Words Count - 3500
Attached Song - Count on me.
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[Surfraaz Mehta]

"Bhai", I heard a loud knock on my cabin, followed by a shrill yell as I was reviewing my day's schedule.

"Come in."

I saw three females sauntering inside my cabin, and taking their seat on the long sofa. Their fierce glare indicated that something was gravely wrong.

"What's wrong?" I questioned, quite instantly. My question unexpectedly made them scoff.

"You didn't even tell us, that you are also getting married." Oh, they already know.

"I haven't met the girl yet. It's Maa, who is adamant to get me married." I facepalmed, tired.

"Still, you could've told us that Maa gave you an ultimatum to get married to a girl." Saanvi pouted.

"Princess, you know, I wasn't sure. I am still not sure, though it has been five days." I croaked out.

"By the way, Maa told us." Aisha chirped. But, there was a glint of mischief in her tone.

"I know, Maa told you. Because, no one knows about it, except her." I replied, nonchalantly.

"We know about the girl too. The girl, you'll have to marry." Saanvi piped in, showing me her tongue.

"Have you met her already?" I asked, trying to draw out information about her.

My tiny doll ran to me, as I swiftly made her sit on my lap. I could see a look exchange happening between my two musketeers.

"You've met her too!" Saanvi winked at me.

"Huh?"

"The girl, you are going to get married is Rakesh sir's daughter." Aisha delved into our chat, taking me by surprise.

"Bhavna?" I mused, while they smiled at me.

"Yeah. Bhavna." Aisha laughed.

Bhavna would be good for me!

"Alright. Stop thinking about my wedding too much. Focus on the wedding at hand. How's the preparation going?" I inquired and they updated me everything in detail.

..................

I reached home and was about to have Sharda Aunty's special Meethi Thepla, when my phone pinged.

"Hey brother, what's up?" I spoke excitedly, pressing the phone to my ear.

"Oh god, my poor ears. Shay, Are you planning to damage my ears before my wedding itself." Viraj bhai spoke from the other side.

"Aww, our would be groom." I teased him and he laughed too.

"When are you coming back home?" He asked me, a bit tenderly.

"I am coming home tomorrow." I informed him, to hear him cheering up. We talked a few more things.

"Bhai, let's meet tomorrow. Good night." I suggested, because, I was feeling low for some unknown reason. I felt as if my situation was going to worsen.

"Your would be sister in law is also visiting us tomorrow, so, you can even meet her. Okay, take care. Bye." He voiced out, enthusiastically.

"Yes, bye." I terminated the call.

I ate my dinner slowly, plugging in the earphone into my ears as my fingers swiped through the pictures in my gallery. The pictures of the girl of my dreams.

Why won't you trust me?

I sighed, again. What would I get seeing her pictures now? Now, when she can never be mine. It hurts bad, but, it was the harsh truth, with which I was bound to cope up.

As usual, the time's elasticity had less strength than my eye's ability to sleep. The whole night just dashed away in the 'to and fro' memories of my past. Past, that kills me alive each day by stabbing my heart and poisoning my body slowly.

I was on my way to the Mehta's mansion, after I dropped Saanvi, Sharda Aunty and doll at the Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun to reach Mumbai.

Soon enough, I was standing infront of my parents house with my luggage and a big baggage of past, that is to be kept hidden from them. I don't want to ruin my life further. I've lost enough.

My heart was racing somewhat fast, I guessed, the reason to be anxiety. I took my first step into the mansion, only to be engulfed by a bone crushing hug.

"My bro, My friend, and My sweetheart." Viraj bhai shouted in the peak of his voice, deafening my ears.

"Missed you, Bhai." I hugged him back,politely. I got a little nervous seeing all the members of my family standing around me, glaring at me.

It's not like they weren't here, when I was expelled out of this mansion!

"All good?" It was the only thing, I could think of. I took blessing from each one of them and hugged Maa tightly. Though, we were never in our best terms, still, we cared enough for each other and it was enough.

But, I can't deny the fact that, I was always envious of Viraj Bhai for having Maa supporting him in life. Not that I complain, because I too had my Dad on my side, standing strong and rigid.

