invisible string ✓

thirty five

• ADVIKA •

THREE DAYS LATER...

Ishaan and I- who were in my world then- were waiting at the very same window side seats of Starbucks where Aadya Chatterjee made her disapproval for our relationship sound.

Just then, I saw a black car pulling over at the parking space near the entrance and a woman in her late twenties stepping out of it. Tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear, she eyed at us and waved a hi with an overly nice smile softening the corners of her eyes.

As I saw her entering the café, we stood up together for a handshake. Ishaan's was her first handshake as she came to our table and Ishaan greeted, "Hello, Miss Chatterjee!"

"Hello, Ishaan!" Aadya Chatterjee greeted me as she turned to me and accepted my handshake. "Hello, Miss Bansal!"

"Hello, Miss Chatterjee!" I greeted back as the three of us sat together.

"So... Did you two order anything?" Aadya Chatterjee asked as she lunged forward a little towards us.

After looking at me for one second, Ishaan replied, "Ummm... Not yet, Miss Chatterjee. We were waiting for you to arrive."

"Oh, cool!" Aadya Chatterjee looked at us with the anticipation of initiating the conversation all over her face. "So... How's life for you two?"

Life after he re-entered my life felt like watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara over and over. After having that emotional reconciliation at his new house, I stayed there for more than twelve hours as we visited Ved, Mehak, their one-year-old daughter Ryka, and Mr Ahuja. After having all those heartfelt conversations with those people, I came back to my world, leading Ishaan who came the next day, which was a Saturday. Spending the whole day at our house, Ishaan asked me whether we can meet Aadya Chatterjee- to which I agreed and... Here we are!

"Finally, life feels good," Ishaan replied after letting out an airy chuckle, allowing an "I don't know how to proceed the conversation" silence to fill the gap between us.

"What would you like to have, ma'am?" We heard the waitress in her early twenties asking us as her eyes were fixed to Aadya Chatterjee.

"Three cappuccinos," Aadya Chatterjee replied with a warm smile. As the waitress left, she turned back to us and spoke up in a rehearsed tone. "Listen, guys. We all know what has happened for the past two years. I... I have been waiting to say a lot of things while meeting you two together, but... I can't speak anything now." She laughed a little while her eyes shone brighter under the sunlight from the windows. "I... I shouldn't have done all that cruel stuff for you two. I thought that I had control over everything. Like, I am some God or someone. But... I am just a piece of shit sitting in front of you two for an apology. Forgive me, please! I should have let you two together years ago, but... It was my ego that killed the love between you two. I wasted all the time over my ego. And, I'm really sorry for all of them."

At the end of her monologue, she placed her forehead on the edge of the table and sobbed. I pushed the tissues towards her while the waitress came up with our coffee.

Realising that the coffee reached us, Aadya Chatterjee looked up, wiped her tears and looked back at me, asking, "Do this one thing for me if you are forgiving me." Ishaan and I looked at each other while she added, "Stop addressing me with my surname. Call me Aadya. Treat me like your friend. Okay?"

Breaking into a chuckle together, we nodded a yes while Ishaan looked at me, declaring his love for me in silence while I reciprocated it with a cup of cappuccino.

***

THREE MONTHS LATER...

"Ishaan, how do you visualise your wedding life?"