3~ The party
"Akriti, please na. I am begging you, please come".
Adrija begged as I walked around my room.
For an hour, she has been trying to convince me to come to her house for her anniversary celebration but what will I do there?
Firstly, it's her family gathering and I don't stand anywhere there.
Second, I only know her mother, father and her uncle and aunt. Third, I will be bored for sure.
"Adrija but what's my job there? It's your family time and I don't wanna disturb you".
I tried explaining to her but she won't,such an adamant woman she is.
I turned to look at my best friend who was showing me puppy eyes.
I hate her for this! She makes cute faces and then I end up agreeing with what she says.
We met in 1st standard in school and hooked up instantly.
Our music tastes, book likings, and everything was similar except for one thing: family but that was never a problem.
We spent our maximum childhood at each other's houses, we even prepared for competitive exams together but the only difference was that she took biology and I maths.
Adrija and I are inseparable in all means, we are literally sisters.
She knows everything about me and I about her.
"You didn't even attend my wedding, last year too you were on your trips.
Am I not important to you?".
Adrija cried, trying to emotionally blackmail me.She always does that.
I can't even deny her now. Yash bhaiya and her are the closest people that I can call my family after my mumma.
Yash bhaiya is her husband. It came as a shock to me when these two tied the knot.
I have known both of them since childhood and I knew Adrija had a crush on him but it was sudden when they decided to get married.
Adrija's dad was furious. Let me rephrase furious would be a very small word to describe how angry her dad was when he came to know that Adrija was dating Yash bhai but he eventually agreed and hence these guys got married.
I still remember what drama these two did and how Adrija manipulated everyone, even Yash bhaiya. Poor him!
"Fine, I'll come". I finally said and her lips curled into a big smile. She jumped on the spot and hugged me. She is such a kid isn't she?
"Yayy! I love you so much, Akriti". She screamed in happiness and I let out a laugh at her enthusiasm. She rushed towards my wardrobe and started messing it suddenly. Half of my clothes were thrown onto the bed and the other half on the floor.
"What the hell are you doing Adrija?"
I yelled when I saw that she messed up my whole cupboard.
She smiled sheepishly and muttered, "Finding a good outfit for you jaana".
I scrunched my eyebrows. She explained further,
(Jaana= an endearment in Hindi that translates for my love)
"It's a party, Akriti! A party! You can't go in your pants and shirt"
I snorted at her statement and nodded.
She is correct, I am not going to a meeting or something.
It's a party and I definitely don't want to feel out of place.
Finally, she smiled and took out an embroidered lavender coloured Anarkali with a palazzo and showed it to me.
I didn't even knew I had it! Maybe, mumma bought it for me.
She raised her eyebrows and I showed her my thumb to approve it.
She clapped her hands and replied, "It's perfect!
You are going to wear it tonight. I'll come to pick you up at 7pm, be ready".
I nodded with a smile and touched the fabric of the cloth.
Adrija stayed for a while more, blabbering about her married life and then went to her home.
But should I really go? My mumma will be all alone in this house, she even forgets to take her medicines on time and I don't want her to feel lonely even if it's for two hours or so.
I was occupied in my thoughts and didn't see mumma entering the room. I only came to know about her presence after she sat beside me.
"What are you thinking?"
She softly asked. I shook my head and shrugged. She smiled and caressing my head replied,
"You should go with Adrija. Don't worry about me"
How does she come to know what I am thinking?
"But mumma-
I started but she kept her index finger on my lips and said, "You are going and have fun there".
I nodded at her final decision. She smiled warmly and after kissing my forehead, she said, "You know it's your age to go to parties, meet friends and have fun.
Don't bind yourself to the four walls of this house worrying about me.
I am fine, but you won't be fine if you spend all of your time worrying about me. Akriti, go and enjoy and your life".
I nodded, looking down at my lap. It's easy to say this, she is my mother.
But everytime I step out of my loneliness, I face some situations which convince me to step back in.
My mother, she doesn't understands why I worry about her, she doesn't knows how it feels to see your only family suffering.
She has high blood pressure, she often feels weak and if something happens to her, I feel like I am at fault.
It's always been me, it was because of me that her husband deserted her, she had to hear the society's taunts because of me, because she gave priority to her daughter over her husband.
