15.

L A S Y A

Thanking the cabin crew for their service I descended the stairs of the private jet and breathed the air of Mumbai. A white jaguar sedan waited for me at the airport and the chauffeur placed my bags in the car trunk.

Perks of having a rich best friend. Prithvi owned a private jet, I didn't lie when I said he was the richest among all of us.

The man was loaded with money, he had his own private jet, a big mansion, various farmhouses, personalised car collections and whatnot. He had made sure that I boarded only his jet from Delhi back to Mumbai and nothing else. From the moment he had bought his jet, no matter where we went we would always take his jet, no matter what.

The reason behind buying it was because I had once complained that I felt too nauseated in other airlines because of the suffocated and congested place, even if we travel business class, so the very next month he showed up with his own private jet claiming that I won't have any problem ever. Amir log!!

[Translation: rich people]

I walked to the car and sat on the back seat, closing the door softly. "Tar kaka, sarva thik? Renu kashi aahe, aani kaku?", I questioned the driver uncle. "Sarva bara aahe pori, Renu tar parikshe chi taiyari kart aahe, anhi tujhya kaku ch ter tula mahitich aahe", he replied flashing me a broad smile which I reciprocated.

[Translation: Uncle, all ok? How are Renu, and Aunty?

: everything is fine, dear, Renu is preparing for her exams, and you know about your aunt.]

Girish Kaka has been working for Chauhan's for a very long time. He had partially seen us grow up. He was a kind and down-to-earth man. He would always drop off and pick up Prit from school, so he knew both me and Sam he has known us all his life since he was always around whenever we hung out with Prit. He had two daughters, Madhuri and Renuka.

I was never close to Madhuri since she was always distant and silent, while Renuka followed us everywhere like a tail whenever Kaka brought her to work, so we bonded well. His wife was such a sweetheart, she would pack her special homemade poha for us every Saturday since it was only her day off work.

The three of us would always relish her poha and visit her whenever we could. Even though living in Mumbai, I couldn't learn Marathi fluently, but Kaku took it upon herself to teach me fluent Marathi and now I know the language like the back of my hand.

Mumbai was home, and it felt peaceful to be here, but somewhere I knew there was another home waiting for me too.

I was glad I decided to plan this trip because it'll give me some space and an open mind to clear things off my head.

I quickly updated my instagram. Even though there was a cold war going on in between us, Moksh still deserves to know about my whereabouts. I also dropped off a message to my mother-in-law that I safely landed.

"We heard the news about your marriage, child. You decided to get married in such haste, your aunt was so sad that she couldn't see you dressed like a bride", kaka said, igniting the engine. "Everything happened so suddenly Kaka, I did not get the time to inform anyone", I answered back.

He just shook his head in an understanding manner and drove towards the busy roads of Mumbai. No matter which month it is, Mumbai's weather will always be unpredictable.

I rested my head on the glass window and closed my eyes trying to catch some sleep. We were stuck in the traffic and I knew for a matter of fact that we were going to be stuck for too long since it was the peak time in the afternoon.

"Lasya, beta we are here", Kaka's voice brought me out of my sleep and I turned my head gazing out of the window blinking my drowsy eyes. Kaka chuckled at my expressions, and I wiped the drool off my lips and stepped out of the car trying to get rid of the sleep.

I stared at the Chauhan nivas and a huge smile stretched on my lips, it was basically my third home, the first one being where I stayed with Nani and the second Sam's place.

The Chauhan nivas stood tall in front of me, glorious in his beauty. Magnificent as always with new changes here and there, no doubt Avni was having her interior designing practicals and experimenting on her own home.

"Aai, vini Tai aalig", I heard someone shout and it didn't take me twice to realise it was Avni, Prithvi's younger sister. A few workers came and took my luggage, sifting it to the guest room.

[Translation: Mom, Sister is here]

"Vini?", tears gathered at the corner of my eyes with the warmth the nickname held.

Ashwini Chauhan, Prithvi's mother, stepped out of the main door, dressed in her collection of specially designed paithani sarees, looking regal as ever.

Vini held a special place in my heart, it was the nickname given to me by my Nani and here in Mumbai everyone called me that. From my friends to the elders, workers and people I'm close to everyone addressed me as Vini.

"Kaku", I choked on a sob, she walked towards me and collected me in her arms. "Majhi vini, kiti barik jhali g tu, kahi khat-vit nahi ka?", she complained cradling my face in her palms and kissing all over my face. I just shook my head and hugged her tightly, my lower lip wobbling.

[Translation: aunty

:my vini, see how thin you have become, don't you eat anything?]

