Maya

"Welcome to the 1st episode of Discovery Today." 

I pulled open the curtains to get a clearer view of the sunshine. Sighing, I sat in front of the television. It was the first show of Ayushi after her moving to the national news department. 

"See, I am so cool, right?" Ayushi, who almost jumped on the couch, asked Pranav. She munched on her crescent-shaped apple pieces, staring at her news show. 

"Of course, you are." Pranav snuggled right up to her. 

I didn't know much about why she suddenly changed her department. When I asked, she just told me that she wanted to explore. But maybe, she didn't want to get involved with the entertainment industry anymore. 

"What happened to Prakash?" I asked. I had completely forgotten about him. 

She didn't look away from her show. "He resigned. He loved his job so much but still—" She paused, sighing, "Maybe, it was good for him." 

I didn't say anything. I guess that was right. 

These days have been a little better. It seemed peaceful with no regular drama unless that occasional surprises life gives us all. But it's nice, an uneventful life is still better after all that mess. 

"Hey, today is Priya's engagement ceremony right?"

"Yeah. In the evening." I wonder at times, life can be so unpredictable. Two haters fell in love and two haters became friends again— just the fairytale end everyone wishes. 

"She invited us too but we won't be able to attend it. So, you should go in our place." I nodded when my phone buzzed beside me. 

Hey, Are you alive??? Coming to Priya's engagement? Akash texted me.

I chuckled and shook my head. I looked outside at the sunlight peeking through the long branches of the tree. 

Finally, my life is more than alive. 

★★★

I walked inside, not before standing in front of the camera, posing for some pics. Of course, these paparazzi would be posting them online by tomorrow. 

Being self-aware of the camera tailing me, I was about to walk inside the ceremony hall before I turned to see Ajay coming in. 

Like the perfect man out of books, he walked straight towards me. His eyes never blinked. He held out his hand and we stood together to pose for the camera. Right now, the flashes of the camera didn't make me any more nervous than him. 

"You are looking beautiful." His whispers tickled my ears. My eyes crinkled as a natural smile took over my face. 

Smirking, I replied, "You too don't look so bad. Handsome." He squinted his eyes before breaking into fits of laughter. 

We walked inside the ceremony hall after the picture session. 

What did I want from my dreams? Over time my answer varied. From making my small own place in a bigger world to chasing success, I came all the way. 

I want to be a heroine. That's my dream. I want to climb the stairs of success one by one. That reduces the chances of failing off easily.

Still, I want to be a humble actress who prefers her films more than the box office. I really hope I remain faithful to my dream.

"Maya!" The voice broke my trance. I looked up to see Ishaan and Sarah standing in front of me. 

Sarah came up to me and hugged me. "I missed you." I smiled and hugged her back. 

"Same here." I looked at Ishaan and asked, "What are you up to these days? It's so hard to contact you." 

Before he could reply, Sarah interrupted, "What do you think? He took up two films together and is also a producer now. Such a busy man!" 

"Wow! Amazing!" I clapped for him. On that day, Alisha ma'am supposedly handed the business over to his hands. She will probably even retire soon. 

Ishaan sighed, shaking his head. 

"I am not a producer yet. My mom is still doing it. She just handed me the company so that I can handle it later. I am not ready." 

"That's okay. It's just a matter of time," Ajay said before pausing for a second. "And what's going on between you both? Don't tell me… are you dating?" His voice seemed like he was anticipating. 

"No way!" They screamed, much to my horror. Their voices roared across the hall as they shook their heads disapprovingly. 

"Why do you say that? Even mom was asking me to get married to her. Why should I marry her?" He blinked and looked at Sarah while she cursed at him.

Chuckling at them, Ajay said, "Okay, I will leave then. I should go and meet the groom." He smiled at me before leaving.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw them murmuring to each other when I interrupted them. "I will go meet Priya. Enjoy." I smirked before dashing away to the bride's room, leaving the two behind.

The bride's room was decorated with garlands and expensive lights. On entering the room, my eyes fell on Priya, sitting with all the expensive jewellery, adorning her face and neck and a long gown that suited the elegant night.

She pouted for pictures as her makeup artist did the make-up for her. Right at the time, she turned to see me standing near the door. "Hey, Maya, come inside." 

After her makeup, she got up and hugged me, catching me off-guard. "I know this is weird. But I am really glad you made it up for today." 

"Congratulations and of course, it has to be weird. Who knew I would attend your engagement ceremony?" I still couldn't believe she was getting married and I was congratulating her.

She giggled enough to show her genuineness. "I didn't expect to invite you, of all people, you know. But still, things happened. Anyway, I had to say… Thank you." 

I blinked at her and stared for a long time. "What?" 

"I am saying… thank you and…" She paused and held my hands. "I am sorry for everything. I apologized to Akash too. I even invited him but he couldn't make it. I just hope you forgive me." 

"It's good that you understood early on." 