And, the least I can do is take care of her when she needs me the most.
"Okay, I have to meet Chandani, it's her son's engagement next month and she is already eating my brain out. We all are going for shopping", she exclaimed and I giggled. Her friends, that is my aunts are chaotic. Each one of them has something unique which makes them different.
"Okayyyy! But take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything", I said, wrapping my arms around my mother. She giggled and patted my cheeks saying, "Yes yes, now go and get ready for Adrija's party".
I kissed her cheek and sheepishly mumbled, "Yes mumma".
By six fifty PM, I was dressed up for the party.
Pairing the kurti with oxidised jhumkas and silver bangles, I let my brown hair open.
I applied a light shade of lipstick and tadaa, I was all set to go.
I twirled in front of the mirror, seeing my appearance to make sure if I looked presentable.
I smiled in victory when I found my appearance up to the mark.
For a change, I actually looked beautiful in this. All thanks to mumma and Adrija!
I clutched my phone in my hand since I had no pockets in my dress, a pity to be honest. Plopping on the sofa, I opened Instagram to check for any notifications on my profile.
My jaw fell with surprise when I saw Atleast 30 message requests and thousands of likes on my book reveal post! My my! How did this happen in a day?
I started replying to the messages when the door bell rang.
Shuffling close my mobile phone, I rushed towards the door and opened it.
There stood my best friend dressed up in a gorgeous black georgette saree with her neck adorned with a beautiful diamond necklace.
Her oval face was devoid of any makeup except lipstick. In short, she looked beautiful!
"How do I look?" She asked nervously. I bit my lips and replied, "Beautiful! Adrija for the first time in the history you look beautiful!"
She rolled her eyes at my taunt and exclaimed, "I always look beautiful!"
I giggled and commented, "Nope!"
"Okay fine, you are looking pretty by the way for a change", she said and I nodded in agreement.
"Come inside, why are you standing there?
" I suddenly said, remembering that we still were standing on the door, gossiping about each other's looks.
She wriggled her eyes brows and said, "No!
We have to go, Yash is waiting downstairs".
My mouth parched and I mumbled, "Okay okay, let me lock the house".
She nodded and said, "Quickly, he is too eager to meet his best friend.
He has been eating my brain out since morning".
"Who? Yash bhaiya?" I asked, and I remembered that I had not taken her gift.
I rushed in the house with her following me inside.
Upon seeing the small blue wrapped gift box, I handed it to her.
She took it without any hesitation and I asked again, "What were you saying?
"
We both once again walked out of the my house and I closed the door with a thud.
The automatic lock beeped and I once again moved the door handle to check whether the door was closed.
"Who else? Yash and Adhyay. I sometimes think that he should have married Adhyay instead of me", she muttered bitterly shaking her head. Adhyay? Her brother?
"Your brother?" I asked, trying to confirm if he was the same Adhyay she was talking about.
She snorted and cried, "Yes, my dearest brother!"
I patted her shoulder and joked, "Poor Adrija, stuck between these two lovebirds". She threw a nasty glare at me while I giggled at her expressions. She marched towards the lift and angrily exclaimed, "I hate you three, always teasing me! First Adhyay, then Yash and you too!"
I stopped giggling and quickly ran behind her. Just like I said, she is an angry bird, gets angry extremely fast but at the same time, she also adds joy to my boring life.
"Sorry sorry, I won't say this", I said with a small giggle. She pouted as the lift door close and mumbled, "Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise", I said and extended my little finger. Both of us giggled at our childish antics and she suddenly said, "Thankyou Akriti for coming. I missed you last year".
The environment suddenly seemed solemn as she mentioned my absence at her wedding and anniversary celebration last year. I wanted to be there but I suddenly had to go out for work. I couldn't even inform her and I felt bad for it. She never said anything but I knew that she was upset because of me.
"I am sorry Adrija", I mumbled, looking down the floor. She patted my back and said, "It's fine. Don't be sad and lift your mood up. I am not as bad as you think". I looked up with a smile and said, "Oh really?"
She nodded furiously and asked, "Why? Do you take me as a possessive best friend who doesn't understands responsibilities? No my dear, I understand how important your work is for you and I am not upset. But, you have to promise me one thing".
