| CHARLOTTE |

For a moment, everything felt like the wildest dream when I witnessed Angad revealing everything to Meeta's mother. It was the last thing I thought he would be doing. I stepped into reality as the trance broke.

"I mean, ma'am--" It looked like he had edited his monologue in his mind as Mrs Grover raised her eyebrows, which was perhaps, out of shock. "--Meeta is a nice person. She is one of the most loveliest person I've ever met. But the thing is, I don't think I could marry her. The thing is, I'm in love with someone else who my heart finds attractive than your daughter. And, I don't think it's ethical to marry Meeta while someone else is ruling my heart already. So, I will be extremely grateful if you help with stopping this..."

The man of the moment paused his monologue as he noticed Meeta approaching Mrs Grover from the back. Perhaps, he was taken aback by how beautifully dolled up she was in a pale yellow crop top, skirt and shawl set. Her diamond necklace gleamed better in the April summer sunlight. Above all, her no-makeup makeup look elevated her beauty quotient. Hence, it's no sin for him to gawk at that girl he was trying to turn down. Even I would do that if I was in his shoes.

She tapped on the heartbroken Mrs Grover's shoulders to gain her attention. As Mrs Grover looked back at her, she revealed a pair of two tiny things that looked like Airpods. As I looked closer, I realised that it was nothing but two hearing amplifiers each for an ear.

Which was more like a plot twist.

Angad, who had probably noticed the same stuff I did, wore a look suggesting he was confused about what face should he wear in front of them.

But then, I realised that Mrs Grover should have shouted things like, "Both of you, shut up! I'm fucking deaf who's here without my fucking hearing amplifiers!" Is she mute as well?

As if on cue, Mrs Grover wore her amplifiers while Meeta said, "Sorry, guys. Mom is on maun vrat for our marriage. So... She couldn't talk today. I thought you were saying something, Angad?"

Well, who could even think of breaking this Asian beauty's heart? Perhaps, that was how he felt as well.

"Well, I was asking whether she enjoyed the food," Angad lied like he usually does. No wonder Naina broke up with this jerk.

I walked away from that place, unable to bear Angad wearing his "typical cute groom" mask. I stood at the corner and eyed them from afar.

Which made me feel like I was Meeta's psychotic ex (ignore me being delusional).

Though I was no more than a stage prop in this disastrous drama, it did feel painful when Meeta and Angad sat near Mrs Grover. It did feel painful when Mrs Grover moved away in a way Meeta could sit next to Angad. Maybe I was not the person in love, but the person in love was so genuine in love that it made me feel pain.

But, in the end, I am nobody to feel bad for anyone.

The pinging sound from my mobile made me step out of my delusional thoughts. The name read as Miss Vee. One message from her.

Violet: Hey! Let's talk tonight at 10. Meet me in the backyard. I have something special for you.

The last line drained all the blood on my face while my thoughts built horny fantasies.

Me: I'll be there, babes!

I locked my mobile, chewed the upper right corner of my mobile with its case and twirled in a way that expanded my skirt.

I saw myself falling in love with her for the 131989th time.

***

I sat near a shrub in a way nobody appeared to taunt me and Violet for loving each other while I noticed Violet coming towards the shrub and searching for me.

"Violet," I whispered and waved my hand at her. Mission failed. "Violet!" I whispered louder, hoping I could gain her attention. And this time, I was successful. She looked at me looking at her doe-eyed.

"Hi." She chuckled and sat next to me. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't want others to taunt you once again. So, I chose this place." She smiled at my reply while I smiled back. "Are you okay? Did you and Angad patch up?"

"Yeah. Yesternight," she replied.

"Good!" I beamed, patted her cheek and looked up at Agra's night sky. Though the sky was blurry than the ones in New York, the stars were visible. "Violet." She hummed in response. "I don't want this night to end."

"So do I," she whispered. "I don't want this moment to die. You know what? The stars give me a clear peek of the flashback. Of how we met."

"Really?" I noticed my voice raising out of curiosity as I continued, "I want to know as well."

"Okay. Back then, I was new to New York. Before New York, I was at London's JP Morgan since I graduated. I met Vivienne again at her birthday party. You remember her, right?" I did. It was one of my exes. "I still remember how you got down the stairs with Viv so close to you. You were drunk. Your hair was so messy. A few strands blocked your view while you tried to blow them away. Viv was complaining about how bad your breath was. And, that's the way I loved you."

I tried not to look down because if I did, I would end up watering the overgrown grass with my tears.

"I never dared to tell anyone that I'm bisexual. Angad was the only one to know that. I would have told my mother, but her being homophobic to the core stopped me. Since then, I wanted to meet Viv every day to see you. And that made me a third wheel for you two. I wished I was cruel enough to jeopardize your relationship, but no, I didn't want to break Viv's heart as well. I waited for two years. Then, on a fine day, Viv ended up finding that I love you. We had a huge fight. But then, she chose to move away from you and me. I came to meet you with a Tiffany's ring and your favourite cheesecake. Then..."

She paused there, allowing me to look down and sob silently. She looked down and continued, "I was near Brooklyn when I saw a girl kissing another girl. The latter looked strikingly familiar to me. I asked my taxi driver to stop right there. I went closer to them and saw that it was you. Yeah, you were kissing another girl without letting me in your heart."

Shit, no! She was talking about Olivia, the girl I loved before Violet. God let me choose the cheater Olivia over Violet. I could no longer hold back my tears while she continued.

"So, I thought that what I was doing there when I was nobody to you. So, I went back to my house." She had finally looked at me, who was crying like someone had died. "Hey! Sweetheart, are you okay?" With that, I broke her tear taps as she brought me closer to me. She patted my head and comforted me, "Hey! Don't cry, please. I didn't mean to make you guilty. Now you're making me guilty, Charlie. Please don't cry. Please! I beg you."

"I'm sorry, Violet," I apologised. "I was never aware of the fact that you were in love with me. I know how hard it was for you. I'm so sorry, Violet."

She sniffed her nose and broke the hug. "So, are you feeling guilty now?" I nodded a yes. "Then, as an atonement, you should do one thing." I pointed my chin. "Can I transfer my vitamins to you?"

I froze from my place for a minute. My heart skipped a million beats in a second. And, after all that I've been feeling, I felt like I was in the moment.

"Come on, answer. Am I allowed to transfer my vitamins to you?" She asked again.

"Yes, please." I could barely talk, yet I managed to whisper my approval. With that, she took it slow and steady to make our lips meet. The first touch was initially like a feather, but then, it increased the pace. The kiss was so convincing that I wanted to remain like this forever. Her tongue coiled into mine it felt like she was eating me up as a whole. That kiss can be the best example of an oxymoron: so smooth yet so rough.

The sound of the outside world cancelled in my ears as I tried to focus on our kiss. I gripped her head and sat on her thighs while she closed her eyes. It was out of the world. It was like floating in the galaxy.

After five minutes, we broke our kiss while she opened her eyes. A huge lump formed in my throat as I tried to explain how amazing it was. Then, I landed a soft peck on those lips that gave me an amazing experience. I broke that lip while she said, "I wish I had that ring from Tiffany's."

I raised my eyebrows and asked, "What if you had?"

"We would be experimenting with this scientific revolution at our engagement." Her forehead met mine as she caressed my cheeks.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you to the moon and the Pluto." She landed a soft peck on my forehead.

***

So, here we go, peeps!

From now on, expect consistent updates from me, because:

1. I'm on my Christmas holidays.
2. We're coming to the end.

So... I hope you guys liked the update.

See you soon!

Song Courtesy: Saans from Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Glossary:

1. Maun vrat: Silent fasting