Yashna

“Abeer,” I opened my eyes when sunlight hit my face. A smile broke on my lips. I sat on the bed, stretched my body, and yawned. Abeer—the name which I chant like a holy name.

I leaned towards the night stand and took my phone. I looked at the wallpaper—there he stood in a black tuxedo, looking devilishly handsome as always. I kissed the wallpaper and hugged my phone.

Finally, no more distance. I am coming to you. Now, I will see how you resist me. I giggled a little; my face turned red, my cheeks burned due to shyness.

Before I got lost in my dreams, my door opened, revealing Vaanya—my cousin and my bestie, my partner in crime. She looked at me and shook her head.

“Uff Aashu, we will get late. Stop admiring jiju and get ready,” she exclaimed, taking my phone away, and I stared at her blankly.

“What? Mom has called twice and Badi Maa has called thrice. Get ready—we have to leave,” she said, and I yawned a little while getting up from the bed.

“God knows why you're freaking out. We have time,” I said and went inside, only to hear her voice.

“No, we don’t. Hurry up!” she yelled, and I shook my head. I ignored her and followed my morning routine.

I came out after taking a bath and found her taking out my clothes from my backpack. “Oh God Aashu, at least you should have left a pair,” she handed me, and I moved into the closet to change.

“I forgot,” I yelled back and wore my clothes. I came out and moved towards the dressing table.

I did my skincare and turned back, getting ready. My eyes landed on my Vanu, and she was looking hella gorgeous.

“Oh my my, I didn't notice but look at you, huh… you gorgeous,” I blew a kiss toward her, and she caught it shyly.

“At least you noticed, or I was getting nervous. I did not rock today—Mumma would have been very disappointed,” she said dramatically, and I chuckled at her antics.

Before I could say something, my phone rang, and it was Dad. I picked up immediately without any delay.

“Hello, Dad,” I chirped, and he chuckled a little.

“Did you get ready, princess? Don’t be late. We are missing you and eager to welcome our princesses,” he said, and I chuckled a little.

“Really, Dad, I am not late,” I tried to defend myself.

“Sure, you’re not,” he mocked and hung up. I shook my head and looked at Vaanya. She beamed with joy, and we both walked out with our suitcases.

The bodyguard took them from us, and they loaded the bags in the trunk. Today we are leaving Denmark, as we graduated last week—and now Udaipur is calling us, and certainly my love life too.

We settled inside the car. The car ran on the streets, and I looked at the city once more, taking in the view. The city has given me so many things to remember.

“Aashu, I am so happy. Now finally we can live with our parents and enjoy ourselves at home,” said Vaanya, and I nodded in agreement.

The car stopped at the airport, and the bodyguard escorted us towards our private jet. We moved inside and sat on the chairs.

Soon the flight took off. I closed my eyes, drifting into sleep. I looked at Vaanya before closing my eyes—she was busy with her laptop. I drifted into sleep, and my mind wandered into the scenarios. What will happen when I meet him? Does he know me? Will he look at me? Is he still the same?

I can’t help but be curious about my childhood love.

I still remember—I was six when I was playing in the garden. He came home to meet Dad and certainly moved around with Rudraksh Bhai Sa, as he was in the side pool. I was playing with butterflies when I fell on the ground.

I started crying, and he was passing by. He heard my cries and turned towards me. He helped me get up and wiped off my dress. He wiped my tears, and I was just lost and confused at his sudden appearance. He was so calm—his face held a maturity. He spoke very little, and I kind of know now why he and Bhai Sa were best friends.

“Are you hurt?” he asked softly. I was not—I was crying for attention so that Dad or Mom could come and pamper me like a queen. I would have said no if it was anyone else, but I nodded in agreement, showing my hands. I lied for the first time in my life.

“But your hands look fine,” he said softly, checking my hands, and I cried a little to make him believe it's hurting.

“See, my hands are dirty,” I said. He took me towards the pool and washed my hands.