"What?"
"That you will dance with me like we used to do we were young! I miss that Akriti!" She whined at last. Hearing her silly request I nodded and with a giggle said, "Okay, as you say madam".
Her face glowed with joy and at the same time, the elevator stopped at the parking lot. There I saw, Yash bhaiya talking on phone with a grim expression on his face. When he saw us, he waved his hand at me and I waved back with a smile.
"Don't tell me that it's MI again", Adrija deadpanned when we reached their car. Crossing her hands against her chest, she looked like a strict teacher scolding her student.
"Nope, fortunately. It's nothing", Yash bhaiya said with a sly smile. Adrija raised her eyebrows at him and asked, "Then? Why were standing with a poker face? How many times do I need to remind you to not act like Adhyay?"
"Yes yes, I won't act like Adhyay. Well hi Akriti!" He said and then greeted me.
"Hi!", I greeted back with a grin. He returned my grin with a grin and asked, "We are meeting after a year, I suppose".
"Hmm maybe, last time we met was-" I tried to remember when I met Yash bhaiya
"Last year", Adrija reminded subtly. The two of us nodded and he asked, "Right. Now shall we ladies?"
Together we departed for her parent's house.
The whole car ride was filled with Yash bhaiya cracking jokes and silly talks and ranting about their work.
Both of them are doctors though Adrija is a dentist while Yash bhai is a surgeon.
Their job includes saving lives while mine is to touch the hearts of humans with my stories.
We reached their house and it was beautiful.
It had a large garden adorned with flowers of different vibrant colours and I saw two rabbits hopping at one corner of the garden!
Two fluffy rabbits were there. It had been my childhood wish to play with rabbits but unfortunately I couldn't fulfil it.
Seeing rabbits here fills me with joy. Maybe aunty will let me play with them. I'll ask for her permission for sure!
"They are Andy and Cutie, our rabbits".
I heard a deep voice say which startled me.
I turned to look at a tall figure which was towering me.
I tried to control my escalated heart beat and nodded.
Where did Adrija go? She was here with me a while ago?
Raking my eyes through the garden, I realised that I am left alone with him.
My thoughts were broken when I heard him cough. I cleared my throat and mumbled,
"Hi Dr. Adhyay"
Yes I remember him. He is Yash bhaiya's best friend and Adrija's elder brother, and I also remember that he was a quiet person in school who only knew about academics, though he played football as well. His lips curled into a cute smile.
Cute? You found his smile cute? What about 'I will never find a man cute'.
Shut up! There's nothing wrong in appreciating the truth, is it?
Upon looking at my neutral face, he brought forward his palm and with a smile greeted, "Hi Akriti".
I shook hands with him. He has rough hands which are huge as compared to mine.
Of course they will. He is a man!
We exchanged no words, just the sound of crickets was heard in the lawn. Where did everyone go?
"Umm let's go inside". He nervously said scratching the back of his head.
Did I make him feel weird? Of course I did.
I nodded and he guided me inside the house.
Their house is just perfect. It's not so big and not so small, just beautiful!
The walls were decorated with lots of pictures of their family, capturing every moment.
"Here she is. Akriti meet everyone".
Adrija said and everyone waved at me. I smiled nervously. I am not good with a lot of people. Yash bhaiya smiled reassuringly and mouthed, "It's just family, no outsiders".
One by one, she introduced me to all the family members of her house including her uncle and aunt and their children.
To be honest, there were so many people that I couldn't even remember the half of their names.
Nevertheless, I just smiled and shook hands with everyone when Adrija's mother asked, "How is your mother doing? "
"She is good aunty", I answered with a smile. She patted my cheek and said, "And you?"
"I am fine as well, how are you?"
"Great, I am doing great. I am glad you came today, it's been so many years since we met. How's work and everything else?" She asked.
"Everything is going fine so far", I said with a smile. She smiled and said, "That's awesome!"
For God knows what reason, I was feeling that she wanted to ask me something but was hesitating. She finally opened her mouth to put forward her question when Mishika aunty, Adrija's aunt called, "Ridhi! They are cutting the cake. Akriti come beta".
