Forever Yours, Vrinda

Part 6

"Vihaan, you're quite the flirt, huh?" asked Vrinda. Her mischievous grin brought back memories of the old Vrinda, who always enjoyed teasing him. "I can't help but wonder if we were once a couple, but something went wrong and now you're giving it another shot."

With a mischievous glint in his eyes and a playful smile on his lips, he made her heart skip a beat. "Maybe we were, maybe we weren't."

"Why the suspense, Vihaan? Was I that into suspense that you're still teasing me with it?" Vrinda's eyes were filled with pleading as she asked, her pout tugging at Vivaan's resolve.

Immersed in thought, she spent the entire night staring at the false ceiling shaped like a lotus, unable to sleep. The thought of their relationship consumed her thoughts, leaving her unable to shake off the curiosity as to why he preferred secrecy over honesty.

His thoughts were so captivating that she couldn't help but release the grip on her heart. There was an alluring aura surrounding him, both mesmerizing and calming, that made her heart race at the mere mention of his name.

"Timing is everything, you know?You'll learn all about us soon. Don't worry. But to compensate," Vivaan said, his eyes fixed on her as she whined in a way that reminded him of the Vrinda he had known since childhood, "I will continue with the story and explain how you gradually overcame your mutism over the years."

Vrinda's head shook in disbelief as she shot him a glare that could cut through steel. "Humph! Fine. You've got the advantage, so you're toying with me. Alright then. Just wait, I'll get even and come out on top."

The familiar urge to pinch her cheeks, a gesture he always found endearing, overwhelmed Vivaan. She hadn't changed at all. Her barely veiled innocuous threats and childlike pouting were still present. Her nostrils flared and she refused to meet the gaze of the intended recipient.

"I'm game for your revenge, Vrinda! Coming to the past, it was when both of them returned to the school..."

"So, Brother was saying the truth?" asked Vivaan.

"What was Daksh Bhai saying?" asked Vrinda, smiling at Vivaan as always.

Guilt hit him hard in the gut when he noticed her unwavering smile directed at him, a stark contrast to the situation at hand. In his situation, she was pushed to confront her worst fear - speaking in public - something that nobody else could achieve. The physical strain was overwhelming, causing her to black out. The sincerity in her smile and the assertiveness with which she claimed her seat beside him made it clear that she had no regrets whatsoever. Despite his deceptive facade, she still saw him as her closest companion.

"Bhai Bol Rahe The Ki Tumhe Bolne Main Takleef Hoti Hai Lekin Main Nahi Maana. Tumhe Sach Main Bolne Main Itni Dikkat Hoti Hai Ki Tum Behosh Hi Hogayi?" Vivaan asked, his voice filled with warmth as he reminisced about waking up on the bed beside her in the hospital.

(He mentioned that you struggled to find your words, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it.)

"Yes." With a sigh of disappointment, Vrinda expressed her struggle, "I find it difficult to speak in front of everyone, and it's even harder when they're all staring at me."

Vivaan bobbed his head in understanding, his mind filled with yet another question.

"Tum English Main Hi Kyun Bolti Ho Hamesha?"

(Why do you only use English all the time?)

"Papa. He insists on me speaking English at all times. He has hired a tutor to help me improve my English speaking skills at home."

She thought back to the monotonous and obligatory sessions she had with her tutor, Shilpa. She was a young and kind-hearted woman in her early 20s, juggling coaching as her part-time job. Interestingly, she also happened to be the daughter of one of Chaturvedi's dedicated employees. Shilpa, although skilled in her job, faced difficulties juggling the demands of her employer and the young age of her student. To bridge the gap, she frequently went out of her way to provide treats and presents from her own pocket as incentives for the student's growth.

"Arre re! School Ke Classes Kya Kam Hai Jo Aur Classes Rakhne Chahiye? Lekin Ab Woh Yahan Nahi Tho Tum Hindi Main Hi Baat Kar Sakti Ho."

(My Goodness! Aren't classes conducted by school enough that he wants you to attend more? But now, since he is not here, you can speak in Hindi.)

No, there is no issue. I don't want to let him down," Vrinda said, her frown deepening and her eyes welling up with tears.

"Seedha Bol Do Na Ki Angrez Sikhte Sikhte Tum Hindi Bhool Gayi!"

(Instead of pretending, just confess that you forgot Hindi while learning English.)

"No!"

"Haan!"

(Yes!)

"No!"

"Haan Bilkul!"

"Nahi! Aati Hai Mujhe Hindi! Kisne Kaha Nahi Aati?" asked Vrinda, giving up, making him grin as she realized she had given in to his tactics.

(No way! I know Hindi, who said I don't?)

She didn't feel dejected; instead, she delighted in the exhilarating taste of freedom. For Vrinda, speaking in her mother tongue felt like second nature, whereas speaking a foreign language required more effort and concentration, especially as a child. Her mind was at ease, free from the constant worry of whether her sentence structure and grammar were correct.

"Wow, was I really that obedient and submissive? And why was my father so authoritative? Aunty told me that he didn't let me be named 'Radha' because it's associated with love, and now this. It all makes sense now why I had selective mutism."

A rueful smile played on Vivaan's lips as he reminisced about her father, the strict man who had guided and taught him, before their world crumbled.

"Vrinda, he had his reasons. He believed that you were the source of all his luck and joy. Perhaps that's why he wanted you to be called 'Vrinda,' which is another name for 'Tulsi.' And in the era of globalization in which we were born, maybe he wanted you to bring his business to new heights by dealing with foreign clients which required proficiency in English. Who knows, right? Because authoritative or not, he was a secretive person. I wonder if even your mother knew him well enough."

Vivaan's ending comment made a chuckle escape her lips set into a straight line.

"You always have an answer to every question. Since Aunty told me I might be named 'Radha,' I can't stop thinking which one is a better fit - Vrinda or Radha? Since you can answer anything, what's your take on this?" Vrinda leaned towards him, her lips adorned with a playful smirk as she asked.

"When his eyes met hers, a wave of heat flooded her face, coloring her cheeks a deep shade of red. Her ears burned bright with color peeping through the boat-shaped neck of her yellow sundress. "In my interpretation, they are synonymous." 'Vrinda' is the epitome of purity and 'Radha' is the epitome of love. Love, in my eyes, is the epitome of purity. Beyond every wrongdoing. You have the option of being called Vrinda or Radha, both names would be fitting for you. However, if you would like me to refer to you as 'Radha', I am happy to oblige."

"The name is a link to my past, evoking a sense of familiarity. "I cannot let go of that," she said in a hushed voice, her breath barely audible over the intensity of their locked gaze. The lightheadedness she experienced was a direct consequence of her erratic breathing rhythm and the galloping of her head.

"But I also want to honor my mother's desires. I want you to address me as 'Radha' as the part of the new relationship we are forging. Let everything be new, like a blank canvas waiting to be painted. Name, basis, and path!"