The Way We Were

Chapter 8

(1993: Delhi)

Akash thought two years of college had flown by extremely fast.

He still remembered the first day, when he had looked all over the campus to catch just one glimpse of her, if not talk. He had finally given in to his hunger and gone to the canteen to get a samosa at least. And there she sat, a romance novel in her lap, quietly sipping her cola.

Suddenly, she looked up and her face broke into a dazzling smile. "Akash! You made it! Come, join me!"

And they never stopped talking. They would walk each other to classes, have lunch and snack breaks together reminiscing the school days of when their bigger group used to fight over tiffin. She would tell him about her daily drama at home, how her mother was hell bent on finding a suitable groom for her. He would tell of his daily drama at home. His mother and cousin could get very emotional when talking about Arnav.

Talking about Arnav would lead to talk about Khushi. They would imagine how much fun the other four were having out there, away from the parental eyes.

"But then, they'd be missing us too." Payal had once told him. "Wait till they're back. We'll tell them our stories as well."

"What stories?" Akash had asked.

"Of all the fun we have." Payal said in a duh manner.

Akash had pointed to her latest romance novel, which she had dog eared but was still carrying in her hands. "That's fun?"

"Romance is fun, don't you think? Both bring a smile to your face."

"What other things bring a smile to your face, Payal?"

The blush and change of topic had sealed it for Akash. He couldn't wait another day to confess and they had been together ever since then.

Now, Akash had a bigger task. Payal's mother had upped her game of groom searching and Payal was seriously scared that should her mother find someone, it would be immensely difficult for her to say no.

"Papa, can I talk to you?"

The study at Raizada Mansion was silent, except the routine paper fluttering about. Mahendra Raizada looked up, seeing fear in his son's eyes. "Andar aao, why are you standing there?"

Akash went in. "Papa, I... I like someone."

To say his father was shocked was an understatement. He looked properly speechless.

So Akash went on. "I've known her since a few years, since school actually. And the things is... she... well her family... they want to get her married soon... and I'm... I was...."

"Hold on. What is her name?"

"Payal Sharma."

Mahendra's eyes narrowed. "Is she the one who was in your class, the Head Girl of your school?"

"Yes."

"What does her father do?"

Akash gulped. The hardest part came first, like ripping off a band aid. So he dove headfirst. "He passed away when she was young. Her mother owns a sweetshop in Laxmi Nagar. And her Mama Mami are from Lucknow. You actually know them."

"I know them? How?"

"It's Munshiji."

(1993: London)

Lavanya Kashyap woke up to a splitting headache. That last tequila shot the previous night was showing its colors. She glanced at the clock and groaned again as the doorbell rang. Who was up before the sun? And ringing her doorbell, no less?