Chapter 26 - Welcome Home

We landed on the airport at 11 am. When I switched on my phone I saw 62 missed calls from all of my family members. I show the phone to Kiyansh and roll my eyes. He shakes his head but a wisp of smile on his face. " You guys go ahead" He says to bristling friend of mine which is Ayan, Kritika, Rohit and Prisha. Who look conspicuously towards me with teasing smile, I roll my eyes at them. We both head out towards the airport lounge. He takes my hand and stops me. " Come here for a second " He says taking me towards a small secluded area covered with metal boxes.

" So..." He clears his throat.

" So..?"

He gives me a testy look and I laugh, he is annoyed because he is nervous, but he will fall on the floor before accepting the fact.

" Okay listen I know you don't like a lot of people and your house would be bursting of them. You have any problem you call me okay? "

I nod my head.

" And one thing more... don't fight me on this. "

" What?"

He gives me an apprehensive look. " There are people going to be with you. My people. Wherever you go they will put tail on you. "

I open my mouth to say something but he put his hands first, " Ofcourse you will have full privacy, it's just they have to be with you. "

I look at him perusing his eyes, " Is there something you are not telling me? "

" I don't want you to be covered with media. And stupid people. Specially because I won't be able to be there. " He says waspishly. " And before you give me reasons that your friends would be there. " He shakes his head , " They are nice people definitely. But they behave like kids when they are together. And they are famous to even attract more attention. It will be good for them too."

And just as Kiyansh says this, Ayan and Prisha burst out laughing at something, while Rohit falls on the floor. Thank God we are standing in a separate room otherwise they would have invited almost all the crowd in the airport.

I ponder over it for a moment. I want to say no to him. But then his point of Paparazzi is also relevant. But how much out would I have to go?

" Please " his soft tone makes me look up. His brown eyes looking at me with nearly desperation. That's when I say the thing I would have never ever said or accepted from anyone. " Okay but they stay away. "

His eyes lights up immediately. " You wouldn't even know. " And before I know what he is doing he hesitantly takes a step forward and touches my hair. My eyes widens. He doesn't do such thing in public, always remaining away from emotional frivallities in public.

He takes my hand and we all head outside where my father looking like a sweet innocent man dressed in his casual aqua t-shirt and denims is standing with four deadly looking, with a figure of a mammoth. I notice two more people dressed in casual clothes but looking sternly and large above normal size seizing us up. I look at Kiyansh and a word passes between us. I sigh and say

' okay ' but I look at the other four guards with my father and wonder why are they here. And I understand the moment we step outside. Flashes of silvery lights blinks, shutters of camera clicking again and again. Kiyansh instantly tugs me close when the commotion of media step towards us. But instead of them coming close I suddenly see all of us. My friends and my father, Kiyansh and me covered in a circle.

We hear annoyed voices and shrieks about how 'unfair' 'step away' 'mam please answer us' 'Kiyansh and Shanvi are you getting married according to the rumours' the names of ' Ayan' 'Prisha' 'Rohit' and 'Kritika' called out. And even someone I can't see yells the name of 'Sahana'. I flinch and Kiyansh nearly hugs me from behind herding me with all of us. Instantly I feel thankful towards the bodyguards who seemed over delusional minutes before..

When we reach parking lot, I take a deep breath and look at Rohit, Ayan, Prisha and Kritika who are too looking at the bodyguards thankfully. " I felt like they were going to mob us. " Rohit exclaims and laughs, my father sniggering instantly and then joining oth laughter.

" Sorry couldn't meet you properly there." my father winks, his eyes twinkling, ofcourse he has instant liking towards Rohit. He likes funny people.

Rohit winks back and shakes my father's hand. Then my father turns and shakes everybody's hand. " Oh we have met before!" My father exurberates to Ayan and Kritika.

Ayan smiles and says, " Last time I missed your chocolate cake. I hope this time I am getting to eat one. "

Kiyansh's eyes throws daggers towards Ayan. My father looks curiously towards Kiyansh and me. "Oh you didn't? "

And then smiles at Ayan. " You will get much more than chocolate cake. Come on. Your mother has put up the house on her head. Please bear with her if you see her panicking about which tablecloth to put on the table. Since your grandmother is here and wouldn't let me do it. " My father winces slightly.

" Nani is here? " I wince slightly too. I imagine my mother suddenly made to handle little things such as the colour of tablecloth. " And a slight smile comes on my mouth.

Whereas from the corner of my eyes. I see Kiyansh almost flabbergasted. His golden skin a little stiff. He have had certain incidents with my ' Nani '. Apparently we all have had. She doesn't like Kiyansh and continuously threatened him to stay away since childhood, since he was boy and he shouldn't be allowed near me. His arguments were that he is just my friend. It was funny to watch them together honestly, until I wasn't dragged into the matter. So whenever in summer vacations, ' Nani ' came to visit, Kiyansh stubbornly denied to return to his house. As if anyone could dare to stop him. But yeah he somewhat seemed not too fond of her presence, I could understand honestly, funnily though.

" Kiyansh do you want to know what is she saying since she came here " my father's face suddenly turn into amusement.

" No. " Kiyansh says before Papa can even complete the sentence.

Everyone in the parking lot looks in amusement. The question almost bursting from their mouth.

They wait until we get in the car. Kiyansh's driver comes to pick him and he heads for his home before turning to just briefly looking at me.

Papa tells the whole story to Ayan, Prisha, Rohit and Kritika. And they all burst laughing, we all do.

We will see if they will laugh when they see my ' Nani'.