9/11/2019 - At chennai,Tambaram.
Aparna's P. O. V :
Why should this guy be Rajiv's brother? Why not anyone else? Why him? Why did I meet him?
"I can't believe I am doing this" I murmured as I combed my hair and plaited it.
The mirror in front of me was old and partly rusted.
I sent Rajiv to his brother's room, so that he can finally get some private space to open up.
I breathed out and wore my earrings. I do look like my sister now.
Someone knocked on my door, it should be Rajiv, i thought to myself and opened the door.
But it was Rajiv's mom.
" Hi Aunty! " I told.
She had a plain face as she entered the room.
She sat on the bed and pointed me to sit near her.
" Do you know about our family? " She asked.
Damn it. I know only the drama part. I hope somebody saves me.
" Yes, of course Aunty. Rajiv has told lot about the customs and the traditions that you follow. " I said.
" Good. We don't really get dowry from our in laws. But people value my son with the dowry he gets. Take my brother, he is ready to get his daughter married to Shiva. He has also told that he would give 100 poun gold with a new car. " She said.
" How would that determine your son's value? " I asked confused.
" The more gold the bride family gives, the more value to the groom. People with good financial status like ours have all rights to demand the gold. " She said proudly.
" Yes, of course, for such a good family and your financial status, they should definitely do what you ask. " I said, with my sarcasm overflowing till Marina beach.
" Let's come to your matter, how much gold your father gave for your marriage? " She asked.
I choked a bit and coughed.
" I would have enough gold to wear for any festival or family functions. I really don't know how much. " I said.
" What about car? Refrigerator? And land or house?" She asked curiously.
" Well, Rajiv and I already have a car that we bought with our own salary. We also have an apartment now, within another four years, we would complete the loan too" I said.
" Your family gave you nothing? " She asked with a sad face.
" Excuse me? " I asked shocked.
She got up with a disappointed face, looked at me and smiled as she left the room.
I smiled back and shut the door.
Someone knocked the door again ,i so wanted to kill Rajiv and I opened it fiercely.
It was his younger brother Shiva, the CBI detective.
I instantly smiled and he smiled too.
"Rajiv wants some blue shirt. He asked you to get that from his bag " Shiva said.
" Blue shirt? " I asked.
And he nodded.
I turned back and started digging out Rajiv's bag. Damn it, How would I know what he kept where!!!
Shiva walked in and waited.
He was taller than Rajiv. He had a beard, which kinda suited his face. But his eyes were not the same. He has lost that boyish playfulness.
After five minutes, I was still taking out dress from his bag. Everything was black and grey. I finally found a blue shirt.
When I turned to hand him the shirt, my phone rang.
My phone was plugged to the charger near the table. Shiva was standing by supporting his hand on that table.
Shiva instantly looked at the screen and froze.
It was Prerna.
The contact name was displayed on the screen.
I threw the shirt at him and cut the call immediately.
He looked at me with knitted eye brows. He opened his mouth to ask something.
" It was a call from my home. The landline number. I saved it in my name, so that Rajiv wouldn't know that I was talking to my mom everyday. " I blabbered.
He left without another word.
I closed the door and cursed my luck. I should have shut up. I gave loose talk.
I took the phone and called prerna again.
" Aparna, I was trying to call you from the morning! " Prerna said.
" Prerna, I think I blew up my cover " I said biting my nails.
" What? " She asked.
I sat on the bed and tried calming myself.
" I have met Shiva already! " I said.
" How? When??? " She asked shocked.
" When I was doing my internship in Chennai, I was at a hostel remember, I met him once there. " I said.
That power cut and the stranger, his frame, his face, the rough hair. I remembered everything as if it happened yesterday. But he doesn't seem to remember me.
" You met him once? " Prerna asked.
" Yes! " I said.
" Throw away your tension, he won't remember you! Be cool. Nobody will remember someone with one meeting. Anyway it happened three years ago. " She said.
" Yeah, I hope so " I said.
" In hospital, my turn's next. Call you by evening. " Prerna said.
" Take care. Take care of my minions too" I said and cut the call.
I laid on the bed and looked at the noisy ceiling fan.
The household was old, they haven't painted the house in years. But the wooden windows had my heart.
I had terrible thoughts running on my mind.
I know, I should be happy that Shiva doesn't remember me.
But a small part of my heart feels sad that he doesn't remember me.
I laughed at my stupidity and sat up.
I was repacking Rajiv's bag and someone knocked the door again.
It was finally Rajiv. He closed the door and looked at me.
" Caught up with your brother's story? " I asked him.
" He tried to kill me" He said as he started repacking his own bag.
" Good. You should never hide your anger. You should take it out whenever it's possible. It's good for mental peace " I told laughing.
" Yeah, poor boy has lost his peace because of me. " He said.
" Your mom came. Asked me about how much gold my family gave for my sister! " I said laughing.
"Oh god! I knew she was at that! " He said.
" And if we gave you a car! " I said.
He shook his head and laughed.
" And Aparna, Stay careful with Shiva. " He said.
" Why? " I asked.
" He has seen you in Chennai already.He seems to remember you. He is just at doubt with himself. Be careful " He said.
At that moment, 200 butterflies flew inside my heart, while 200 elephants ran over my brain.