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CHAPTER SIX
Birds chirped their melodious tune in the welcome of the morning sunshine which pierced its way through the curtains of Twinkle's bedroom. Slowly awakening, Twinkle remembered the past night's events and reached to her side only to feel the emptiness beside her. She let out a sigh of contentment feeling completely re-energised from her deep sleep. Kunj must've left just before sunrise as usual, she thought to herself. As she continued to cherish the warmth of her cosy bed, her phone beeped. Reappearing from deep inside her covers, she opened the text message and let out an exasperated groan. Work.
It wasn't that Twinkle didn't like her job. In fact, she loved her workplace. She had only joined a few months ago but it felt like she had been a part of the company since forever. Her colleagues were lovely and some of them had become good friends too. But the workload had become quite heavy for her, especially since she was now the Assistant Editor. Stepping through the rotating doors of the glamourous building, a chorus of good mornings' erupted through the building. Entering the lift, Twinkle reached for the 3rd floor button, knowing that she had a long and tiring day ahead of her.
*****
Kunj ran his towel through his wet hair as he exited the bathroom. When he had left Twinkle's room before the sun rose, he thought he would still be able to get a few hours of sleep in before he had to be awake for the day but his bed seemed to have had other plans. No matter how much he twisted and turned, he just couldn't get in a comfortable enough position to fall asleep. So after an hour or two, he gave up trying and decided that taking a steamy hot shower would be a good enough option. He didn't know what it was but after having slept in Twinkle's bed, his bed just didn't seem like his anymore. It didn't have the same sort of warmth and comfort that he felt when he slept in hers.
Running his gelled hands through his hair once more, he decided to pop next door to see how Twinkle was doing. He had left her sleeping like a baby this morning and glancing at his watch now, she should be awake. As he descended down the stairs, he bumped into Chinki.
"Watch where you're going Chinks" he said steadying his sister from their collision.
"Sorry Bhai, I was coming to meet you actually. What are your plans today? I'm bored" Chinki replied hoping that he would have something exciting lined up.
Kunj rolled his eyes. He loved his baby sister but there was no way he was going to babysit her today or take her along with him. "Nope, I have no plans, I'm boring" he said as he manoeuvred past her down the stairs.
"She's not at home" Chinki shouted behind him. He stopped immediately and turned to look at her. Chinki wasn't stupid, she knew Kunj would be going to meet Twinkle and she couldn't help the smirk that formed knowing how well she knew her stupid brother.
Kunj wanted to hit himself on the head. He should've realised. Of course Twinkle would've been the first person that Chinki would've went to when she wanted to make plans. If she had come to him, it obviously meant that Twinkle was unavailable. Considering his current position, he decided to play it cool. "Who's not at home?" he feigned clueless.
The laugh that erupted from Chinki told Kunj that his act didn't go according to plan. "Who else? She's at work today" Chinki clarified noticing Kunj's questioning face before she turned and continued upstairs, understanding that he wasn't going to entertain her today.
Well, if she couldn't come to him, he would have to go to her. Kunj thought to himself as a mischievous grin sparkled in his eyes.
*****
Twinkle was storming through all the proposed designs and had even completed majority of the finalisations for their latest projects. It was one of the best parts about working here, time flies when you're having fun, right? She was seated at her desk typing away at her laptop when there was a knock at her door.
"Come in" She replied without looking away from her screen.
"Hey Twinkle" said a very feminine but familiar voice.
Looking up from her work, Twinkle took in the view of a girl dressed in a pink salwar suit, a folder clutched in her hand. "Maya!" She exclaimed as she rounded the table and gave her friend a very warm and long hug. "How are you? I haven't seen you in so long" Twinkle said as she indicated for Maya to take a seat whilst she regained her position.
"I know yaar, I've been busy, you've been busy and work is... well you know how it is" she laughed. "I actually needed you to check over these files" she said handing Twinkle the blue folder.
Twinkle had known Maya since her first day at University. In fact they were part of the same friendship group throughout that period. And believe it or not, they both studied the same Interior Design course and landed the same job at the same company! It was bizarre but Twinkle was glad that she had a familiar face at work when she first started. Recently though, especially since Twinkle moved up the ladder quite quickly, their timetables clashed and they rarely saw each other at work.
"How is Ajay? Have you guys sorted out the house yet? I can help with the designing if you want" Twinkle joked. Maya let out an appreciative laugh and filled Twinkle in with life after marriage. Ajay had also been a very good friend of the two during college and though there was nothing going on between Maya and Ajay at first, everyone had teased them for one another. And ta-da! Two years later and they're now married to each other. The mysterious ways of how life works.
