FRIENDSHIP + ROMANCE TRACK

- 10/09/24

• • •

Riddhima took a tentative sip of her hot chocolate, her eyes roving over the picturesque garden.

The grass was soft and moist, bending under the weight of her feet. The air was scented with sweet, blooming flowers and the cool waters of the artificial pond nearby. The calm waters sparkled like a jewel, reflecting the sun's glorious rays. Riddhima could see sparrows perched on the branches of the trees, their melodious chirps resounding in the silence. A few of them perched on the boundary rocks of the pond, drinking the rejuvenating elixir.

As she set her cup on the table, she slipped off her sneakers and decided to take a stroll. After adjusting her clothes, she started wandering when she heard a woman's laughter. When she looked back, she saw Vansh coming down the entrance stairs with a woman on his back. He had changed from his black business suit to peach casuals and slip-on shoes. The woman on his back, Mayura, had a big plaster on her left leg, which looked like it had been put on recently.

"You've gotten so heavy, Mayura!" He teased, putting her down on the bamboo cushioned seat, and stretched his back. Mayura glared at him, her elbow connecting to his side, and he doubled over dramatically. "I am not heavy. You are just weak." She retorted, her arms crossed against her chest. Riddhima watched the siblings from afar, a bemused smile on her lips.

Their harmless banter reminded her of her childhood, where her elder brother, she, and her older cousin sister would play around. They were like a storm, leaving destruction in their wake. Everything was sunshine and rainbows, and then puberty hit them. Their ways parted, their childish nature giving way to a responsible and mature side. Gone were those days, their carelessness locked up in the chest of memories.

Riddhima sighed wistfully as she reminisced about the lost days of her childhood. Tears formed in her eyes, and a heavy lump formed in her throat. She looked down, wiping away the tears discreetly.

"Are you alright?"

Riddhima raised her head, her gaze locking with Mayura, who was looking up at her in genuine concern. Her eyes were wide open and observant as if trying to read into the depth of Riddhima's soul. She nodded, giving her a small smile. "Yes, Di. I am perfectly fine." Extending her arm towards Mayura, she continued. "I am Riddhima. Riddhima Oberoi. Nice to meet you, Mayura di!"

The two women shook hands.

"The pleasure is all mine, Riddhima. Have a seat." Mayura gestured, patting on the seat beside her. Riddhima was quick to sit, her gaze lingering on the cast on Mayura's leg. She was curious but felt too shy to ask. Mayura followed her gaze, understanding her silence. "Oh, this? This isn't anything serious, Riddhima. Just a minor sprain. Angre, his secretary, and I were playing around and fell. It wasn't anything serious and I would've healed days ago. But a certain someone wasn't convinced and had my leg plastered." Mayura threw a side glance at Vansh who was avoiding her gaze, and sipping on the hot chocolate now cold. "Even the doctor looked at him as if he was asking for kidneys." She shook her head, making Riddhima laugh.

"I know, di. Vansh can go over the top at times." She smiled. "But, he never means any harm. He's just trying to look after and protect those he loves."

Mayura couldn't help but nod in agreement. Vansh felt a warmth in his stomach, his heart fluttering at Riddhima's understanding words. "See, she understands my concern. But you don't, despite being my sister." He shot a smug look at Mayura who rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please! She has known you for only a few months, so she's saying this." Mayura retorted. She turned towards Riddhima, "This man, he made me go to seven doctors for this annoying plaster. Six of them refused, so he fired them from their jobs. Now you tell me, Riddhima, was that right?"

"I had to do it. Their job is to treat their patients and if they don't do so, why should they have the job?" He pout like an angry child. "What treatment, you idiot? I was fit and fine. They even said that I should apply some ice on it. It wasn't even hurting that much."

Riddhima watched them bantering. She realised that despite it being her first time meeting Mayura, or even after being an outsider, she had already started to feel at home with them. She lifted the two packages from the table, keeping one behind her and the other on her lap. She carefully took out the soft toy - a baby elephant with long ears, and a bell around its neck that read Dumbo - and handed it to Mayura.

"This..." She trailed off, her heart drowning in the warmth of Vansh's family. She had never felt so herself, not even with her own family. Mayura glanced at the toy, smacked Vansh on his head, and turned to gratefully take the toy from Riddhima. "Thank you so much!" She held it close to her chest, hugging it tightly. "What did he give you?"

Vansh placed the empty cups in the tray and stood up. "You both enjoy, I am leaving."

Riddhima's face fell, the package falling limply on her lap. "Going? Where, softie?"

"Kitchen. It is his turn to cook dinner today."

Riddhima looked up at him in admiration, making his heart swell in pride. "I'll make your favourite today, sweetheart." He promised, puffing his chest out and put his fist over his heart.

"It's monsoon, silly. So, we don't have any spinach. Also, the paneer went bad and I had it thrown away in the morning."

Vansh stomped his foot like a child and turned away into the mansion, the cups clattering on the tray. "Spoil sport," he mumbled.

