Eternal_Souls _

Chapter 25

"Ve Tom and Jerry jeya, Tera-mera ae rishta,
Gall-gall te larhde aa, Unjh pyar vi bathera"

(Our relationship is Like Tom and Jerry,
We tease each other. Irritate each other. But also love a lot and can't live without each other)

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Author's POV

The reception area was spacious and perfect for a party, with guests dancing and celebrating into the night. The food was delicious and featured a mix of Punjabi and Bengali cuisine being served.

Everyone was enjoying the function while Tanu, determined not to let her emotions show, decided to keep her distance from Sourabh. She didn't want him to think she was avoiding him, so she put on a brave face and behaved as if everything was normal. Deep down, her heart ached, but she didn't want to confront him without knowing the truth.

Meanwhile, Sourabh noticed Tanu's change in behavior. He felt a mix of confusion, sadness, and concern. He couldn't understand why Tanu seemed distant all of a sudden. His heart longed to reach out to her, to understand what was going on.

The wedding celebrations went all night. The next day, When Sourabh woke up, he saw Tanu with her luggage. She was meeting her friends. Furrowing his eyebrows, he asked, "What's going on?"

"She is leaving us!", Ritika said dramatically. Ignoring her, He looked at Tanu and asked, "Where?... Isn't our train-"

"She-"

Tanu interrupted Ritika and explained apologetically, "Actually, I have a chemical with me that needs to be kept in optimum conditions. It would be too late if we leave by train and reach there. Sameer already had an early flight, so I booked with him. Sorry, guys, I can't go with you all. Will meet you there." They believed her and bid her goodbye.

Sourabh's ears perked up when he heard Sameer's name. He clenched his fingers into a fist. However, he believed her reason for departing early. The hosts had booked a whole compartment of the train for their guests, and they still had plenty of time before departure. It wouldn't be feasible to transport the costly chemical by then. So, he saw her off half-heartedly with Sameer, knowing how caring he is for Tanu. The fact that she chose to go with Sameer made him furious.

In the flight, Tanu settled into her window seat but couldn't find solace in the beautiful views outside. She put on her eye mask, hoping to sleep, but sleep eluded her. Doubts started creeping in. Every coin has two sides. Did she misunderstand something? She questioned whether her trust in him was misplaced and wondered if their connection was as genuine as she believed. The irony of being the one who usually helps others in similar situations added to her frustration. She wanted to meet him and clear her doubts but with a sane mind.

Lost in her thoughts, Tanu eventually drifted off to sleep. It was Sameer who gently woke her up as the plane prepared to land.

Meanwhile, in Goa, Sourabh and his friends boarded the train. They noticed Sourabh's distant demeanor and playfully teased him about missing Tanu. It was true, he missed her, but he was also saddened by her recent behavior. He wasn't sure if he was just perceiving her distant behavior all of a sudden or if he was mistaken. All he wanted was to meet her as soon as they arrived.

When Tanu arrived home, her family noticed that she wasn't acting like her usual self, despite her putting on a happy facade. She retreated to her room, still feeling frustrated about everything that had happened in Goa. The unexpected experiences she had in Goa felt like a joyful dream that ultimately shattered into pieces, bringing her back to reality as she rested her head on her softie pillow after many days.

Ughhhh! It is so frustrating! My brain is completely messed up!

Feeling overwhelmed, she buried her face in her pillow, hoping to find solace in sleep. Just then, her annoying elder brother, Kabir, sneaked into her room to tease her. Being the pesky brother he was, he succeeded in provoking her. They started fighting, but in the end, Tanu burst into tears.

"It hurts!" she mumbled through her tears, in her father's embrace. Their parents scolded poor Kabir, completely unaware that Tanu's tears weren't because of the fight, but because of the built-up frustration she had been carrying. Unfortunately, her innocent brother bore the brunt of the scolding.

"She just came after many days... the house was so silent without her, and you made the poor girl cry....." their father scolded him.

Kabir, who lightly hit her once, glared his little sister who hit him more than once. She innocently looked back from their father's embrace.

"Bandari! (Monkey!)" Kabir grumbled.

"Bandar! (Monkey!)" Tanu mouthed. After crying, Tanu felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. It was as if crying allowed her emotions to flow freely, washing away the confusion and hurt that had consumed her. And in that moment, she found solace in the release, knowing that with each tear shed, her heart grew a little lighter.

"Is she a child? Look at how she's crying. Would anyone believe she's grown up? You all have spoiled her!" Kabir said angrily.

"Yes, Kabir. I am the one who has spoiled you. Look at you both grown-ups, you're still fighting like children", Mother said looking at Kabir and then at Tanu. She continued, "She's been wanting to cry since she arrived. Did something happen over there?" Something clicked in Kabir's mind. He glanced at Tanu, squinting his eyes. Tanu shook her head, indicating that nothing had happened.

"Manao apni Kudi nu! (Console your daughter!) I AM GOING" Kabir said.

"Go then. Vechari kudi rulati aunde ne (You made the poor girl cry as soon as you arrived)," Dad said while patting Tanu's head. Kabir left angrily from there not before glaring his innocent sister. As soon as he came out, he called someone.

As Sourabh arrived home from the trip, he felt a mix of relief and exhaustion. The familiar sight of his cozy living room welcomed him, but something seemed off. He noticed two men sitting inside, casually sipping tea. One of them immediately caught his attention, causing his mood to sour. However, his focus quickly shifted to the other man, as a sense of familiarity washed over him. Yet, confusion filled the air as he was met with an intense and angry glare.