Chapter 4

Ishaan stood by the window gazing outside. The sun had long disappeared leaving behind the heaps of snowflakes to pour down. With the current weather condition, there was no way he could take her back anytime soon. Thankfully he had called Brigadier earlier using his satellite phone to say that he found Jiya and would bring her back the next day.

Glancing back at her, he found her sleeping peacefully on the couch. Ishaan drew a long sigh. How long has it been since she exploded into his life? 10 years, yeah, it had been more than a decade.

For most of the initial years, Jiya was nothing but his best friend's sister who was hell-bent on making him the victim of all her pranks. At first, Ishaan had no idea why he was being subjected to her creative experiments. Once, during a Diwali break he spent at Dhillon's house, she had set his room on fire by lighting up a series of crackers, making him dash out like his tail on fire. She had even mixed laxatives in his coffee and successfully botched the weekend trip, Aman had planned for himself and Ishaan. Eventually, when Ishaan recovered, Aman let Jiya tag along. The triumphant smile on Jiya's face was unnerving.

"I am his little sister. He should only be best friends with me! I won't let you steal him from me." She had told Ishaan and given him the reason behind all her antics around him.

It wasn't until, Ishaan had once saved Aman's life during a mission, Jiya had finally warmed up to him. "You all think Aman is a strong, courageous warrior. But only I know, he is a big fat teddy bear! He is an emotional fool and it pains me to think that someday, he is going to use his emotions instead of his brains and will hurt himself, But.. Now.. I don't have to worry. He has you Ishaan." That's how she stepped into his heart and sat down royally on a high pedestal.

That was almost 8 years ago. Life had changed drastically since then.

If there was one thing that hadn't changed was, Ishaan always lost in front of her. No amount of training could ever help in outsmarting her. Not because he couldn't, because he didn't want to. Every time she smiled with glee when she thought she had him, it would warm his heart. There was nothing in this world, he wouldn't give to see her smile like that.

The more he wandered down the lanes of Jiya's smiles the more he found himself losing. She was never going to be his, was she?

"Ishaan? What are you thinking?" Her hoarse voice shook him out of his thoughts. Clearing his throat, he sauntered over to the sofa opposite hers and plopped down. "Nothing."

He had a promise to keep, to take her back home safely. It wouldn't be easy, of course. Even if he had to throw her over his shoulders and take her back, he would. That mere thought invited goosebumps on his body. Ishaan drew a sharp breath.

"I know what you are thinking." She said narrowing her eyes.

Ishaan's eyes widened, "You do?"

"You are thinking you could convince me somehow to take me back, right? It's not going to happen, don't bother."

"Jiya. Your parents are worried for you!" Ishaan was relieved she hadn't read his mind completely but was also disturbed. He has to find a way.

She shook her head, her eyes turning moist and she shifted uncomfortably on the couch. He watched her in sad silence. With a sniff, she said, "Did they tell you why I left?"

Ishaan blinked. He only knew there was a fight, he didn't know what the fight was about and didn't think it was right to ask. He simply shook his head. "Did you know I am adopted?"

He stared at her dumbfounded. He had no idea. Breaking into sobs, Jiya hugged her knees tightly. "I am adopted, Ishaan." She repeated as if reminding herself rather than telling him. He got up from his seat and hastily walked over to her couch. She hugged him the moment, he sat next to her.

"All this while.. I had no idea. Aman is their biological child. I am adopted."

Ishaan had no idea how to comfort her or what to say to make it better. But he simply couldn't see her this broken. "They found me at a war site. Apparently, I was crying under a boulder, lost or abandoned, they couldn't figure it out. The fact that I could be born to a terrorist or to anybody else for that matter, scares me! When they couldn't find my parents and they, eventually decided to keep me. I was only a year old at that time."

He stroked the small of her back pacifying her. "I have been such a bad daughter all these years.. Never once did they ever make me feel like I wasn't their own. I can't face them, Ishaan. I can't. Ever since Aman died, I have blamed them. A couple of years ago, when they hosted the Christmas Ball party like their son hadn't died 3 months before that, it broke me! I so wanted to tell them, how sick they were. I created such a huge scene...! I have been embarrassing them from the moment I have come into their lives. After knowing all of this, they still don't hate me Ishaan! Can you believe that?"

