Chapter 10

The fog-kissed streets welcomed her as the clouds continued to hide the sun behind them. Running on the trails down the hill, Jiya found herself immersed in the songs that were playing through her earphones. This was her morning routine now - a long run up and down the hill. Years ago when Aman and Ishaan would insist that she join them on the runs, she would throw tantrums and laugh at them. Who knew that one day she would do these little things willingly and happily?

"Good morning, Jiya madam!" Her driver, Prakash, greeted her as soon as she entered the gates of her home. Jiya smiled and greeted the old man as he washed the jeep. Jiya walked towards the garden and plopped down on the large swing in the midst of bougainvillaea and rose flowers. The morning fog was slowly turning into misty dews and she loved when the tiny droplets fell on her face, tickling her skin.

The smell of freshly harvested tea leaves embraced her and she sighed in contentment. "Madam, we need to look over the account books." The estate manager, Shankar, approached her. Jiya gave him a brief nod, "Sure, Shankar. List out all the things that you need from me and we will go over them before I leave for Kashmir, okay?"

"Sure, madam!"

"What will it take for all of you to start addressing me as Jiya? I hate being called madam!" Jiya grumbled as she marched inside the two-storeyed house nestled quietly in the hills of Munnar, Kerala.

***

"When are you coming home?" Shilpa, Jiya's mother asked impatiently.

Jiya rolled her eyes as she settled her smartphone by the kitchen window. Turning away from the screen, she got herself busy stirring the dosa batter. "Ma! It's only been three months since I met you all. Let me enjoy a few more days na!"

She ignited the burner of the gas stove and placed the iron Tawa on it. Waiting for the tawa to heat up, Jiya listened to her mother's chiding. "Do you even know how many tasks are pending? Jiya your marriage date is approaching. We haven't done proper shopping yet!"

Jiya groaned as Shilpa continued to complain about how irresponsible and negligent Jiya was getting. Switching off the stove, Jiya glared and grabbed her phone. "Ma! I told you I wanted a simple temple wedding or better yet, a no-nonsense marriage at a registrar's office. You guys threw tantrums and arranged for this big fat wedding. Now, you take this headache, don't pull me into it about the arrangements. I will come to Kashmir two days before the wedding, that's all."

"Oh my God! I can't believe this girl! You deal with her." Shilpa grunted, handing the phone to her husband Amarjeet who chuckled at the mother-daughter banter.

"Stop frustrating my wife. Without you here, I am at the receiving end of all her grumpiness." Amarjeet huffed. Jiya laughed at his antics. After the initial exchange of greetings and health enquiries, Amarjeet asked, "Aman's death anniversary is coming up..."

Jiya shut her eyes close, recalling the fateful day when they found out Aman had died in the line of duty. "I know. I want to pay my respects here. I won't be coming for the pooja ceremony, dad"

"I understand." Amarjeet sighed. Losing Aman hadn't been easy for any of them. Even though it had been nearly five years now, she still thought about him every day and wished he would come back from the dead.

Only if that was possible. Once dead, they are dead. They are never coming back.  Didn't she know it any better?

"How is it going in Kerala?" Amarjeet asked. Looking at the smartphone screen, Jiya smiled brightly. She then switched to back camera mode and gave Amarjeet a look around the house, the estate and whatever she was cooking. "This is home, dad"

"I am happy you think so. But, Jiya, I am worried about you, all by yourself in a place you hardly know! Also, I don't want Mr and Mrs Rajan to think otherwise. You need to come back here soon," Amarjeet said.

Jiya looked away. "Uncle and Aunty are happy in Dubai living with their eldest son, Ishwar's family. Let's not forget the fact that, they were the ones who gave me the responsibility of their estate! Now, I need to get back to my cooking and you need to go to the office. Have a nice day, love you, dad!"

"Love you too darling."

Before Jiya could get back to making some delicious dosas, her house help, Uma, entered the kitchen relieving her of the chore and insisting on preparing Jiya's favourites.

"Thank you, Uma!" Jiya smiled. Crossing the living room, she entered the bedroom and sat on the bed. In front of her, was a very messy desk and above it, were a bunch of photographs. Most of them were of Ishaan's childhood pictures with a few from his Army time thrown in between. She had spent many days staring endlessly at those pictures. At his smiling face, his awkwardness in group pictures, and candid shots with his friends.

Two pictures stood out the most among them.

One was a group picture of Aman, Jiya and Ishaan in the valley. It was her favourite picture of them.

The other was a photograph was of Ishaan, Aman and their friend, Rudra who is in the Airforce. All three men looked so happy, so lively and so energetic. Jiya's eyes stuck on Rudra, he was one of the most handsome men she had come across. He just had that look which would make girls swoon. He was blessed that way. However, he didn't set her heart to race as Ishaan did. Jiya found herself caressing the photograph. Ishaan's smiling face tugged at all the strings of her heart.

"I miss you, Ishaan," Jiya said, sniffing as she recalled all the happy memories she spent with him.

