The Way We Were

Chapter 5

(Intro)

Anjali Singh Raizada was exiting the temple after her regular evening prayers. Thaal in one hand and her head on Arnav, for his changed behavior since school started, she slipped.

Strong arms around hers surprised her. By the time she stood on her feet again, she could see the face of the man who had saved her from falling down the stairs.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Thank you." Anjali pulled her dupatta straight. "I want to-"

"Come here. Sit down." He led her to a nearby bench.

Anjali put down her thaal, then herself.

"You do look fine. Can I help you search for someone or...?"

"No no. I came alone. I'll get a rickshaw." Anjali knew she was fumbling. This man looked intense, with dark brown eyes and a face that could make her knees go weak. "Thank you, though."

He smiled, making her forget everything around her. "Then allow me to drop you home. I'm Shyam, by the way."

Maybe it would be better to have some support before she fell again. "I... Uh, okay."

"Let's go find a rickshaw, miss..." Shyam got up.

Anjali felt like a fool. He had helped her, wanted to make sure she reached home well and she had not even introduced herself. "Anjali."

"So you're a lawyer." Anjali deduced from the qualifications Shyam mentioned during their short ride to her home.

Shyam, however, had gone speechless on disembarking from the rickshaw. He was looking at Raizada Mansion with awe in his eyes. "Who- who did you say you were?"

Anjali felt doom in her gut. It seemed this man was eyeing the wealth she came with. "Anjali Raizada."

Shyam turned to her, shock written in his eyes. "Mr Raizada doesn't have a daughter."

"Well," she steeled her heart. "There's things people say... and then there's the truth." She left him on the road, without inviting him in.

Shyam Manohar Jha stood speechless. The soft-spoken, beautiful lady had some attitude, too. And she was a Raizada, if she was telling the truth. This, he thought, would be tricky.

(Verse)

Arnav was trying to slow his heart down as he saw Khushi sit with him on the third day of school. The previous day, he had thought only once before placing his bag beside hers, if she wanted to sit more at the front, he wasn't going to fight with her about it. And today, he had chosen an actual front seat.

Khushi smiled at him. "So, Mr Backbencher is changing his ways."

"You know, if I end up head boy I should make better impressions."

"Right." She placed her bag and turned towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"That's my business, Arnav." She winked and ran out the door.

Arnav ran out, only to see Akash coming out of his class. "Bhai, do you want to head to the auditorium?"

Arnav held his tongue, lest he embarrass his brother. Also, he had a feeling that's where Khushi had run off to so early in the morning. "Lead the way."

Hum bhatakate hain,
kyon bhatakate hain
dashta-o-seharaa mein

Arnav saw Akash halt at the doors. He turned to see Payal turning circles, her blue skirt flying around as if gravity didn't exist at all.