Chapter 36
Aditi's Perspective
The first thing I felt when I woke up was a sharp throb behind my eyes. I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head, cursing myself for pulling another all-nighter. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but with the board exams looming over me, I had no choice but to power through another set of revision notes. I glanced at my phone, squinting at the bright screen. 8:00 AM. Ugh, I had really hoped for more sleep.
But today wasn't just any day — it was the day of our farewell. And as much as I wanted to stay cocooned in bed, there was no escaping the preparations that awaited me.
My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. A string of notifications lit up the screen, most of them from classmates excitedly discussing the farewell and sharing outfit plans. And, of course, there were a few messages from Kabir. I smirked, already expecting his usual playful tone.
Kabir:
"Bet you didn't sleep again. Revision or nerves?"
Kabir:
"Anyway, big day ahead. Don't keep me waiting too long for the grand reveal."
Kabir:
"PS: I'm definitely more excited to see your outfit than my own."
I chuckled softly at his texts, warmth bubbling up inside me. I could almost hear his teasing voice in my head. Not that I'd let him know how much those little messages made my day. There was no way I was giving him the satisfaction — especially not today.
Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom. A glance in the mirror made me wince. Puffy eyes. Of course. I should've known that staying up till 2 AM reviewing physics formulas would come back to haunt me. My face looked tired, and the bags under my eyes were not going to disappear on their own.
But I had a plan.
I quickly shuffled to the fridge and retrieved the two spoons I had stashed in the freezer the night before, just in case of an eye-puffiness emergency. This definitely qualified. Pressing the cold metal against my eyes, I sighed in relief, feeling the coolness soothe the tired skin. It wasn't a miracle fix, but it was better than nothing.
As I held the spoons over my eyes, my mind wandered. There was a lot to get done today — hair, makeup, the saree, accessories — it was all going to take time. Normally, I wasn't one to fuss over my appearance. But today was different. Today, I wanted to feel special. I wanted to walk into that farewell looking and feeling my absolute best, no matter how many spoons or under-eye creams it took.
And then there was Kabir. He was definitely going to bug me all day, fishing for clues about my saree. Just thinking about it made me smile. He had a way of making even the most mundane things feel exciting. But there was no way I was going to let him ruin the surprise. Not yet.
Once the spoons had done their job, I tossed them in the sink and took a closer look at myself in the mirror. Not perfect, but better. I quickly washed my face with cold water, the splash waking me up fully. The puffiness had gone down a bit, and I was starting to feel more like myself. Small victories.
After taking bath. Next came the skincare routine. I grabbed my gentle face scrub and started massaging it into my skin, focusing on the areas that looked especially dull from lack of sleep. As I worked, I thought about how surreal today felt. After years of exams, classes, and the endless rush of school life, we were finally here — at the end. It felt like everything was changing, and today was the beginning of a new chapter.
With my face scrubbed and feeling fresher, I patted my skin dry and reached for my favorite moisturizer. I took my time applying it, massaging it in gently, the way I'd seen in countless skincare tutorials. It was a small luxury that helped calm the nerves I hadn't even realized were building up inside me.
Once my skin was prepped and glowing, I tied my hair up into a loose bun to keep it out of the way for now. I looked at the clock — still a few hours before the actual farewell, but I knew I couldn't take my time. I had a lot to get done, and the last thing I wanted was to rush through everything later.
As I moved around the room, gathering my makeup and setting everything up, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Kabir.
Kabir:
"Any chance I can get a sneak peek of the saree? One little hint?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling.
Me:
"Nice try, Mehra. You'll just have to wait like everyone else."
Almost immediately, he replied.
Kabir:
"Unfair. You don't even have to try, and we all know you'll look amazing."
I paused for a moment, staring at the screen, my heart doing that annoying fluttery thing it did whenever he said something like that. He always knew how to get under my skin, in the best way.
I quickly shook off the warm feeling and put my phone down before he distracted me further. I had no time for that right now. Today was all about getting ready and making sure I looked as effortlessly put together as possible. And there was no way I was giving Kabir the upper hand by sending him a sneak peek.
With my skincare done, I glanced at my reflection again. I was starting to look more like the version of myself I wanted to present today.
some time later
I stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying a light touch of mascara to my lashes. My phone buzzed on the dresser, and I already knew who it was. Kabir. For the third time in the past hour, he was asking for a sneak peek of my saree. Smiling to myself, I reached for my phone and read the latest message:
Kabir:
"Come on, Frosty! Just one little pic? I won't show anyone, promise!"
