Back In Time

~epilogue-I~

A/N:

I can't believe HOW long it took me AGAIN to write this, but I think I'm kind of satisfied with what I've written. Here's a prior warning though, the main drama bits are there in the next part of the epilogue and this is a pretty short chapter. I tried to fit the whole thing in one chapter like it normally is done by authors, but simply didn't like it! So I guess, this is what it is.

I've used fairly extra Gujarati in this particular chapter because in my head, this is how they were talking. I've been careful to use them in such a way that even for those of you who don't know the language, you easily get a fair idea of what's happening because of the context. Either ways, I am leaving the translations at the end of the chapter, because I know I would be irritated to see a different language in a book that I'm reading.

And like I'd promised, some extra chapters are ready. Not many to be honest, but I decided to put them up AFTER I finish putting up the epilogue.

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The tension in the room was stark. Rishi eyed his Uncle and Aunt on his left, Kanan and his Mother to his right, and Meera at the centre. No one said anything for quite a while.

Meera hadn't looked this low to him in years. He knew her too well to know that she was going to give it her all to ensure she didn't cry in front of everybody, but her whole body was seconds short of trembling. Whether it was a tremble of rage or hurt was something beyond him.

"What do you mean you can't marry Kanan?" this was Chachi; that is Meera's mother who looked like she was this close to slapping Meera.

Meera fidgeted with her fingers on her lap, before she pressed her eyes shut tightly, and then gazed up, "I didn't say I can't. I said I don't want to marry him." Meera paused, "Not just him. I don't want to marry anyone as of now."

Mrs. Gandhi looked ticked, her palms rolled into fists on her lap, "I don't believe this! Mr. Modi, how can you let her even say something like that?"

At this, Kanan stirred on his seat, his voice still calmingly gentle, "What do you mean by as of now Meera?"

She looked angry now, her whole face flushing red. "I mean never Kana-"

"-enough!" Chacha Ji cut, the first words in the entire evening escaping his lips. "You can't talk to Kanan like that Meera."

Her eyes widened his way and Rishi controlled the urge to tell Meera to stop saying anything more that instant. He knew his Chachu all too well; he was a fairly rational man who was very difficult to be made angry. But rile him up once, and you'd had it!

"Then ask him to stop asking me these stupid questions Papa! I said I don't want to marry him!"

Rishi rested his face on his palm, now worried at where this conversation could possibly lead. Something told him this wasn't just her anger at this marriage proposal, but years of venom she'd swallowed in that was lashing out at every body today. Something told him Vedant's presence always brought out the best in her, but now that he wasn't a part of her life, Meera was back to being the moody, temperamental girl she was.

Anybody would agree that she could've phrased her thoughts about the marriage more subtly. But she chose to sound as uncultured as she did that instant. He didn't blame Chachu for his anger, it must've been really embarrassing for him.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me Meera!" Chachu's voice was leaden and mind you, scary. Rishi had never seen him like this.

"This is not fair Pa-"

"-KETLI VAAR BOLU MEERA? CHUP. EKDUM CHUP."

Meera's nostrils flared, and Rishi's heartbeat quickened. At this point, he knew even he couldn't say anything to diffuse the situation.

Much to his surprise, Chachu turned to face him suddenly. Rishi controlled the urge to squirm out of fear.

"I want to talk to you three alone."

At this, Kanan turned to face him with question. Rishi wet his lips nervously, "Um...who three Chachu?"

"You, Meera and Kanan."

Nervous glances exchanged, the three of them rose to their feet and walked to the balcony in silence. Once outside of hearing range, Chachu folded his arms before his chest defiantly.

"Tane khabar chhe ne?" He started, facing Rishi.

"Uh...know what Chachu?"

Chachu turned towards Meera, "Why she's behaving so paranoid."

She rolled her eyes much to his horror, but luckily Chachu didn't catch that. Rishi gulped, facing Meera and catching her shake of head with a pleading no.

"Stop looking there. Ayya jo!"

He straightened nervously. "M...Mane nathhi khabar Chachu."

At this, Mr. Modi saw red, taking a step closer to Rishi. "Don't make me raise my hand Rishi. You think you're protecting her but you're actually just ruining her life! Tell me what you know."

He hated this dilemma. He hated the fact that he didn't understand Meera anymore. First, she went ahead and broke up with Vedant, and now wasn't agreeing to marry Kanan too? What the hell did she want from everybody?

What the hell was he supposed to do?

"Rishi-"

He ran a quick hand though his hair out of sheer frustration, taking in Kanan's disposition. His arms folded before his chest, his head hanging low, he looked too uncomfortable.

Rishi hated to see him like this.

He hated to see Meera like this too.

Heck! He was even feeling bad for Chachu and Chachi!

"-she's in love with someone else."

Mr. Modi blinked, his gaze alternating between Meera and Rishi.

"Elaborate in love with someone else for me."

Rishi bit his lip, already able to see through the anger laced in Meera's eyes. He knew what was on her mind, he'd broken her trust. Again.

"Chachu I...."

"Aa...ketla divaso thi chaale chhe?" He cut.

Rishi turned back to face Meera. And then, much to everybody's surprise, she herself replied with a remarkably stable voice,

"Five years. But don't worry Papa. We've broken up. And my decision for not wanting to settle down now has nothing to do with him."

Mr. Modi didn't say anything. The look on his face was stark clear; disappointment. Rishi had expected some more drama, but turns out, Meera had taken quite a few of her habits from her father. Which is why, when his uncle walked away without so much as a second glance, leaving the unfinished confrontation as it is, Rishi knew he had nothing to be surprised about.

A/N:

Mr. Modi to Meera: "Ketli vaar bolu?" - "How many times should I say this?"

Mr. Modi to Rishi: "Tane khabar chhe ne?" - "You know, don't you?"

Mr. Modi to Rishi: "Ayya Jo." - "Look here."

Rishi to Mr. Modi: "Manne natthi khabar." - "I don't know."

Mr. Modi to everyone in general: "Aa ketla divaso thi chale chhe?" - "How many days has this been going on for?"

As you all must know, I'm not Gujarati. So most of this is stuff I picked on from the MANY Gujju friends I had back in Mumbai. I know I'm FAIRLY correct with the usages, but if you're a Gujarati and see some translation or context is incorrect, please don't get offended lol. In fact, it would be great if you'd correct me!

The next part of the epilogue is ready and should be up soon. I PROMISE.

~kimayaa a.k.a Ankita