“See, you’re fine,” he said, and before I could say something, he left. I don’t know why, but it angered me. He just ignored me. Nobody does. The whole mansion ran on one foot for me, and he ignored me.

Over the next few days, I waited for him, but he didn’t come. I sulked and got busy with my life. But he came again on Sunday. I wanted to play with him, show my toys to him. But he never responded.

Over the period, I came to know he came on Sundays, but in ten years, we would have hardly interacted ten times.

I was really confused about the changes. I always used to think—why do I want him, but I’m scared to even talk to him? But when I turned fifteen, my school friend got a boyfriend, and eventually, I discovered the feelings. And slowly I realized I love him so much. But it was late—I had already left.

My mom told me even the first word I spoke was not Mom or Dad but Abeer. And till now, I just feel it's destiny that wants us together. I feel like I am born to be his, and he is born to be mine.

Will he think about me? Does he remember me? Will he talk to me? Does he have a girlfriend? So what? I will organize a grand breakup.

He is mine. He is born to be mine.

My eyes opened with the announcement, as we were about to land. I buckledthe seat belt and fixed my state.

The flight landed and we walked out of the airport, only to find Bhai sa waiting for us. I couldn’t help but jump in excitement. We ran towards him and we both hugged him tightly.

“Bhai sa, I missed you,” I exclaimed, and he just chuckled lightly.

“No, Bhai sa, I missed you more,” said Vaanya, and I slapped her head to which she kicked my feet. Before we got into a fight, Bhai sa stopped us.

“Okay, you both missed me. Now, shall we head home?” he said, and we both nodded. He ruffled our hair and opened the door for us.

We both hopped in and the car started running. We were admiring our city when Bhai sa’s phone rang. He picked up the call. I was not attentive until I heard the name.

“Hey Abeer, I was stuck somewhere, I will not be able to join in,” he said. I slowly slipped beside him and kept my ear beside his seat.

“Alright, I am cancelling it then.” His deep voice made my heart jiggle. I couldn't believe it was him. I was hearing his voice.

“Yeah, we will be seeing it again,” said Bhai sa and hung up while I rolled my eyes in annoyance. My eyes stopped on Vaanya, who was smirking.

She is my secret keeper; she knows everything about me and vice versa. My phone lit up with a notification and my eyes widened in shock. I forgot to remove his wallpaper. I immediately unlocked and changed the wallpaper to one of my pics.

“Did you guys face any problems on the way?” asked Bhai sa, and we shook our heads. Why would we face a problem when our Bhai sa himself looks after our arrangements?

“It was arranged by our Bhai sa, there is no question about inconvenience,” Vaanya chirped and kissed his cheeks. I just chuckled at her antics and looked outside.

The car stopped in front of the Raj Mahal and we entered. We found the whole Mahal was decorated. I looked at Bhai sa, who didn’t even glance and opened the door for us.

I came out of the car. The air of Udaipur filled our nostrils. I felt like my childhood came back. I really missed home. I opened my eyes and found Bhai sa looking at me with affection. I smiled and hugged him while Vaanya followed me.

“We missed you so much, Bhai sa,” said Vaanya. Bhai sa ruffled our hair and smiled a little — a rare sight — Bhai sa is mostly a cold person and he rarely smiles.

“We also missed you both. Home was not home at all without you both,” he said, caressing our hair, and we smiled.

“Let's go, everyone is waiting,” he said, walking inside the house with us.

“Bhai sa, is there any party today?” I asked, and he nodded a little.

“Maa decided to merge Arora Corporation and Rajvansh Corporation,” he said, and I nodded a little. Well, dad had kept the business separate. He didn’t want to take any decision which could harm Arora Corporation as it went through tough times. But I guess mom has decided now, so yeah, he will have no say but accept the decision.

As we headed inside, our excitement peaked. We shared a look and beamed with joy as we were going to meet our family. We stood on the doorstep and found both my aunts panicking and my mom, as always, sitting and holding her head as she was done with the drama of her both sisters.