"Little Brother, here is your would-be sister in law." I heard bhai speak from a distance as he approached me with a girl, whose half body was partially hidden due to the curtails and the hanging flower decors. But, she felt familiar. Strange!

"Meet Neha Mehra, your would-be sister in law." He clapped, while introducing her to me.

That was it!

I fell back few steps as those eyes, hair and the same face came alive upfront me. How can this be possible?

Neha Mehra?

My heart stopped seeing her. She too was mirroring my visage. The reason of my disaster was standing in front of me. Neha, the name itself sent shivers down my spine. She is not just someone, but a living calamity for me.By now, I knew deep down, these eyes which once never diverted from her has to be downcasted forever.

What a play the destiny has plotted against me! Simply great! Why is it always me, with whom fate loves to play such game?

How could I never realise that it was my own elder brother, she was in love with?

All the while, it reminded me of how she arrived in my life as a rainbow unicorn, but left my life damaged, beyond repair. She was indeed a rainbow, a spectrum of different shades.

My Poco Loco!

"What are you guys waiting for? Come on, hug." Viraj shouted, excitedly.

She was approaching me for a hug, but, I dodged it. It was too awkward.

"When did you start shying away?" Viraj pushed her towards me for a side hug.

Her hands circled my waist and I was getting overwhelmed and numbed with emotions.

She immediately drew away.

"Surfraaz, you told me right, that you are too thrilled to meet your sister-in-law, that you will hug her for ten minutes. What happened to you, huh?" He was trying to indirectly ask me about my sudden dampened interest.

As if I knew, she was my sister-in-law!

"No, I am genuinely pleased to meet her. Earlier, I was just saying that to tease you." In all those times, I avoided looking at her.

But, why was I feeling guilty?

It was her. She was the one, who left me, unheard and accused.

"Bro, I need to attend my bestie's engagement party today." I notified.

" What? Aren't you going to attend our engagement?" He asked, upset.

"No, bhai . I will try to come back soon. If I won't go today, she will be angry as I can't even attend her wedding." I explained to him.

"Okay."

"Can you do me a favour. Take Neha to our family jewellers. She needs to bring her necklace for the evening. I have some urgent work." He requested me, and I couldn't even refuse him.

I nodded.

Neha followed me with calculative steps. She sat on the passenger seat and dug her eyes on her phone.

I ignited the engine and in a couple of instants, we were in front of the tall building. Her steps were rushed as she hopped off my car.

Maybe, she even forgot she once knew me too!

For god's sake, we were best friends.

She entered the showroom. We had our work on the third floor. She was ascending the stairs and I was trailing behind her as the elevator was under construction.

Out of nowhere, she stumbled and fell back. My arms shot forward to hold her securely, rounding her waist. Her hazel eyes locked with mine as my arms kept her steady. We basked in a myriad of memories.

Soon, we recovered and continued our walk, but my heartbeats were skiing.

"Juhi, Show me the latest boutique piece I ordered last time." She asked the allotted girl.

In few minutes, she came back with a glazing diamond neck piece on a blue velvet box.

Neha was trying to put on the necklace but it was getting difficult for her. But, I just stood there, awkwardly.

"Some people are such idiots, that they don't help someone needing it." she mumbled. I saw around to see no one around.

Was she asking me to help her?

Me?

"Are you talking about me?" I asked her, quietly.

"No. I was talking about the necklace itself. My bad, it can't hear." She raised her voice a bit to show her annoyance.

How would I know someone, who never wanted to see my face again wants my help?

"Yes. Princess's dignity can be at stake by asking help from someone. Who knows?" I mumbled, clear for her to hear.

"Shut up. You idiot, and help me out." She shouted, irritated.

Just the word 'Idiot' had so many glimpses of my gleeful days.

She was still the same, but my world was turned upside down.

Till now, I don't know what was my fault.

Loving her or not being able to un-love her?

I walked closer to her and in a swift motion, adjusted the hook in the loop. That was easy, but her flowing hair, slender neck and that irresistible fragrance of her body were injurious to my system.

