Thoughts of the Past - XIII

31 years later

"Don't panic Aditi. Everything will be done. We still have a week left."

"Anand!!! There is so much left to do and you are not worried!! Its not a house party!!!" - cried Aditi.

"I know sweetheart!" - smiled Anand and hugged Aditi.

He continued- " It will just be the way you have dreamt of. I assure you. Now go and spend some time with her. She has been complaining of you not giving her time since the last 3 weeks."

Aditi looked up at Anand. She had tears in her eyes.

"Is she actually going to leave us? I can't believe she is getting married. Our little daughter..."

"Aditiii....Technically she left us much earlier when she went for her graduation. And all of us have been brought up this way. So stop being melodramatic now! You should be happy we are going to have an addition in the family". - said Anand and smiled.

"Hmmm. I just want Kavya to be happy and I hope Kabeer is the right guy for her."

"Aditi. We should have faith in our children's choices. Just the way we had in ours. "

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"Mom. It's too hot. Can we please get back inside the car?"

Rya took one more sip from her cup and looked smilingly at her son, who was bothered by the Indian Sun due to her insistence on having tea at a local betel shop. She always loved the tea from the stalls instead of the cafes. They seemed to have the perfect taste.

"Dad. Say something to Mom!!! I am sweating all over. Why can't we have it inside the car? I just don't get it." - cried Kartik.

Rishabh pat Kartik on his back and said "Your Mom loves India and the flavours it has. She got you here for the same reason. Try to experience India, as it is and you might fall in love with it just the way I fell in love with your Mom". He smiled and looked at Rya. She had already deep dived into her thoughts.

"I still don't get it. I am getting inside. Come soon." - said Kartik and ran towards the car.

"What happened Rya? Are you OK?" - asked Rishabh.

"Yeah. Yeah. I am fine. I just got lost. Stupid old memories, you know"- shrugged Rya.

"Where is Kartik? Lets go. Aditi must be waiting" - continued Rya and got up and walked towards the car. She didn't even look back.

Rishabh looked at her and knew it was HIS thoughts which had got Rya once again. He knew there was something Rya never shared with him. Even after this long! He had no complaints against her. She had never given him an opportunity to blame her for anything. She had given her best to the home, the family, to Karthik and to the marriage but not to Rishabh. After that trip back from India, Rya had changed completely. Even though he wanted her to reconsider the marriage, she was vehement on marrying him. Rishabh didn't understand her. He knew he had a happy family and a happy life but he also knew a part of Rya was never happy in it.

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"Rya!!!!!" - cried Aditi on opening the door and hugged her friend tightly.

There was happiness all around. Even though everyone knew each other, it was a different feeling to have met after a gap of 9 years. And for Kartik, he was meeting Aditi, Anand and Kavya for the first time. He had heard a lot about them though. Rya wanted Kartik to marry an Indian girl and so she insisted on Kartik attending the wedding, with the hope that Kartik would love the Indian culture. However, Kartik was least interested in the whole affair and he was counting his days to return back to home.

"Good morning Kartik!!" - greeted Kavya as she entered into Kartik's room next day morning.. Everyone else being busy with either the preparations or meeting after so long, Kavya found Kartik to be the only other person who was getting bored in this entire farce.

"Goood Morning Kavya! What are you doing here? Aren't you the bride?" - said Kartik.

"Aaah yeah...I am...but the wedding is after 6 days. I am getting bored. I am the special person but everyone here doesn't have time for me. Most importantly, my parents!!!" - said Kavya with a sigh.

"I thought I could spend some time with you. I am sure you are getting bored too." - added Kavya.

"Well its your wedding and I am taught not to be impolite. But yeah I am getting bored!! Big time!! I don't know people here and the heat along with the crowd. Its maddening." - said Kartik with a smile.

Kavya smiled. She was impressed with Kartik's candid nature.

"Hmm. Get ready! I will try to make your  India visit worthwhile. I will show you around." - said Kavya.

"Cool. Ummm...Kavya we are going in a AC car, right?" - asked Kartik.

"Nopes. We will get caught. I am not allowed to go outside. But I have something better than the car.Meet me near the rear gate."

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"Wow!This place is beautiful! Do you come here often?"- asked Kartik.

"Not now. But when I was small, I used to come here often. One of my uncles used to get me here. I loved those escapades. I had a lot of fun. We cycled, trekked and did crazy things.  My parents used to accompany me too. But as and when I grew up, I didn't find much time to come here." - said Kavya.

"Hmm. But this isn't very far from your place. How come its not so crowded?"

" People nowadays don't have much time for nature. Strange it is, but we always chase the mundane things of life, leaving behind the true beauties." - said Kavya with a hint of nostalgia.

"Thoughtful!! So tell me about Kabeer. How did you guys meet and all...."

Kavya and Kartik spent the whole day there, talking about their lives. The friendship their mothers shared had somehow trickled down the next generation as well. They wondered how well they got along and in such a short time. Around noon, Kavya got a call from Aditi but she was too smart to trick her mother to believe she was just around the corner and added that Kartik was with him too.

As they got up to leave, Kartik asked "K, where is that Uncle you used to come here with?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since I left home for studies. I asked Mom too. But she hasn't heard from him either. I miss him. Back then, I didn't value his time, his care and his love. Today when I want him to be a part of the biggest day of my life, I am unable to find him. I truly wish if he could come back."

"Hmm. No phone number, email id of his?" - asked Kartik.

"Yeah. I have his email id. I mailed him quite many times. But he never replied. I wonder if he ever read any of those. I wonder if he is.."

"What's his name?" - interrupted Kartik.

"Ryan. Ryan Mehra."

(To be Continued...)

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Links to earlier posts:

Thoughts of the Past - I

Thoughts of the Past - II

Thoughts of the Past - III

Thoughts of the Past - IV

Thoughts of the Past - V

Thoughts of the Past - VI

Thoughts of the Past - VII

Thoughts of the Past - VIII

Thoughts of the Past - IX

Thoughts of the Past - X

Thoughts of the Past - XI

Thoughts of the Past - XII