MEET ALIA 'LIA'

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"Alia! We are getting late how much longer will you take to get out of the shower?" "Coming, gimme a minute." "I swear if you take any longer we are gonna plan it all without you." "Mom! For Lord's sake give me a break. It is MY wedding and I get a say, don't I?" "Yes dear, you get a say if you be right out in 2 minutes."

Alia hopped out of the shower and stood there for a minute dripping water all over the floor. This was it. She was finally getting married. She hadn't thought much about this day. Her work didn't permit her to daydream about days like these. Was she doing the right thing? Would she be able to give her all to this marriage? "Wedding jitters are normal, as long as you love him you're gonna be alright," she said to herself. 

As she got dressed she could hear her distant aunts talking loudly about how she should have been a good lady and have had a normal arranged marriage. Intrigued by the fact that they didn't care to lower their voices as she approached. She merely smiled at them, a smile concealing choicest of expletives for these nosy ladies. 

She sat down at the dining table where every family member had picked themselves a seat and a task. She looked down at the table and saw a long list of invitees. she slowly began hand writing all their names one by one. Occasionally stopping for a water break. A few hours passed. The words 'you are cordially invited' didn't seem so cordial anymore. She was just about to be done with the days work when she saw a name. A name that reminded her of all things good. A name she was very familiar with back in high school. A name that belonged to her high school best friend 'James Dean'. 

Something about sending a formal invite to her once partner in crime didn't seem right and she stopped writing. She needed a few moments to herself to relive her high school life. All those years spent chasing James through the corridors. Choosing similar classes and being called the class nerds in all of them. She couldn't express how much she regretted growing apart after choosing different colleges. "Will he still pick my call? Does he still think we are close?" she thought and thought. After some time she got up and looked at the time. "Oh Gawd! It's 10 already!" She made a mental note to call James at a more appropriate time the next day and went to sleep with happy high school memories still streaming through her mind.

The next day she woke up, got ready and barely managed to escape the clutches of her mom trying to make her taste test all the sweets. "I'll get fat ma!" "No you won't look how skinny you are. You need to look healthy." "For the last time mum I am not going to eat so many sweets!" "Fine whatever you fancy. If someone calls you skinny don't come blame me." "I won't mum."

She picked up her cellphone and dialed James' number. Still having second thoughts about calling him. However before she could change her mind, he picked her call and said a feeble hello.

"Hii James! Long time." "Yeah, long time more like a decade." "I'm soo sorry I should have called you earlier." "Not your fault Lia I have been really busy too. In fact so busy that I couldn't call my best friend." "I guess we both are equally guilty." "Yeah, agreed. So what made you call today, wondered if I was alive it seems?" " You haven't changed a bit, have you? It's like yesterday you were annoying the hell out of me and look at you now all grown up and still annoying me." "Hey! You called me after so many years. At least ask me how I'm doing before scolding the hell out of me." "Alright alright, how has your life been?" "Nothing really interesting, after I got out of Yale I have been practising in NY city."  "That's wonderful." "Also, I met Dianne and she's lovely, we're dating. I would love you two to meet someday. Which reminds me what about your love life? The last thing I know was u leaving for Harvard with a clear motto I ain't gon' date."

"Ohh yeah about that I have had some time to think and I met a bunch of people too. Oh so you keepin' it casual I see." "Well not exactly. I had just gotten out of college and had a few flings didn't exactly have a wonderful experience so I went back to work and grew tremendously. Started a hospital and business was booming. I didn't have time for dating but life had something else in store for me. It was at a corporate party that I met him.

Looks like we both are doing good. We should definitely catch up sometime. How about a double date ehh? 

Oh yeah totally. Which reminds me I almost forgot why I called you. Remember when I told you I wouldn't get married because marriage is only a hindrance in one's growth? Yeah you are invited. 25th of December. Come with Dianne, I would love to meet her.

I always knew you would get married before me. Who's the groom? 

James couldn't believe his ears when Lia told him who she was getting married to.

"Oh my God! Lia how did it happen? You have to tell me everything."



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