Winds blow, all the damn time. Sometimes as breeze, sometimes as tornado and most times, somewhere in between.
On certain occasions, winds takes away stuff from us. On certain others, it brings us stuff.
Their love was taken away, and it brought the...
~I am falling apart, I am barely breathing. With a broken heart, that's still beating. In the pain, there is healing. In your name, I find meaning~
The entire Tiwari household was busy getting ready, trying to look their best as they took time to set their clothes and hair. Mamiji wore her most expensive Banarasi Saree and used flowers to decorate her hairs, while Masi wore a fashionable indo western salwar suit to match the occasion. The men, Mamaji, Mausaji and Dabbu were ready in their tuxedos, their hair all gelled and set, and Raghuvir Tiwari stood in a new set of Kurta Payjama and a brand new walking stick, his face proud and glowing. It was a day to remember. Ironic enough, that this date always had been a day to remember, since the last two years.
Two years ago, it was the day Tiwari Killa had been decorated like a bride, for the most awaited marriage of this household, the marriage of their daughter Suman with Aditya.
A marriage that didn't happen, but a day that changed the course of their lives forever.
Manju might had been the one who was the most desperate to marry Suman off, today she was the happiest that it didn't happen, for she would not have been able to repent her deeds otherwise. She would not have been able to love Suman the way that girl deserved to be loved all these years.
Raghuvir Tiwari watched the clan dance around in excitement, only one name being showered from all of their mouths, and mind you, only praises. He had hoped and prayed for this moment for years, for Suman to be the apple of all of their eyes and today watching it happen, he couldn't help the happy tears that stung the back of his eye lids.
Today, a branch of Priya Catering Center was going to be inaugurated in Cannaught Place, and that was to say, a huge achievement, one that was going to be covered by all the big media houses of Delhi. Today, Suman Tiwari was also going to be awarded 'Entrepreneur Of The Year' and the joy the Tiwaris felt, the pride shining in their eyes could be seen from quite a distance.
Suman came out of her room, dolled up in a brown evening gown, looking every bit of the diva she was supposed to for the evening. Manju scraped out a little kohl out of her left eye and put it across Suman's nape, warding away all the evils from her daughter. Suman giggled at that, and little Dabbu slapped his forehead at his mother's actions.
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"I wish all the world's happiness falls in my daughter's lap", Manju kissed Suman's forehead and Suman hugged her Mami fondly. So much had changed over the years that sometimes she still felt it was a dream she was living.
"Achha? And what about me?", Preeti's voice from the door made them turn to find Preeti and Pushkar standing on the door, with little Mishri in her arms. Suman ran to the door and Mishri squirmed in her mother's lap at her sight, making everyone laugh out loud. There were two people Mishri loved more than her parents, even at the tender age of one, and they were her Maasi and Bade Papa, respectively.
Preeti and Pushkar were followed by Vandy and Varun, and Lalaji and Kamini, who with her sickly sweet smile greeted everybody. Over the past two years, Tiwaris and Malhotras had come too closer, both families inseparable at times. So it wasn't a surprise they had drove over to here first so that all of them could go to the venue together.
"He would be at the venue directly", Pushkar whispered in Suman's ear who acknowledged the information with a nod, and accepted it with a sigh. She knew he won't come to Tiwari Killa, her beloved Nanu had taken away that right from him.
"Mummmyyjjiii, Suman is looking so pretty na?", Vandy exclaimed, and for the first time, Kamini agreed with her daughter in law. Indeed, Suman looked gorgeous and Suman blushed, but before she could thank, another voice from the door caught in.
"She always looks pretty, today she is just shining a bit more", Walked in Nirmala, followed by Aditya. Suman shifted Mishri in her lap to go and side hug Nirmala who patted her head softly, not wanting to ruin the hair do.
"Sach kaha ji Aapne, hamari Suman pari lag rhi hai", Manju butted in, praising Suman yet again and Suman could feel her heart swell. Sometimes she felt short of space to accumulate all the love she got from her family, it felt like everybody was hell bent on compensating for the years lost and she couldn't even complain.
"Sumo let's go, we will be late otherwise", Pushkar reminded, and everyone started moving out in a rush, not wanting to be late.
Suman walked to the garage and fondly touched her ambassador. Even after two years, she couldn't sell it off. It was her mother's memory, and she planed to keep it even as trash. She sat in her SUV, and drove it out, letting her family set in. The Malhotras settled in their car and Nirmala and Aditya in theirs, all ready to leave.
Thirty minutes later, they were at the event. And all that followed for Suman was adrenaline rush. Between a lot of camera flashes and journalists' questions, she somehow made in and after a series of formalities, the ribbon was cut off, by joint hands of Raghuvir Tiwari and Ramnath Malhotra. Loud claps threatened to deafen her, but she resisted, her eyes searching for her Qutub Minar among the sea of people and when it landed on him, a small smile of his face calmed down all her fears and insecurities, bringing back to life Sumo, who then confidentiality handled the media and the press, simultaneously taking care of her family and extended family.
After a lot of posing, single and with others, the restaurant was finally inaugurated and the crowd all allowed in. Trusting Preeta to handle the first evening, Tiwaris and Malhotras drove off to the award ceremony.
To be true, everything was a blur for Suman. From entering the venue to seating everybody, from her name being called to receiving the trophy. Hell, she didn't even realise what Thank you speech did she give, because all that while her eyes were locked with a pair of brown orbs, standing far at the bar counter with a glass of scotch in his hands, a smile on his lips and pride in his eyes.
There was the man she had loved for twelve years, and yet they weren't together. There was the man who had loved her for thirteen years and yet, today wasn't hers to claim.
There stood Shravan Malhotra, the shrwed lawyer of the era, the heir of the Malhotras and the ex best friend of Suman whom she loved and who loved her back equally, but sometimes love is not enough for a relationship to flourish.
She walked down the stage and sat down on her seat, smiling at every congratulations thrown her way but her mind wandered off to the same date two years ago.
One night, when the winds had been too strong for her liking.
One night where the clash of egos and truths had shattered two already broken hearts.
One night that had given her so much and at the same time, snatched away so much.
One night, and their lives had turned upside down. Both hers, and her Shravan's.
