Athira Patel

I don't even know how this one week has passed without me crying my eyes out as I thought it would be and all thanks to my dear boyfriend and my best friends. They were with me throughout the day in this week without giving me the chance to think about anything else by distracting me from it. 

Of course there was a lot of work in the office too, which successfully distracted me from everything else but even I should agree with myself that I didn't feel alone this time and even it didn't hurt that much as it used to be previously. It might be because of my new life or it might be even because I had moved on from her death. Whatever the reason might be but I am glad that I didn't cry all over like a baby I used to be. It's a lot better this year. 

I miss her so much. There is no one that would replace her part in my life because she is a mother and everything to me. I will forever miss my first best friend, guide, and teacher but I am glad to move on from my guilt and start a new life with my loved ones. I would have been devastated if not for them to be with me all the time in every step I take. 

They laughed with me, cried with me and even consoled me when I needed someone most to hold me. They were always there for me and now the list has been increased with other new friends and my love. 

She might not be here today to see all of my friends but I know that wherever she is at present, she is watching over me with happiness for finding new friends and relations. She will be happy seeing me laughing and being happy all the time. 

Of course this new thinking is again because of Abhi. He was the one to make me realise that she might be watching over us and must be sad because of me crying over her. He explained to me that, all she wants for me is to be happy for her and not the other way around. Only in that case she might be happy watching her daughter's life filled with colours. He taught me to think differently in her perspective which made me realise my mistake. 

It was hard at first, but with the help of him and all the others, I started being normal again by doing my routine work. I am really grateful for it because in the past years it always took a month for me to recover from that trance but now, it's really different. I feel different like some kind of burden had been lifted off my shoulders by making me breathe normally again after all those years. 

She used to say all this kind of motivational speeches to make me happy and normal whenever I was sad, and now Abhi took that responsibility. It's like my mother has blessed me in the form of him and often I feel like a baby being taken care of. He doesn't even know that he sometimes behaves like my mom, but that's the part I like about him alot. He can be my boyfriend, my best friend, my teacher, my trainer, my boss, my tutor, my guide, my love and even my mom when it's needed. 

Somehow he filled that void in my heart by showing me care and love which no one was able to cross it until now. Not even my own best friends. It's a miracle and surprising at the same time but I am happy for that. Be always surprises me with his actions and words. 

She used to be my everything and now after all these years, he is slowly becoming my everything with his love and care. It's frightening to see how fast he can capture my heart and mould them into strings to play according to his taste. He crossed the boundary which I have closed after my mom died and never opened it in fear of getting hurt again. But with him, I am ready to go to hell or walk on any fire or even get hurt multiple times and at the end of the day it's all worth it because it will all be for him. He is worth it. It's scary to think of this way but still beautiful in its own way. 

He suffered, cried, got hurt, broke his heart but still loved me with all those broken pieces of his. He never left me when the time was hard and now it's my turn to do it if I need to. 

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Tomorrow aunty has invited us for dinner to get to know each other family. Of course I already know everyone in their family but it's only fair for them to know each other. So I agreed to it because of two reasons. One is that, it will be a change for the both of us and the other is that, it will be a major step towards mine and Abhi's life together. 

It's frustrating to see that all of my friends became one gang and started teasing me continuously from the moment they got to know about the dinner. It was fun though, but i would never admit that to those bunch of idiots because it will only boost their egos which is not good for my mental health.  

But what's even more frustrating is that I don't even know what to wear for this occasion. It would have been good if it was a normal dinner so that I could have worn anything but it's not. This is the official meeting of two families where I need to look decent even if I know everyone there. 

So here I am, sitting in front of my wardrobe from past one hour looking for the dress that suits for the event. I wanted to ask Dev or my Dad's suggestion but they both went outside saying that they have something to do and left the house an hour back by leaving me to deal with this alone. I was never a fan of getting ready for the parties or occasions because i need to look pretty or like a total girl i am where i need to do makeup and all that bla bla bla which i don't know a bit. 

I miss my best friend at this moment a lot because she is the only one who saves my ass in this kind of situation every time. But now i have to deal with it alone. I even thought of calling Sahana or Charitha but they both are busy with their boyfriends so i ignored that thought. 

Then i remembered Omisha. She might not be the best friend of mine but we became pretty close that i could ask her help at any time. So I immediately took the mobile without wasting the time and dialed her number. I really hope that she is free at the moment to help me out. 

"Hey hi" I wished after she lift the call by falling back in my bed.

"Hello ji, what can I do for you in this fine evening" she asked with her pretty innocent fake voice which indicates that she is ready to tease me at any moment. 

"Ok, no need of teasing please. I need your help" I said with my requesting voice that she laughed out loud but composed immediately. I just rolled my eyes because she can be pretty joyful when it's needed. Actually it's very interesting to see this side of Omisha when she isn't that bitch. She has this cool and casual vibe to her character where anyone can mingle with her easily if she allows it. She is not that bad girl as we used to think at first. She is so friendly and caring that no one believes that she is the one who behaved like that at first. But I am glad that she is our friend now.

