Chapter 1
1825 Words
“You only live once, but if you do it right, then one is enough” -Mae West
A girl in her early twenties was sitting beside her open window with a cup of filter coffee in her hand. It was early in the morning. The sun has not risen properly yet. The first ray of the sun was falling on her face, her long silky hairs were flying due to air. All this was enhancing her beauty more. She was time to time sipping her beauty along with enjoying the morning beauty.
It’s her last morning in this place…..
So, she wanted to enjoy the last few moments here like never before.
She had just finished her coffee when her phone pinged with a message. She knew it very well who it is. A smile crept on her face. She got up from her place to see her phone. She unlocked it and read the text.
“I hope you are done with your filter coffee. Spend the last day there because your next morning will be somewhere else. Then few days later your every second will be in my world. Good morning.”
“I can’t wait to be in your world. Good morning.”
The girl was smiling continuously. She went to her homepage. She caressed the face of the wallpaper.
She kept her phone away and went to take bath after taking her belongings.
She was coming out of washroom when she heard a voice from downstairs. “Nandini…”
(Yes, the girl is none other than Nandini Basu. Let’s see why it’s her last day here.)
“Yes, mamma…” Nandini shouted back.
“Come down for breakfast.” Maya said.
Nandini dried her hairs hurriedly and ran downstairs. She doesn’t want to make anyone wait. When she ran down, she found her mother and her bhabi (sister-in-law), Anu already there arranging the breakfast on the dining table.
“Good morning, mamma. Good morning, bhabi.” She wished them with a smile.
Her mother nodded her head in response.
“Good morning, Nandini.” Anu too wished her back with the same smile.
Nnadini was also helping them when her father, Kunal and brother, Rahul came there.
“Good morning, everyone.” Rahul wished them all.
They also wished him back. They all settled down for the breakfast. They were having their meal silently.
Kunal broke the silence. “We have our flight late at night. So, be ready on time.”
Everyone nodded.
“Rahul, did you talk to Malhotra’s about their flight?” He again asked.
Rahul nodded his head. “They will leave in the afternoon. They will reach there before us. They wanted to leave with us but the media will be there and they also have look after the things there.”
Kunal nodded her head. “Nandini, I hope everything is okay with you?”
“Yes, papa.” She replied in a low tone.
Then no one uttered anything more.
After breakfast Rahul and Kunal went out to check out the preparation while Maya was checking things in the home. She asked Anu to help Nandini in her packing.
Anu sighed in relief hearing that. Because in the whole house she can talk freely only with Nandini. She hurriedly left from there. She peeked inside Nandini’s room who was busy with her phone. Anu smirked and thought of teasing her a little.
“Uhu.. uhu…” She faked a cough to grab Nandini’s attention.
Hearing the sound, Nandini looked up. She found Anu standing on the doorstep smirking evilly. She knew what was coming next but ignored that. “Bhabi, why are you standing out? Come in.”
Anu walked in. “I thought you are busy with him. So, I just didn’t want to disturb you.”
“I was not busy. I was just….”
Anu didn’t let her complete. “You don’t need to explain anything. I can understand. You will be with him only after a few days. So, ask him to let you be free for some time. You have to spend time with us too.”
Nandini nodded her head in no. “It’s not like that.”
Anu started laughing seeing her expression. “It’s okay, I was kidding. You took it seriously. Relax.”
Nandini too smiled. “I am going to miss you, bhabi.” She hugged Anu.
Anu smiled. “I am going to miss you more.”
“Now come and finish your packing. Mamma sent me for that only. If she comes and sees us like this, she will scold us.” Anu said while breaking the hug.
Nandini nodded her head.
They both continued her packing while talking about different things.
“Nandini, I know I don’t need to tell you this but still I am telling you, there is only a few people who gets what you are getting. Don’t let anyone or anything ruin it. People will talk, it’s their work to talk. They can’t do anything more than that. But the person whom you love is by your side that’s what matters the most. Always be together.” Anu said emotionally.
Nandini too got emotional. She remembered what all she had to face to see this day. She nodded her head in response. “I will always keep it in mind. I won’t let anything break us apart.”
Anu caressed her hair like an elder sister before walking out of her room to check on other things. They don’t have much time left.
