𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐘𝐀

C H A P T E R - 27

Mayra

"Your dad misses you" she gives that smile full of adoration that I pause to capture before I speak "I know mumma. I miss you all here" I blow her a kiss and she acts to catch it and we giggle at that.

Someone sneaks in from behind me and snuggles beside me "Heyy mummaa" she squeals and waves at the screen to her and I tilt the phone to adjust me and Iti in the frame.

"I really want to visit Delhi so much" she attempts to pout and I chuckle due to which Iti makes a face and mouths 'what' and I shake my head still chuckling.

"Where's dadi?" there's a shake of screen which blurs the view of her and we wait for her to settle but suddenly dadi comes in the frame "Here" both of them are smiling and dadi does this gesture of rolling her wrists and cracking her knuckles at her temple. She does this often.

"How're you guys?" Iti answers for us "We're doing great dadi. Mayra enjoys here and doesn't even complains anymore" she pats my shoulder like a proud sister.

"I don't complain!" I retort back but mumma shushes us "Don't you fight again" and with that tone whatever retort Iti had died immediately.

"How's you dadi? Taking your meds on time?" She nods sluggishly and eyes our mother when she's not looking "Do I have other options?" mumma clicks her tongue "Maa" and it's their turn to bicker.

Me and Iti stare at them with pure admiration but they seemed to notice that and stopped their conversation "Aren't you late Mayra?" I look at the clock before answering mumma "No. I have twenty some more minutes" her lips pressed thin and she does a quick view of my face "Be safe on your trip" I nod with equal consideration "Yeah" and then after a little chat we hung up.

"All set?" Iti straightens while posing a hand on her hip "Sort of. Why aren't you coming along again?" I feel saddened when she clearly refused to join us on the trip and when I asked Moksha said it's because Manav jiju won't be coming.

"You know with Annika bhabhi at nyc I'm alone the daughter-in-law here. There are responsibilities that I must uphold you know" she doesn't feel dejected an ounce.

I clear my throat before answering back "I can still withdraw from this trip. I'll stay here and accompany you" a click of her tongue sounds before she rounds the bed to settle beside me.

"You're such a fool little bell. Do you want to be by me your entire life?" when I don't answer she continues "You should live your life and most importantly make friends. I want my real Mayra back who use to yap alot" a chuckle leaves me at the choice of her words.

"As much as I don't like to admit but there will be times when I won't be there for you. That will be the time you need to decide for yourself. Moksha and Aaksha have always been good with you, even Adi is nicer around you. As of Aarav once he's comfortable he'll open up too." A shudder runs through me at the mention of his name. Do I really want him on my friend list. Do I even have a list? 

"Live a lot Mayra" when I look at her she's smiling not the usual sort but a knowing one. As in she understands me that allowing more people in your life is harder and letting them hold the strings of your heart is even harder.

"You think they take me as a dull and boring Mayra? Who's also a nerd?" she pauses then bursts in a chuckle "Of course not Mayra" I sigh revolving my head to the other side of the room.

"That's your opinion" she holds my hand in hers and speaks in a monotone "A true friend will love all your parts. Not the chosen ones" for a moment I take her words and play it in a loop inside my head.

"Thanks Iti" she pats my hand and I seem to feel lighter as if a stone has been taken off from my chest. 

The door slams open before a vogue model wrapped in a black tank top flanked with a floral skirt and a leather belt contrasted with it comes in. Moksha's hairs are designed in curls giving her green highlights an authentic look.

Aaksha has dressed herself in an elegant knee length blue dress. Her hairs tied with strips of blue ribbon. Whereas I clad myself in a damaged white shorts with a brown top with a cut so low that if I bend forward someone might actually get a view of my breasts. In my defense this is not my choice of clothes but the ones standing in front of me.

"Shall we?" I nod but they were already dragging me out and we reached the porch. I hug Iti last time and then Moksha shoves me in the bus they hired.

I stumbled upon an argument between Adi and Navya who were fighting for the same seat. I stretch my gaze on both the rows. Sharan acquired a seat on the far end reading some book.

There's a new face sitting right in front of him that I don't recognise but Aaksha told me a friend of hers will join us for the trip. I guess she's that friend.

Aaksha joins her in second and I look at their right. Aarav sits at the last seat of the second row. A girl by his side. She gives a regal aura and appears to stand out among us.

She has a chesire cat vibe and when she removed her sunglasses while talking something to him I noticed the gothic make up painted on her face.

Her hairs were a darker shade of brown and my eyes roam further on her mini dress that flaunted more than hid her skin.

Unintentionally my eyes fell on him. The demon that conjures me and draws me back to pits of hell. He's staring me back. Aarav is staring at me despite the girl blabbering to him as if his attention is zeroed on me.

He's looking at me so differently right now. Like he's seeing me for the first time or maybe in a completely different light.

Shaking my head I slide in a seat somewhere in the middle of the left row. And it seems Adi won the battle because he acquired the window seat with Moksha on his side. 

I look up at Navya who was about to take a seat next to mine but when she notices me she walks to take another. Thankfully.

Soon after Reyan and Rudransh also joined us in time. Reyan settled with Sharan in the back and Rudransh couldn't find any other seat and settled beside me or that's what I chose to believe.

Just when the ride began I switched seats with him so he could have window seat while I can talk to Moksha.

It's not like I'm uncomfortable around Rudransh it's just that he's too talkative sometimes that it's overbearing.

That doesn't seem to be the case when Aarav does it.

I exhale the thought out and take the chips and coke that Moksha passed me, I offer some to Rudransh before passing it further to Aaksha. 

I turned around only to crash eyes with Aarav. He's glaring me now. Or more like his cousin next to me. What is the problem with him. I passed a glance to the girl sitting next to him who's all snuggling into him like a real cat and he doesn't seem to mind it. Somehow a tinge of pain explodes somewhere inside me. 

Dude focus on the girl beside you instead of drilling holes in someone else's head. Prick.

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