"Ok. Looks like the princess of her house or the Queen of his heart is in need of my help. So I will shut up now" she said still teasing me and indicating my dad and Abhi by saying that. All of them are teasing me because of those two nicknames of mine. I just ignored it because I am in no mood to argue with her at present.

"You know that tomorrow i need to meet his mother right?" I asked her to which she hummed in acceptance. 

"But the problem is that i don't know what to wear and I am sitting in front of my wardrobe from past one hour trying to find something that looks decent for this meet. But it's hopeless because it's not my cup of tea. Even Sahana and Charitha are busy with their boyfriends that i didn't disturb them. So, I thought of asking dad or Dev, but they too went outside because of something important." I started rambling everything in anxiety. 

"Athi… Athi…. Cool down ok. Just breathe and relax" She explained cooly from the other side by making me relax.

"Good. Now do me a favour and do a video call so that i can see your stuff" she stated and cut the call without letting me respond to her. I sighed and did what she asked me to do.

"Show me the wardrobe" she demanded making me roll my eyes but still did as she asked me to do.

She made me pull half of my clothes from the wardrobe in the span of ten minutes before she finally decided about the dress. It's a peach colour floral dress which reached below my knee. Its simple but still looks decent enough for this dinner. 

"Its perfect Omi" I said looking at myself in the mirror by keeping the dress in front of me. "Why didn't I thought of it before" I asked myself outloud but Omi also listened to it.

"That's because you don't have a brain to think" she said teasing me again that i gave a look in her direction to which she surrendered by showing her hands. 

She is right, you know. Stated my brain to which I rolled my eyes. 

"Says the one who ate biryani thinking that it was fried rice" I too teased her back remembering about one day at lunch where she ordered fried rice but got biryani instead. She thought that it was fried rice itself and argued with us while eating where Sahana made a bet with her to find the truth out. Whoever wins will get thousand rupees from the other one. So all of them went and asked the waiter to check it. Finally Sahana won and Omi paid thousand rupees to her for losing the bet. After that she admitted that she doesn't know how to cook. It was fun to see her reaction at that moment. 

"Shut up. It was a one time thing and i am even learning how to cook now ok" she explained herself making me chuckle looking at her reaction. 

"Ok ok. So how do I look?" I asked her after trying the dress and stood in front of the mobile camera for her to see me clearly.

"This colour suits you dear. Wear it. Abhi will be flattered" she said making me blush. 

"Wow, only the name and you are all over red in an instant?" she teased me further making me groan and smile at the same time. What can i say? I am hopeless like that.

"Abhi is lucky to have you in his life." she stated making me look at her and she continued, "I always used to think that you would be lucky to have him when I didn't know you. But now i know the reason behind his caring and love. Now i know why he loves you that much." she said with a fond smile in her eyes that I too smiled back but a frown made its way on my face because of not knowing the reason.

"Because you are pretty and innocent like that. Your heart is pure and you easily forgive everyone. You are hurt but still welcomes everyone with that kind smile of yours. Trust me when i say that i was pretty jealous of you because of your friendly nature towards everyone. I was scared to lose everyone who is close to me because of you. But you prove me wrong by forgiving me and allowing me into your gang. That's how you are" She explained with tears in her eyes but a smile on her face which made me smile with her in happiness. I am happy that she changed and trusted me enough to mingle with our gang. 

"Don't make me embarrass Omi. It was all because you were willing to join our gang and i knew that you were good from heart but just got hurt." I said dismissing her because I am not good with compliments and I don't think what i did was pretty impressive. I just helped her when she needed a friend.

We were talking about other stuff when dad entered inside carrying my favourite cake that I squealed in excitement and ran towards his side. 

"Ah ah… go back lady. You cannot keep your hands on it now itself. Its for the three of us and f i give it to you then i am not so sure if there will be anything left for us to eat" dad said making me stand back that I looked at him with puppy eyes of mine to which he always melts. 

"Don't give me that look. Dev warned me to not give you at any cost until he come in with plates and all" he said taking a seat beside my mobile. 

Oh shit. I forgot about Omisha. 

"Sorry sorry sorry. I kind of forgot" I said apologising her because of leaving her like that in the middle of a conversation. Dad was holding his laugh by covering both of his hands by seeing my reaction. I just glared at him in return.

"Ya i can see that. Carry on. Will talk with you later. Bye see you" she said disconnecting the call. 

"What? Don't look at me that way" I said pouting and taking a seat beside him by folding my hands. 

"What way? I am just enjoying the scene" he said knowing too well what had happened just now.

"Dad…" I said glaring at him to which he surrendered his hands in return.

"So, what is this dress for?" he asked indicating to my dress which i am still wearing at present. I forgot to change after showing it to her.

