Living in a Mirage

Chapter Thirty

"Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them."

― Leo Tolstoy

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Murthy House had been buzzing with activity since Nandini confirmed her return. Mainly because the lady of the house was going around and ordering people to adhere to her instructions; she appeared anxious yet excited as she continued to complain about others, with a huff here and a sigh there. Mukti, forbidden to move from the sofa, watched the three Murthy members and Navya struggle with a puzzled expression on her face. It wasn't the first time Nandini was coming back home after spending a few months away, so what was the commotion about? Was it because Cabir was coming home with a boyfriend? And the Murthys wanted to impress the partner of their quasi-adopted son? Mukti couldn't help but wonder if she was about to witness some kind of 'welcome Damad Ji' scene of a Bollywood movie play out in front of her.

"What is all this fuss about, anyway?" Alya asked as she fanned herself with her left hand.

"Cabir is bringing home his boyfriend," Mukti informed, knowing she was the only link between her friends.

"He has a mom and his own family. Why is Nandini's chachi acting like it's her son-in-law who is coming home?" Alya asked, her face twisting in disbelief.

"Cabir will have dinner at his mom's tonight, but stay here for the launch," Mukti said, ignoring how her friends rolled their eyes in exasperation.

"How long do we have to wait? I have better things to do than sit here. Must our lives stop whenever Cabir and Nandini want? First, it was Manik, and now these two," Dhruv ranted.

"They are returning home after six months and wanted to meet us. Can't you give them a few hours? Especially after knowing the reason they were away?" Mukti hissed at the two before shaking her head in disbelief. 'How could they still be so heartless?' She thought with a sigh.

"They are here!" Navya yelled out before rushing out of the main door to welcome her best friends in person.

"I am not moving from here," Dhruv declared as he leaned back on the sofa.

"They would come inside anyway," Alya muttered while checking her phone.

"You guys can stay here; don't worry," Chachi assured them with a smile, and before Mukti could apologize, she rushed away with a pooja thaali in her hand.

"You guys are impossible, so rude," Mukti hissed. "You better get your act together and don't dare to cause a scene before Cabir and his boyfriend."

"Whatever!" Dhruv muttered.

The commotion outside became louder, but even though Mukti was curious, she couldn't move as they had already offended Chachi, and leaving her two friends unsupervised meant risking more rude or awkward interactions when Cabir's boyfriend came inside. There should at least be one friend from Cabir's friend group who behaved properly, right?

In times like these, Mukti missed Manik. So badly. He would have known how to control the situation. He would have known how to make everyone comfortable. God, she missed him so much. Her eyes misted at the thought. If he had been here, even if he would hadn't done anything, his presence alone would have made everything better and easier.

She looked up at the entry door, and as if her thoughts and longing had summoned him, Manik's ghost materialized in front of her. She gasped loudly; her jaw was probably hitting the floor, but all she could wonder was if Nandini's hallucinations were contagious. How could her sole presence around her make Mukti see Manik's ghost standing alongside her?