Adrija's mother held my hand and gushed, "You know the her father baked the cake. I don't think it's edible". She bursted out giggling as we both gathered around the living room table. Adrija and Yash bhaiya stood in the centre with hands in hands and Adrija had a knife in a hand.
Adrija's father might have called her mother so she went running towards him, leaving me alone. Out of nervousness, I took a few steps back, secluding myself when I heard, "Bored? Me too! I too don't like parties a lot".
I snapped my neck at the source of the voice and found Dr. Adhyay standing casually with his hands in his pockets. I sighed and said, "Not bored to be honest, it's new for me".
He smiled. Lord! If I would have believed in love at first sight, I would have fallen for his sight but fortunately, I do not believe in love and all the bullshit movies speak about.
"It's the same thing", he said, taking out his hands from his pockets.
Even though the action was too simple, it did look seducing, atleast to me.
Dr. Adhyay, has good looks unlike all the other doctors I have met so far.
He is young, charismatic and handsome. I guess he already got a line of women waiting for him.
"No it's not", I asserted, crossing my arms around my chest. He raised one of his eyebrows and asked, "Being bored and feeling out of the world are the consequences of same situation, what is the difference?"
"Umm. Being bored means you aren't liking this at all while feeling out of the place means that you don't think you fit here.
For me, it's out of the place because I have never attended any family gatherings and celebrations.
Plus, everyone here is Adrija's family, I am just her friend.
So, I am not bored, just a bit left out", I rambled in a single breath.
He certainly looked like everything I just said went like a bouncer and he said, "That's a fair point. But you don't need to feel alienated, no one is judging you here. And friends are family too".
"That's easy for you to say Dr. Adhyay", I said with a sigh.
He didn't argue any further and I too didn't extend the uncomfortable conversation with him.
After the cake was cut, the couple was asked to pose for photographs.
Meanwhile, I took the privilege of running my eyes around the huge house.
There were so many photographs hanging on every wall, some of Adrija, some of her cousins and some of her parents.
"Akriti! Let's get our pictures clicked! Adhyay, click our pictures", Adrija exclaimed, dragging me at the centre. She placed her hand at my shoulder and whispered, "Smile and relax". I eased out my posture and smiled.
"Are you ready?" Dr. Adhyay asked, sitting on his knees to get a perfect shot whereas Yash bhaiya stood behind him, looking at his phone.
Adrija showed them a thumbs up and shouted, "Cheese".
Several clicks were heard and then Dr. Adhyay nodded.
Adrija hopped like an excited bunny and snatched the phone from his hand, looking at the pictures.
"Brother! I am so proud of you, you clicked nice pictures", she complimented with a grin. Dr. Adhyay rolled his eyes and asserted, "I click good pictures, you always mess up". Adrija stuck her tongue out and said, "Huh, we both know who messes up".
"Please you two! Don't fight here, I beg you", Yash bhaiya finally intervened, joking his hands in front of the duo. They both rolled their eyes and simultaneously said, "We are not fighting".
"Leave it, who can even say a thing to these two.
Adrija, please click my picture as well with Adhyay.
You and Akriti got your picture clicked so we both should also", Yash bhaiya said, though his voice held a tint of uncertainty.
He definitely is terrified of my best friend.
Adrija flipped her hair and said, "I am going to have dinner, for your information, it was your turn today to cook lunch which you didn't and so I am dying with hunger. ".
Dr. Adhyay and Yash bhaiya looked sceptically at her, as if not believing what she was speaking. Well, she is dramatic, very dramatic.
"Akriti, come on, let's have dinner", she coolly said and marched to the lawn where everyone was gathered for the dinner. I looked at the two men, sharing weird looks with each other and asked, "Give me your phone, I'll click your photos".
"N-no no, it's okay. We aren't children right, Yash?" Dr. Adhyay spoke and hit Yash bhaiya's shoulder with his shoulder. I raised my eyebrows at the two and asked, "Aree? Do adults don't get their pictures clicked?"
The two of them shared looks which seemed as if they were talking through their expressions. Finally, Yash bhaiya handed me his phone after opening the camera. I hastily clicked their photos and said, "See, just two minutes. Adrija is so dramatic!"
The two tall men shook their heads at Adrija. Maybe, it's not that bad to attend such parties, instead it was fun watching these guys pulling each other's legs.