• Second Chances •

2. Silver Linings

"So..." Aditya took a sip of the whiskey. "They didn't wait for you. Neither did Shivina take your name in her speech." 

Ram's chest ached again and his eyes smarted a little. But he took a deep breath. He picked up the piece of a salmon pate cracker and stuffed it in his mouth. It was for the best if he didn't say anything. 

"Gosh Ram," Aditya spoke again. "We literally ran a marathon from the airport to here. Ordered those damned vegan cupcakes, you practically waded through flooded streets to reach home. And these people don't have the courtesy to call you and tell you that they are going ahead without you." 

"It's a fucking shame!" snarled Brinda. 

"It is!" Vikrant added his two cents. 

Before Kunal could say anything, Ram clicked his tongue. "It is fine, you guys. I shouldn't have kept that Delhi meeting today. It's my fault. I was horribly late. Plus we are from the girl's side. Mom had to perhaps listen to Sid's family." 

"Seriously?" Brinda scrunched her nose. "What century are you living in? They could have very well waited for you if they wished to. The fact is that they didn't want to. And nothing you say is going to change my opinion." 

Ram sighed. He knew that Brinda and the rest of his friends were right. But he couldn't say it aloud. Could he? 

Over the years, he had always felt and seen the invisible line that existed between him and the rest of his family. Try as he might, Ram never felt like the three of them considered him to be their own. Sure they always talked with him nicely and were cordial. But there was no love or affection between them. Ram knew that if tomorrow he landed in a soup, his friends would come running first. Not his family. 

Sometimes, he guiltily wished to get into trouble just to see how his mothers and siblings would react. Then he didn't have the heart for something like that because he knew that he would never ever see anything in their eyes. 

Maybe, that was the fate stepchildren got. Maybe, he deserved it. 

Shaking off the bad thoughts, Ram smiled. He threw his arm around Brinda and said, "Fine. Don't change your opinion. But change your expression and feed me please. These small appetizers aren't going to satisfy my hunger. Bahut kaam karke aaya hu yaar." 

It was enough for Brinda to smile a little. "Ugh, dramebaaz. Come. Let's get you some hot dinner."   

Grinning, Ram followed her. There was nothing that food couldn't solve for him. He keenly watched Brinda load up a plate with hot buttery naans and some chicken gravy and his smile widened. He tore into the hot naan as soon as Brinda placed the plate in front of him. All was forgotten; the busy day, the long flights, the fact that his family had forgotten about him. All he wanted now was to devour the delicious-looking food that was in front of him. 

"Ram..." 

Ram's breath hitched in his throat. The piece of naan slipped from his fingers. He could recognize that voice anywhere. He knew that he would see her at the event but Ram's heart had still hoped that he didn't run into her. But when did the almighty ever listen to him and his pleas? 

Sucking in a pained breath, Ram turned around. There she was in all-red finery. Her beautiful tresses were let down. Her lissom figure was still the same. She had lined her big, brown eyes with just the right amount of kohl. Her luscious lips were painted in red. She was a vision. And then she smiled at him. Ram suddenly had eyes for no one. 

"How are you?" she asked in a sing-song tone. "And how did you get so late?" 

Ram peeled his eyes from her form and looked down. The naan and curry didn't look so nice now. He shrugged. "My flight got delayed and then there was traffic too. Plus Kunal's car broke down." 

Her brows went up. "Oh no! That's bad." 

Ram didn't have to look at her to know her expressions. But he still did. And he had to smile. Every time he looked at her, he couldn't help but think how incredibly ill-fated he was. If she was in his life, if she was his wife; he wouldn't have wanted anything else in life. 

"Yea, that was very bad!" Aditya rolled his eyes. "Which is exactly why you guys should have waited for him. Ram didn't travel half the country for his family to conduct such an important function without him."   

"Damn straight!" Brinda crossed her arms. "This wasn't the day to display your ungratefulness, Veduuuuu!" 

Hearing the way Brinda stretched Vedika's name, Ram cringed. They seriously needed to tone it down. So what if he had missed the ceremony. He would see the videos and pictures. 

"Okay guys, let it go..." Ram intervened. "Enough now. I am sure Vedika had nothing to do with it." 

Vedika piped up. "No. I am genuinely sorry. I should have tried harder to stop them." 

The familiar ache rose again in Ram's chest. She was really so nice. Of course, she had tried to stop them. Ram managed to smile a little. "Thanks, Vedu. I appreciate it." 

He could hear Brinda snort beside him but it didn't bother him. Ram really loved Vedika with all he had. He always had. And even if no one liked it, he was going to love her till the end of his days. It was a pact he had made with himself. He was going to honour it. He hadn't fulfilled his dream of settling down with Vedika. But some people don't even get to experience true love. At least he had felt what it would mean to have someone in his life. 

"Okay, I will see you around..." said Vedika and left with a smile. 

Ram watched her walk away and a shudder passed through his spine. No matter how many times he watched Vedika walk away, he felt this weird pang in his heart. It still felt sad. It still made him lament everything in his life. If only things had ended differently for them. If only. 

"I hate this pretentious bitch!" Brinda grumbled and plopped down beside Ram. Then she swung one hand and punched Ram on his bicep. 

"Owww!" Ram grimaced in pain. "What the fuck was that? And why?" 

Brinda snarled at him. "Because you cannot stop being a love sick puppy in front of that vile woman. I am telling you Ram, sudhar jao. She isn't what you think she is. She is not nice. She pretends!" 

"Bri..." Ram pinched the bridge of his nose. 

"No, she is right!" Kunal added. He looked annoyed. "You don't see it because you are blind. But we can. And trust us. She has taken you for a ride for all these years and you don't seem to mind. It's just so foolish."

"I have been trying to tell him that since eons now..." Aditya huffed. "But nothing goes in his thick skull. He is a moron." 

Ram rolled his eyes. He didn't mind any of their words. He knew that they meant well. And in a world that was devoid of everything, it was only their affection and love and friendship that was keeping him sane. He flashed an indulgent smile at them. 

"You guys obviously have very high opinions about me. I am so thankful!" 

Brinda's lips quirked seeing him and she playful slapped his face. "Shut up. Will you?" 

"If I shut up, how will I eat this butter chicken?" Ram raised a brow. 

It made Brinda snort a little but she laughed anyway. His jokes weren't the best but they at least made her smile. 

"Okay now eat before you crack any more sad jokes!" said Brinda. She picked up a piece of naan, dunked it in the gravy and fed Ram a mouthful. 

It made Ram's pained heart sing a little. It was fine. He still had something. He still had a few people who would do anything to see him smile. He was not going to disappoint them. He smiled and went back to his food.

Life was not perfect. It was never going to be. But if there was anything that Ram had imbibed from his father, then it was that one has to find their silver linings themselves. And Ram would always find his.