Ashwini Kaku always had my back, she was another mother figure to me. My motivator, my knight in shining armour. She was the strongest lady I have ever known, she was fierce as she walked out of an abusive marriage along with her two kids.

She fought her own war, fought in the court for sole custody and even demanded a divorce from her ex-husband.

Prithvi's dad was barbaric and a drunkard, we had witnessed him countless times losing his shit and lashing out on all of us. And the mother in her had enough of it, so she made a way for herself, emerging as an ideal woman.

Initially, it was tough, being the only breadwinner in the family but slowly she built an empire with her son and now both of them were unbeatable. I admired the woman a lot for her calibre and strength, she had gained a lot of respect in my eyes.

"Shh! Bas g bai, aata kiti radnar", she cooed rubbing my back and comforting me. I broke from the hug and she wiped my tears kissing my forehead. "You are okay now?", she questioned and I nodded my head, tucking the strands of my hair behind my ear.

[Translation: shh, my child, how much are you going to cry now.]

"Sunrise!", I heard Prit's voice and I turned towards the direction. He had his blazer in his hands as he passed the car keys to a chauffeur. "Prit", I squealed like a schoolgirl and ran towards him.

I practically jumped in his embrace as I took him in a bone-cracking hug, my arms tightly wrapped around his neck making him stumble on his feet.

Everyone chuckled, while he held onto me stabilizing our balance. "Sunrise, you okay, baby?", he asked, whispering in my ear when he heard me sniffing. "I just missed you all a lot", my voice came out muffled, he continued to caress my hair and swayed our bodies.

"We will talk about it later, hmm? For now, meet everyone", he said, kissing the side of my head. I nodded and withdrew my hands from him. He deeply gazed into my red eyes, his ebony orbs shining in the sun.

He raised his perfectly arched eyebrow and then wrapped his arms around me again and I broke down. "If it's that clown husband of yours, then you just have to command and I will have him on his knees with his tongue wrapped around his throat", a shiver passed down my spine with his threat but I shook my head, melting in his embrace.

Both of my best friends were really protective of me, but Prit was way too overprotective. I had seen him breaking bones and kicking asses of everyone who messed with me.

Prit and I shared a deep and weird bond, maybe it was the same trauma of having a broken family and being raised around a bunch of lunatics that brought us more together. We were accustomed to each other's mood swings and related well with each other's life.

"I said na, I just missed you so I'm overwhelmed with the emotions", I bluntly lied and blinked my tears. Prit searched for something in my eyes but nodded nonetheless, giving me a this is not over yet look. I huffed, still in his embrace as he rubbed my back to calm me down.

Prit's embrace was really great to be in, his body warmth was comforting and his cologne was something to die for, anyone would melt in his embrace once he wrapped his muscular arms around them.

I closed my eyes when he kissed in between my eyebrows to ease out the tension, the same spot where it would hurt wherever I had a pain attack or I was anxious.

"Great, you return after a mysterious wedding and still not acknowledge my presence", Avni whined, as he pouted standing near Ashwini Kaku. Prit and I chuckled, he unwrapped his hands and we walked towards the main entrance.

"How are you, my darling?", I asked taking Avni in a hug. Avni was a ball of sunshine, always bouncing and hopping around like a curious bunny. She filled in the place of Raina in my life, I adore her like my own sister and showered all the love on her. "Ek dam zakas, aap batao, Delhi jakar toh ham sabhi ko bhul se gye ho", she grumbled and I pinched her cheeks.

[Translation:]  you tell me, by going to Delhi you have forgotten all of us.

"At least get inside you all, I've prepared lunch.....come on now, fast fast. Vini, get freshen up and come for lunch", Ashwini Kaku announced and we all walked inside. While freshening up I felt good, I felt at ease even though a storm was brewing in my mind.

My heart was beating rapidly and I took deep breaths, holding onto the sink. Shaking the negative thoughts off my body and splashing water onto my face. After changing into comfortable clothes, I braided my hair and walked downstairs.

The house help was arranging the table and I sat on my seat. I smiled when I saw authentic Maharashtrian cuisine on the table. "Thank you kaku", I thanked her while she laughed at my enthusiasm. Soon we were joined by Prit and Anvi and started our lunch m

I was midway between my meal when I felt a sharp pain in my ear, as someone pulled it harshly. "After snatching our peace, you are peacefully eating lunch", the said person added more pressure on my ear and I hissed.

"Kaku, dukhat aahe, naka na Karu please, aale na me vapas aata", I cried out, my eyes closed tightly as the pain shot through my body. "No, aai, pull her ears, she's bad, really bad, this shemdi deserves this", Sam butted in the middle supporting his mother who stood behind me. That sly moron was having a great time laughing at my miseries.

[Translation: Aunty, it hurts, please spare me this time, I am back now.]