"Acha forget about me for a moment, what's up with you? How's Kunj and Chinki?" Maya changed the topic having had enough of Twinkle's smirks regarding her love story.
"Well, Kunj is back in Amritsar now..." Twinkle started to tell her.
"WHAT? And he didn't tell us? I am going to kill him!" Interrupted Maya conveying her disappointment and annoyance.
Twinkle laughed at her friend's reaction. She completely understood Maya's position because quite frankly, she was initially going to kill Kunj too but she got over it. Maya would too. "Actually, Maya what happened was..." she started again.
"Don't even try to defend him Twinkle. Forget it for now, I'll deal with him another time. You tell me, has anything developed between you two love birds yet?" Maya smirked.
Twinkle let her head drop to the desk in response. She heard Maya laugh. "You know we're just friends Maya, when are you going to give this up?" she said in a tone which portrayed her defeat. According to Maya, Kunj and Twinkle would end up in love with each other...Love? With Kunj? Yes, Twinkle loved Kunj but as her best friend, as her partner in crime, not as in romantically love. And as much as Twinkle denied it, Maya became just as adamant. Only Twinkle knew how she got through those torturous years of teasing at University.
Just as Maya was about to make another remark, the door opened behind her. And in came Kunj with steaming cups of coffee in both hands.
"Talk of the devil!" Maya accused as she got out of her chair to confront Kunj. "You're back and you didn't even drop a message Kunj! One damn SMS! Could've updated your status or something you idiot" she fired away. Twinkle giggled as she watched the scene in front of her play out.
Kunj was completely taken aback. Number one, he hadn't seen Maya in ages. Number two, she seemed really pissed. Number three, he was knackered from all those stairs because the damn lift was busy. Number four, the coffee was actually really hot. Pulling himself together, he motioned for her to stop talking and placed the coffee on the desk before motioning for her to continue again. He was met with a fist to his shoulder. "AHHH, what was that for?" he squirmed as Twinkle burst out laughing. Maya simply dusted her hands in front of him before seating herself again.
Finishing off the last of her work and considering that her friends were in her office, Twinkle concluded she was done for the day. "Let's go for lunch guys, what do you say?" It didn't take much convincing seeing as everyone was starving. Picking up the coffee which Kunj had brought for her, her favourite Mocha, he always remembered, they all left the building and headed to a nice restaurant nearby. The next few hours were spent with the three friends, who had reunited after several months, reminiscing their student lives and carefree days.
*****
After dropping Maya off, Kunj and Twinkle decided to head back to his place. Bebe had rang to inform them about her dinner preparations and had stated there was important news which she needed to share apparently. They both headed inside the Sarna house, delicious aromas already dancing around them in the air. The rest of the family were already seated at the table as Kunj and Twinkle joined them.
"Twinkle yaha kya kar rahi hai? Bebe ne toh kaha tha ki yeh ek special family dinner hai" Usha pointed out, annoyed that this girl was everywhere. Twinkle remained silent as she always did, trying not to let the words affect her. Before Kunj could say anything in Twinkle's favour, Bebe had appeared from the kitchen holding a dish in her hands that smelt like heaven.
"Usha Rani, Twinkle has always been a part of our family. I told her to come and she will never refuse me. If you don't have anything nice to say to her, don't say anything at all" Bebe chided as she rounded the table to take a stand beside Twinkle. Twinkle looked up at Bebe and gave her a faint smile which conveyed that she was ok.
"Bebe what's the news then? Twinkle and I have been trying to guess for ages" Kunj piped up trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
"Let it go bhai, I've asked a hundred time, she won't say!" Chinki joined her brother in their protest.
"Have some patience puttar. Sabr ka phal meeta hota hai" Bebe said addressing all the questioning and confused faces scattered around the table. Everyone looked from one to the other, trying to get some indication of what this news was, but they all just shrugged unaware of the surprise Bebe had in store for them.
"Bebe, kahi aap shaadi vaadi toh nahin karne vali?" Surjeet suddenly said as everyone immediately looked towards her for confirmation.
"Chup kar Surjeete, kuch bhi bolta rehta hai" Bebe disregarded. Kunj stood up and placed his arm on her shoulders. "Actually Tauji has a point, aap itni hot ho, dus bara risthe toh aathe hi honge kyun?" He teased. "Aur nahin toh kya? My Bebe is the world's most beautiful woman" Twinkle joined in.
"Bas karo tum dono, varna koi news nahin dungi" she threatened trying to hide the blush. Kunj and Twinkle dropped back into their seats like obedient children just as Leela walked into the house.
"Ah finally, there she is" Bebe said as Leela came to stand by her.
"Maa?"
