white and he tries to take a few deep breathes. After what feels like hours, he finally begins to feel himself calm down. That all comes undone when he hears one word --
"Kunj?"
Immediately tensing at the familiar sweet sound of her voice, he straightens his back and turns around, coming face to face with the woman who saved him and then destroyed him for the first time in nearly five years.
Twinkle shifts uncomfortably, looking down before tucking a strand of hair that had fallen behind her ear. "I saw you come out here. It's good to see you. You look great."
Kunj clenches his jaw, taking a deep breath through his nose before answering shortly, "Thanks."
She looks up, nodding her head slowly, a self-deprecating smile on her face at his tense response. "Kunj... I don't know what to say."
"There's nothing you can say, Twinkle."
"Kunj. I'm sorry."
He huffs a laugh in disbelief at her words, "You're sorry? You gave up on us, Twinkle. You don't get to be sorry!"
"That's not fair," she takes a step closer to him, shaking her head at his accusation.
"Not fair? You know what's not fair? The fact that you're here. Five years of not speaking and now, what? You want a reconciliation? What is it that you want, Twinkle?" Kunj steps towards her, anger and hurt radiating from him as he looks down at her, his jaw clenched so tightly it might hurt if his entire body didn't feel numb.
"I don't have some sort of hidden agenda, Kunj. I'm moving back here. And it would be nice if we could at least be civil considering we still have the same friends. And if I'm being completely honest...," she looks up at him under long lashes, eyes filled with tears. "I miss you."
"No," he shakes his head quickly. "You don't get to miss me. Not after everything." He moves around her, pushing his way past her and making his way back inside, only stopped by her shaky voice.
"Kunj, please. You have to let me at least explain," she pleads.
He stops, his shoulders tensing before he turns to face her. His voice is calm, steady, the complete opposite of how he feels whenever he's around her. "There's nothing to explain, Twinkle. I understand perfectly. You got scared and you gave up on us. You gave up on me. That's all the explanation I need."
A tear trails down Twinkle's cheek as she watches Kunj turn on his heels and walk away from her. She wipes her face, taking a deep breath and moving to lean against the railing that Kunj had been using just moments ago to steady himself. Twinkle shivers, the brisk wind hitting her arms and goosebumps spread across her skin but she can't force herself to go back inside. So she stands out there, staring at the sky and wondering where it all went wrong, how she ended up here. She releases a bitter laugh, knowing exactly how she ended up here. Kunj was right; she got scared and she ran. And it was the biggest mistake of her life.
Cricket
