SOMETHING (BEAUTIFUL) UNFINISHED

Chapter 1: Home

You can do this. You can do this. Repeated like a mantra the whole flight home. No, she's been repeating it for the last month, since she agreed to go home.

Its only eleven days, eleven days and you'll be home, safe and with them. You can forget. Again.

It's been 6 years since she's been home to Goa, its been 6 years since she's been home to India at all. It was easier, not to come back. Dad made sure she never had to come back. Ever. But it's Siddharth's wedding and when he called last month, ugh how could she say no? Annika sighed as she looked at her reflection in the rear-view mirror. You can do this. You can do this.

--- One Month Ago ---

"Hello?" Annika finally answered the phone after the nineth call in 3 days. She would message after each call of course, apologize for missing the ring with any number of excuses- a work meeting, she was driving, at the gym but she couldn't ignore him anymore.

"She lives" Siddharth greets her with a rueful chuckle. He's never tried to make her feel bad, in the six years since she's seen him. Even though she knows he's hurt because he doesn't understand why, he doesn't get it and how could he? She's never wanted them to. "so, listen... we got your message. What do you mean you're not coming? Annika, it's been years. She was your best friend, I'm your brother, it's our wedding. Anns, I need you here. I need you home for this" Annika can hear the pain in his voice, the hurt, the slight twinge of anger, mostly just the confusion.

"Siddharth, I can't. I have a work thing that I can't get out of" she lies. "It's been a long time; I know and I'm sorry. Harry and I would have loved to have come, but - "

"No. Stop, Annika" He sighs, she can see him sitting on the edge of his bed, probably running a hand down his face or through his hair. "You have to come. Annika, please. It's... it's important to all of us. I know you have this whole life in London, with Harry but please come and bring him. Dad says he's great, we all want to meet him Annika. Please, it's only a few days. I need you here for one week. For me."

"Okay Siddharth, okay. I'll be there. I'll make it work. For you."

---

Annika is almost back to Goa when she pulls over, she just needs a minute. Of course, once Mom found out she was coming home she insisted Annika had to be there for the showers and the party the weekend before, so three days quickly turned into more than a week. Harry would join her 5 days before the wedding, he agreed of course to everything she needed from him this weekend. They just had to get through the 5 days together. She thinks back to her conversation with Harry last night.

"Baby" he said as she was frantically packing. "It'll be fine, I get it okay, I know you are nervous, I know you didn't want to go. But we will be fine here, and then I'll join you, we'll make it through, and we'll come home"

He always knew what to say, she walked over to where he was sitting on the bed and sat with one leg on either side of his thighs. She kissed him. "I love you; you know. I really do love you, but there is so much that you don't know"

"Annika, stop. I knew from the beginning that you had kept some of your past to yourself. I told you then, and I am telling you now, tell me when you are ready. Is this about what your family does? What they are?" He looks at her now, he's trying not to push her, but he needs to know she's okay.

How I wish I could tell you everything, she thinks as she looks into his perfect brown eyes. She loves him, she does but it's not the same. She doesn't think she'll love anyone the way she loved... the way she loved him. Thinking about him hurts, looking at her and thinking of him hurts. But she can't think of him, she can't hurt, she has people who rely on her now. She made her choice, six years ago.