Raghav's POV:

'No...no... Please
...
I can't...
This is not my cup of tea' I tried yelling at Vishakha...
But my stubborn little one...
Has she ever listened to me once in her life 🤦🤷...

She just dumped the guitar in my hand.

'But Vish... Aayka go (Listen to me)'

'Raghz Bro.... please yaar...look Appy is the groom...he could have played it but you know it will look odd playing guitar in his own Phool Muddi function' (Phool Muddi is the official engagement ceremony that happens a night before wedding)

And I had no other go...
I could see Naman and my little niece Aadya clapping and cheering for me and I smiled..Dad smiling and mom ignoring me as usual.

Today is Vishakha and Aniruddh's Phool Muddi and tomorrow is their wedding ceremony.

They look so blessed and beautiful. I can't stop smiling seeing the lovely couple. When love is true...it makes everything around you pious and beautiful ❤️
But then true love and happiness is all what destiny plans for you...
Some realise...
Some kick it with the left foot and later realise what they did!
I did something like that 5 years ago...
It wasn't love...
But maybe was happiness for my family.
My mother still hates me for it...
She doesn't see my face properly after that.

I don't know if I broke someone's heart...but I broke someone's trust many years ago and since then my family thinks I'm irresponsible...
I won't blame them!
I was an idiot!
Anyways...
There is no point thinking over the past...
It's 5 years to it now...
Today was a big day for my family.
My doctor sister Vish finally was going to unite with her doctor boyfriend Appy...
Their's is also a complicated love story which had breakup, seperation and finally a reunion filled with joy and romance.
They are the example of true love.

Soon they were made to sit on the dias after all the rituals and Vish looked beautiful in her Kanjeevaram saree and Son Phool with traditional gsb jewellery and Appy looked handsome in his Sherwani.

(This is how Son Phool looks like)

Suddenly I was been pulled by Dinkar maam (uncle) on the stage and the lights went dim.

While I saw my cousin Ram on piano and  my other cousin Vishnu on the drums...
And they smiled and simply asked me to follow the book stand for notes ..

I began playing only to realise this is ..

'Mein tenu samjhava ki' and I wondered who would be singing... I loved this song. It was one of my favourite tunes...
I smiled...and began playing...

Just then I heard a smooth voice...very soothing and beautiful.

I turned my head in the direction and the spotlight was on a girl who was sitting in front of us on the other side of the stage in a black golden lehenga, a loose bun and a pink rose tugged in her bun...

However she looked a little familiar to me...
She continued singing, while me and my cousins had a constant smile playing along. This song is ✨ magical

Main tenu samjhava ki...

Na tere bina lagda ji...

Tu ki jane pyaar Mera...

Main karu intezaar tera...

Tu dil tu tu jaan meri...

Jaan meri...

The lyrics always brought a bright smile on my face...

This song had it all...
Love...longing... romance...pain... hurt!

I closed my eyes as the girl's voice soothened my soul. It was like I was floating in heaven.

Ve changa naiyyo kitta bibba...

Dil mera tod ke...

Ve bada pachtaya akhan...

Naal tere Jodke...

Soon it was over...

And we all clapped loudly and cheered for the girl who made this evening and the environment soothing, peaceful and romantic suddenly.

However it's only when the MC announced her name I froze!!!

'What a wonderful voice you are blessed with...

Miss Siya Shenoy!!!'

The host announced and I stopped and turned around to see her after 5 big years...

She was smiling brightly like a freshly blossomed rose which had the early morning dew drops on it which shines at the gaze of warming sun on a winter morning.

Dude!!! Raghav... that's poetic... Stop!!!

It is night...

Its summer season...

There are no dew drops...

Yet...

I cannot deny the fact that...

She shined bright like she captured radiance of a hundred thousand sun rays in those pitch black eyes...

Stunning isnt it???

No...

Liar...

No...stop!!!

Are you sure???

She's beautiful...

Accept it...

Whatever... You SHOULDN'T look at her...

Why???

Oh Shutup... After what you did do you really have the audacity to face her?

No!!!

Exactly so STAY AWAY!!!

Just then...

She happened to see me when the MC announced my name for playing guitar.

Our eyes met.

The twinkling jet black eyes... Shooting across my soul now that those glasses are missing...

But for a second thought... those glasses looked cuter..

Shutup Raghav!!! Stop gawking at her!!!

Yeah.....

It was awkwaaaaaaaaard!🙄😶🙃

My heart jumped at once when....
She smiled back warm and I returned the same without a second thought...

She is still so kind...

It's her grace Mr Raghav Prabhu...

Anyone else by now would have spit on your face and left!!!

In no time we were off the dias and I escaped silently to the kitchen from the backyard as the event was happening at my Vishakha's house...I really needed some chilled water!!!

