3

I was annoyed when I was continuously shook.

Damn it. Let me sleep.

I turn to the other side, irritated.

"I am going to thrash you if my sleepiness vanishes Sne."

I only hear a laugh, she now starts to  tickle me.

"What the fuck,woman?",I snap,getting up.

She winced," Stop swearing."

I roll my eyes, yawning,pulling the blanket upto my chin as I close my eyes again,"Why did you wake me up?"

"I was bored",she shrugged.

"You woke me up at",I glance at the clock,"6:40 in the morning because you were bored?"

"Yeah",she shrugged again ,as if it was a completely normal thing to do.

I give her a blistering glare,hoping she would turn into flames.

"Whatever",I rub my eyes, flinging the covers onto her face, satisfied when I heard a 'Heyyy!'

I walk into the kitchen, settling on the kitchen counter.

"You up already?"

"Yeah. Your elder daughter woke me up",I make a face.

My mother laughed,"Here. Go give tea to your dad,and put these in the fridge."

"Ma,why would you give me some work as soon as I enter the kitchen?",I grumble,balancing the tea and the tray of vegetables.

"Good morning Papa."

"Morning Sandy",my dad glanced up at me from the newspaper he was reading.

I drop myself next to him, flopping my legs on the tea table in front of the couch.

"You good?",my dad asked me when I leaned on his shoulder, hiding my face in his chest.

"Of course",I nod.

It was only when you are away that you can cherish the simplest of things. Just sitting next to my father quietly reminded me of how very alone I really was back in Mumbai,the calm and peace at home could compare to no other place or person.

"Okay", my father kissed my hair,going back to his newspaper.

"Go and freshen up. I'll serve breakfast",my mom enters the hall,as she hands me my coffee.

I ignore her,sipping my coffee,sighing in relief when my taste buds tingled at the familiar bitter taste.

"It's just coffee. Anyone who sees you will think it's alcohol or something",Sneha says.

"You can enjoy coffee too. Thank you."

She only laughs,shaking her head.

I am bored by the time it's 11'o clock,my family quietly watching news.

I hate watching news.

I yawn, stretching my arms behind my head, circling it around my mother's head in the process.

My mother jumps slightly,"Sandy",she scolds.

"What? I always do that."

"No. It's been a while. So I thought you got rid of the habit."

"Lol",I squeeze her in my arms.

"It's good to see things don't change as much even while you're away."

I pull away, looking at her oddly,"Why would you say that?"

My mother patted my cheek,"You don't visit home often. So every time you return,you return with new habits,and are devoid of a few old habits. So it's nice to see any glimpse of familiarity."

I think of my mother's statement,and the fact that there was so much truth in it is disturbing.

I didn't want to become unfamiliar to my parents,the least of all.

"I'm Sorry.I'll visit often Ma."

Mom searches my face, settling on my eyes. She places a kiss on my temple,"You are growing up. We don't expect you to be around all the time. We understand. I didn't say it to make you feel bad Sandy."

"I know",I swallow the lump in my throat.

While I was busy growing up,I hadn't realised my parents were growing old too.

We sit quietly for some time, enjoying the calm.

"You could wear this one",Sneha flaunts a silver saree in front of me,showcasing it in the hall.

"A saree. Are you joking? In your dreams."

"You don't like this? Okay. How about this?",she shows me a blue saree this time.

I look at her boredly.

"Why so early though?"

"They'll be here in like, another two hours."

"That's a lot of time. I can study for my entire viva in that time."

She rolls her eyes,"Come on. Which one do you like? Or will you select it yourself?"

"Not a saree. Surely."

"His parents will be here too. It'll be nice if you wear a saree",my mother says.

"Um. No."

"Don't force her. Let her wear whatever she wants",my father intervenes.

Yay. My hero.

I gave my mother and sister a 'See. I will get things done my way' look.

When I was convinced my mother would get a panic attack and would eventually give me a scolding for not getting ready,I shot up from the couch,going to get ready.

I didn't overdo it.

My heart ached as I dressed up.

I was dressing up for someone else,not him. How have things changed so drastically.

I willed myself to be strong,and get through the evening as I mindlessly get ready.

I blink at the reflection in the mirror,staring back at me in with sad eyes and quivering lips,hair pinned to the right,a diamond pendant around the neck, bangles adorning the wrists,dressed in a peach salwar.

Don't cry. Not for him.

I give the mirror a cheerful smile, forcefully tilting my lips up.

"I am ready",I walk out of my room,and precisely,the calling bell rings.

My parents go to welcome them as I stand behind the curtain,bored

I sigh,taking a sweet from the plate, listening to the commotion.

"Sandy?",I hear my sister call me softly.

I wince when my bangles dig into my skin,forcing a smile,hoping my boredom didn't show in my movements.

I inwardly roll my eyes when my father makes introductions.

What lame crap. They obviously know each other. Why make intros?

I hiss when my sister steps on my foot,making me look up.

I glance at a middle aged couple, freezing when I made eye contact with an all too familiar grinning face, my vision landing next to her,hoping it was just a bad dream,my heart stopping and finally turning into an icicle when I stared into the eyes of the most unexpected person,the person looking back at me,but not quite acknowledging me.

I hope my emotions didn't show in my face, firstly because his family is staring at me,and secondly because mine is staring at me too. It would only lead to unnecessary questions if I showed a flicker of emotion

His sister, Ananya only smiled broadly at me,not making a move to talk or acknowledge that we know each other.

I silently wonder if their parents think we are strangers to each other.

I sit down next to my sister,uneasy.

"Let the kids talk",his father suggested.

At this point,I was only physically present. Emotionally,I felt numb.

So when he got up to follow me into the balcony,I didn't feel a thing.

But as I realised we were alone when we covered some distance,the familiar ache filled my heart.

I turn to him."How are you,Nikhil?"