Chapter 1
(Pari)
I cannot do this.
I mean I can do this… It’s my sister’s wedding. I have shared a womb with her for 9 months! And a house for 20 years, before I moved away… How can I skip it? I really wish I could. But that will be selfish of me, right? Ditching your twin sister’s wedding and her husband who is your great friend and an elder brother figure, (sighs) here, I know, the stakes are really high for not ditching the wedding. Naaz weds Armaan. My two precious people… Oh god, I have to go now. It isn’t that I am not happy or I didn’t want to go. I am indeed dying to see her and my family.
Naaz in her red lehenga, I know she picked a red one, she likes to go with traditional ones. My simple sister; beside her would be Armaan. In his red turban, dull ivory shervani and the family sword on his right, that lustrous shine of jems on it. I will be sitting behind Naaz as Paathi ji in Guruduwara reads their 4 vows…the Laavan.
I, explicitly, can imagine myself there. Bridesmaids like me, my two friends Niyati and Jannat by my side, by her side, on her precious life transforming day...
Our parents would stand for Ardaas, facing Guru Granth Sahib, with the bride and Groom on their beautiful day. My little sister finally going to get the life of her dreams. She'd be wearing that Chooda (White and red bangles, ceremonial to wear in the initial years of wedding. It is one of the ornaments that newlywed bride wears)
(Aww), I swear I will cry and eventually ruin my makeup. But still. I can do this for her, and my parents. I do not have to worry. Not about ruined makeup, not about still having no date for wedding, not about bridesmaid’s lehengas (which I have no idea what it is like as my mother is responsible for customized outfits...) or not about stealing Armaan’s Jootey
(Shoes, it is another custom, an act of joke and creating anecdotes),
And definitely not worry about encountering his brother, Vijayvir. Yeah this last reason, I really wanted to miss that out. I am worried about meeting him, Armaan’s brother. I mean he isn’t just Armaan’s younger brother. He is my best friend… Correction, he was my best friend. Until, I cut him off my contacts… intentionally. (don't ask why... you'll know it soon)
But it’s alright, that was… well... past. All of that is in the past. I… We-We were best friends, who grew up together, lived together. All of our gang of 8 friends, Niyati (My dearest bestie), Jannat (my other bestie), Yash (Niyati's boyfriend, and a great guy), Parth (Jannat's boyfriend, and her old crush), Naaz (My sister), Armaan and Vir (My ex guy bestfriend). We all had spend our time in school together. We were friendship goals.
And then… I shifted. I moved to Mumbai, that’s it. There’s no big deal right. Leaving your friends after completing your school, reducing any contact with your certain friend, and finally having your own life to worry about. It isn’t that it will be… weird. So what, people can meet their old besties and not be weird about it. Right?
I am sure he will have a date already, and here I am bringing… no one. (sigh) No plus one for me, eh? Not a fake one? Huh?
*****
(Vir)
Vijayvir Singh Virk was home, he has been home for a month now, officially being the coolie (Handy helper) for Mrs. Virk, his mother, for the responsibilities and normal chores that a normal wedding house have, that would be: to go run errands for her, to go shopping with her, to pick up sweets from the shop, to call the catering service, to bring florist for the house decorations, both of Randhawas and Virk's Houses.
Because apparently the Bride, Naaz, his soon to be sister in law was no one but the girl next door. And not just that. Armaan's father that is Vir's father were in business relations with Naaz's father. But before being business partners, they were Best mates. Started a pharmaceuticals company together. Their friendship was soon going to turn in kinship. A big day for Mr. and Mrs Virk and Randhawa.
And then there was one more chore... to bring the guests and show them their hotel rooms. But out of all those guests that have been pouring in their house, Vir never caught a sight of one, particularly one.
There was still no sign of his certain friend, Vir didn’t even know if he could still call her that, ‘a friend’. Ever since she has left, that being 6 years. Vir eventually considered he should too move out of the city... What was the need of him here. His other friends out of 8 have also moved out... to their destined careers and... life partners. So, he left the city as well, left for Delhi for his law's degree, after waiting for a year...
It was bizarre that Vir still remembers what Pari has said to him the last time they talked, when she boarded that plane to Mumbai...
Vir wouldn't keep a day into finding what she said to him, what were her words or were there any words…. No... There were no words, she has not said a single word to him. Vir, didn’t know why? He remembers thinking what wrong he did that Pari had ignored him to such a way.
What has he done to make her not call him anymore? To his part... Vir tried to call her, and it would go to her answering logs. But then again, he had left messages, like “Come on, neighbor. It’s my 7th call in two days… Have you forgotten me already?”
Vir tried it for a few months, he’d call or text or say hi and try conversing with her whenever their mother’s had her on video call. But he found her slipping away.
