Three lives, three souls, three hearts.
Shehnaaz, Sana and Sidharth entangled to each other like vines.
Raindrops or rainstorm, sunshine or fog, completely different yet similar, three people who are destined to a single stop, a heart that will get...
Kuch is tarah se guzaari hai zindagi jaise Tamaam umra kisi dusre ke ghar me rahe
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I was arranging the plates on the dining table when the main door swung open. Shehnaaz walked in and I gasped, she looked just like she left yesterday, her red sweater highlighting her face which resembled me so much. We had the same brown eyes and the facecut was also very similar. Many people confused us to be sisters. But she was taller than me and much skinnier. Her skin was pale, lips thinner, her whole face was red from the heat. Badi memsahab came running from the kitchen engulfing her in a hug. All three of them had a warm reunion.
I stood there waiting for her to notice me but she was lost in her own bubble. Her hair had been cut short and died brown. She held a brown trench coat in her hand and I advanced towards her, to take it from her hand.
She gave me her purse and coat, smiling widely and mouthing a thank you. I went back inside to keep her things, probably change is the only thing I can expect.
They all settled on the dining table and I helped amma serve them food. If it would have been eight years back Shehnaaz would have forced me to eat with her. We used to always eat together and sometimes from the same plate. She was smiling but her eyes were red. They all had their meal talking about wordly affairs and travel shenanigans.
"Ayesha, bhaijaan kal raat ko aa jaenge around 9. Room ready krdena unka wala and Sidharth bhi aa rha hai toh Shehnaaz ke paas wale room me uska luggage shift krwa dena."
I clutched the serving spoon firmly, my throat felt parched.
"Aree, mama woh Sana ka room h. Sidharth apne pehle wale room me stay krlega wo uske next hi h. Why would Sana shift?", Shehnaaz spoke putting her knife and fork on the table.
"Khala, room shift krne ki koi zaroorat nhi h. Sidharth koi guest thodi na h. And Mama, didn't you only say that this is his home only. So how can you change his room without his consent just so that wo mere room ke paas rahe. You can force us into this marriage but not into each other's life." She stood up leaving the food half-way and ran straight to the garden. I knew where she would go. The swing. Maybe there are still strings left taut.
"What should we do with this girl? Itne mood swings koi kaise manage krega. I am telling you Rafiq if she misbehaves infront of bhaijaan mujhse bura koi nhi hga", Badi Memsahab slams her head while bade Sahab sighs.
"Mai bulake aati ho", I finally speak.
"Jao, aur please put some sense in her. Ye koi way h to talk to your parents. Abhi bhi teenagers wali harkat kab tak mai let go kru?"
I nod simply walking away to the garden. The sun had taken a step back, paving a way for the purplish hue of the evening to cast. Shehnaaz sat there on the swing, cheeks stained of tears and feet bare on the grass.
"Do you know Pogo is grown up and had his kids too?" , I settle on the swing beside her.
"Sachi?" She asks her eyes beaming through the tears.
"Han, last year tak aata tha Dorothy uncle ke sath for a stroll. Ab nhi pta" Pogo was a pomeranian. Shehnaaz had found it in a park, shivering in the rain. She brought him home, made a kennel for him but Badi Memsahib didn't allow her to keep the dog. So,we had to gift it to Dorothy uncle who lived down the lane.
There were a few birds in the sky, plain white against the sky, with their wings spread far and wide. They were probably migrating, will come back only to go away again.
"How are you?" She finally asked breaking the soft silence.
"Sometimes good, sometimes worse."
I missed this, our unhindered confessions, our unpretentious trust. I knew that I could confide in her, and that she would understand me even if we hadn't talked in about eight years. She knew she could be herself, she didn't need to mask that she was crying, that she felt bad. We could be there for each other through all the odds without any expectations.
"Tell me the good part", she leaned on the swing folding her legs.
"Well, I got to see you fit and fine. That's a good part."
Shehnaaz hummed. "You don't want to get engaged?" I asked.
"Not right now."
"But you knew this right. We all knew this from the very beginning. You and him ending up together. Tab toh you were pretty fine. Hey fiancée! krke baat krti thi"
She chuckled probably being reminded of the good old days. "I had no idea what fiancée even meant at that time."
"But you know he's good... Bachpan me toh smart bhi tha. Funny, charismatic. In-laws are going to be your own fam. Then what's the problem dude?"
"It has nothing to do with him but everything to do with me. I can't think anything other than me being deprived of my right to choose and plus I'm so young."
"He's also young. It must be difficult for him right. Maybe you both would click. Atleast meet him. You never know you might fall straight for him"
"Not happening...Was Mama angry?"
"A lot"
"I think I should go and apologize. I behaved very rudely with them. You know mere travelling ki frustration nikl ayi" she bit back her laugh and I grinned.
"I like your brown hair"
"Me too", she sauntered inside mouthing "self love baby". That's the goofy over the top emotional Shehnaaz I love.
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HEYA PEEPS! HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI! HAVING A LOVELY DAY? Give me some incites? What to do you think of Sana's character? Love, Ahsmir.