***

It had been a busy day for Jiya as she helped the estate manager Shankar to sort everything out. When she had first come to Kerala, almost a year ago, she had a purpose. From visiting Ishaan's family, hearing stories of his childhood shenanigans and hoping for a better tomorrow, Jiya had tried her best to cope with the tragedy that had suddenly struck their life. It had been both filled with heart-stopping memories and tough times.

Days had rolled into weeks and then to months as she found a 'home' in Kerala. Once Jiya had slowly started to help Ishaan's parents with maintaining their estate, they had given all the responsibility to her and moved to Dubai to live with their eldest son, Ishwar and his family. Travelling between Kashmir and Kerala, the two ends of India, Jiya had created an entirely new life for herself. A year ago, she had no idea that she would be living this life. But she is now, anyway.

"So, that's it?" Jiya asked as she signed off the documents that Shankar presented.

"Yes, madam. This should get us going for another couple of months. But.. I must say, ever since you have taken over, we have started to see huge profits.. and we are able to employ more workers than before."

Jiya smiled at him, "It's all you, Shankar. I didn't know the T of tea when I first came. Without you, I wouldn't have had any clue how to take care of an estate. Also, let's not forget how you hold the fort down in my absence. So stop giving me all the credit!"

Shankar chuckled, "You are just like, Ishaan anna, he would say this too."

Jiya smiled at him even as her heart wept at his words. Ishaan.

***

A few weeks later.

"FINALLY!" Shilpa screamed, meeting Jiya at Srinagar Airport. Once Jiya appeared before her at the arrival terminal, Shilpa was quick to pull her daughter in for a bear hug. "Missed you too, Ma!" Jiya laughed as her mother hugged her tight.

"Now that greetings are over, do you have any clue how much work is pending before the big day?"

Jiya grinned, "I was wondering where the frustrated mother of the bride disappeared for a while. Good to see you too." With that, Jiya walked out of the airport pushing her luggage with Shilpa marching beside her while listing out all the pending tasks to be completed within two days.

Climbing the backseat of the car along with Jiya, Shilpa ordered the driver to take them to their home. "Jiya, I am serious! What you put me through for the last couple of days is tiring! I can't even begin to tell you how maddening it has been. It's your wedding, Jiya! Show a little excitement."

"I am excited, Ma!" Jiya said, leaning against her mother and tickling her.

Shilpa erupted into a fit of giggles. "This is not fair!"

"Everything is fair in love and war," Jiya mumbled and her mother rolled her eyes.

"I can't believe my daughter is finally getting married." Shilpa mused looking out of the window as their car raced through the streets towards Badami Bagh Cantonment.

When Jiya was silent, Shilpa looked at her crossly. "You are getting married, aren't you?"

Jiya looked up, blinking and expressionless. A concerned Shilpa, caressed her daughter's face, "Please tell me, you are getting married this time at least. I swear, Jiya if you cancel it this time, I will not spare you!"

Jiya drew a long breath and sat back in the seat. "I won't, Ma. But, should I really get married? Is it that important?"

Shilpa stared at her aghast. This is not happening again! What the hell?

"Oh my God! Relax, Ma! Of course, I will get married. I wouldn't come all the way to Kashmir if I didn't want to marry, now, would I?"

Shilpa, who looked visibly shaken by Jiya's prank, sighed. Soon, she started to smack her naughty daughter. "You just make me so mad sometimes!"

Jiya laughed, "That's my speciality, I am told." Just like that, some memories made their way to her mind.

"You drive me insane!" "Yet... somehow, I am crazy about you."

Jiya looped her arms around her mother's and placed her head against Shilpa's shoulders.

I miss you, Ishaan.

***

"You look so pretty!" Reshma, Jiya's eldest cousin said. Smiling at her reflection in the mirror, Jiya smiled. She couldn't believe she was getting married. The last couple of months, Jiya had spent in denial. She had a strong feeling this wedding wasn't going to take place. Perhaps, that's why the panic, the jitters and the thoughts of the future had remained at bay.

She had been calm, until, today. To distract herself, she pulled out her phone, there were plenty of messages and missed calls from her friends and cousins wishing her for her marriage. Apart from these, there was nothing new. Jiya sighed. Calmness was slipping away and anxiety was creeping in.

"Jiya!" Shilpa entered the room. Giving some privacy for the mother and daughter, her cousins left the room. Jiya got up, and in her bridal attire, she looked radiant and breathtakingly gorgeous. However, there was something missing.

Shilpa drew a long breath. "You don't look happy"

"How can I when the one that I am madly in love with is not here?"

"Oh, sweetheart!" Shilpa immediately pulled Jiya in for a hug and comforted her. "You need to hold yourself together!"

Jiya sniffed, feeling miserable, sad and anxious. "I don't want to get married." She announced and stepped away from her mother's embrace.

Shilpa breathed sharply, preparing herself to comfort her stubborn bride or maybe she could smack some sense into her daughter's head. Right then, there was a knock on the door.

Turning around, she sighed in relief. "She doesn't want to get married, it seems. She is your headache now." Shilpa said to her daughter's groom.