Never Before

Chapter 1

Veda

Oh, finally I'm here.

It has been so many years since I left my family, my best friend, and my Mumbai. But now after completing my post-graduation, I'm finally here.

I miss my family but most of all I miss my best friend. After convincing Aai and also with a warning to dare to eat anything junk on the way, she allowed me. Perks of having convincing Baba. Mumbai equals rush and rush equals traffic. The cab which was supposed to drop me probably in half an hour took more than an hour.

Nutan was my senior in school. She is actually from Surat but stays here with her Mama(Maternal Uncle) and Mami(Maternal Aunt) and their only Son, arrogant if I might add.

The first thing I saw as soon as I stepped in was her Mami plating breakfast for everyone on the dining table. I tiptoed my way to her and cupped her eyes in my palms. She froze and took the names of every person she possibly knew. Should I be happy that she didn't recognize me or should I sulk that she didn't even recognize me? The lightning in her eyes as soon as she turned felt serene, "Oh Veda, you are finally here. We missed you so much, bachha." With a smile she pats my head with her right hand, her left hand in my hands.

We talked for some time and she told me Nutan is getting a shower. Girl's showers are the longest on weekends. The mild pitter patter of chappals told me Uncle was here. "Mina did you see –" Uncle pauses when he looks towards me and then he walks at me with a smile. "How are you beta? You made all of us wait for so long." As soon as he was near me he patted my head "Uncle, I just came to surprise all of you. As soon as I landed my first stop was this. It wasn't easy to convince Nisha but Tumchyasathi Kahipan." His eyes crinkled as laughter escaped his lips and Aunty tapped me on the back of my head as I bit my tongue. I heard her say Gadhedi. Old habits never die, they say.

After a heartfelt talk with them, I finally approached my best friend's room. The door was open. I don't understand why you have doors when you leave them open anyway. Her room always felt cozy. The window with a garden view and a small study table attached to it was my favorite thing of all. This study table was nothing like I'd seen the last time. Everything changed except for our photos. Our school trip, her farewell, my farewell, last day, Raksha Bandhan, and a collage of us together with him in one or two. The letters I wrote for her were placed in an orderly manner in a transparent box. My vision blurred as I reminisced about our old days together.

Why was she taking so long? I was almost half an hour late for her room. I loved the adrenaline rush and I hoped everyone got a dose of it. The target was in the bathroom and I intended to hear her scream.

Even though there was not a single fly, I tiptoed. It came out naturally. The shower finally stopped. I wouldn't be surprised if she slaps me. Laughing over crying best friend, I missed it so much. Thank heavens. I planned to boo her in her face. And the field was clear. The door opens and I boo her and she goes "Waahh!! You scared me". That was supposed to be the original plot. But it seems like stars did not accompany me in daylight. Because I was faced with the most unwelcoming person in this house. My hands remained still in the air showcasing all of my fingers and the look he gave me was....

Like him. Disapproving. As if he saw my ninth standard report card. Wait, he did see and....forget it.

But what was he doing in her bedroom? her bathroom? Correction. My best friend's room? My best friend's bathroom? He wasn't scared according to the plan that went in vain. But I was. Backfiring never felt real. But why was I scared? Maybe it's because he was literally naked. Okay, half naked with gray sweatpants. Boys and their obsession with gray sweatpants. Nah, girls and their obsession with boys in gray sweatpants. He was a few inches away. Thank God for his height, our lips were not in each other's vicinity. But his body was.