I don't know what made me so conscious and nervous meeting her after 5 big years...

It was awkward!!!

After all we had a huge past...

It wasn't that simple!
I wasn't expecting her here...

Oh Comeon Raghav...she is Appy's bestie...
Aditi's sister...above all Vishakha's good friend...
Don't forget...
Only your relationship broke with her...
Not others...

You divorced her!
She still has every right to maintain a good rapport with everyone.

She is a kind soul.

Just when I was in between my thoughts I felt a smack on my forearm and I turned around to see Naman standing there with Aadya.

I took Aadya in my arms...

And smiled at Naman...

'Bro... don't think I didn't notice... You felt uncomfortable seeing Vann (Vanni is sister in law)...Sorry...I mean...Siya Akka (sister)...' he said and I looked elsewhere trying to dodge...

'No...Namu ... Nothing of that sort...I'm....I'm fine' I said

And he came and stood in front of me...
'Anna' (Brother)

He only calls me Anna if he's going to talk something serious...

I looked at him...

'Look...I know you both have a past...it's a little uncomfortable...but it's nothing like you both were in a love relationship and broke up...
It was an unwanted marriage that you were stuck in and you moved out...
I agree...
The reason you moved out was terrible...
Unworthy!!!
I hated that 'so-called FUCK' of a reason...
Sorry for the language Bro...
But she was one!!! Dash!!!
And maybe...
If Siya Akka and you took some time things would have been something else today.
But!!!
It's all in the past ...
All that happened was .... destined!!!
So let go...
She is going to be here...
For a little longer...
Infact not just this wedding...
But also till Aadya's birthday.'
He broke the bomb and I was speechless 😶...
However I tried to behave as unaffected as possible...

'After which she'll go back to Bangalore...
Its almost a month long vacation for Siya Akka this time after all she is back to Mangalore after 5 big years...

And

You may happen to see her frequently as Aditi wants her to stay with us...

And if you are this uncomfortable...it's going to be too tough for you...

So...

Bro... relax... I hope you will be fine' he said...

I thought about it and smiled thinking how matured has my little Naman grown into...

I hugged him saying...
'You are right...I'll be fine...dont worry'

And I went back to the party where I could see all my cousin's with Vish, Aditi and HER were at the buffet counter..

They were all teasing Vish and Appy and forcing them to feed each other...
They were all making fun of this soon to be husband wife...

We began walking closer towards the group. My eyes again met her eyes while she smiled again and I felt a jolt in my chest...I however maintained a poise!

As I kept walking closer towards them I could see her...
She was simple like how she was 5 years ago...
Maybe her glasses were now replaced by lens???
She gained a little weight...
Her wheatish  skin was shining brighter...

Maybe her dressing sense got better...I saw her facial expressions showing up discomfort and I realised...

I was staring at HER!!!

What the hell Raghav... Behave!!!

She is not your girlfriend or wife!!!

She is your ex wife!!!

Remember???

Although initially Aditi hated me and stopped talking to me for an year but after Aadya's birth she got a little warmer towards me...

But today I was earning a death glare from her for gawking at her sister...

Aditi was behaving to be the protective younger sister here!!!
After all blood is thicker than water...
Siya was Aditi's elder sister!
Like how I was Naman's elder brother...

Almost everyone dispersed leaving Vish and Appy alone...

I could see Aditi was trying to talk something to Siya and I could clearly see that Aditi's old anger was coming out in open...

She was trying to pitch in something to Siya and Naman was trying to explain something to Aditi...

Soon Aditi huffed and hugged her sister and left along with Naman ..not before passing me a death glare...
Once they left...
I saw she was feeding ice cream to Aadya and I don't know why I thought of breaking the ice...

I walked near the ice cream counter and noticed Aadya was fighting with Siya for more ice cream...

'Mhave (mother's elder sister)...Addu choky ice ceammmm jai jai (want want)' she said and Siya tried denying her...

'Addu no more ice cream...you already had one...more ice cream will make tummy ooi ooi' she said showing Aadya her tummy poking her with a little finger..

And my innocent little niece did the same to Siya's stomach
'Mhave no ooi ooi...ice ceeeeeam jayiiiiii (I want ice cream)'

To which she carried Addu in her arms and said...
'No Addu... Ooi ooi will happen at night...then Vish aunty will do chui chui injection to Addu's bummy'

And listening to injection Addu's fake tears stopped and she held Siya's cheeks saying...

'Hawwww...no injy injy...Addu no eat ice ceaaaaam ploooomise' and Siya chuckled and hugged her...

I couldn't help but smile at their cute conversations...

I wanted to talk to her but somehow old equations were flashing like nightmares in front of my eyes.

Flashback...

Ajja (Grandfather) I don't want to marry Siya... just because Aditi and Naman love eachother tying us up in a knot isn't right.