"Tu gappa bas, nahi ter tula pan maarel me", Amruta Joshi, Sam's mother yelled at him and then left my ear, gazing down at me while I gave her a puppy look.

[Translation: you be quiet, or else I will beat you too]

Amruta Kaku was my biggest cheerleader, more than Sam she behaved as if I was her own child. She adored me and showered me with all her blessings. I was just 7 years old when I met her for the first time, and that day she looked at me with so much softness and warmth in her beautiful honey eyes that it had healed the broken inner child in me.

She was the finger, who guided me through thick and thin and showed me the light at the end of the dark tunnel. She would always cocoon me in her comforting embrace and console me, showing me the bright side. She taught me to be empathetic and expressive towards my emotions and not to keep them bottled up for so long.

I was so grateful for having such amazing people around me. Make it be my people in Mumbai or my in-laws in Delhi, everyone was great.

"Aani tu, upakar kela aamchyavar vapas yeun? Aarati oadu tujhi huh? Aamhi tulah lagna karayala sangitala ka aamchya pare bigar? Haus ter tujhi ch hoti na! Kaun aamhi tujhe koni lagta nahi ka ga pori? Aamhala ek sabd sudha sangital nahi tuna", she scolded me, slowly caressing my ear which she previously held and I knew it would have been red by now.

[Translation: and you, you think you did a favour on us by returning back? Shall I do your aarti? Did we ask you to get married without our consent? It was your will right? Don't we mean anything to go anymore? You did not even think about telling it to any of us.]

"Sorry na kaku, everything happened in such a rush and there was chaos everywhere, especially since Raina was messed up", I slowly wrapped my hands around her waist, hugging her and she patted my head slowly.

I elaborated everything to them from start to finish as we took our seats. Everyone had their lunch while even listening to me narrating about everything from the start.

"But child, you would have at least informed us, baccha", Anil uncle, Sam's father said. "I did not want to drag you all into the unnecessary mess, uncle, I had Sam and Prit there with me, so everything was in at ease", I replied flashing him a smile

"Seriously speaking, I doubt if she's the same shemdi, because the shemdi I know won't smile so much and would always run miles away before initiating physical touch", Sam commented chewing this food like a glutton.

I kicked his leg from under the table and gritted my teeth. "Some people need to open their small minds and close their big mouths", I smiled sarcastically at him, while he glared at me with a pained expression.

He was purposely using that nickname to bully me. Apparently after that incident, I had low immunity so I got caught up with Flu and the common cold more often, resulting in me sporting around with a runny nose everywhere.

So this jerk of my best friend decided to bully me with the word shemdi, an obvious insult to crawl under my skin and annoy me. And since then he stuck around refereeing me with that. Kutta!
[Translation: dog]

"You know what, I can't stand you for a second", he dramatically threw his hands up in the air, rolling his eyes like a clown. "Then sit the damn down, who's stopping you?", I replied shrugging my shoulders. Avni started filming the whole scene while everyone stared curiously at the drama unfolding.

No doubt they missed our banters because Sam and I could turn our verbal Spitfire into a battlefield and it'll still be fun to watch.

"What do you think you are, huh?", he raised his eyebrows and frowned at me with an offending expression. "Tujhi aai", I slowly whispered only for him to hear and winked at him. Because I can't generally reply with tera baap!, since that would be too offending I choose the safer option.

[Translation: your mother.

: your father]

Everything fell into silence as everyone shook their hands in amusement and finished their meals. After a hearty lunch, we all stood up to go towards the lodging area to chat and have a gala time.

Sam drilled holes at the side of my head while I royally ignored his presence.

"You haven't hugged me yet", he whined, opening his arms wide. I chuckled at his antics and hugged him back, my arms wrapping around his shoulders.

After spending months with my in-laws I have become accustomed to hugs and random kisses, bringing out the good part in me which I didn't know existed till now. I could smile more freely.

Have I told you Sam's love language is random hugs and kisses, even a small pat on his head and he'll melt and will follow you like a lost puppy. He was just too innocent for this world.

I loved being around Sam, because he was so easygoing and friendly to be with, minus his witty words, sassy mouth and annoying personality. Years with him had taught me to be patient, and tolerate people's irritating presence well, my patience level was quite high since he had managed to get the worst of me countless times.

"Gu kha", I muttered and patted his shoulders before breaking from the hug and stepping back. Sam looked at me with wide eyes as if I had just kicked him while I smirked at him following the elders.

[Translation: eat shit]

I felt a sense of tranquillity being around my people once again. I felt homely and calm. And I was thankful that no one questioned me related to my scandalous marriage. Because honestly, I wasn't ready to answer any of their questions.