"You know what is this for" I answered back in the same way he asked, knowing very well that he knows the reason behind my lack of cleanliness in this room and this dress. 

"Ohh…" He acted as if he was surprised that he realised just now about tomorrow's dinner. But I know him too well to fall for his antics.

"You really need to improve your acting skills dad. Its not working on me" I said with a boring tone and look on my face.

"It's not my fault that my princess has grown up" he said pouting i return that I chuckled looking at his reaction.

"Ok. So how is this dress?" I asked getting up and standing in front of him. He was looking at me by placing his right hand below his chin and tapping his finger on his cheek like he was analysing something important. I know that he was doing it wantedly but its making my nerves tensed because of the tension.

"Common dad. Don't make me tensed" I said groaning a little. He chuckled looking at my reaction.

"It's looking good. And it's even good to see that you are excited to meet them officially" he started teasing me like all others now.

"Dad please" I said taking a seat beside him and leaning on him.

"What please? Hold on. Are we going to meet your future mother-in-law now?" he asked again with a teasing tone of his that I blushed listening to the word 'mother-in-law'. 

"Or am I going to meet my future Son-in-law?" He again asked with the same tone of his making me even more red that I hid my face in my palms by groaning at my dad to stop it.

"Dad please stop teasing me" I said still covering my face in my hands. It's really embarrassing to see that my dad is teasing me because of my boyfriend. He laughed looking at my reaction but I just covered it in response. 

"Hey i have a doubt" he said after composing himself. So I slowly removed my palms and looked at him in question to continue asking about his so called doubt.

"You both are using protection right?" he asked looking all serious that i would have thought he was serious if not for his slight teasing tone.

"Dad…." I shouted in embarrassment and shame that he even asked this question. Trust my dad to behave like the responsible one. He always looks for a way to make me embarrassed. 

"What? I need to know if i am going to become a grandfather anytime soon" he said innocently that i wanted to strangle him but thought against it because he is my dad. 

"Don't worry. You won't listen to it any time soon" i said gritting my teeth in anger. 

"I will look for Dev" I said getting up and going to the living room to escape from my over energized father. 

But Dev was nowhere to be found inside the house which made me frown in return because dad said that they both came together. 

"He is here" Dad shouted from outside. So I too went out to see that he was on call and by the look on his face and body posture, he was talking to Charitha. 

Dad mouthed me if he was talking to his girlfriend and I nodded my head in yes. I thought of giving him some privacy when a car has parked outside the apartment making me look in that direction. 

I realised that it was aunty and Adi when they both were coming towards the lift. So i thought of showing them to my father and dragged him towards me. 

"What" he asked looking at me in confusion because of my sudden action.

"Look there. That is Hema aunty and Advaith. Abhi's mom and brother" I said pointing out in the direction of the lift where they were waiting for the lift. 

"They?" dad whispered looking shocked all of a sudden that I furrowed eyebrows in return but nodded my head in agreement. 

He then looked in their direction with the same shocking face that i was looking at his face not knowing what is happening with him. He gasped looking at them and was even breathing heavily that I shook his shoulders in return. But he was not responding to me and was watching them continuously. He staggered back that i had to catch hold of him from falling down.  

Even Dev disconnected the call and immediately came towards me to check on dad but he was not responding to us. He was shaking all over and was breathing heavily that i was getting scared because of his reaction. 

"No no no no…." he was shaking his head in denial and was murmuring it repeatedly that Dev dragged him forcefully inside the house and made him sit on the couch.

"Dad…" I called him again with a little louder voice that brought him out of his trance state.

When he looked at me, he immediately took my face in his hands and was watching me like he was not believing that iwas here and was not willing to leave me at any moment because of the way he was holding my hands. 

"Are you ok?" I asked looking at him and wiping the sweat on his face. Dev was rubbing his back to make his muscles soothe and relax from tension.

"We are going to hyderabad tomorrow morning itself" he said making me furrow my eyebrows in confusion that I looked at Dev in return.

"But dad… We have a dinner tomorrow" I said not knowing what is happening and why all of a sudden he wants us to go hyderabad. 

"No arguing Athira" he said looking at me seriously for the first time after mom died. It scared me to see him like this. I am even more confused now. 

"Dad… what happened and why are you acting this way? We need to meet them and I even have office the day after tomorrow. How can I come to hyderabad without applying leave?" I asked with a confused face but the truth is I am scared to see this side of him. 

"I SAID WE ARE GOING TO HYDERABAD AND THAT'S FINAL" he said shouting that I covered my mouth by gasping. 

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Hello everyone,

Here is your awaiting chapter. I really hope that you like it.

So what do you think about this chapter? Is it interesting? It will because we have entered to the climax part.

Do let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter as I will be waiting for your responses.

Don't forget to vote comment and share it if you like.

Will update the next chapter within one or two days. Till then see you....

Love....

Sprinkle....

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