Forever Connected

Pooja

"I was waiting for you" she gives me a tight smile and starts to put some food into my plate. I too grab a dish of another sabzi and start putting it into mine and her plate.

When we were all finally done eating, the elders quickly left to get their sleep in leaving us to chit chat around the bonfire in the graden.

We got a tub of ice cream from the staff and sat around the fire.

"Remember when Maasi and Maa were out shopping and Nani lined us all up and stuffed our faces with Allo Puri because we were annoying her?" Kyra says making us all laugh.

"Arey bhai, don't. I remember how nani told us 'chori, tum shaant rehne ka kya logi?' when we wouldn't stop fighting" Niya said laughing. I smiled remembering all those  moments. An ache in my chest just like everytime I remember her.

"Chori?" Aisha perked up from my shoulder and asked.
"Yeah, nani was from haryana. It's like 'little girl'" I explained. I remember how once we went to Nani's village and I could barely comprehend what they spoke because of how different our languages were.

I know english, hindi and punjabi, all of which I commonly use but the way they spoke, the words. It took me a whole ten minutes to understand they were referring to me as 'Rachna's kid.'

Aisha softly smiled at me and took my hand in hers with a sublte squeeze. My thumb rubbed her back palm in return.

"She used to knit Niya a sweater every year and she would wear it despite the itchiness she felt so that Nani wouldn't feel bad" I said, the girl's always been a bit of a people pleaser.

"That does sound like her" Kunal said, looking at her lovingly. Even though I should be disgusted I wasn't.

"It does" Aisha agreed.

She looked at the two with a small smile, tears shining in her eyes. My bestfriend picked his hand up and wiped them.
"Hum bhi hai yaha par, Love doves" Vedant says making us laugh as Kunal and Niya rolled their eyes.

This is everything I loved.

AISHA
"I barely got any sleep last night" Ruhi yawns as she spalts on my bed. I pull her arm upwards since I can not afford to be late today. We have a Ganesh pooja before the haldi ceremony today and by how much I've tried to suck up to everyone yesterday I'll not let being late ruin that.

"Dono pati patni same" I mutter under my breath as I pull the woman up. She's already ready in a beautiful sharara while I look like a car ran me over.

Ruhi helped me get ready and into my outfit for today, Maa recommended I wear a suit instead of a saree because of the amount of sitting on the floor we have to do and I graciously agreed. I slipped into my yellow anarkali. The haldi outfit is pink rather than yellow so it was different than what I'd wear in the day.

I glanced at the clock once more, it was 6:30 meaning I still had time for my hair before I have to be at the venue of the pooja.
We set back my hair into a sleek pony and I put on some simple mascara, lip stain and a bindi for makeup because honestly, there was no way I'm doing a full face at seven am.

The loud knocks on the gate startled us for a second before Ruhi went to open it. Kyra and Niya graced the doorway in matching kurta sets.
"Pretty pretty" I said as they came in.
"Bhabhi, it's too early for this yaar" Kyra said leaning her forehead to the wall.
"Sahime" Niya agreed as she put hers in Kyra's shoulder.
"It's okay, bache. I'll get you some coffee once we're downstairs." I told them and they smiled in return.

After a while Vedant came in to call us down.
"Chaa gayi kuddiyan" he said taking us all in.

"Kunal's calling me. I'll see you downstairs" Niya ran out the door leaving us all in my room. We too went downstairs. The pooja preperations were not yet done so I joined in when everyone went to the dining hall for some coffee. Aadvik was still not here yet so I took some coffee to him instead.

"Mornin' mornin' " I said as I knocked the gate. He opened the gate in a hurry and ran back to the vanity. His hair was wet and flopped over his forehead. The buttons in his matching kurta were open as he ran across his room trying to find something.

"Hey, Mr. I am Flash. Calm down" I said, putting the coffee tray down. He gave me a look that said no time for jokes. I took the wet towel on the bed and quietly held his shoulder and mad him sit on the bed.

"Aisha-" he said but I placed my hand on his mouth and glared at him. He nodded and sat obediently.

He opened his knees and I stepped in between them, my thight grazing his. I shook the towel on his head, drying the hair.

"I'll clean up this"- I waved to the catastrophic mess that was his room-"you have some coffee and we'll go then" I told him and got to work with the room. I have no idea what happened here yesterday night but whatever did, it was fun. Aadvik nods as he goes closer to the counter where I placed the coffee and takes a sip from the cup.

I can't help but chuckle by the way he sits on the chair like a little kid after being scolded. "Aww" I coo, earning a glare from him.
"You need to calm down" I said as I move behind his chair and gently massage his shoulders. He's been on guard since the guests came. All 'ye ho gaya? wo ho gaya?'.

He leans back and rests his head on the chair's back. His damp hair brushing at my suit's fabric. "Everyone's counting on us. To have a good time, that is." He says as his eyelids fall shut.
"And they are. Trust me. I just came from the dining hall and everyone is enjoying the hell out of family gossip. Aadi, you can't go into your wedding only thinking about the guests. Think about having fun!" I shake his shoulders to engergize him.
"Okay, let's have some fun I guess" he nods as he takes a last sip from the coffee mug. "Excuse me sir. I guess?!" I exclaim getting a light laugh from him. "Sure, fun!" He says and we make our way out of his room.

Maa and Papa are sitting with some other relatives in the garden. We greet them all a good morning while Aadvik touches their feet.
"Idhar aao" Maa says and we both lean downwards to her eye level. She strokes her finger across the waterline, taking some kohl on it and then puts it behind both of our ears.
"Dono khush raho" she says, cupping our cheeks with either of her hands.

Soon after, the Pandit Ji tells us we must sit in our places as he starts the Pooja. They make me sit beside Aadvik, I quickly put the duppata over my head and join my hands.

Poojas have always been my favourite, peaceful. It makes me feel connected to god. Sitting here beside everyone I love, it's the best moment to have.

"Ghee kaha par hai?" Pandit ji asks as he continues to set everything up.
"Mai laati hu, mere kamre me hai" I tell them as I get up to the ghee from my room.
"Sit down" Aadvik says holding my wrist stopping me from getting up.
"Baitho beta, pure din kaam karti ho. Abh nahi!" Papa says making me chuckle and nod. Instead, Niya got up to get it.

The pooja is as good as I imagine, halfway through, Aadvik sits beside me, my hand on his as we pour in the ghee. Pandit ji stops for a moment, telling us a story of a goddess. I immerse in the story when I felt a hand on my head, my duppata now lays on my nape instead of my hair. Aadvik's hands adjust the edge back to my head as he continues to pay attention and nod at the story. It's almost funny how he does it so unintentionally while also being so focused.

When we join our hands to pray, I know exactly my wish.
Bhagwan ji, humesha iske saath rakhna. Bass.

HELLO CUTUSS
Guys I have  HUGE WRITERS BLOCK. So that's my explanation to terrible upload schedule. I'm sorry.