Blinded by love

Chapter 6-Soul sister

I got down the train at about five forty five and went in search of a cab.

"Bhaiya,I need to go to this address.",I told a cab driver,showing him the paper in which I wrote Meghna's address.

"It's a forty minutes drive from here.You want a cab?"

I nodded and got in.As he drove,I gazed outside at the streets of Mumbai.The sun was beginning to rise,the sky painted in a bright crimson red.After a long drive,the cab driver stopped in front of an apartment.

I paid him,took my luggage and got down.

It was a three storey building with a large car parking at the front.There were a few plants on each balcony.Opposite to the apartment is a chai shop.The chai wala was busy making tea and an old man sat beside him reading the newspaper.

I opened the gate and went inside.Out of the blue,a watchman stopped me by standing on my way.

"Who are you?",he asked with a glum face.

He was tall and a little bulky.He wore an ivory colored uniform and had a bamboo stick in his hand.

"I...I want to meet Meghna."

"Third floor,door no.8"

I thanked him and climbed all the way till the third floor,pulling the suitcase behind me with great effort as there was no lift.

It was the second house from the right of the stairs.I was suddenly a little nervous.I rang the bell and wiped the sweat off my hands.Just then,a young and beautiful girl opened the door.She was tall with a prefect figure and facial features.Overall,she look charming.

I stood there in awe at her beauty while she gave me a questioning look.

"Can I meet Meghna,please?",I managed to ask.

"That's me.And you?"

"I'm Aarthi.Your brother..."

"Hey Aarthi",she squealed,hugging me.

At first I was taken aback but I soon regained my senses and hugged her,inhaling her mild scent.

"Come in.Narain told me that you are coming but didn't tell me when.So,your arrival was a little unexpected."

She told me to sit and so I did.There's a LCD tv on the wall opposite to the sofa i which I'm sitting.A wooden teapoy stood in front of me with a newspaper on it.

"How do you know Narain,by the way?"

"We met in the station when I was waiting for the train.He had come to welcome his friend while I was waiting for the train to Mumbai.Eventually,we became friends and the he told me about you and gave me your address."

"Oh!He told me that you were coming here for your future against your parents and that you know no one here."

I smiled and said,"Hope I'm not bothering you."

"Oh no,no.You are welcome.You can stay here for as long as you want and feel free."

"Thanks,Meghna.It really means a lot.I'll pay my share of the rent."

"There is no need for such formalities.If you had a sister,won't she do this for you!Think of me as your sister.Moreover,this is my aunt's house.She lives in New York,so she told me to stay here.I'm here for free."

I was overwhelmed with emotions and stared at her,my eyes full of love.I don't know what she thought but she got up from the couch and sat beside me,half hugging.

"That's okay.Come,you might be tired.Freshen a bit and have some breakfast."

The house had two large bedrooms,a kitchen and a dining hall.She took me to one of the bedrroms and told me that I'd be staying there.She told me to rest and went.

I took a refreshing bath and went to the kitchen,wearing a long pink skirt and a purple top.

"Ha!There you are!All fresh and cute!",she smiled.

"Not as good as you.",I complimented her and she laughed.

"Bread with jam and coffee?",she asked.

"Yummy!"

We ate our breakfast and she poured more coffee for both of us.

"Meghna,I need to find a job."

"Aarthi...You've just come.What's the hurry.First,let me show you around the city.Look at you,you look so worn out.You need some fun and I'll show you what real fun is."

"Yeah,but..you must have college!"

"I'm having holidays.One week and three days for it to start.You just stop finding excuses and say yes.",she said,with a winning look on her face.

"Okay....YES!"

We both unpacked my things and she told me about her college and friends.She sounded so sweet and feisty and we felt so much in ease with each other.

"Can I ask you something?",she asked.

"Anything!"

"Why did you have to come out of your house?"

I looked at her with a stony face.

"Sorry,you don't have to tell me if you don't want to!",she quickly said.

"Nah!I think of you as my sister too and there is not a thing that I'd ever hide from you.Actually,I wanted to study psychology but my dad was headstrong in making me an engineer."

"You ran away for this?",she asked in clear wonder.

"Meghna,you don't understand.My parents have provided me luxury but were never as parents to me.And they think providing a child with all the facilities she wants is parenthood.They don't understand that there is more to it than that.They had no interest in my life but that never made me unfaithful to them.I gave them all the rights in my life,even the right to choose a partner for me.All I wanted was a career of my choice.But they couldn't even do that.I have silently let go of so many little things in life,not showing a slightest hint of missing them on my face.But inside,I was dying little by little,wishing it would happen one day,if not the other.But this is my passion.A beautiful palace of dreams which I built with so much love.And I just can't let go of it so easily.It means the world to me and I would go to any extent to get to it.",I said,with tears pooling in my eyes.

"Oh Lord.I never thought you'd have such a past.I'm sorry I triggered your emotions.",she said,hugging me tightly.

"Look,don't worry.I'm there for you.We shall together strive to reach your goal.Just...just let it be.Don't worry,okay!?",she said.

I nodded,as the tears that I tried to hold back flowed through my cheeks.I hugged her again,grateful for her support and kindness."She really is the sister I have wished I had",I thought.

After talking with her for some more time,I told her that I'm having a headache and went to sleep.

I woke up at the sound of new voices.I followed the sound and it led me to the hall.

There were two guys comfortably seated on the sofa and were laughing like maniacs.One of them was lean with messy hair.The other was athletic built,dressed in a grey tee and jeans.He looked pretty handsome.Anyone would mistake him to be a model.Well,maybe he was.

I stood there with tangled hair and stared at them with a blank look on my face.