Memories. Memories are not only in our minds but they are also situated in our lives - with the smallest of things. With places, materials, food, houses, countries, and even people. We tend to forget things as we age, but some incidents remain etched on our minds forever. Unforgettable memories. Memories are not essentially happy or sad, they don't necessarily make us laugh or cry. Some memories just can't be categorized and those are the most beautiful memories.
Anika stared at the Oreo tiramisu in front of her, as she traveled back in memory lane.
"Anika, pass me the vanilla essence," Shivaay requested as he carefully crushed the Oreo biscuits. Anika quickly passed him the vanilla essence before shifting her attention back to her aloo poori.
"I am back!" Rudra announced, dashing into the kitchen. Om shook his head before resuming to cut the tomatoes. "Where did you go? I didn't see you from the morning," Shivaay questioned, now looking at his youngest brother. "I went...ah.. to meet Chubby, yes, to meet Chubby," Rudra answered, hesitant and unsure.
"Haa toh thik hain, itna confusion kyun hai aapko, Rudy bhaiya?" (Okay then it's fine, why are you so confused, Rudy?) Gauri asked her brother-in-law, looking at him in a questioning manner. "Aree, nehi, bhabhi... Well what is today's menu?" (Oh, no, sister-in-law) Rudra tried to ease the situation. "Your favorite," Shivaay answered smiling. "What is my favorite, bhaiya?" Rudra questioned, he liked every kind of food that existed and was cooked by his brothers.
Om smacked the back of his head, "Duffer, he is talking about tiramisu!" Om hi-fived Shivaay, while Anika and Gauri laughed. "Omg, bhaiya! I did not know you loved me so much!" Rudra exclaimed, overjoyed before enveloping Shivaay in a side hug.
"Nautanki," Anika commented which caused Rudra to smile sheepishly.
"Waise, bhaujai. Hume lagta hai ki hume hamare kunware chirotey ke liye ek chiraiyya dhund lena chahiye ab," (I think we should search for a girl for our unmarried boy) Gauri suggested winking at Anika who pursed her lips together to avoid her smile which was threatening to bloom on her face.
"Kon single hai yaha? Except for me and Om?" (Who's single here?) Shivaay asked before grinning along with his brother. Anika poked Shivaay's back harshly with a spoon while Gauri glared at Om who acted to zip his mouth.
"I was talking about Rudy bhaiya!" Gauri glared at the duo who just couldn't stop grinning. Anika agreed before turning her attention to Rudra, whose face had now ashened. "Rudra? Are you okay?" Anika asked, concerned about her brother-in-law who wasn't any less than her younger brother to her. "Yes, bhabhi," He lied.
"Rudy," Anika cupped his face which caused the attention of her husband, Gauri, and Om's attention to turn to them. "Is anything wrong?" She questioned, she did not like a gloomy Rudra. Rudra controlled the urge to hug her and cry. "Aree, I just got nervous hearing the word 'marriage'. It's a scary word!" He laughed at his joke while nobody else did. They all shook their heads at him who was now tying his apron.
*
"Ma'am? Ma'am?" Anika's assistant, Emily called her boss who was too engrossed in her thoughts to hear her. Anika had a habit of zoning out, especially while eating.
Anika looked up at her abruptly, startled to see her. "Ye..yes?" She asked before fixing her position on the chair. "Shivaay Sir is here to meet you, he is waiting in the waiting room. Should I call him here or...?" She asked her boss who was now getting up. "No, I would go to meet him there," Anika said, fixing her dress and hastily packing her stuff, maybe he was here to pick her up.
As Anika reached the door to the waiting room, she heard voices. He wasn't the only one in that room, there were more than two people. She scrunched her eyes in confusion, Who might they be? The voices sounded familiar, yet they were part of a vague memory. The room was not fully soundproof, nor were their voices crystal clear.
Anika decided to pull the glass doors open. As soon as she did so, her eyes fell on three very familiar faces. Out of which, there were two, which she missed seeing every day. Anika felt lost as if she was suddenly thrown into a pond of ice-cold water. She could feel three pairs of eyes trained on her, refusing to move. Goosebumps appeared on her skin.
She stared at the front, yet she couldn't see anything. Her vision was foggy, she couldn't comprehend if it was due to her tears or something else. Was it a dream or was she hallucinating?
"Shivaay...?" She whispered almost inaudibly. Shivaay reached her the very next moment. "Anika," he said softly, looking at her. Her eyes fixed on the two blurry figures who stood in front of her. "Wh-What,?" She choked on her words, ripping the silence. "Om?...Ru?" She blinked, as the tears were prickling her eyes. Warm tears burnt her skin as they rolled down her cold cheeks. This wasn't a dream then? "Shiv...?" Shivaay nodded, struggling to keep his tears at bay.
The next second, she felt herself being enveloped in a bone-crushing, warm, and urgent hug. Anika exhaled sharply, it was as if a rock was lifted off her chest. "Rudra!" She couldn't believe it. Was it them? Her tears did not stop, they flowed without restrictions, falling on Rudra's shoulder.
Shivaay blinked his tears away, now looking at Om, who stared at the duo, a small smile etched on his face. Om's eyes were crimson, he was trying not to cry. He felt like he had consumed drugs again, which made him hallucinate. The hallucinations were so real, so dreamy, so tranquil. The moment he had seen Shivaay, he felt as if someone punched him in the stomach, was he even real? Was this happening? If he was dreaming, oh boy, he wanted to dream til the end of eternity.
Anika moved one of her hands from Rudra's back, placing it on her other shoulder. She pinched herself, It was hard, no, impossible to believe. Were they here? Was she imagining things? Again? Was there any issue with her sight? Rudra slowly pulled away from the hug, his eyes red and teary.
Anika's hair was stuck to the contours of her face, her face now completely scarlet along with her teary eyes. She held Shivaay's hand who was standing beside her all along. She turned to look at him, wanting to voice her thoughts. Shivaay nodded as if understanding her inner thoughts. Anika's eyes once again blurred with tears when her gaze landed on Om.
Om smiled, before spreading his arms. Anika did not waste time rushing into his arms for the hug he was benevolent at offering. She cried out, keeping her face on his chest. Om wept softly. Rudra hugged Shivaay tightly, fearing he would disappear again.
"I missed you so much, bhaiya," He confessed while Shivaay patted his back. He wasn't so good at expressing his emotions. Shivaay had so much to say, yet he didn't know which words to use for saying what he felt for the past years and what he was feeling now.
Anika helped Om wipe his tears while he did the same. They smiled at each other, a smile that did not reach their eyes. Nostalgia lingered behind that smile, they felt at peace yet there was this hollowness inside them.