She took a deep breath. "I could never get the courage to speak against them. You know, that jerk wasn't the only one who wanted me to use my body. For whatever reason, I never thought of rebelling. I believed I needed to rise and shine. Slowly, I started to believe that this was how it worked." Her gaze was fixed on the floor before she looked up.

"Marriage? I couldn't even choose that. If things happened differently, I would've married Ishaan and lived the worst kind of life with no happiness and love."

"That's not a marriage… it would be a contract." I retorted.

"Right. That's what my life was like. A simple contract. Today, I can marry my love only because of you. I got my courage and perhaps, my remaining dignity." She came nearer and said with a smile on her face, "From today, I will always help you. Just ask me, okay? I made a lot of money. I will give you anything." 

Her glowing face stared at me for an answer. "You came back to money, huh? Fine, then, grant me a wish. Live a sincere life with your husband and don't create trouble. That's the least I can ask." 

She broke into fits of laughter. "Of course, don't worry." Pulling a cigarette out of a pack of it, she held it in her fingers before keeping it between her lips. She went near the dressing table and shuffled through her stuff to get the metal lighter.

"You want?" She asked me to which I denied. Letting the smoke trail up in the air, she closed her eyes. "Engagements and Weddings are a tough job. I understand now." 

I couldn't help but nod my head and slightly snicker at it. "So, when are you marrying Ajay?" Her question stuck me on the right nerve. Marriage? I don't know. 

When I didn't reply, she asked, "You thought about it, right? You know how men are. They will ask you to resign from the industry and live as a housewife. My in-laws too suggested it. I might end up losing on my work too because the industry doesn't prefer a married woman. Select wisely. If you are considering marriage."

On hearing her, I realized it wasn't all wrong. In any case, that's the deep-rooted truth. My hands sweated as my thoughts clashed in my brain. 

"Hey, you are going to delete the picture right? Come on, you promised." I came out of my trance.

"I will keep it. Maybe, it can help me later on, someday." 

She chuckled at my antics. Holding her cigarette in her fingers she pointed at me. "You are becoming interesting." I just shrugged my shoulders.

"The ceremony will start sometime soon." A woman came to announce it before leaving the room.

"Shit." She threw her cigarette away and smelled her breath which was stinking of cigarettes. Sighing frustratingly, she looked at me. "Do you have mint?" 

★★★

Author's POV

The engagement ceremony went well. But very few people seemed interested in the actual engagement. The food was way more important for many of them. Among them are Ishaan and Sarah.

"What the— Who ate my food?" Seeing the missing chicken fry from her plate, her eyes turned to Ishaan who was silently munching on her food.

"Don't look at me like that." Ishaan focused back on his food.

"So you didn't do it? Then who did this? I tried so hard to bring that, hiding it from my dietician. Argh, I hope his three generations fail!" She took out her anger, grabbed the glass of water and chugged it down to cool herself.

Ishaan stopped eating. "You are being harsh. Then, I am going to marry you. Then, our generations can fail," he blurted out in a go. He soon enough realized what went wrong.

Sarah blinked for two seconds before starting to laugh. "Shit. Give me your chicken piece." She pulled the chicken piece from his plate, sticking her tongue out.

Meanwhile, Maya stood on the balcony, staring at the never-ending horizon. Marriage? Am I ready? 

"Are you daydreaming?" The deep intoxicating voice of Ajay reached her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she half-smiled at him. 

"Anything wrong?" He asked, after seeing her smile not reaching up to her eyes. 

Maya dropped her gaze and leaned against the railing. "Did you consider marriage?" She came straight up to the point. Her heart raced fast, worried to know his answer. She rubbed her hand against each other and shook her feet in distress.

Ajay looked confused but he replied, nevertheless. "Yes, I did. What about you? Would you like to marry?" 

Her breath hitched. Her eyes wavered when she looked at him. "I… don't know. I am not sure." She paused to think. "My dream is still yet to be finished. Can I afford to marry now?"

Ajay stayed silent as he didn't know what else he should do. "Then, how about when you are sure?" He asked, to which she turned to him. "I will wait. Then, be sure. Your dreams are mine too. And I will make sure to be with you. To wait for you." 

Maya stood like a stone. Her unsettling heart was getting warmed up with his caring words. She thanked her stars for giving her someone like Ajay in her life. "Ajay, want an ice cream?" 

He looked at the sky, squinting his eyes while giving a thought. "Fine, I am already gaining weight so why not?" Maya laughed out loud.

Seeing her laughing heartily, Ajay too broke into fits of laughter. That night, amid the laughter, both of them knew that they could face whatever awaited them— bright or dark. They are going to make sure their lives are beautiful, no matter what or how.

~•~

How was the chapter? Hope you liked it!

As for Sarah and Ishaan, you can imagine their ending. I wasn't sure if I should make them a couple or not, so I thought this was the best.

Question of the day:

Who is your favourite character? And your favourite couple?

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