Chapter 2

Now, today, when Avni had already reconciled with the fact that the chapter of her childhood from her life had closed, she had received this call from Nikky. The urgency of her voice perplexed Avni because Nikky and Avni had been strangers to each other for such a long time, and here Nikky was speaking as if she would die if Avni didn't go to meet her. Avni's husband was out of country for an official visit, and Avni decided to go to meet Nikky, after all. On her way to the hotel, Avni was very confused; whether she should go to meet a person, who was no longer known to her; about whose present she didn't know anything; what if Avni lands into some sort of trouble. However, Avni was a girl who always believed in her intuitions, which had never let her down till date, and besides, her adventurous streak was forcing her to go and meet Nikky.

On reaching the hotel, Avni looked around for Nikky, but she was surprised when she came around from behind and said, "Hi Avni! It's me, Nikky. God! You are so beautiful, look at you!" Avni was confused. She was expecting an average looking girl, with a limp in the leg; that was what Nikky looked like, who had been inferior to all the children of Gupta Auntie, in appearance. While Arvi, Misha, and Ranjini, were all beautiful children, who had taken after Gupta Auntie, only Nikky was her father's copy; with slightly dark complexion, hair which were curly but neither soft nor beautiful and always standing. This girl couldn't have been Nikky, and someone had certainly tricked her, because the girl before her was a very sensual, charming and beautiful girl, and above all, there was no limp in her leg.

People had started to stare at them and Avni said, "Let's sit somewhere where we can talk." Nikki suggested, "Let's go in the garden outside the hotel as it's cold in here." Avni was surprised, because it was October and the weather was very pleasant, perhaps she was not feeling well. They sat down and Avni said, "You don't seem to be the Nikky whom I knew in my childhood. You are so different, and it is hard to believe that you're Nikky. Please don't mind … just tell me something about our childhood, so I am sure that nobody is pulling my leg." Avni wanted to be sure if she was talking to the right person. She laughed, "Don't worry, I am Nikky, and don't you remember the day when we were going to school and a truck hit me almost killing me and how I had to be at home for months because of my leg injury." She was speaking continuously, and now, Avni had no doubt that the girl in front of her was Nikky, "But, that time you had developed a limp, and now you have no such thing, how come?" She smiled a mischievous smile, through which Avni could see her white teeth and her smooth complexion. She read Avni's thoughts, "You are surprised at my looks, right?! How ugly I used to look, in my childhood, right?! OMG! I should thank Ranjini for this change I've brought in myself, if she hadn't always made fun of me, this would've never happened.

She used to always tease me by saying, "Have you seen yourself? You are so ugly! Who will ever look at you? You, ugly duckling! You are a blemish on our family."

That made me more resolved to cover my looks with my brain and that gave me extra motivation to excel in studies. Ranjini's hatred bewildered me; why would she treat me like shit? Perhaps, I was indeed shit. In school, as well as, in college, I was treated with sympathy or loathing, even though I was very good in studies. I managed to get admission in medical college and resolved to change my looks. Luckily, I got the chance to go USA during an exchange program during my college for some medical project for six months. I deliberately extended it to one year. During that one year, I lived with an American family and they changed my life. What my family could have done for me, was done by them. I got treatment for my limping leg and my leg was normal again. My looks changed to a beautiful person, instead of a ugly girl.

When I came back from America, every body was shocked,

"What about Gupta auntie? She is a mother. ..." I was interrupted in between, "Ma died very early after we shifted to Ajmer , After giving birth to Anjna, my youngest sister. She got TB and TB was a taboo in my paternal family. She hid her illness and it worsened and the result was her untimely death. We were small but Papa didn't get married again which he could have easily done. Instead, he married Arvi bhai in young age. Smedha bhabhi was young too but she was good hearted. Papa took care of us and business and Smedha Bhabhi took care of the house." Nikky explained. "What about Misha? Where does she live and what is she doing?" I wanted to know about Misha because she was my best friend. "She was married early because our family was big and papa always treated girls like his responsibility and liability which he had to get rid of at the earliest possible. Misha was the eldest and beautiful and papa had money and he thought he could write his daughter's fate. So, she was married in a wealthy and well known business family of Bombay, but after sometime, a division took place in her in-laws family and Misha's husband who was the youngest got only a small fortune. Ultimately, Misha along with her family was called to Ajmer and papa helped them in setting another business. They are doing well but not a wealthy family anymore. And yes, she remembers you often, actually we all miss Jaipur a lot. Now, may I continue with my story for which I called you." She narrated with an irritated tone and I was confused as to why called me to meet if she didn't want to tell me about her family. Anyways, I put aside such thoughts and concentrated on what she was saying, "You know, how much I am enjoying the sunshine. I was feeling so cold…" Her face seemed ashen and I couldn't help asking, "What is matter? Have you got fever? You are looking so shaken?" She said hurriedly, "No, no. I just have to reach airport to take flight and before that, there are so many things I have to talk with you. "

"Ok, ok, don't worry, we will talk about everything before you leave." She was assured but her behaviour made Avni very confused. Why me? Why was she putting so much faith in me even when we had not met in years? She read my mind and asked, "You are thinking why I am telling you all this. You will get the answers to all of your questions when I will complete my story."