"Haan Twinkle puttar, teri maa hi hoon" Leela joked. Bebe and Leela exchanged knowing glances as the rest of the family wandered what was cooking between the two.
"Mrs. Saxena approached me the other day regarding a proposal for her son" Leela finally started to explain. Noticing everyone's blank faces, Bebe finally revealed, "Chinki ke liye ek bohot acha rishta aya hai."
All turned to Chinki at the same time. There was a mixture of emotions on everyone's faces as realisation took over. Surjeet was delighted with the proposal for his daughter. He had heard of the family and they were known to be kind-hearted and pleasant people. His daughter couldn't have been luckier. Whilst the elders were overjoyed, the younger generation were still digesting the information. Chinki? Marriage? She was still the baby of their family! Chinki, herself, seemed to be in a state of shock. "Mere liye rishta?" Chinki asked trying to make sure she heard correctly.
"Obviously for you Chinki, it's not like anyone's going to give a proposal for Twinkle" Usha stated.
"Maa please!" Kunj exclaimed as he noticed how Twinkle had suddenly tensed. He had had enough of his mother constantly taking a dig at Twinkle. "No proposal is worthy enough of Twinkle Usha Aunty, she deserves the best of the best" Chinki defended her friend who was finding it difficult to meet anyone's eyes right now. Leela made her way to her daughter, firmly pressing her shoulder, expressing her support. "Aur nahin toh kya? My daughter is one in a million and I know that God has made her life partner for her somewhere and one day, he will come to take her away" She said lifting Twinkle's face to meet her eyes.
"She's not one in a million Leela aunty, God has made her a single antique piece. Even God wouldn't terrorise the world like that" Kunj joked receiving an appreciative smack to his arm from Twinkle. Everyone burst into laughter and soon the whole family was singing praise.
*****
Chinki and Twinkle were laying on the bed in Chinki's room. Bebe and Leela had filled everyone in with the details of the groom and his family after dinner. Chinki had finally managed to escape all the teasing and leg-pulling from her family but there was no way that Twinkle was going to let her get away that easy.
"So how does it feel knowing you might become a Mrs. Varun Saxena' huh?" She nudged.
"Shut up Twinkle, please ab tu mat shuru ho jana!" Chinki squirmed covering her face with her pillow.
"Mehendi laga ke rakhna, doli sajha ke rakhna..." Twinkle began singing only to be greeted by a pillow to her face. She couldn't help but laugh at the shades of red that washed across Chinki's face.
Putting the teasing aside, Twinkle decided to discuss the severity of the situation with her best friend. After all, it was a life changing decision. Marriage was no joke. The two friends spoke their hearts out and Chinki opened up to Twinkle about how Varun seemed to match the description of the Mr. Right she had always dreamed of since she was little. Watching Chinki continue talking, Twinkle couldn't help but smile at the happiness which was evident on Chinki's face. Knowing that her friend was happy, Twinkle was happy too.
"Ok now it's your turn Twinkle, who is your Mr. Right?"
Pondering over her question for a bit, Twinkle began to narrate her Mr. Perfect. "Erm well, he should be tall and educated. Handsome na ho toh bhi chalega but he has to have nice eyes or a nice smile. Someone who will understand me, not just my words but also my silence." She said as she raised each finger with every point she made. "He should be able to handle my tantrums and temper but also know how to deal with it. He should make me laugh till my stomach can't take it anymore. Always be there for me, support me and be my rock through thick and thin" She paused for a moment before continuing, "Someone who will not judge me based on things that have happened in my past but will accept me as an individual person." Realising that she was going in way too deep, she quickly added, "Someone who will fight and argue with me but will make it up to me in the next minute..."
Her chain of thought was interrupted by Chinki's muffled giggles. Narrowing her eyes, Twinkle asked "what's so funny?"
"Don't freak out on me Twinkle but I feel like I know who your Mr. Perfect is" Chinki replied cautiously, silencing her chuckles.
"Who?" Twinkle asked, curiously.
"Kunj bhaiya" came the haste reply as she awaited the backlash.
Twinkle looked at Chinki blankly, slowly registering his name, before replying, "Don't be silly Chinki, you know it's nothing like that. Kunj could have the world. He is perfect. He deserves perfect. And I'm not perfect. Not anymore" she finished, remembering how she was no longer the same person anymore.
"Don't Twinkle. Don't even think about it. You are perfect. Nothing will change that" Chinki reassured knowing that Twinkle was probably revisiting the past again.
"Anyway forget that. Let's talk about Varun..." and so the two girls decided to leave the past behind them for now and focus on what the future had in store for them instead.
You can leave the past behind but how long will it be before it finally catches up to your present?
Cricket