My mind was stunned at the way my body was being attracted to her as if I was falling and she was the gravitational force acting on me. The pull between us terrified me to a certain extent because I knew better, the consequences of this fall would be much more harsher than that of the fall from the highest ever tower itself.

Love has consequences, and for me, it has proved itself as devasting yet addicting from years ago.

Why were we always so close, yet so far?

This thought just made me travel back in the memory lanes.

"Papa" I called out to him, as he was busy massaging oil in my hair.

"Shay, my ears are open. If you don't have anything to say, why are you calling out to me repeatedly?" He hissed. Maybe, he had a fight with Maa again.

"Neha loves someone, Papa." I closed my eyes, as soon as those words poured out from my heart. As expected, the movements of his hands too halted.

"So, what are you feeling now?" He asked.

"Very happy." I whispered, sarcastically. He just laughed and I tried to gauge his reaction.

"Oh." He expressed as he again got busy with his oil massage.

"Papa, you didn't say anything." I nudged him again, to which, he patted my back.

"I knew, Neha loves someone else." He confessed, shocking me.

"How?"

"Arjun told me, how she rejected you yesterday." He muttered. I just hummed, glancing at the ring, he held.

"You did everything for her, whole heartedly. But, if she still didn't love you back, it's not your fault. It's the fault of fate. Maybe, you both were never meant to be." He whispered again.

"We aren't meant to be." I tried to sink those words into my brain.

"But, if you are meant for her, I tell you, no one can stop you from owning her heart and making her your own." He smiled, as I smiled at him, hopefully.

"Never stop trying to win her heart. Undoubtedly, my son is charming. He has got genes from Anil Mehta. So, it would be a cakewalk for you." He winked, making me laugh.

"Yes." I nodded.

"But, you also need to know, when to stop. When you feel, you have had enough, just stop. Don't overchase things, maybe, they are not worthy of your life. So, when you feel, you have done enough, just stop and wait, destiny will do it's part, only if you are meant to end up with each other." He advised me.

"Now, stop sulking and eat." I laughed, as Papa feigned a glare.

...............

"I just hate you." She screamed for the umpteenth time since we came to this jewellery mart.

"God, please save my brother." I mentally prayed, while driving the car.

"Stop the car." She called me out. With a screeching sound, I brought the gleaming vehicle into a halt.

I raised my eyes for the reason of what she asked me to do. She just shrugged. Showing me her tongue and winking at me, she ran away from the car.

Only if I wouldn't have been a cardiologist, I would've reached the hospital bed by now due to hypertension.

I wish, Only if everything would have been this normal between us!

Ugh, As if every single wishes come true.

But, it's so complex than ever.

I watched the way, she traced. Her fluffy blue tops were fluttering in the air, depicting her way more cute than she already was. She has always been this bubbly and lively, exactly what I fell for.

I could see her crouching near those tiny gentlemen and pinching their cheeks. Drawing out candies from her jeans pocket, she distributed among the children. As she was standing and throwing the candies from a vertical distance, the kids jumped with her to gain a candy.

Pushing and pulling each other, they fought for those candies. Smiles on their faces and hands up in air. It was a wonderful sight to sight.

All the way, weary of all the hops and jumps, they settled calmly. They were looking at each other, as if sharing ideas or communicate a naughty plan, that had striked the mind of the wisest of them.

It was really interesting to see, what would they do next.

Neha's face alerted seeing them. She increased the height of her hands more. But, the unexpected thing occured.

They came closer in a group hug as Neha stayed in the centre of their crowd. All the tiny boys tightened their arms around her waist, as the girls sealed the opportunity to tickle her tummy.

Her persistent laughter blew along with the coolness of the wind. As soothing the breeze was to my body, her laughter were similarly blissful.

A song to my ears, that I could listen all day long without a pause and a blink.

The way she was ruffling the hair of those boys and kissing the chubby cheeks of those girls, made me even more prouder as this was the girl, I once loved. She gave them money, but they denied. So, she purchased all the chocolates they were selling and gifted those to them as they objected to accept money.

Those kids were so allured by her that they were dancing in the zebra crossing of the empty road. Seeing her small twirls in the vibes of the guitar of that small boy was so captivating.

