A PAIN CALLED LOVE

CHAPTER 2

(Updated on 28.03.2020)

Rashi's POV

People are all unknown, yet all loveable. I don't feel out. They are taking me as if I know them all since ages. I really wish I too had this kind of family with a lot of attachment.

Ruhika, the birthday girl literally seemed like a chota packet of Ishaani, literally her smaller version. How does all the kids in her house looks like her.

We reached her cousins house by 6 pm. Not much guests had arrived. Ishaani and her mom were introducing me to people there. Then Ishaani started helping them by serving juice and all. I felt shy, and was sitting in the room. Ishaani's uncles cousin was settled in Chennai, so she was speaking to me and I got engaged in the chats.

Authors POV

Not much guests had arrived when Ishani and her family reached her cousins house. Her aunt and uncle were both doctors – Dr. Jayesh and Dr. Priya. Jayesh was ortho surgeon and Priya was a neurologist. Jayesh's parents also stayed with them. Jayesh is a single child. Few relatives from Jayesh's family had already arrived. Everybody wished baby Ruhi. She was all busy with her friends.

As Ishaani entered and wished Ruhi a lady in her 50's came and hugged Ishaani very affectionately and gave a peck of kiss on her cheeks. She seemed so loving. She was Meera, Jayesh's cousin sister. In fact more like his blood bond sister. Since Jayesh is an only child, Meera and Jayesh have a very close bonding. All this was watched by somebody.

Ishaani's POV

As I entered and wished my baby doll, Meera aunty came running to me and hugged me and gave me a kiss on my cheeks. She was very fond of girls. She had 2 sons, may be that is the reason she is fond of girls and I think she likes me a lot. Whenever she sees me she shows a lot of affection.

Then I started moving around and interacting with everybody. It was a small party with family members and close friends. So I was familiar with everybody present there. Rashi got a company, Jayesh uncle's cousin sister. She is settled in Chennai. So they were conveniently speaking in Tamil. I was moving around and I could feel a pair of eyes watching me. I got to know as I entered into the house.

I was busy serving soft drink to the guests and when I passed through the corridor, the owner of 'that pair of eyes' started his conversation with me.

"Hi Anu!", he said.

"Hey Aarav! How have you been? Long time right.". I replied back.

"Yea. I am good. I am done with my engineering and waiting for my results. You are in your 3rd year right?"

"No no. Just completing my 1st year. I just finished my 2nd semester jury yesterday."

"Ohh I am sorry ya. Is that your friend who came along?"

"Ya she is Raashi, my friend from college."

"By the way, what is your real name, everyone calls you Anu.", winked Aarav

Ishani's inner mind ("I will definitely get a friend request today.") "Ohh its Ishaani Dutta.", I gave a wicked smile.

"What? Ishani to Anu, totally outmatching.", he asked me with confusion.

No wonder he was watching me from long. But its alright. I am enjoying it though.

Actually I used to have a die hard crush on him during my 11th and 12th grade. I had studied in a residential school in his town. My aunts in laws were my local guardians. So they used to take me home during weekends and almost all weekends I have met him quite a few times. He has an elder brother also. Atharv, he is an IT professional. He is working at Cyber Park Kochi. I used to meet Atharv bhaiyya almost every week. Both Aarav and Atharv Bhaiyya were very friendly. But I haven't interacted much with Aarav. During my school days I used to not miss Jeebhaiyya much, because Atharv bhaiyya was similarly affectionate as Jeebhaiyya.