Chapter 1
NANDINI
"No, please stop p-please, NOOOO", I woke up screaming. Its been 4 years since that incident and it is all still fresh in my mind. How much ever I try forgetting that dreadful afternoon, it all comes running back to me.
Today a new chapter is going to start for me. Its the first day of my college. I wanted to start this day on a happy note, but even today my nightmares didnt leave me.
"Nanduuu, Nandini beta chalo wake up. You dont want to be late for your first day, do you?” I was brought out of my thoughts by my mothers calls.
I quickly reply to her and get ready. Dressed in a simple kurta and jeans, I go downstairs to greet my parents. There sits my father at the dining table busy reading newspaper and sipping his tea. I quickly settle down at the dining table where Maa serves me filter coffee and my favourite poha.
"Nandu slowly, otherwise youll choke", Maa scolds me, seeing me eating in a hurry.
"Maa I'll get late if I eat slowly", I reply.
"But kanna, there is still time for you to leave", she says.
"No maa, I have to go, take her blessings as well", I give her my reason.
"Ohh yes, how can I forget", she smilingly shakes her head at her forgetfulness.
After finishing my breakfast I go to the small Temple in my house to take the blessings of god. After a brief conversation with god, I take my parents blessing and they wish me luck for my first day. After taking everyones blessing, I rush out of the house.
Just opposite my house is the Malhotras house. I slowly enter the house and my eyes catch Chachi, busy in the kitchen. I tip toe towards her and hug her from the back. She is startled but immediately realises my touch. Chachi turns, lovingly taps me on the head and hugs me.
"Sneha, meri chai kahan hai?", Chacha asks, coming into the kitchen. Seeing me there he lightly slaps his head, "Now that Nandini is here, I am definitely going to be late for office" he says shaking his head.
"Why do you worry Chacha? You go sit, I'll get your tea." I say.
"Nandu, I was just joking. Its your first day at college, I dont want you to be late. Go meet Maa, she has been waiting for you.” listening to him, I rush to Dadi's room.
"Dadiii", I call, entering her room, and there she is smiling at me. "Chacha told me you were waiting for me, but how did you know that I am coming?" I ask.
"Its the first day of your college and you'll go without meeting me? Impossible!" she says and I chuckle.
"Accha chal, now eat this gajar ka halwa, I made it especially for you." she says forwarding me the bowl of the sweet dish.
"Dadi this is not done. I am full and you know I can't refuse to gajar ka halwa.", I crib.
"Isliye toh I made it for you. Now no excuses and finish it.", and she feeds me the whole bowl of the sweet dish.
"Okay Dadi, now I'll take your leave." I say and get up.
Just when I am about to leave, the door opens and there he is, in all his glory.
MANIK
5 years and this country still feels alien to me. First time when I felt good in this country was when she came into my life and after she left, I again started feeling suffocated here.
Tomorrow, I'll be going back to my country forever. The place where I was born, the place that is my home.
5 years ago, my father brought us here to expand his business. Today, when our company is one of the leading companies in the world, we are returning back to our country.
Its been 5 years since I last saw her, last spoke to her. How will she react seeing me? Will she be happy? Will she be angry? Or both? I dont know. The only thing I know is, that all these years I have craved to see her, talk to her and also hug her.
"Manik", my mother calls me entering into the room. "I hope you are done with your packing?", she asks.
"Yes mom, everything is done. Stop worrying, all right?" I say hugging her sideways.
After 3 hours we leave for the airport. It's a nine hours journey from London to Mumbai. We check in and wait for our boarding announcement.
In these years, I never got a chance to go back to India. It was always Chacha, Chachi, Anupam and Dadi visiting us.
Soon we boarded our flight. The whole journey, either I was sleeping or watching some movies.
After long nine hours we landed in Mumbai. We checked out, collected our luggage and moved towards the exit.
There stood Chacha, Chachi and Anupam waiting for us. I went and took blessings from Chacha and Chachi and then went forward to hug my younger brother.
"Dadi kahan hai?" I asked impatiently. I'll be seeing her after 2 years.
"Aur kahan hongi? At home, getting your favourite dishes prepared." Replied Chachi smiling.
"Then what are we waiting for? Chaloooo", I said enthusiastically and dragged them towards the car.
The whole 30 minutes Anupam was busy telling how much he missed all of us. We all could not help but chuckle at his cute expressions.
Anupam is the youngest and hence pampered by all. Anupam and I are very close. We dont hide anything from each other. We are each others support system. We understand each other like the back of our palms.
It was 8 in the evening, when we reached home. Without wasting a second I rush into the house. There I am met with the sight of all the servants running around and my grandmother sitting on the sofa getting all the work done. I slowly move towards her and close her eyes from the back.
"Aagaya tu", she says recognising my touch and I move towards her front, take her blessings and hug her tightly.
"I missed you soooo much Dadi", I say still hugging her.
"I missed you too", she replies breaking the hug.
Soon mom dad come and takes Dadis blessings. We settle down for some chit chat in the living area.
"Now you people go, freshen up. The dinner is ready." Dadi says after sometime.
Our luggages have already been placed in our rooms. I quickly take a hot shower and get ready in a tee and track pants. I move downstairs for dinner where I see everyone already settled at the dining table. My favourite dishes have been prepared for dinner.
"Dadi, you are the best, I love you", I say giving her a flying kiss.
"Accha Manik, from tomorrow your college is going to start na?" Chachi asks and I nod. "So you go off to sleep early today. I dont want you to be late on your first day."
We finish our dinner with some chit chats and then retire to our rooms. I lie down on the bed and because of tiredness I soon fall asleep.
I wake up by the ringing of my alarm and get busy in getting ready. Dressed in a tee and jeans I move downstairs to greet everyone. Mom Dad are still sleeping. I greet Chacha, Chachi and Anupam and then settle for breakfast.
"Where is Dadi?" I ask, seeing her not present for breakfast.
"She'll be late, you eat otherwise you'll get late." Chachi replies, serving me the parathas.
I quickly have my breakfast, take Chacha-Chachis blessings and rush towards Dadis room. As soon as I open the room I am shocked. There she stands equally shocked and numb as I am
