Love's Redemption♡

CHAPTER - 37

"Some days I am Van Gogh's starry nights, other days I am his suicide letter"
- unknown
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Present--

Vahni POV:

I wake up feeling refreshed and head to Kriti's room to wake her up. I find her curled up in a ball, fast asleep. I try to rouse her gently, but she just turns and twists, refusing to wake up.

I laugh and tease her, "Come on, sleepyhead! We need to get ready for the party!"

Kriti groggily opens one eye, looks at me, and then closes it again. I threaten to splash cold water on her face, and that finally gets her to sit up and rub her eyes.

Once Kriti is up and about, I head to my closet to search for a dress to wear. As I scroll through my clothes, my eyes land on the red mini dress that I had worn that night. I feel a pang in my chest, and for a moment, I'm transported back to the past.

But I shake my head, determined not to let memories of him overtake my mind. I put the dress aside and continue searching for something else to wear. Tonight, I'm going to focus on having fun with Kriti, and not let the past ruin my evening.

I head off to the washroom to do my makeup first. As I'm engrossed in perfecting my eyeliner, I hear my phone ring. I look at the caller ID, and it's Mum.

I take the call, and she asks, "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting ready for a party, Mum," I reply. "Kriti is forcing me."

We both chuckle, and I can tell Mum loves Kriti too. Then Mum's tone becomes serious. "I wanted to call you up, I had something important to say."

"What is it, Mum?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Enjoy today, and I'll tell you tomorrow," Mum says.

But I'm not having it. "Mum, just tell me now. If you don't, I won't be able to enjoy myself. Is it regarding your or Dad's health?" I ask, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

Mum reassures me, "Calm down, Vini. Nothing of that sort. It's... um... your brother. He's getting married."

"Ohh, that's nice," I say, trying to sound casual. "What's so serious about it?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

Mum's tone turns serious again. "You have to come back, Vini beta. We can't have a wedding without you."

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Of course, you can. It's not mine, after all."

Mum's voice is firm. "Vini, you're a family member. You have to be there. Your cousin brother is getting married, and it's a big deal for all of us."

I sigh, feeling a pang of guilt. I know Mum is right. I should be there for my brother's wedding. But the thought of going back to my hometown, of facing all the memories and emotions that I've been trying to avoid, is daunting.

I hesitate, unsure of what to say. Mum senses my uncertainty and presses on. "Vini, beta, it's time to come home. You've been away for too long. Your cousins need you, and so do we."

I feel a pang of guilt, but I'm not ready to face my past just yet. "Mum, I don't know... I'll think about it, okay?" I say, trying to stall.

Mum's tone turns slightly stern. "Vini, you can't avoid your family forever. Your brother is getting married, and you need to be there."

I sigh, feeling a sense of unease. "Mum, I said I'll think about it. Can't we talk about this later?"

Mum says, "And Vihaan doesn't even live near our house. There's less than 1% chance that you'll meet him. You're being paranoid for no reason, Vini."

I feel a surge of defensiveness, but I try to keep my tone neutral. "Mum, you don't understand. It's not just about Vihaan. It's about the whole town, and all the memories that come with it. I'm just not ready to face all that yet."

Mum sighs, and I can tell she's trying to be patient with me. "Vini, beta, you can't keep running from your past forever. At some point, you need to face it head-on and move on. Your brother's wedding is the perfect opportunity for you to do that."

I end the call with Mum, feeling a mix of emotions. I'm sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the wall, when Kriti walks into the room.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Kriti asks, noticing my gloomy expression. "You look like you've lost your last friend."

I sigh, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Mum called. My brother's getting married, and she wants me to come home for the wedding."

Kriti's expression turns sympathetic. She knows everything about my past, about Vihaan, and about why I've been avoiding my hometown for so long.

"Hey, don't worry," Kriti says, sitting down beside me and putting a comforting arm around my shoulders. "We'll get through this together. Tonight, let's just forget about everything and everyone. We'll enjoy our freedom, and worry about the rest later."

I nod, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Kriti. She's always been there for me, supporting me and encouraging me to move on.

"Let's do it," I say, smiling slightly. "Let's forget about everything and just have fun tonight."

We spend the next hour getting ready, trying on different outfits and doing our hair and makeup. Once we're satisfied with our looks, we book a cab and head out to the club.

As we drive, the music in the cab is blasting, and we're both singing along to our favorite songs. I'm feeling more and more carefree by the minute, and I'm grateful to Kriti for convincing me to come out tonight.

When we arrive at the club, the line is already pretty long, but Kriti knows the bouncer, and we manage to skip the queue. As we enter the club, the music is pulsating, and the lights are flashing. We make our way to the bar, where Kriti orders us a couple of drinks.

As we sip our drinks and dance to the music, I'm feeling more and more alive. I'm letting go of all my worries and inhibitions, and just enjoying the moment. Kriti is laughing and dancing beside me, and I'm grateful for her presence in my life.

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