We shared a look and ran inside.

“Cherryyyyyyyy, Flowerrrrrrr!” we yelled in unison, and I ran towards Choti Maa while Vaanya ran towards Aunt Saanjh.

“Cherry, I missed you so so so so so so much,” I said, kissing her cheeks, and she chuckled at my response and kissed my cheeks, hugging me tightly.

“Aww, my baby, I missed you more.” She kissed my head, and I beamed in joy.

“Flower, I missed you a lot, like every moment,” Vaanya declared, and we chuckled.

“I missed you more, my baby.” She kissed Vaanya’s cheeks, and I went towards her and hugged her tightly.

“Flower, you're getting younger day by day. Tell me your secret.” I teased her and she slapped my back lightly, and her cheeks turned red. From the start, we were really close to our aunts. They were the coolest aunts anybody could get. I remember, I was always at their places. So, in the end, they all decided to shift to Raj Mahal as they didn’t want our cousins to live away and they missed each other.

Vaanya met Choti Maa as we were talking. I found mom standing up, folding her hands. She looked at us with a pout and we all chuckled.

“So, nobody missed me?” she asked, pouting, and Vaanya and I shared a look and then ran towards her. We hugged her tightly and she chuckled, hugging us back.

“Maa, I missed you.” I mumbled softly and kissed her cheeks while caressing her hair.

“But now you're here, it's best.” She hugged Vaanya and kissed her head. I smiled at them. They were always close, just like I was with Choti Maa.

“And what about me?” We turned back, only to find Dadi sa looking at us and her face held a smile. We moved towards her and touched her feet. She took us in a hug and tears filled her eyes.

“You guys didn’t remember this oldie,” she complained, and we looked at her with an accusing gaze.

“Whom are you calling oldie? You're the youngest among all of us,” I said, and she rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Okay, go get freshened up. I have cooked your favourite dish,” she said, and we jumped in happiness, hugging each other.

“Thank you, cutie.” We ran towards our room.

“Careful,” I heard Aunt Saanjh's voice. I blew a flying kiss and ran towards my room.

I stood in front of my room. Vaanya stood just beside me as her room was next to mine. We shared a look and then opened the door in a go.

Five years. It's been a long time. I looked around and found the room exactly as I had left it. I plopped on the bed and looked at the ceiling. I was taking in the surroundings when my mind drifted to the earlier conversation we had.

“Today is a party. That means Abeer might come.” I sat on the bed, my heart started racing just by the thought. I would see him again — this time not on social media or a magazine — he would be in front of me looking devilishly handsome as always.

The teen Abeer is a man now. My heart raced dramatically. I didn’t know what to do. I stood there and walked back and forth. Oh God, what will I wear? What does he like more, traditional or western? What if he doesn’t like me? Will he remember me? I went to the mirror and looked at myself. I am neither healthy nor skinny. I am just perfect and a little curvy. I took my childhood photo frame and matched myself — do I look the same?

“Oh God, how will I face him? What would I say? How would I talk to him? What would be the topic? As I know I can't blabber nonsense, he doesn’t talk much!!” I sat on the bed and held my head.

“Why is it so difficult to love?” I heard a knock on the door, and I came back to reality. I have to freshen up.

“Ashu, come fast,” I heard Vaanya’s voice and got up from the bed.

“Yeah, just wait a little.” I ran to the bathroom and came out with a quick shower. I changed into a loose t-shirt and sweatpants and moved outside.

I saw Vaanya sitting on the balcony, busy with her phone. “Vaanu, let’s go,” I called her. She looked up and nodded, slipping her phone into her pocket.

We moved in the corridor. I was lost in the questions clouding my head and there was n

o way Vaanya couldn't sense it.

“Ashu, what is it?” she asked. Before I could reply, someone closed my eyes from behind. Panic surged in my veins. Who it could be ?

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