Is Love Enough ??

Chapter 1

Kirti parked her car at the allocated spot in her apartment building's parking lot and turned off the engine. She sat there for a couple of extra seconds staring ahead but not really seeing anything, then taking in a deep breath got out and closed the door. Using the remote on her key she locked the car. Then as if she suddenly remembered something, sighing and chiding herself for being forgetful mentally, she opened the door again and took out her purse. How many times had her friends told her to not leave her purse in the car? She had forgotten the count. According to all of them it was an open invitation for a burglar to break in. And Maan's concern had always been that because she kept her apartment keys in her purse she might get locked out if the burglary was to ever take place. So finally he had added the apartment key to the keychain holding her car keys. His concern was always her safety, nothing else mattered, not the breaking in or burglary or anything else. Another reason why she adored the man. He never said much but he was always doing something or the other for her, whether he really gave it a thought or it came naturally it didn't matter. She smiled softly. Thinking about Maan always managed to bring a smile on her face. Not that she could help it, she loved the guy. She closed the the door to her car and locked it again.

But today...today it wasn't just forgetfulness at work it was more preoccupation of her mind. Anika had called. She had been having lunch with a friend when the call had come. Out of the blue. And her sister never did that. Since the day Kirti had left Chandigarh, talks between her and Anika had been minimal restricted mostly to occasions. Like literally. They spoke only on each other's birthdays or on festivals or at New Year. At least that was how it had been for the past two years. But today was neither a birthday, nor a festival and definitely not New Year. So when Anika's name had flahsed across the screen of her phone it had taken a few seconds for it to register and she had tensed wondering if it was bad news. Had a tragedy taken place in her family? Why was Anika calling? And she had taken the call expecting the worst. Only her sister's voice had been cheerful in its greeting and she had relaxed instantly. Only to tense up a few minutes later again....not that she wasn't happy for her sister, after all the girl was getting married and she was her only sister. And Kirti had been delighted at the news. The guy Gurpreet, worked at a software firm in California, USA. It was an arranged alliance and since the guy's green card was in queue for approval the wedding was to take place in the next one week as both families wanted them to get married and travel together so Anika could apply for her green card alongwith Gurpreet's. Hence the quick wedding. It did make sense because otherwise, Anika might have to wait for months maybe even a few years before she could join her husband in the States. Legal constraints. And neither party wanted that to happen. Not the groom's side and definitely not the bride's side. Kirti had cogratulated Anika feeling happy. And then she had felt sad because she wouldn't be able to attend. Her only sister's wedding and she wouldn't be able to go. Or so had been her thoughts before Anika had dropped the bomb on her. She wanted her to come...and not just for the wedding but for all the ceremonies. Kirti had been surprised, a little stunnedwould be a more appropriate word and then she had tensed. But Anika had been adamant. She had informed her that she had already spoken to Gurpreet and he was fine with the plan. And that she would speak to their mom and dad about it as well. Before Kirti had even grasped the idea Anika had quickly apologized for not sending a formal invite because of time constraints and that she would be very upset if Kirti decided not to come.

'Just imagine my sullen face in all my wedding photographs and all because my only sister decided to skip my wedding,' she had said and Kirti had been sure her sister had a pout even as she spoke of how her face would be. Anika was a bit big on the theatrics side.

'But Niku, mom and dad...' Kirti had started to respond when Anika had cut her off.

'Come on big sis, it has been two years now since the fiasco, half of the relatives and friends have even forgotten about it, the remaining half don't count,' she had said persuasively, 'come di, maybe your coming here at this occasion would patch up things for the better,' she had said coaxingly. Tempting her.