Nandini was sitting in her room trying remember her memories. But she realized she didn’t have much memories here. They had shifted to this place 8 years back and from past 6 years she was living in New York. So, she didn’t get much time to create memories here.
A sigh left from her mouth…..
She was thinking about the past days when she again received a text from the same person. She replied to the text and moved downstairs.
Her father and brother had just come back.
“We have done all the preparations.” Kunal said.
“Are you all done with your packing?” Rahul asked finishing his water.
“Yes, it’s all done.” Maya replied on behalf of everyone.
“That’s good.” He said with a smile.
Kunal looked at the time. “It’s already time for lunch. We will start at 10. So, after lunch have a look at everything once again. I don’t want any problem later.” He said the last line sternly.
Maya nodded.
“Nandini, come to my room after lunch.” Kunal said and walked out of that place.
Everyone left the breath which they were holding till now. They all are scared of Kunal’s anger.
A F T E R L U N C H
Nandini walked inside her parents room after knocking on the door. Her father was checking something inside the cupboard. He gestured her to sit down and wait for a little.
Nandini nodded and sat on the coach.
Kunal came near her and sat on another coach placed there. His face was serious like always. Nandini was looking down.
“Nandini, we are leaving today. It’s your last day here. You didn’t live here much so you might not feel bad for leaving this place. But still it’s your last day here. I know there is no way saying all this. I wanted to tell you something else.
I wanted to talk you about the thing which happened 6 years back.
I know you felt bad about the happenings that time. But I am not sorry about that. If there was some other parents, they would have done the same.” He stopped saying all this in a go.
“Why are we talking about it now? It is gone. Talking about that matter won’t change anything now.” Nandini said in a low tone. She didn’t want to remember those hurtful days again.
At least not now when everything is falling back to it’s place.
“Okay as you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t. But let me tell you one thing from now only, if anything happens in future like other couples, you have to face that alone. Don’t expect us to be there.”
A shiver ran down through Nandini’s spin hearing her father.
How can a father be so selfish???- Nandini thought in mind.
She wasn’t in a position to say anything. She just nodded her head looking down. She was out of words.
“Now you can go.”
Nandini didn’t wait there anymore. She walked out of there as fast as she could.
As soon as she entered into her room, she fell down on her bed. Tears started falling from her eyes. She was sobbing hard.
Suddenly she again heard the tone of text. She hurriedly got up to see it.
The mere text was enough to make her forget everything and she was smiling again.
He is her peace…..
She replied back to the text and kept her phone away.
“Nandini, we will be leaving in half an hour. Get ready fast.” Maya said while coming to her room.
Nandini nodded her head.
When she came out changing her dress, she found her mother still there.
“Mamma, you want to say something?” Nandini asked softly.
Maya caressed her hairs lovingly. “I know I don’t need to worry for you. You are getting the best. I just want to apologize to you. I couldn’t be a good mother. When you needed my support the most, I chose the family instead of your happiness. If I was there by your side, then may be you didn’t have to face so much. Please forgive me.” She had tears in her eyes.
Nandini wiped the tears from her eyes. “Mamma, don’t be sad. There is no need to feel guilty. Whatever had happened, it was bound to happen. But now everything is okay, I am happy.”
Her mother smiled. She caressed Nandini’s face and left from there.
After half an hour they were driving to the airport. Nandini looed at the house once more before getting inside the car.
A I R P O R T
Nandini came out of the car and found the place unusually crowded. There were more media than usual days. She frowned seeing all that. But all this didn’t matter to her. So, she just shrugged her shoulder and walked inside the airport with her family.
Her friend Tirtha was already there waiting for them. Tirtha ran near them and greeted Nandini’s parents first before hugging Nandini knowing their attitude.They walked inside.
“Tirtha, why there is so many media outside?” Nandini asked curiously after they checked in.
Tirtha’s eyes went wide hearing her. Nandini became more confused seeing her reaction. “You seriously don’t know anything?” She asked in disbelief.
Nandini nodded in no.
“Indian National Team’s captain is getting married as per the rumor. He is supposed to leave today. So, they are waiting for his arrival.” Tirtha replied with a smirk on her face.
It was time for Nandini to be shocked while Tirtha laughed out seeing her reaction.
They boarded the flight and finally flew to their destination.
- Writer
