The Way We Were

Chapter 16

(2000: January 1)

Akash Singh Raizada followed Payal Sharma as she stepped back inside the house. All of their friends, essentially family, sat waiting for them. He exchanged new year greetings like a robot. His heart was just not in it.

Well, you set a hell of an example.

What else was he supposed to do? His Bua was dead because of her Mami. Arnav had let Khushi's memories become poison to the point that no amount of love elixir could extricate it out. Akash had seen what love like that did to a person, firsthand. In the wake of his love, was he just supposed to forgive and forget? How could he accept her if his family wouldn't?

Anjali, whom he respected like no other, still flinched if Lavanya accidentally mentioned the Guptas near her. Arnav, whom he was loyal to like no other, still clamped shut if they ran into any old schooltime acquaintance who inevitably asked about Khushi. For Arnav and Khushi had become infamous about not being able to hide their budding romance during the first week at Bal Bharati.

It was his parents and his grandmother that still amazed him. How could one forgive her daughter's sinner? How could one be normal around his sister's murderer? They behaved as if they had truly moved on from the incident, now eleven years ago. Akash jolted.

Turning his gaze sharply to Khushi, he saw what maybe a lot of people would never see. Pure, unabashed, honest love that could only stem from hope. Khushi seemed hopeful still that some day Arnav would see past things. Or maybe she knew he would. There had always been that one part of him which questioned the shamelessness of Khushi. How could she hold her head high if her mother was all of what he had heard? No girl could unless she was heartless. And Khushi Kumari Gupta was wearing her heart on her sleeve.

His eyes moved to Payal, who was in conversation with Lavanya in the kitchen. He got up swiftly and approached them. "Payal, I need to talk to you."

"Yes?"

"Outside." He turned to leave and fastened his pace when he knew she was following. Outside, he turned back, clearly taking her aback. "Tell me seriously, why are you not married yet?"

"What?"

"I'm asking-"

"I heard what you are asking. What I mean is why are you asking that?"

"When I called off our marriage, it was because of something that would never change. I talked to my father to get us married because your mother was dancing on our heads. So, why are you not married yet?"

He was sure something akin to surprise flitted across her face. Composing herself, she replied. "That's none of your business, Akash. When or whom I get married to would always have been my decision, not my mother's."

"It sure as hell didn't seem that way five years ago."

"What is your point?"

"Leave that, why is Khushi not married yet?"

"Where is this coming from, Akash? Why are you asking these things?"

"It's been five years, Payal. Five years of you living your own independent life. Sue me if I want to know if things aren't well."

Payal sighed. "Things are fine. It certainly isn't something you should bother with, at the moment."

"Why did you move to Mumbai?"

"I'm not answerable to you." She turned to leave.

Akash held her arm gently but it was enough to realize that she was shivering. He could feel her quickened pulse at her wrist. "Payal, what is this that you can't even tell me? You could tell me anything."