NITI CHOPRA
SriShti
P UBLI S HER S & D I S TRIBUTOR S
S RI S HTI P UBLI S HER S & D I S TRIBUTOR S
Registered Office: N-16,
C.R. Park New Delhi 110 019
Corporate Office: 212A, Peacock Lane
Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110 049
First published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2018
Copyright Niti Chopra, 2018
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This is a work of fiction. The characters, places, organisations and events described in this book are either a work of the authors imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to people, living or dead, places, events, communities or organisations is purely coincidental.
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.
Printed and bound in India
True love is hard to find, but once found it changes your life forever.
This book is just a simple celebration of one such crazy love.
I was four years old when I heard my first love story ever.
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
It was short, sweet and simple. To me, it was perfect.
Jack and Jill became and remained my favourite love story.
Until, I came across ours.
Thanks, Hugs & Kisses
RR; for crafting a story as beautiful as ours.
Mom; for loving us unconditionally, just like we love you back.
Dad; for being the coolest, superbly unconventional dad ever.
Saarthoo; for being my all time partner-in-crime.
Vi; for being my twin-soul on earth.
Students from BRAC; for urging me to begin writing.
Friends from KDC and DIAS; for no reason, because being good friends is reason enough.
The team at Srishti; for all the patience and guidance. And of course
Jai Your green eyes are the only jewels that make this woman happy I love you.
Prologue
R aindrops were falling.
The song that I had been listening had just ended, as had the day. Night was settling in and I felt too tired to pull out my phone for another song.
The bus was silent now. Mostly everyone had fallen asleep.
I sat leaning against the window pane, as tiny droplets hit the glass. One droplet merging into another and then another, till they all became a long streak, being stretched by the wind gushing across.
Thats how everything felt in life.
One action leading to the next, to the next and so on. Circumstances pushing and pulling you, till the point you dont even realize where you are going.
Where was I going?
It was pouring in heavily now and I could barely see the road ahead.
Why was I here on this bus?
Did I really know what I wanted?
Was this even right?
Bright lights reflected sharply from the traffic coming towards us, forcing me to close my eyes. As I shut them, dreaded scenes from the past flashed randomly.
Mom was pacing up and down the living room, mumbling incoherently or maybe I was just too numb to understand what she was saying. I tried to blink away my tears, and as I wringed my hands I was shocked by her sudden outburst.
I knew Id have a heart attack in my life! She was exasperated!
Mumma, please relax! I tried keeping my voice calm.
On the inside I was breaking apart but outside I couldnt let her see it.
I opened my eyes, fighting not to remember the scene.
I turned my head back to the window pane. The droplets were frenzied now, as they ran across the glass in full torrent.
They seemed to be angry, just like she was that night.
What shame!
What had I expected from my daughter and this is what I have today! We spent lakhs in trying to make you a doctor A respectable person And this is what you do in college?! How could you?! I tried to make you a strong girl and you let yourself be used by a boy?!
You have failed me as a daughter! I feel sick when I am reminded of the things that you have done! Horrible!
Oh, I knew my health wasnt going to keep up It was written since long in my destiny. But how was I to know my very own daughter was going to be the reason behind it!
What a shame! I cannot even imagine doing these things with a stranger. And you have gone ahead and God damn it! How could you?!
Tears were flowing freely now, onto my cheeks and into my hands.
A gush of wind slapped across my face forcing my eyes open.
Someone up front had opened a window. The fresh smell of rain mixed with wet mud twirled up my nostrils and I inhaled deeply the therapeutic concoction.
The person sitting right in front of me didnt seem to appreciate it and shouted out, insisting that the window be closed. Half a minute later, the world outside of the bus was shut out again and the creepy silence returned.
The same kind that had prevailed at home that fateful night.
The silence before the storm.
I cant take this anymore! This is just too much!
I looked up and saw her swaying a little. I rushed to her side and caught hold of her just in time.
I fear if Papa gets to know all this! He will surely kill you! Oh, God!
Mumma, please relax. Its all over now. Please, I pleaded meekly, speaking up for the first time since she had come.
But she wasnt listening to me.
I did everything that I could for you and this is how you reward me! By failing me! By killing me!
She took a deep breath and tightly grasped her chest, right over her heart. Her eyes wincing in pain she fell back onto the couch.
Mumma! Mumma! Mumma!
HONK! HONK!
I jumped out of my skin as a truck passed by, honking as if it was about to burst.
I had to stop thinking about that night. This was too much to handle on a trip like this. I had done what I had done.
I shook my head, wondering as to why in the first place had I decided to be a part of this show. With all the images of that dreaded day coming back, I felt I had made another mistake.
I took a few deep breaths trying to relax. Straightening up I pulled back my hair, trying to tie it into a ponytail. With one hand holding my hair, I bent over to pick up my bag, in need of a band.
For the last few days, I just couldnt seem to find anything. I was perpetually lost and confused. I wondered how I had even managed to appear for the end terms.
The bus trudged over a big speed breaker, without breaking its speed obviously, and my bag fell to the ground.
Shit!
I scrambled to pick up the loitered stuff.
Thank God everyone was sleeping!
I quickly picked up everything and settled back into my seat.