"I heard that."

"I don't care!" He yelled, storming up the stairs and disappearing past the door.

"Never mind him." Mayura shrugged, turning her attention to Riddhima. Her eyes glinting in excitement. "Shall we see your present?"

"Sure," Riddhima smiled, pulling out her soft toy from the package. She placed it on her lap and slowly began to undo the covers.

"Excuse me, ma'am." A staff member approached them, his eyes lowered to the ground. "In five minutes we will be turning on the water sprinklers. I request you to head inside."

• • •

Riddhima's fingers gently trailed over the family photograph, her gaze lingering on the six-year-old Vansh, the epitome of innocence and cuteness with his round cheeks, a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and a full-blown grin that revealed his missing front tooth. He sat on the lap of his grandfather, his chest puffed out in pride, while his grandmother had her hand on the back of his head. Vansh's parents stood behind them, the love and happiness evident in their eyes.

The only evidence of his childhood.

Riddhima's gaze fell on the framed picture beside it, where the family was reduced down to three people - Vansh, who had the same full-blown grin, Mayura, who sat beside him and stared at the camera in daze with her eyes wide open, and Angre, who sat beside her with a gentle smile.

The evidence of his adulthood.

Riddhima couldn't help but chuckle when she noticed Mayura's bewildered expressions in the picture.

Mayura blushed furiously. "I had an eye checkup that day. The optician had put some eye drops because of which my vision got messed for an hour. Long short story, I wasn't allowed to squint, so I stared at the camera."

"Like an owl," Riddhima added with a smile, pursing her lips to stifle a laugh. Mayura nodded, laughing lightly.

The two women began to approach the couch in the middle of the room. Riddhima pushed the wheelchair where her soft toy — a cute little blue penguin with a tiny backpack — sat comfortably. Mayura walked beside her with ease, the plaster not bothering her much.

"But di, why are you not in his childhood photo?" Riddhima sat down on the couch, holding the penguin on her lap. Mayura settled beside her with her elephant on her lap.

"Actually, Riddhima." Mayura began, an awkwardness in her tone. "I'm not his actual sister. After his parents death, Anupriya ma'am, his aunt became his guardian. She has a secretary, my mother. And we first met when he ran into the garden to hide from Kabir who was bullying him.

We became friends. I taught him how to fight. He taught me about the family business. Time went on, we kept teaching each other. We celebrated festivals together, especially Raksha Bandhan. He could barely protect himself, but always promised to protect me."

Mayura paused, gently running her palm over the soft velvet of Dumbo, a smile on her lips. "He may not be my blood brother, but he's the best brother I've ever had. And I can tell you Riddhima, he'll go to the ends of the Earth, if needed, to make you happy."

"That duffer," she chuckled. "He hated to cook. Or even be in the kitchen. The word periods scared him."

"And then?" Riddhima asked in the softest tone, her curiosity evident as she shifted closer to Mayura.

"And then, you entered his life. I even remember the date — 19th April, 2015."

"My birthday," she breathed.

"He comes home and walks into the kitchen and tells me — Di, teach me how to cook. I was so surprised that I nearly fainted."

Riddhima giggled.

She listened intently, a strange warmth growing inside her, as she heard about the drastic changes she brought upon Vansh. She laughed when she heard about the time where he mixed salt in Kheer; she squealed when she heard about his innocent first experience on buying pads; her heart melted when she heard about his caring and attentive days.

Riddhima was on a rollercoaster of emotions, and when it stopped, she cried. She cried understanding that his love for her fueled his motivation to change, made him become the man of her dreams, made him a better version of himself.

He loved her so much, that he became her foolish dream in the harsh reality of the world.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

She opened her lids, finding Vansh beside her. His rough palms cupped her face, his calloused thumbs wiping away her tears. Worry and distress marred his features.

"Thank you so much, soft— Vansh."

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, her face buried in his chest. He held her tightly, patting her head. "What's wrong? A-are you sad that I didn't make palak paneer? S-sweetheart, I made Rajma-chawal instead. Please don't c — "

"Thank you for loving me!" Her voice was muffled in his chest, but he understood it well. "Thank you for everything, Vansh!"

Mayura had long walked away to the dining hall, sending Vansh to fetch Riddhima.

"I love you. I love you, Vansh!" She professed, clenching his shirt in his fists.

Vansh felt overwhelmed by her emotions. His heart felt so heavy that he could fly. His stomach was doing backflips, and his heart on a disco.

He pulled her close, their foreheads touching and breaths mixing. The closeness calmed her down, a smile appearing on his lips. He gently stroked her cheeks.

Words failed to express their feelings. Only one sentence was required to express everything they felt. A question.

"Sweetheart, will you marry me?"

The answer was obvious.

• THE END •

हरे कृष्ण ❤❤

I'm so sorry for the late update. Life happened, and I got busy.

Anyway, how do you like the ending? And what do you think about our softie who changed himself just for his sweetheart?

Until the next story,
Ciao!