Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

twenty-two

22. Kuch toh kaho (Say something)

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"This is your wedding gift from me." Neelam bua handed an envelope to Priya with a smile at both of us. "Tickets to Bali for your Honeymoon. I know you won't be going anytime soon so I've booked it in advance for February 10. You can spend your first valentine's day together," she winked. "Accha, c'mon give me a hug now. I'm gonna miss you two so much." She opened her arms. Priya and I walked closer, bending to hug her. "I love you both. Stay happy and healthy. And miss me, okay?" She pulled back to cup our cheeks and drop a kiss on our foreheads.

Priya nodded with a smile.

"Let's go, I'll help you with your luggage."

"Oh, no don't bother," Bua dismissed my proposal with a wave of her hand. "It's just one suitcase. I'll manage." She chuckled. "Accha, Bhai, aati hoon. (Alright, Rajveer, will come back soon.)" She looked at Dad with a nostalgic smile. He stepped in to hug her. "Alright, bye everyone. And Avinash," she called out suddenly, "the next time I come it better be for your wedding." She warned playfully.

Yeah, please. That'd be great.

Bhai smiled back awkwardly.

Bua left while constantly looking over her shoulder and waving at us. When she disappeared into the crowd, we all made our way back to the parking lot.

This day has been exhausting and melancholic from the morning itself. First, we had to see Dadi off at the railway station. Since Dadu's death, she prefers to stay with her brother who was widowed at the age of 52. They'd hired a young helper to keep them moving but they do everything else on their own. Dad had tried to convince her a lot of times to stay with us in Mumbai but she never agrees. My mother thinks it's because of her. Then we came to the airport to see Neelam bua off. Now it's two pm and everyone is yet to have lunch.

"Let's stop at some restaurant. I don't think your mummy is inclined on cooking anything today. She's been running around the house since dawn." Dad spoke as we reached our cars.

"Yes, please. Let's eat out for today." Mom sighed.

"You must want to go to the office immediately?" I looked down at Priya who was holding out the car keys to me. She clutched them tighter in her fist and looked at me in disapproval. "Go ahead. I'll join everyone else in Bhai's car." I muttered, taking a step forward to walk away.

"Aditya," she grabbed my elbow, stopping me abruptly. "Can we not publicize our issues?" She asked me in a whisper.

I glanced at her before looking at everyone else. So slick they pretended to indulge in a random ass conversation out of the blue.

I held out my hand and she dropped the keys in my palm.

"Text me the address of the restaurant we'll be stopping at," I said to Bhai who nodded in response. I changed directions to walk towards her car while subtly removing my arm from her grip. Opening the door of the car, I got in and pulled the door close, waiting as she did the same and buckled herself. I don't understand why she insists on me driving the car when it belongs to her. But even without saying anything, she always hands me the car keys and settles herself in the passenger seat. While before it use to make me feel special, now it just gives me the feeling of a chauffeur.

We drove in silence until we reached the restaurant. I got out first, waiting patiently as she stepped out of the car to drop the keys in the valet's hands. We climbed the stairs together, spotting our families already settled in the family area. The lunch proceeded in the silence between us. I involved myself in meaningless conversations with everyone else so as to not make it obvious that I was intentionally ignoring her.