Kab Huaa?

VII. gratitude

'Mehendi rachan lagi, haathon mei..
Banre de naam di,
Aayi shubh ghadi, dekho mhare aangan aaj ji'

Akshara was sitting on a small mandap, in a light green-ish gown. She had gone for the Princess Yasmine look for her mehendi ceremony. Her hands were stretched out, as they were getting painted with henna. The women of the house, surrounded her and danced in their traditional folk dance.

But, Akshara showed less to no interest in her mehendi ceremony. She just kept checking on her phone,

As Abhimanyu promised her of doing something.

Akshara, sighed when she looked at her cell, with no texts or call from Abhimanyu . Then, she looked at her family around her, dancing and eating sweets. Her brothers had sung an emotional farewell song for their sister, and Akshara's emotions went haywire.

Akshara looked at her sister, Aarohi. Each and every member of her family as a single person, as a duo or as a group had dedicated something to her. But, Aarohi was the one who was left.

Sus.

'Hello ladies and gentlemen. Main hu, Aarohi Goenka'

Akshara looked at the stage and saw her little sister, announcing her name on the mic.

'Jaise ki aaj meri behen Akshu ki mehendi hai. This is for you, Akshara. Thankyou for everything'

The lights went dimmed and after a few minutes, when it came back. Everyone gasped, as they saw Aarohi in her classical dance costume. Akshara was numb, but she crossed her fingers, hoping that Aarohi was gonna do the classical dance.

which she had abruptly left, since Naira died.

'Raat ko jab chaand chamke, jal uthe tann mera...
Main kahoon mat karo, chanda iss gali ka phera,
Aana mora saiyaan jab aaye..
chamakna uss raat ko jab milenge tann-mann, milenge tann-mann'

Aarohi twirled around and swayed her feet, as her hands perfectly copied those mudras. She was nervous but she imagined her mother dancing with him, just like she used to do in their childhood and then she looked at Akshara who was weeping happy tears. The same Akshara, who used to sit in a corner and enjoyed strumming her guitar.

But after their parents demise,

Akshara left singing as she used to see her parents dead bodies flashing in front of her eyes.

And, Aarohi left dancing as she felt Naira's ghost staring at her.

But, today for her sister, who had suffered a lot, just to put a smile on her sister's beautiful face. Aarohi gave her the best surprise.

Suddenly, the music got stripped. The CD was not working and Aarohi's feet halted in their steps. Aarohi cursed her luck, as her performance was abruptly finished.

'Aisa kyu hota hain, mai jab bhi kuch accha karti hu, kismat mujhe dhokha de deti hain' Aarohi said to herself and headed to leave the stage. But,

Then suddenly, she heard a voice, a known voice humming the music of her song. Aarohi had tears in her eyes and as she turned back,