CHAPTER EIGHT

The next afternoon, Alia is still on bed, in her pyjama, looking nowhere, deep in thoughts. Since the morning, Riddhima has knocked twice. Meher and Amyra has been constantly coming and knocking but she kept telling them to leave her alone.

Previous night, she came inside and locked her door before anyone came home from the exhibition. She changed her clothes and made herself a hot cup of coffee and sat near the window taking everything in.

Sinking into the details, how she madly fell for a guy who's her parent's friends' son and somewhat related. How, the only guy she ever thought about was his Riddhi Riddhi maa's son in some ways.

There were so many boys in school who wanted to be friends with her, some couldn't even ask her or talk to her because Riddhan was always threatening them to never come near his sisters some feared from Meher's wrath but still some managed but when they showed interest in more than friends, all were pushed away.

In college, many guys looked at her and many tried to take her out, hang out with her but she pushed them all away. Even in Paris, Paris where romance blooms like flowers, where so many guys tried to date her, she always had eye for one damn guy.

And he, well he was wandering around with every girl possible. He had girls running behind him all the time. She never remembersa time when she didn't see Aayan with a new girl every month. He always had his hands full.

And she knew yet she waited for the day when he'd feel something, anything , for her and be with her. Her wait, her patience was for nothing. Simply nothing. She kept her feelings for herself but she knew that he's aware of her feelings. He had too. That's the reason he started running away from her.

He didn't eat the cookies she'd make for him, he'd just change his way, seeing her coming closer. He'd just ignore her calls and texts.

One reason other than learning, she went to paris was because she wanted to test her feelings. You can't love someone who do not love you back, right? But man, how wrong was she. She did love him even if he did not.

It broke her heart when in front of everyone he simply said he didn't love her. But it was okay. She was okay. She felt bad and then she was ready to move on. Then he said yes to get married to him.

Why did he say yes?

This one question kept killing her inside. He never gave her a proper reason yet she, like crazy planning her happily ever after. And just as she was so close to have it all, he called and like a splash of water, took everything away.

And now that she was finally getting ready to move on and start her life, he again came back and like always, he changed her life again. She has no idea what to do anymore. It turns out that running away did no good to her. She, eventually, is married anyways.

"Aalu..." Meher shouts banging her door," come out man. Riddhi maa is real angry and she said if you do not come down, she is goin to break the damn door.

"Leave me alone Mahi." She shouts back and hide under the blanket.

She hears the hustle out of her door a while later. She peeks out from the blanket and Riddhima walks in throwing the blanket off from her," you get the hell out of the bed right now Alia Joshi."

Alia shrieks,"I want to be alone!"

"Not in my watch, young lady." She walks up to her and pull her out of the bed, pushing her to the bathroom, "get yourself cleaned up right now. It's Saturday for God's sake. No girl your age should be in bed this late." She then turns to Meher and Amyra who are enjoying the show," amy, take out some fresh clothes for her. Meher, go get some juice and something to eat for Aalu."

They both oblige and rush to do the given work. Riddhima is angry means a volcano can erupt and that means everyone will suffer.

Alia comes out of the bathroom cleaning herself and takes the clothes Amyra passes her and rushes to change. After she's freshly dressed Riddhima passes her the tray. She just stare at the toast feeling so small all of a sudden. She looks up at Riddhima and her eyes well up.

Riddhima sighs and pushing the tray away, she takes Alia in her arms who softly cries. Riddhima let her cry as she soothes her head patting softly.

"Don't cry, Aalu." She wipes Alia's cheeks and holds her securely, " we all are right here for you, don't cry. You know Armaan hates seeing you cry and he will walk in any moment. "

"I tried, Riddhi maa. I did everything to not break down." She weeps as she looks up at Riddhima hoping her Riddhi maa would do something and take all of it away.

"Tell me what happened, why are you crying?"

"Aayan and I are married."

Riddhima just stare at her not understanding. She takes a deep breath and puts her head on Riddhima's lap and start telling her everything.

"No, shit." Meher gawk at her. Amyra pinch her for ruining the moment. They both sit on the bed and Alia just pouts when they laugh at her.

"Girls."

"Sorry!" Amyra tries to sound genuine but she fails and burst out laughing again," sorry Aalu di. Mom, it's like history repeating itself. You and dad so tried to not be together yet somehow you are. It's like our family is cursed with not 'not' being married. "

"Yeah, one sided love Turning into both sided is like our game." Meher laughs and Alia throws pillow at both of them.

"He called me to annul the marriage we had in court but I was being totally paranoid and I didn't even read his messages." She sighs and looks at Riddhima helplessly.

