Author's Note -
Hey everyone, just wanted to say I didn't translate or edit this first chapter yet, I'll reupload it when I'm done editing :)
~ Saanjh
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| Chapter 1 |
Riverside, California
A shrill alarm was blaring throughout a white room as a figure under the purple sheets tousled around groaning, irritated that her sleep was interrupted.
"Damn you, you stupid alarm," Madhubala groaned, stretching and smacked the top of the alarm till it stopped making noise.
She yawned and looked around the room, her attention drifting back to the alarm clock which showed her it was 5 AM, to Madhu's surprise.
"I swear this alarm has some defect, waking me up this early," she mumbles to herself as she yanks the sheets over her form, trying to get back to sleep.
"Madddhuu!!"
"Trishu what?" Madhu sighs, exasperated, emerging from her blanket, hearing the rapping against her bedroom door.
The doorknob jingles as Trishna makes her way into Madhu's room, a breakfast tray in one hand.
"I'm going to the gym and I made breakfast, you stay in bed and rest since you're not feeling well okay?"
"Okay," Madhu mumbles, blinking at her sister, bleary eyed and exhausted.
Trishna smiles, setting the breakfast tray on Madhu's drawer, then frowns looking at Madhu's phone beep on the side.
"Madhu are you...you're still setting alarms for this time?" Trishna asks worriedly.
"Trishu, I didn't this time...I swear ever since he- forget it. I swear this alarm is taking time to get used to life without him," Madhu mutters, sitting up in her bed.
Trishna frowns and sits next to Madhu, wrapping her arms around her older sister.
"What he did to you was totally out of line Madhu...and I understand that habits die hard, par phir bhi..."
"It's okay, tension matt lena faltu mein, it's not worth the stress. Jiyo, khush raho, muskurao, kya pata, kal ho na ho," Madhu smiles and hugs Trishna back.
Trishna groans at Madhu's filmy dialogue and smacks Madhu's arm lightly.
"Di tum bhi na! SRK ka bhoot kab chodega tumhe?"
Trishna rolls her eyes as Madhu laughs and pinches Trishna's cheeks, annoying her younger sister further.
"Kabhi nahi, and don't expect me to stop itttt," Madhu laughs and Trishna pouts at her.
"Okay fine, we know you love him. Also, I emailed you professors last night so you're excused from your classes okay? You're sick, so better take care of yourself alright?"
"Yes I promise Trishu," Madhu smiles at Trishna as she gets up to leave.
"I'll be back by 7 okay? Go back to sleep and have breakfast when you're up to it, love you. Aur agar kuch bhi-"
"Kuch nahi hoga ek ghanta mein, ab jao meri jaan."
Madhu pushes Trishna gently, smiling to reassure her and Trishna hugs her and leaves, leaving Madhu to her own thoughts. Her smile slowly wears off and Madhu sighs, closing her eyes, feeling a dull ache in her heart take over. Ever since he had left, Madhu had been shattered, but later decided she'd live for herself.
"You got this Madhu, you got this," she reassured herself, sighing softly trying to calm herself.
After a few attempts to regulate her breathing, she slowly drifted back to sleep peacefully for the first time in a while. Little did she know what was going to crash into her, quite literally within the next few days...
Chennai, India
"Yes Ma I'll be at the wedding venue soon, take a chill pill re!" Rishabh groans, running a hand through his tousled hair.
As Rishabh's car entered through the gates of the venue, he saw a ball of colors flying right at him, through his front window.
"Yes I'm here Ma. Don't send Sul- AHHHHH!!" Rishabh screeched like a banshee, stepping on the brakes while the tires of his car screeched like the driver himself.
"Why you bloody son of - SULTAN!"
"Bhaiiii welcome back home."
Sultan chuckled as Rishabh lowered the car window, glowering at his younger brother. He parked in the parking area as Sultan followed the now rainbow car with a hose. Rishabh got out of the car to assess the damage done to his car and groaned looking at the rainbow vomit mess.
"Here let me help clean that,"
Sultan aimed for the car but accidentally splashed Rishabh's face with it and started laughing hysterically as Rishabh ran towards him.
"Aaj toh tu gaya beta," he yelled after Sultan.
"Sorry Bhai, I'll clean your car, but you need to cool down first-Shit!" Sultan's teasing was put to a halt by Rishabh as he gripped the other end of the hose, dousing his younger brother with the water and they both starting laughing.
"Welcome back Mr. Kadoos," Sultan hugged Rishabh who smiled and they threw the hose away.
"It's good to be back idiot, now where's bridezilla? Did she tell you to do the prank?"
Sultan's face paled and he looked at Rishabh and he understood without Sultan uttering a word.
"Deepali is gonna kill you isn't she?"
Sultan nodded, his face paling as he glanced over Rishabh's shoulder.
"She's behind us, isn't she?"
"You know Bhai....good question. The only answer that I have is - RUN!"
Sultan grabbed Rishabh's hand and dragged his brother, and Rishabh's foot got caught in the hose as Sultan proceeded to run while clutching his poor brother's arm, who was now being scraped against the cement walkway like a piece of chalk.
"Sultan you airhead!" Rishabh yelled as Sultan paid no heed, trying to run from Deepali.
"STOP!"
Deepali appeared before the duo and glared at Sultan then looked at Rishabh, before bursting into laughter.
"C'mon you two, kya halat bana rakha hai? And poor RK bhai yaar, look what you did Sultan."
Deepali helped Rishabh up, and he saw his now torn slacks and lunged for Sultan but Deepali grabbed him by the back of his shirt, and told Sultan to back up.
"Ask your husband to be, him and his prank," Rishabh looked pointedly at Sultan who hid behind Deepali.
"Sultan, Ma told you to welcome him in the venue not...attack him."
Deepali grimaced looking at RK's state, he looked pitiful...torn slacks, his blazer soaked in water and paint, not to mention the back of his slacks were nearly eroded because of Sultan's dragging. She shut her eyes and turned around signaling Sultan to take Rishabh inside.
"Sorry Bhai, I'll take you to the guest room," Sultan held back a chuckle as he navigated RK to the guest room.
"Here's the key to your room and Ma, Papa, Deepali and I will be in her suite, so just come there when you're done, we have to discuss the guest list since people are flying in this Friday for our wedding."
"Haan sounds good, can you bring my luggage from the car? And wash it when you get the chance please," Rishabh said, handing his car keys to Sultan.
"Yes of course, really sorry about the car bhai-"
"Cut the buttering off yaar, just do it," Rishabh smiled and Sultan saluted him laughing.
"Okay I'll head out Bhai."
"Oh and Sultan is she-"
"She'll be here by Thursday morning."
Sultan squeezed his shoulder then walked down the hall, leaving Rishabh to be consumed in his thoughts...thoughts of her....of them.