Better Together | ✓

7 | family

Chapter 7 : family 

Aadarsh shut the door of his room and walked into his wardrobe. It was a narrow wooden passageway that was flanked by open storage racks on either side and two cupboards. At the end there were two full length mirrors on opposite walls and finally the door that opened into the bathroom. He stood before the cupboard and opened it using the key.

His hand reached the storage box kept on the top shelf. He pulled it out effortlessly. He closed the cupboard and sat on the floor with the box before him. He opened the lid. It was like opening one's eyes to a recap of the past.

He pulled out the card on top. It read will you be my girlfriend. He had modified the card by writing in his handwriting at the top of it— Dear Siddhi. At the bottom of the page he had written his name. He had given it to her but later stolen it from her.

His gaze caught glimpse of their photographs together. Photographs taken at sports day, at annual day, picnic and the likes. He wore a smile as his eyes filled up with tears.

Gosh he was so damn crazy about her. His fingers caressed her photograph. How stupid he was to think he'd marry her one day and they'd raise a family together and be the most coolest parents ever.

How utterly foolish he was!

He had saved little things like the first flower she gave him, the friendship bands, the birthday card she made him, the photographs having just them, the chits they passed in class. They had both decided to keep a treasure box of their memories of each other. He still had his. He didn't know why he hadn't thrown it out yet. He kept it, locked away in his belongings like it was actually some sort of treasure. 

However, the truth was— it was not.

He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He put all the things back in. He then stared at the box thoughtfully.

He had never thought he'd actually marry anyone that was not her. However that was back in time. In the present, he had said yes to marrying another woman. He wanted to marry another woman. A woman that was not her. 

It was time to let go off this box that held onto memories of past. He had to move on. He wondered if she had. He had never tried to find out. He would have been stupid to follow her, find out about her, after everything. He was not stupid. He deserved better.  

Abhi's words from the other night came rushing back :

Do you never think of Siddhi, of what you both could be if you were still together?

"I don't Abhi. Not any longer." He closed the lid of the box and got onto his feet. He moved out of the walk-in wardrobe and placed the box in his desk. He called the intercom and requested the maid who had picked up the phone to send Dai Jaan to his room. 

It was finally time to let go.

* * *

Abhi was filled with mixed emotions. It was Saturday evening. Both his buas were in the kitchen supervising the cooks. The family seemed excited to have guests over. Ashvi was thrilled to meet Aadarsh's prospective bride and was getting ready to put a good first impression on her. Mukti was elated to learn that Ruhaani, the same friend she had met at the park last Saturday was coming home with her cute daughter.

His Badi Bua had told him how Aadarsh had said he liked Ruhaani before Ruhaani's family. Abhi wondered if Aadarsh actually liked her. If he did, then he was pointlessly fretting over the alliance. If Aadarsh actually literally liked Ruhaani that meant there was scope for love. At the moment, everything was a bit over the place in his mind. Maybe it was best to meet whoever this person was and see how things pan out.