"Jiya! They love you" Ishaan mumbled against her hair.

She looked up, her face puffed with tears. "I know. That's why I can't show my face to them! Ever."

Getting up, she walked over to the fireplace and added a few more pieces of wood to the fire. Ishaan sat there breathing heavily. This wasn't going to be easy, at all. "Jiya. You are being-"

"Immature? Childish? Stupid? Yeah, go ahead and call all that! I don't care. Can't you understand? I am ashamed of myself! Did you know they picked a boy for me for marriage?"

Ishaan stiffened in his seat. Her words brought a painful memory that he had suppressed with all his might. It was easier to forget than dwell on it.

"Ishaan.. I know I have been hard on you. I... had high hopes for Aman... But never thought he would choose to be a soldier. As proud as I am of him, as a father I know what it entailed. And then one day, my fears came true. You know Ishaan, this very fear made me be a strict father. I should have spent cherishing my boy, and not making him stronger at every given chance! Regrets are a weird thing, Ishaan. They gnaw at you, slowly. And one day, there will be nothing left of you."

"I don't understand, Sir." Ishaan had mumbled, confused and uncomfortable discussing Aman. Losing his best friend had been a sore wound, even though more than 3 years had passed.

"I have been disappointed in you, Ishaan. It's my fault that I projected the expectations I had on Aman on you. You both are different, yet so similar. I am sorry, my boy." Amarjeet's moist eyes had twisted Ishaan's heart.

Pulling him for a hug, Amajeet had casually asked, "Would you mind marrying my daughter? I know she can be difficult and extremely annoying at times. But, she has a good heart, Ishaan. She seems.. different around you. I see her happy, smiling and content, when she is around you. I know you both are good friends.. but after Aman's death.. you both.. hardly talk, I presume?"

Ishaan broke the hug and stared at the Brigadier, in shock. "I don't know.. what I am asking.. may make you feel uncomfortable.. but when I think of  a partner for Jiya, you are the only one who comes to my mind."

"Would you marry her, Ishaan?" Amarjeet had asked.

"You should ask her first, Sir. If she will have me, of course, I will." Ishaan had said. The emotions he had felt that day, can never be put into words.

When Jiya started to talk again, Ishaan came out of his thoughts, "I don't know who the guy was... Just to spite them, just so I can go against their wishes, I told them the only person I would marry is Raunak! Do you know why I said that?"

Too many revelations for one day! Ishaan shifted in his seat, trying to hold his feelings in check. Even though it's been a couple of months now, he still hadn't come to terms with her marriage news. Some months ago, Amarjeet had called to inform him in embarrassment that Jiya had already chosen someone else. Brigadier had apologized to Ishaan a couple of times during the call. It was a good thing, Amarjeet wasn't in front of Ishaan to see the nerve-shattering emotions Ishaan had felt that day.

"I only did this, because dad hated Raunak. Dad always said, there was something about Raunak that stopped him from trusting him completely. I thought Dad would get pissed... and throw a fit.. but guess what? The moment I chose Raunak, Dad agreed! Before I know it, the wedding is fixed."

Ishaan didn't say anything. Even he wasn't fond of the man. However, Raunak had a great reputation in the army. They called him Miracle Doctor since had saved so many fatally injured soldiers. Raunak was an orphan who grew up at Kashmir Youth Center and had been a merit student. The Dhillon family became aware of him when he joined as a resident doctor at Military Hospital. Ever since Raunak always seemed to be running in the same circles as them and eventually became friends with Jiya.

"Last night, I told them... I did everything just for the sake of it. I don't love Raunak at all and have no interest in marrying him. I fought and insulted them. Of course, they scolded me and yelled at me like they always did. And later, asked me to think it properly."

"Who told you about your adoption then?"

"I overheard them talking in their room after the fight. When they realized I found out, they told me everything. Before the sunrise, I packed my bags and left without informing them."