"So you are still married?" Riddhima still can't believe this is happening to the kids. All their lives, both Armaan and her tried to teach them that if you do not want to do something then just simply don't.

"Riddhi maa, what should I do?"

"Get a divorce?" Meher suggests.

"Who's getting a divorce?" Muskaan asks entering inside and looks at Riddhima almost shocked.

"Ohh, please Muskie, Riddhi maa and Amy are not getting divorced. We are talking about Aalu and Aayan bhai." Meher stands, "they are still married, you know?"

Muskaan looks at Alia then Riddhima questioningly. Riddhima nods,"we thought they annulled the documents. Armaan was positive that Aayan would do it soon."

"Aalu? Will you ever tell me what happened? Why did you took off?" Alia looks at Muskaan with so much pain that for a moment, she regrets asking her the wrong question at the the wrong time but she just wants to know what happened.

Deep down she knew that Riddhima and Armaan knows everything and somewhere it's her son's fault but she still wants to hear the whole story. She has heard Aayan's side of story more that once and now it's time she flips the coin.

****************

"That idiot!!" She exclaims as Alia tells her everything and holds her, " I am so sorry sweetheart. I am so, so sorry."

"I knew it." Rahul growls as he punches the door. Riddhima and Muskaan closes their eyes and Alia shrinks in Riddhima's arm.

"Rahul." Muskaan rushed to her husband who angrily stares at her,"I am going to kick his ass."

"You need to calm down, Rahul. "

"Calm down? Don't you see what he has done again?"

"He's a grown man now, he is not 15 years old for you to scream or kick him" Muskaan shouts at him," he stays away and he got his own life now. You can't just barge in everytime he pisses you off or you are angry at him"

"Why do you always defend him? Don't you see his mistakes?"

"I do Rahul. I very well do. But he is our son. And in rage, like you I can't just get up ready to to kill him. What he did is wrong but that is his and Alia's personal matter. You do not get to decide for them."

"Personal matter?" He glares at her," seriously? Personal matter? Why did he say yes to get married if he was so against it then?"

"To prove you that he is capable of something."armaan speaks from behind. He then looks at his girls and smile,"girls, go down. Aalu, you stay."

"But I want to see the drama." Meher winches but still go out of the room with amy. She turns and look at Armaan," I want all the details later!"

"Promise! " he laughs. Turning to Rahul he says," every day of his life, you never failed to tell him why he is alive and what debts he is under. You think that unfortunate day, if Anjy wouldn't have saved your son, she'd ever be able to look into your eyes and be friends with you?"

"So you want us to forget that she died saving him?"

"No. You think any of us can forget Anjy? She is our best friend Rahul. And Riddhima's sister. Alia and Aarul are proof that she is still with us somehow. None of us can ever forget her. But torturing your son because of that is so unfair. She is dead. You mourned, we all did. She gave her life so Aayan can live and have a life not a lifetime of punishment. You pressurized that boy so much that he tried to be the perfect son and in that he forgot to be a person who he's supposed to be. He may have not loved Aalu but for your sake and time be a goddam perfect son, he almost surrendered his whole life. See what happened. Just imagine now what life would they have lived if Aalu wouldn't have gone?"

He walks to Alia and gives her hand. She stands smiling,"awesome speech!"

He chuckles and shakes his head and pushes her to Rahul. She stands in front of him and looks at him pouting,"it wasn't completely his fault, da. We both forced him. And I want you to know that I am a big girl now. I can manage a little heartbreak and I can handle things on my own now."

"But he..."

"He did good, Believe me. Because marriage without love is just like world without water. You would die each and every second until you actually die." She looks at all of them,"you all are our role models and you guys love each other so much. So if you think any of us will settle for anything less then what we actually deserve than you all are questioning your upbringing and it's so wrong." Taking Rahul's hand she smiles, "I will handle it, I promise. "

Rahul nods and leaves from there. No one stops him knowing he will get over it soon. Alia looks at Muskaan,"maa, even if I am not your daughter-in-law, I will always be your first daughter, right?"

Muskaan nods and hugs her tightly, " we have connection even before these men were involved. You are my best friend's daughter and my god daughter. There is nothingin the world that matters."

Muskaan takes a sit next to Armaan and sighs," that man riles me up like no one can. How I haven't kicked him out is still out of my mind. "

They all laugh. Armaan looks at Riddhima and winks.

****************

"I told everyone that I will handle everything. But how?" She asks looking up at the sky.

"You want me to kick his ass?." Meher passes her a cup of coffee and sits on the swing where alia and Amyra were already sitting. She sips and passes the cup to Amyra, "too strong."

"I am so scared right now. I have no idea what life is about to do to me?" She holds the cup and glares at it like it is all the cups fault.