I argued only to earn a standard statement from my grandfather...

Elder one marries first!!!

And without a question I was married to Siya...

Whom I absolutely did not like!

She was the soft spoken types whom during those times I thought wasn't COOL enough for me...

I felt she was too silent...
Too dumb...
She would hardly open her mouth...
And I don't know why I always compared her to Vedika...

Vedika my college crush...
Who had although rejected me during college days...
Was now growing closer to me...
But my family hated her because she already had a broken engagement with our family friend Harsh and the reason for breakup was she was too money minded, interfered into business, began manipulation for finance even before marrying Harsh and worse wanted Harsh to ask for his portion in the property and walk out. However I never believed all this and was all wrapped around her little finger.

Everyday I compared Siya with her...
Vedika was more vocal whereas Siya was too dumb!
Vedika was my kinda perfect dream girl...huhhh 😏 blind love...

Smart...
Confident...
High on pitch...
Outspoken...
Because I personally lacked all this and I somehow admired someone with all these qualities...I was always the less speaking types and Siya was ditto like me and I thought we both are a terrible combination.

Vedika for me then was beauty with brains...

So after a lot of mental fight I went out in open after one month of marriage saying...

'I want to seperate from Siya...
I need a divorce'

And I earned a slap from my grandfather...

'You think marriage is a joke? What is wrong with Siya? Isnt she beautiful, caring, soft spoken??? Why are you planning to divorce her?' he shouted while my mother was angrily staring at me and Siya sat on the sofa in the living room like frozen ice...

'Because she is not my type...she is not my dream girl'

And my father shouted...

'What nonsense Raghav...I agree your Ajjo forced you...but I and Amma told you that we will respect your opinion... and you said a yes...
Today you want a divorce?
Marriage is a bloody joke or what?' dad shouted...

While mom said...
'And if you think that Vedika can replace her position in your life...
You are an idiot!
And
You will regret!!!'

To which I told mom...
'Amma I can stay single but not in this marriage...she is so not my kinda girl'

'Raghav how much have you lived with her? How much do you know her??? Raghav you must try atleast'

While we were arguing I saw her walk towards our bedroom...

And close the door...All were worried thinking she will harm herself but in a few minutes Siya came out changing from a saree to a Jean tshirt...
Mangalasutra and Dharemani both were in her hands and she placed it on my mom's hand...

She came out with her luggage...
And I was shocked...
My mom tried to convince her...
'Siya don't....I'll explain him...'

To which she only nodded a no with brimming tears in her eyes and my mother was folding her hands and apologizing...

She stood infront of me and signed 'Application for Mutual Divorce'

And dragged her trolly passing me one last teary gaze that hit like a pang in my chest...

But I didn't love her!!!

And soon we got divorced legally.

Aditi and her parents cursed me...
My mother and grandfather stopped talking to me...

But then they say right...
'You can't be happy after breaking someone's heart... Karma is a bitch...bites you back!!!'

Vedika broke my heart again...

This time announcing her marriage to a richer businessman ...

Just like I left someone for her...

She left me for someone else...

Leaving me to turn into a world mockery..

After all you reep what you sow!!!

Flashback ends...

I was guilty and all these years I won't lie I always thought...
What if. 
I had given my marriage a chance...
What if destiny brought us face to face AGAIN...
What if there was HOPE for us ...

But now I see...

I don't know about marital life...
But I'm sure she would have been an excellent mother...

Just then I saw she was getting a call...
She was struggling to pick it up with Addu in her arms...

I made some guts and walked closer to her...

'Ummm... may I?' I asked softly...

'Oh..umm...yup... thanks' saying she gave Addu to me and picked the call...

She was discussing serious business...After all she ran one of a chain of Vegetarian and vegan bakery chain...

'Siya's'

Now that in reality was
Beauty with Brains!!!

I can't believe I considered Vedika to be Beauty with Brains while in reality Siya was the epitome of it!
A self made business woman!

She was still talking...

And in no time she began checking her phone, provided details and she was sorted.

She dropped the call...

'Ummm... can I take her?' she asked trying to take a sleeping Addu from my arms...

In the process she stepped closer...the fruity perfume hit my nose and while taking Addu from my arms I felt her fingers touch my chest and I felt a current shock but later controlled myself...
Oh my goosebumps!!!

Calm!!!

'Thanks Mr Prabhu' she said and that hit me hard...

She still remembers...

'After all remember??? You asked her to call yourself Mr Prabhu...'

'Ummm Siya...' I called her name softly and she turned around...

'You can call me Raghav....' I said and she was about to say something...

But before that I pitched in...

'Siya...I'm sorry'

And she stood there with mouth wide open and didn't know what to say...

There was pin drop silence now...

Our eyes met for a brief period of time... and I wanted the time to stop!!!