Mahika had barged into her house that night without giving her parents any explanations. Then she rushed to her room slammed the door shut and was ready to cry herself to sleep.
Dhruv Singhania.
How she wished to hate that name. The name of the person she had given her heart to. She stifled a sob.
Regret.
It was eating her alive.
Mahika hated the feeling. But she regretted everything.
She hated herself , her parents his parents , every one in this whole world because she didn't know what else she should do.
Because she couldn't bring herself to hate HIM.
Enough was enough. She couldn't take this anymore.
Mahika Singhania was the perfect wife , the perfect bahu and the perfect daughter.
Now all she wanted was to be that imperfect carefree Mahi Rai again.
She looked around her room. Her teddy bears were still on her cupboard where she left it. One wall of the room was covered with photo frames. There were pictures from her childhood, pictures of her dancing, pictures from college and pictures of her .... Marriage.
She loved each and every one of the pictures on that wall. She looked so happy in them and she looked the happiest in that heavy lehenga and jewellery.
She could never blame anyone for that day. It was her decision. Her choice to do what she did. No one forced her. Yes she did want to fulfil the promise she gave Gayathri ma but at the end of the day she was selfish with her decision. Selfish in wanting to be with her first love. Selfish in wanting it to be her last.
She got lost track of time thinking about the what ifs and didn't notice when sleep conquered her.
Mahika woke up with puffy red eyes and a bloody headache.
Someone was knocking on her door.
She opened it groggily for her brother to collide into her with a bear hug.
"Didi...." He screamed into her ears as he hugged her.
And Mahika smiled at the only boy who could never break her heart but could only heal it.
"Tu kab aayi? Mujhe kyun nahi bataya? "
(When did you come? Why didn't you inform me?)
"Ohoo mere baccha. It was really late yesterday when I came home. I didn't want to wake you up. "
"Jiju ne drop Kiya?" He asked expectedly.
Her smile dropped at that.
" No. "
"Anil come eat your breakfast"
Ma called loud enough to wake up the whole locality.
Some things never change. She thought to herself.
"Tum bhi aao na didi. " (You also come)
"Mai fresh hokar aati hu. Ek kaam kar tu ja aur kha le"
With that I pushed him out of the room before he could come up with new excuses.
Mahi was scouring her purse for her phone when a card fell from it.
"Natya Shastra"
That was when she recalled the lady and the proposal from last night.
Mahika was about to throw it away but something stopped her from doing it. She put it back in her purse and took out her phone.
She had multiple missed calls from Chachi and Avyaan. Even one from Veer Bhai but she couldn't care less about all of them. There wasn't even a message from the one who should have been apologising.
Uhhhh. She had to stop this.
She needed time for herself, To pick up and mend her self respect.
She opened Instagram and posted a few photos from last day's events. She knew her performance yesterday was good because she danced using her heart yesterday, not her feet.
Her notifications were soon flooded with appreciations and messages from her followers.
This made her satisfied, content and .... Happy.
Dance always made her feel those things whenever she was feeling low.
Yesterday was memorable.
Mahika stopped scrolling on her phone and took a quick shower. She changed into one of her old clothes and after much consideration and thought she decided to go down to face her parents.
Mahika didn't look at anyone as she came down the stairs. She ignored everyone and sat down at the table.
"Good morning " she turned towards the familiar sound to see Avyaan sitting with her family at the table still in last day's clothes.
"You didn't go home? " She asked confused.
"No. The poor boy slept in the car after dropping you here yesterday. "
"Why didn't you go? "
"I was worried about you. " He replied as if it was obvious.
"Even we are worried. What happened beta?" Her mother asked.
Mahika didn't know what to say. Was there anything to say?
"I am staying here for a few weeks. "
" We are always happy with you staying with us but atleast tell us what happened. " Her father said worriedly.
'I want to stay here for a few days. That's it. Please don't ask anything more. " She replied. Her voice was starting to break.
"And this is applicable to you too Avyaan"
*
The whole day Mahi did nothing. She slept throughout the day in order to escape from her mother's frequent questions and worries.
That night as she was looking out of her window she saw a dove flying away.
It somehow reminded her of herself.
She was also a bird.
She was a bird who was happy in her golden cage, who thought she had everything she ever wanted. She realised the beauty and sweetness of freedom only when she got out from behind the golden bars.
But was it too late for her? Did she forget to unfurl her wings and soar high?
She thought about it a bit more.
First she needed something to get her mind focused. Suddenly she remembered about the job offer.
Mahika rushed to her table and started searching for the card.
Her anxious brain was making it hard to place the call. In the end she decided to do it.
"Here goes nothing. "
It rang twice before the call was picked up.
"Hello. Uravashi Patnekar here. "
"Hello ma'am. I am Mahika Rai from yesterday's event. "
"Ohh hi Mahika. How are you? "
"I am fine ma'am. "
"So I assume you called to know about the vacancy? Are you interested in joining our academy? "
"I have to clarify a few things before I reach a decision. Can we meet tomorrow in person."
"Sure. You can visit me at the academy itself. "
"Thank you ma'am. Good night "
" Good night dear. "
She let out a breath.
Yeah she was still not good at calling people.
God. Why couldn't we just text people of we had to say something formal ?
"Didi... ?"
"She turned towards the sound to see her brother peaking his head inside per room.
"Han?" She replied actioning him to come inside.
"Did something happen to jiju? " He said somewhat holding himself back.
"Why are you asking me that now? " Mahi asked , now serious.
"Woh nah , he hasn't called me yet. It has been two days and yesterday "
"He calls you?" I asked shocked at the revelation.
"Haan. Everyday. He asks me about school, maa aur papa. "
"And? "
"And I ask him about his day and about you. You know he tells me your old stories. You are really funny. "
He said giggling. Most probably recalling one of the embarrassing stories he had told him about her.
"Kya bolte the woh"
"Woh bolte hai ki aapko usse tang karne ka bohot shouk tha aur aap bahut cute thi. "
Anil went on and on about his jiju. But the person he was describing was so familiar yet so strange to mahi.
"How long has he been calling you? "
"From when we went to buy ice cream. I told him ki you don't talk to Mr anymore. That I miss you. So he promised me to call him everyday. "
"Ohhh"
You are so full of surprises aren't you Mr Singhania?
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So tada!!
My exams are starting this week so the next update will be after 22nd.
Pray for me people ಥâ â¿â ಥ
Love you
Aswa_maya
"You will never be too much for a person who can't get enough of you"