I shook my head, laughing at his persistence. There was no way I was letting him see me before the farewell. Kabir was going to have to wait like everyone else, no matter how cute his requests were.
Me:
"Nope. Not happening. Wait for the surprise. ??"
The three dots indicating his typing showed up almost immediately.
Kabir:
"At least tell me the color? One hint? What if I accidentally wear the same color? That would be embarrassing. "
Me:
"That's your problem. ??"
Satisfied with my teasing reply, I tossed my phone back on the dresser and turned toward my mom, who was standing behind me, expertly folding the pleats of my saree.
"Stop checking your phone and stand still, Aditi!" she said with a mock sternness, shaking her head with a smile.
"I am standing still!" I protested, though I couldn't help but sneak another glance at my phone.
Mom smiled, shaking her head again, the fabric of my saree slipping smoothly through her fingers as she finished adjusting the pleats. "I can't believe this is the same girl who hated getting dressed up not so long ago. Now, look at you. So grown up."
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Mom, it's just a farewell, not my wedding!"
Before she could reply, I felt a small tug on my saree from behind. I looked down to see my little sister, Anaya, gazing up at me with wide, admiring eyes.
"Didi, you look like a princess!" she squealed, jumping up and down with excitement. Her big brown eyes sparkled as she reached up to touch the edge of my saree.
I smiled, bending down to her level. "You think so, Anaya?"
She nodded furiously, her curls bouncing with every movement. "Yes! You're so pretty! Can I have a saree like yours when I grow up?"
I ruffled her hair and laughed. "When you grow up, you'll wear sarees even prettier than this one. And I'll be the one helping you with the pleats, okay?"
Anaya beamed, clearly thrilled by the promise, before she pranced around the room, pretending to twirl an imaginary saree of her own. Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but laugh.
As my mom finished securing the last pleat, I glanced back in the mirror. I couldn't deny it — she had done an amazing job. The saree hugged me perfectly, the fabric flowing elegantly down. I twirled slightly, admiring the way it moved.
"Perfect," Mom said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "You look beautiful, Aditi."
"Thanks, Mom," I said, feeling a little shy under all the attention. I wasn't used to dressing up like this. Sure, I loved the idea of looking good for the farewell, but it still felt surreal to see myself all glammed up. Just as I was about to reach for my phone again, my dad walked into the room, his usual cheerful expression softening as his eyes landed on me.
For a moment, he just stood there, looking at me. Then, with a fond smile, he stepped closer and gently placed his hand on top of my head. "Kitni badi ho gayi meri beti," he murmured, his voice tinged with emotion.
His words hit me, and for a brief second, I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. But before I could get too emotional, my mom cut in with her usual teasing tone.
"Arre, vidai thodi ho rahi hai, Rajesh! She's just going to her farewell, not getting married!"
We all laughed, the air lightening up again, but I caught the proud and slightly sentimental look on my dad's face as he stepped back. He wasn't the overly emotional type, but moments like these reminded me how much he cared.
"Okay, okay," Mom said, clapping her hands. "Enough with the emotional stuff. Let's take some pictures before Aditi leaves."
Anaya immediately ran up to me, tugging on my hand. "I want to take pictures with Didi first!"
I laughed and scooped her up in my arms, holding her close as we posed for a couple of photos. She was giggling the whole time, and I couldn't stop smiling. Then came pictures with my mom and dad, all in different poses. Mom insisted on a more traditional pose, while Dad, being his usual goofy self, made funny faces for a few shots.
"Okay, enough photos, you'll miss your own farewell if you keep posing," Mom teased as she checked the time.
I glanced at the clock. She was right — it was getting late. I needed to leave soon. But first, I couldn't resist checking my phone one last time before heading out.
Sure enough, there was another message from Kabir, still trying to get me to reveal something about my saree.
Kabir:
"Last chance! One tiny clue, pleeeease? ??"
I grinned and typed a quick reply.
Me:
"Patience is a virtue, Kabir. See you at the farewell. ??"
I slipped my phone into my clutch, satisfied with my victory in keeping the saree a secret. Let him wonder. After all, the look on his face when he finally sees me will be worth it.
With one last glance in the mirror and a final adjustment to my saree, I was ready. Anaya clung to my leg as I started to head for the door, her little voice filled with excitement. "Bye, Didi! Have fun at the farewell!"
"I will," I said, giving her one last hug before stepping out. "Be good, okay?"
As I walked out the door, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Farewell was a big deal, the last time we'd all be together like this. And there was something special about knowing that Kabir was waiting to see me, just as eager as I was to see him.