THE RUNAWAY BRIDE (1ST BOOK IN BRIDE SERIES)

CHAPTER FIVE

"Hey Alia ,it's me. Please call me back. I need to tell you something." She listens to the voice mail Aarul has sent her and smiles. 

Dialing his number she waits as he answers after the second ring, " hey Alia."

"Hi bhai. How are you doing?"

"I am good. Listen I have my art gallery opening the coming sunday and I'd really like if you'd be here. Can you join me?"

"Of course I will come bhai. This is the first time you've asked me to join you somewhere without me forcing you so I will be there." Alia answers smiling.

She never gets a call from her brother. It's  always her calling him and bugging him around and this is the first time in forever that he asked her to be there for him so of course she is going to go and be there for him.

She gets out of her room and knocks the door next to hers,"Amy."

She enters to see Amyra wearing her big glasses and reading one of her file.

"Aarul bhai is opening his art gallery and he asked me to be there. You want to join me to home?"

Amyra thinks for a while before she nods. Alia stares at her as if she's seen something impossible then with a big grin she rushes to Amyra and hugs her tight. Amyra laughs at her antics as Alia rushes to her room shouting.

When at first Alia came to stay with Amyra in Dehradun, she got really angry thinking just like always her parents has sent someone to hover over her and keep a constant eye on her each and every activity.  But when she saw Alia lost in her own self always baking and trying all new recipes possible, she knew Alia has come for herself and not for Amyra. And like the good sister she is, she tasted each and every baked stuff Alia prepared and became her critic.

Alia walks in her room and sitting on the bed she takes the photograph she has of her parents from her bedside table and smiles," I am going back to mumbai. And I hope this time I won't run away. It's really difficult to face everyone there. From the past three months, I haven't answered anyone's phone. Just like Amyra I am ignoring everyone.  I know it's wrong but lying is worst. When they ask how am I and how am I doing,  it's difficult to say that I am fine when I am not. I miss you mom dad."

She gives into her tears and cries silently as she hugs the photograph.  Though she's never spent much time with her parents, she knows everything about them. Her Riddhi maa has made sure that she knows her parents well, and she knows they'd have loved her unconditionally and they'd never let her cry just like her Riddhi maa never let's her. But she knows now she has to grow up and run to her Riddhi maa with each and everything. 

They have already lost a daughter and with Amyra being away and Riddhan being always busy and never giving then time, she knows it's wrong. It's just not the way her Riddhi maa and Armaan uncle should be suffering. 

She then looks at the photograph next to her parents and takes it," what should I do A? Should I come back pretend that I didn't mess things up? Or should I say sorry to everyone and let them hate me? What should I do?"

"The first thing you should do is stop feeling guilty!" Amyra says from the door and shakes her head," you really need to get over it di. It's not healthy." She takes Aayan's photograph from Alia and sits next to her, " I don't know much about love, di but maa has always told me the key to it is forgiveness.  And I am sure bhai must have forgiven you by now. So pack your stuff and get ready. We are going home!!" She shouts the last part and hugs Alia.

Alia smiles and nods. She is so thankful to Amyra for being there when she needed a comforter. Amyra sat with her, had a pint of ice cream while Alia sulked and cried. She gave her peace everytime there was a war going on in Alia's mind and she knows that her family will always be there for her.