The soft drizzles graced her elegance even more, in addition to a beautiful and content smile. They were dancing to the pitter-patter of the slow and leisurely rain. The puffs of air too were blowing slow, as if to caress their jolliness in its velvety touch.

In a swift motion, I pushed the car door and unfurled the umbrella, I started to approach her. Every step towards her, ushered an emotion of stepping more into myself. The same fuzzy and warm feeling hugged me, like the day we first met.

The soothing winds, her black-lined eyes, the misted ambiance of rain with that bush of black curls dancing in the melody of that boy's wooden guitar.

Her angelic face and warm heart beating under her drenched self was drawing me towards her. I was advancing her, as if the universe was guiding me towards her. I was in a spell to do a blunder again.

To commit the same mistake yet again.

To love her.

I unbolted the umbrella over her as she saw at me with a dazzling smile, that had the power to rob my heart out of me.

"Today is your engagement. The rain is intensifying, you will catch a cold." I told her like a robot, showing not even an inch of concern.

"Oh yes. Let's go. Bye buddies." She followed me closely as we had a single umbrella, only after she bid her tiny friends a sweet bye.

" You have changed a lot." She mumbled to herself.

As if you weren't the reason!

"I hoped that you would have changed too, but how wrong was I?" I thought to myself.

"Is it so?" I asked her.

"Or what? Always behaving like a grumpy, and calculative monkey. " She slowly described, padding closely with me. The brush of our elbows making me look into her eyes.

"And, I am really sorry about what happened years back. I was not in my best state of mind." She muttered, half-immersed in her own thoughts.

Shay, it's already ruined.

Really?

Handing her the umbrella, I strolled ahead without gazing at her once. Gulping all those bitter sweet memories down my throat, I drove again.

Like I drove my messed up life everyday.

With a still silence, I dropped her back home and rode the car towards Jia's engagement venue.

There I met Kshiraj, my best friend.

"So, where's your urvashi, Kshiraj Baba?" I teased him as he turned red as tomato.

"Did you get a wife to show off ? I would've killed you that day for calling me at midnight?" I laughed at him.

"Stop it, Yaar. You helped me a lot. Thank you. So, what help do you need from me in your story?" He asked me, seriously.

Though he was serious, but I found it rather the funniest topic today.

"Nothing. I'm doing awesome without her. I don't love her. Maybe, it was just a casual attraction." I told him, as if it was true.

"Oh, you don't love her ? Then give me your phone." He snatched my phone and went through my gallery. I was caught.

"Then, what are her pictures doing her? Celebrating a feast?" He shouted at me. It's high time, I delete her pictures, the last remnants of her in my life forever.

"Leave it, Kshiraj. I wish, she would be happy always. She is getting married. And, don't even drag it out of your mouth that I love her or anything. Please."

Leaving him, I entered inside to meet my bestie. I hugged her from behind, and she hugged me back after taking a turn. We both smiled at each other and cracked up at some struck up college time joke.

Juggling and running, we reached the stage like kids and danced away all our worries and anxieties. We have been like this, since the day we first hit off a friendship with each other.

I saw her husband, glaring at me. So, I danced with her more closer to tease him more. It was kind of a fun. Better than any amusement park.

Soon, enough I stopped our drama and neared him. I shook my hands with Ishaan and hugged him. We shared pleasantries. Then, I bid a bye to them as I left the venue.

It was my me-time, where there was no acting, No happiness bothered me, and no one was there to care for me. Just me and my broken self.

I have come to love loneliness. Because I hate love.

I have no reason to admire relationship, when at the end they have to leave you one day. The very day, you'll be needing them the most.

I have always loved the idea of having more because it doesn't hurt when some are lost. But losing everything like I did, hurts so bad!

I firmly searched for clarity in my life. A secured life. A lifelong relationship. A friend, who stands always with me.

But, my life was more uncanny than the garbage bin itself.

I was standing on a small hill, from where the whole horizon of the city lights were clearly seen. The small minute balls glazing fiercely as the city slept.

•••



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The Chapter 3 is out now. Hope you liked it.

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Love,
Biswa.