chapter ten

Glossary:

Chai: tea

Chai tapri: tea stall

♕ ♕ ♕

   "Out of all the places in the world, you decide to bring me at a chai tapri?" I asked as I stared at the man preparing tea.

"Well, have you ever tried drinking chai at a tapri?" he asked looking at me with a smile on his face.

"No, I haven't" I paused and looked at the stall "and I don't plan on doing so"

He grinned at me. My eyes widened as realization hit me.

"No, Sameer. If you want you can drink but I am not dri-"

"C'mon Meera, don't be such a spoilsport now. You should try everything at least once in life" he said trying to convince me.

"Trying unhygienic things isn't the part of that list" I retorted.

"It's not unhygienic. Trust me. I use to come here and still do whenever I have the urge to drink chai" he said.

"You can just prepare it at home. You're a fucking chef and you own a restaurant in Mumbai, Sameer" I reminded him.

He laughed as his hands reached for my cheeks and he pulled them softly.

"Sometimes you're just so fucking cute, Meera" he cooed.

I stared at his smiling and playful face and wondered how a thirty-five-year-old guy could look so damn adorable and young at this age.

I smacked his hand and he instantly pulled away, still laughing.

"How many times do I have to tell you don't pull my cheeks? It hurts, asshole" I screeched making him laugh harder than before.

"Will you stop laughing!" I asked annoyed.

He bit his lip as he tried to control his laugh but failed miserably. I looked at him exasperated.

"Okay! Okay! Sorry. It's just that you're chubby and you know how muc-"

"You love pulling my cheeks" I completed for him.

He nodded and I rolled my eyes at him.

"So, getting back to the topic. If you drink chai with me here, I promise to do one thing that you ask me to do"

I thought for a moment. The proposal wasn't that bad.

"Okay but don't back off later" I warned.

"I promise, I won't" he said earnestly.

"Okay then let's go" I said opening the door and stepping out of his car.

I looked above in the sky and realized that it was turning dark. A sign that it was about to rain. I looked at Sameer who was looking at the sky with a grin. I couldn't help but smile noticing his happiness. He loved rain.

And I loved him.

He looked at me and smiled goofily as I silently urged my heart to stop fluttering.

"Looks like we are going to enjoy the real feeling of drinking chai as the rain washes the streets of the city" he said beaming with joy.

"Seems so" I replied smiling.

He walked towards me and intertwined his hand with mine like it was the most natural thing. As he held my hand in his and took me along with him towards the tea stall, I couldn't help but stare at him.

There were times like these when I wondered why he had to be so much older to me or why he had to belong to a different religion. These two things seemed like the biggest hurdle than any other hurdle that would come our way.

"Bhaiyya! Do cutting dena. Dudh aur shakkar kam daalna" Sameer's voice pulled me back to reality.

(Brother! Two half cup of tea. Add less milk and sugar to it)

I smiled. It was the small things like these which he did for me that warmed my heart.

"So, how was the wedding?" he asked as we sat down on the bench nearby.

"Dramatic" I said rolling my eyes.

"Why?" he asked intrigued.

"Well, aren't you curious?" I teased playfully.

He chuckled lightly "You could say so"

As I narrated him everything that happened in the wedding, the smile on his face faded away slowly. By the time I was done, his expression had become hard to read.

"Why is your mom pestering you so much about marriage?" he asked.

"It's not the first time you know it. She's been on it since last year"

"Exactly why you should talk to her and tell her what you plan on doing ahead" he said.

"You want me to tell her that I want to open my own dance classes. She'll laugh it off and then belittle it because dancing for a living won't be a respected career in the society" I stated.

He frowned listening to my words.

"Dancing is also an art. A talent like any other skill that we learn. There's nothing bad about it. There are so many people who come here in Mumbai with the dream of becoming a dancer, getting a recognition in industry and even wanting to be choreographer. Are they crazy to dream so?" he asked.

I sighed. Taking his hand in mine, I looked in his eyes. His eyes flickered with sadness and anguish. I smiled almost bitterly. Because that was Sameer. The true Sameer. The one who had borne his heart and soul to me.

I gently took his hand in mine and smiled at him softly. His features softened and I felt him relaxing a little under my touch.

"You and I know this, Sameer. We understand the importance of dreams and passions. We believe that if one possesses a talent, a dream or a passion, he should follow it. He should at least give one shot to his dreams and passion because we understand what it's like to regret not go after what we love or what it feels like when we have to bury our dreams and move ahead because the situation demands us to prioritize something else"

I breathed out heavily and continued "People like you and me who have dreams and have dreamt at least once in their life with understand its importance but people like my parents' wont because they were never brave enough to dream. They have only chased after money, reputation and respect while we chased the desires of our heart, soul and happiness"

"So, just because they don't understand dreams, they will ask you to throw them away? To bury them and take them to your coffin?" he asked, his voice thick with emotions.

I nodded.

"That's what they ask us to do"

"Then you should revolt and go after what you love because there's nothing above your own happiness and satisfaction" he said.

"What's the use of such dreams and happiness that cost us the sadness of our family? If our family cannot be a part of those dreams, the happiness will never be complete. You will always feel a void within you. The support of family will always be important no matter how old we grow because at the end of the day, they will wipe our tears in the times of failures while they will also encourage us and be our biggest cheerleaders in life"

There was a moment of silence. Neither of us spoke anything for some time.

"Bhaiyya, aapko chai du?" the kid at the stall asked, breaking the silence.

Sameer nodded. As he gave us our glasses, Sameer and I shared a smile.

"To many more chai's like these" he toasted as we clinked our glasses together.

Taking a sip of the chai I realized Sameer was right. The taste of this chai could never compete to the one that we prepare at home or the one that we drink at a café or restaurant. As if reading my thoughts, Sameer looked at me with the expression that said 'I told you, you wouldn't regret'.

On cue, the rain began to pour washing the streets of the city with its beauty.

Moments later, Sameer cleared his throat trying to gain my attention. I turned a little so I was facing him. He placed his empty glass on the other side and looked at me.

"I may not get your view completely because I have grown up all by myself. What I am today is because I saw a dream and I chased it until I was able to achieve it. I did this all by myself without relying on anyone. It was a slow process but it was worth it. I didn't have anyone to motivate or cheer me when I faced failures nor did I have anyone with whom I could celebrate my happiness or success. Occasionally, Aaryan and Ruby were there but the rest of the days it was just me"

This time, he took my hand in his hand and softened his gaze as he continued further,

"The days they were with me, things seemed better. It felt like eventually it will work out. It helped me raise my spirits so I think I understand what you mean and why family support is so important because at the end of the day we all need 'our' person"

A smile curved on my lips at his words but at the same time my heart ached for him. The fact that he had no one around to rely on as he grew up made me sad but the fact that he didn't let that reason hold him back made me admire him.

I placed my now empty glass besides me and placed my other hand on his hand.

"Well, now you aren't alone. You will always have my back. You can keep your head on my shoulder when you feel life is rough and I will be your cheerleader to always cheer you and motivate you" I said with a grin on my face.

He chuckled shaking his head.

"You've been one since the day you walked into my life"

Listening to his words, I felt my heart skip its beat for the nth time today.

♕ ♕ ♕

Let me know your views about the chapter. Please vote and comment!

Love,
-Rhea.