Anna's mother ran out as she heard the car engine coming to a halt and then their footsteps outside the front door. She had been awaiting the arrival of her daughter and preparing for it all day.
"Annaa!!! My darling" Her mother hugged her tightly as soon as she stepped onto the porch and kissed her many times ignoring Anna's struggles against it. Her mother also seemed smaller than before and wrinkles had formed a long her beautiful eyes. Had everything here changed?
Anna was taken inside where she was hugged and kissed by many others and soon had no idea who was holding her. But neither Jai nor Raj was there. She had hoped to see her best friends as soon as she had entered the house but it seemed they were not as eager to see her. This made her heart drop a little but instead she decided to focus on her parents more.
All the uncles that had arrived to celebrate the homecoming went out to bring Anna's luggage in. Even though they told her not to carry anything she insisted that she at least take her hand luggage as it was not very heavy. Where were they? She looked everywhere amongst the crowd but they were not there.
"Anna go get refreshed" her mother told her. "Dinner will be ready soon"
"Mama where's Jai? Raj?"
"I'm not sure" her mother replied clearly preoccupied with cooking and chatting merrily to the aunties that had arrived. Jai's mother was kneading flour and Raj's mother was laughing cheerfully. Everyone looked happy - this made Anna smile with contentment. Anything to bring a smile on these special women's faces was worth a million dollars. She knew their sons were home (what other reason could lead to this much joy?), it was now just a matter of finding them. Where were they hiding? She felt all of a sudden like a child playing hide and seek.
With a sigh she walked upstairs. She was frustrated that they were not there but also eager to find them quickly. Where were they? She dragged one of her travel bags up the last step and headed toward her room. Upon opening the door she realised there was a man standing facing his back to her. Initially she felt shocked but then he turned around with a huge smile on his face.
"Jai!!!" Anna ran into his open arms and hugged him tightly. She then pulled away and hit him hard.
"Where the hell were you when I came?" She asked angrily.
"Hey hey!! I was waiting for you in here, to surprise you" he said laughing while trying to dodge her punches. She gave up and hugged him again, happy to see a familiar face. He seemed taller and broad and slightly more mature. But she could see the immaturity in his eyes and she felt happy that not much had changed.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" A voice from behind Anna spoke up. He sounded gentle and calm and she immediately turned around to see Raj. She felt her heart skip a beat as she looked into his face. She brushed the sudden feeling of butterflies away. He looked tired but was smiling his old warm smile. She walked closer to him and smiled, then hit him too!
"Is this how you treat me? Sneaking into my room and not saying hi!!" She said feigning anger. Truthfully she was more than happy to see Raj, but she kept hitting him playfully to evoke a response out of him.
"Annaa!! Stop stop! Okay okay sorry!! I was just watching you and Jai and felt happy that's all"
"Are you just going to stand there and keep talking or are you going to give me a hug too?" She asked pretending to be angry. She had her hands on her hips and a pout on her face - the epitome of adorable in Raj's eyes. They both laughed and embraced. He was so warm and she felt her body getting weak at his touch. She immediately pulled away and found herself looking into his eyes. He smiled, revealing his dimples and she felt weaker. She took a step back, feeling her heart beating rapidly and wondered what had brought on this sudden feeling.
"Comon! I don't want to stand here watching both of you hugging, I'm hungry" Jai joked.
"Okay I think everyone is cooking so the food should be ready soon, let's go downstairs then" Anna said snapping out of the moment. She looked at Raj and gestured for him to leave the room. Jai followed.
"Just give me a second, I'll be down in five minutes" Anna screamed out at them as they bounded down the stairs. She closed the door to her room and leaned against the door, feeling her heart beat. What the hell just happened? She thought to herself. She had felt so exposed as she hugged Raj, a different feeling she couldn't explain. She thought back to the hug between Jai and herself, she hadn't felt anything different.
She was facing the contents of her room deep in thought. Her bed was laid with pillows and blankets all ready for her to snuggle into and her desk was still as messy as she had left it back then. Her parents hadn't touched her mess, she smiled to herself knowing she was finally at home.
She saw the picture of Raj, Jai and herself when they were about sixteen on her desk. She hadn't gone to school with either of them, but had gone to the all girls' school her mother had insisted she attend. But after school everyday they would meet up at someone's house, no one had stopped them because they were like siblings. She walked over to the photo and picked it up. Without realising she found her self looking at Raj and smiling. He had changed so much, both had but he had changed the most. She stroked his face gently and smiled.
"Anna!! Are you coming?" She almost dropped the photo in shock. Placing it carefully back on her desk she went downstairs to join her family.
YOU ARE READING
Dancing with destiny
Romance"No Anna will be my wife" Jai argued. They were playing a game they often played - houses and families. "How? I am the oldest and I get Anna" Raj pulled at her arm. Jai joined in and pulled from the other end. It was like tug-a-war and she was trapp...