"You remember what mom says?" Amyra asks," that ' it's not what life does to us but what we do with life that Matters. Even if, it's on auto mode, it's we who are sitting behind the wheel and giving the direction. Life will just change the gears. But we are the one giving it either right or wrong way'."

"Exactly! " Riddhima walks to them," and we are responsible for accidents." She nods,"what do you want to do?"

"I don't know?" Alia shakes hers head," you tell me what should I do?"

"Do you still love him?"

"I don't know that either. "

"Then you will find out. Talk to him, ask him what he wants to do." Riddhima suggests.

"What will he say, Riddhi maa? I have been ignoring him for four months and now I am supposed to talk?"

"Well, it's better late than never. By law, you both are still married. If you want to work out, we will support you and if don't, then it's simple. Get divorced!"

"Getting divorced is that simple?"

"Six months waiting period then if still nothing works out, you are granted a divorce. It's you both, who gets to decide."

"Why it has to be so messy?"

"Aalu, no one said it's going to be easy. And if it is easy then you deserve much better. You said it yourself up there." Riddhima says. Alia nods then takes a sip of coffee and throws the rest,"that's dad's kind of coffee." She glares at meher who chuckles.

"That's why I gave you. You can be like him. Kickass." She gets a slap from Riddhima and winches, "what? Riddhi maa you have to admit."

"Ohh, I do. You have no Idea how much I admit!"

"Riddhi maa? Was it easy for you and dad?"

"Never. I hated his guts at the start. Then he hated me. We didn't agree with anything for a long time. Then we found a common ground and started accepting each other." She smiles remembering all those years they spent together, "you know, I never regret a single day of my life. Because with him beside me, I can win the whole world."

"And what if you do not agree to each other at all?" Amyra asks, lost.

"Loving someone doesn't mean you are bound to agree to each other. It means you respect each other enough to let the other person decide what is best for them. Whatever it is, you just be happy for them." Riddhima looks at her wondering.

"What if the other person wants something impossible?"

"It's love Amy, there is nothing impossible. You give in everythingor you give nothing. " She looks at her intensely, "is there something you want to tell?"

Amyra shakes her head. Alia looks at Amyra then turns to Riddhima, "what if it doesn't work? What if I fail?"

"Then it wasn't meant to be. Love should come naturally. You shouldn't be forcing it. And if you are forcing it means something is definitely wrong."

"Why it is such a mess? Why I have to be so damn messy?" She clutches her hair and groans.

"What are you talking about?" Meher asks," you are the most sorted one between all of us Aalu. You are the only one who doesn't have to worry about the mess. There's a reason we call you 'aalu'. You blend with everything. You do not have to force yourself for it. It comes naturally within you."

"She is right, Aalu di." Amy nods, " you don't have all this craziness like we all do. You have always been so sorted. Look at Aayan bhai. He doesn't know what he wants what he needs. Riddhan bhai is a lone wolf. He doesn't even have a life. Aarul bhai is a lost soul. He is so lost that he forgets about everyone. And look at Mahi!" She laughs.

"What?"

"You are crazy." Amy says laughing then smiles," and I am the mess here. I do crazy things. I act stupid and I just keep making mistakes."

"Amy?" Riddhima asks her. Amyra has tears in her eyes,"what is wrong with me mom?"

Riddhima pulls her and wipes her tears,"you are perfect, baby. Nothing is wrong with you. Who said?"

She shakes her head and says sorry. Riddhima hugs her,"you are perfect. All of you are perfect. You listen to me? Nothing is wrong with anyone of you." She reassures her and looks at Alia,"You got this chance. Six month is enough to know if you really love him. And If do you love him and you think he is the one for you then give it your best shot. Give it so best that he is totally yours and if he still doesn't have feelings for you then hold your head high and walk off his life that he never happened. I have taught you all better than crying for a guy. Because someone is there, out in this world to love you unconditionally and so much that everyday will be a new day and everyday he will find a new reason to love you more than the previous day."

"That's why I love you more than muskie" Meher rushes and hugs her and Alia joins the group too.

"My girls are partying without me?" Armaan walks to them and join them.

"Okay now, chop chop.." Meher pulls Amyra and Alia," we have to get ready."

"Where are we going?" Alia asks.

"Partyyy.." Meher shouts dragging them both with her.

Armaan and Riddhima both smiles looking at them. She turns to look at him as he kisses her cheek. Then he gives her a peck and pulls her on the swing.

"They are going to be alright Armaan. I feel it."

"I hope so Riddhima. They had a chance and somehow they blew it just like us. What if they still do no realize?" He asks worried.

"They will. With everything happening, I am positive they will fine their way to each other." She takes him hand and putting her head on his shoulder enjoy the peace.

To be continued...