•Naisha•

"Priya ki Bachi!" I shouted when Priya ran outside the room.

"Oye Naishu! No Bachi, I am Priya. Priya Sharma." she yelled back, from where I don't know.

"Where the hell are you? Come back here in five minutes or I am going to call Veena aunty." I yelled and came out of her room fully drenched in water.

"Okay.. okay... I am coming, but please. First, you go and change. Yuck.. my mats are getting drenched." she screamed back.

"I am going to change but mind my words, you will get a tit for tat for your special act." I threatened her and went inside the room.

Keeping the towel and everything arranged, I searched for my clothes in her wardrobe.

I have some of my clothes in her house as it is my second home.

I went inside the washroom and came out after 20 minutes, wearing a long sky blue bell sleeve top and white jeans.

Getting out of the room I started searching for Priya.

"Priya Sharma, where are you now?" I sang.

"Naisha Joshi, I am in the kitchen." she sang in the same rhythm as mine.

Chuckling, I came inside the kitchen and found her making my favorite onion poha.

Not completely, but a bit is forgiven.

"Naishu, come and take this. I am coming in five minutes after changing my dress." She said with a grin and gave me hot chocolate. 50% forgiven!

I took the cup and went outside the kitchen. After thinking and staring at the television for five minutes, I decided to watch a Shah Rukh Khan movie.

I was choosing which movie to watch when Priya came back with her hands full of popcorn. Go to hell tit for tat! 100% forgiven.

"You are forgiven," I exclaimed to her with a pleased smile and took all the food from her hands to which she chuckled and sat beside me.

"Let's watch Dil Wali Dulhania Le Jayenge today." She chirped to which I very happily obliged. 

SRK is forever my first love!

_____

We were watching the movie while eating popcorn when suddenly my phone rang. Why god, why me...

I groaned and picked up the call.

"Naisha Joshi speaking," I spoke after receiving the call.

"Hello Ms. Joshi, I am Kavya from Sampurna Dance school, Chief has called you for an emergency meeting," Kavya said to which I nodded and Priya pushed me.

I saw her with an irritated look to which she smiled sarcastically at me and pointed towards the phone.

I gave her my best-confused look to which she muttered "You. Are. Taking. On. Phone. Not. In. Person."

And that's when I understood my stupidity and nodded at her. Clearing my throat, I replied, "Okay sure, I am coming." 

"What happened?" Priya asked me after seeing my irritated look as I got up from the sofa.

"Chief calling. I am going to the office bye, see you tomorrow. " I informed her and started my way outside her house to which she nodded and continued watching the television. 

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

•Priya•

Naisha informed me and went to her office, while I slept nicely on the sofa and completed the movie while eating popcorn.

After watching, I got up from the sofa and made my way towards the kitchen to wash and keep utensils when suddenly the bell rang. Leaving the plates in the kitchen, I opened the door, and maa came inside with grocery items.

"Priya take this and keep it inside," she ordered me, to which I nodded and kept all the kinds of stuff at their places.

After keeping the items in the order and washing the utensils, I gave maa her usual evening tea in the garden and checked the time on my phone. 

My eyes went wide seeing it was already past five which meant I have to leave soon or my small babies would get angry at me.

"Maa, I am going for a walk." I notified Maa and went outside.

_________

I walked inside the park where I saw small kids playing. 

They also saw me and grinned while I waved my hands calling them.

"Priya di!" the kids shouted and hugged me.

"What game is going on my champions?" I asked them to which they replied "Luka chuppi" [Hide and seek].

"Mein Bhi khelungi." I screamed to which they all shouted a 'yes'.

[I will also play]

We played for one hour after which I came back home walking.

It always feels so nice being surrounded by small children. At least they are way better than adults but are too innocent for this cruel world.

I sighed thinking how boring this day was and went inside my house.

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

•Naisha•

"Yes ma'am, you called?" I asked the Chief.

"Yes, Naisha. I called to inform you that your group is selected from dance academy to Dancing Juniors, congratulations," she told me, her voice stern but I was too happy to ignore it.

"Thank you ma'am for giving me and my team this chance," I said to her in my best tone.

"So, Ms. Joshi, you and the group will have a week's holiday and then extra hours of practice," she said to which I nodded.

"That's enough, now leave and ask Akansha (Naisha's help and 2nd coach of her team) for the list of songs," she remarked with a poker face, to which I just nodded and left.

"I even doubt if the lady smiles!" I thought.

Waving my thoughts about my not-so-cool Chief, I giggled and jumped happily near the corridor. I looked around opening my eyes after hearing a giggling voice and saw Kavya looking at me with a smile.

I gave her a sarcastic smile for her giggle and came out from the dance school.

Naishu, kaam pe lag ja, but thode aaram ke baad!

[Naishu, start working, but after some relaxation!]

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

•Avinash•

"So gentlemen, this is the entire project. I hope you all liked it." I said, to which all the group members nodded including my father.

Well, being a Head Manager isn't easy but I am trying my best. I want to make baba proud and for that, I will do anything.

"So, from when should we start the project?" I asked them while closing the presentation file and shutting my laptop. 

I looked over to Assistant Piyush and saw him taking out the agreement files.

"After six months." The majority of them replied. I looked over to them and shook my head smiling. 

"This project will start in one month and my special team will do it. I just want all heads to be fully supportive of this project. I take your leave now." I announced and left the meeting hall, taking my coat. 

I know it will be too hectic to handle and start the project in one month, but excellence in work is more important than anything, and being the best in my field is something I should always be.

I came to my cabin and started checking the files when a knock on the door disturbed me. I looked over to see Piyush standing in front of me. 

"Sir," Piyush called me and I nodded my head for him to continue.

"Mr. Banerjee is calling you in his cabin," he replied to me and I nodded my head and got up from the table to meet baba.

"I am going to meet baba and then will directly leave for home. Email me the important files by evening." I said, to which he nodded and left.

_______

"Avinash, you are doing a great job. One day you will become more successful than me." Baba told me, to which I smiled at him. It was the first time he has ever appreciated my work without criticizing me.

"Thank you, sir," I replied to him with a professional smile. It was one of his rules that we should behave only like an employer and employee in the office. 

Here, he is the CEO and I am the Head Manager. 

"There is good news for you. After seeing your achievements, all the head members including me have decided to give the New Omega Indian Mall Project to you," he spoke in his usual strict tone, leaving me too shocked to say anything. 

This project cost a lot of profit and my father is giving me a chance to improve myself.

"Where is it to be made?" I asked him, hiding my curiosity. Thinking about going to India always swells my heart with a calming peace, whatever reason it may be, but I feel this time my journey will bring a good change in my life.

"Dehradun," he responded and I saw his posture getting calm.

"Dehra?" I confirmed from him to which he nodded.

"And now Avinash, start packing your bags. The project had started a week ago and you have a flight tomorrow." Baba said to me, handing over a file. I nodded my head, agreeing with his decision like I always do, and left my father's cabin.

Coming out of the cabin, I directly took my car and started driving home. While driving, my thoughts wandered to Baba's sudden decision. 

Let it be. At least by being in Dehra, my mind won't divert towards her.

_______

"Maa," I said and hugged her from behind.

"Avi mera bacha, aa gaya." Maa said to me while I smiled and nodded.

[Onu my son, you came.]

" Maa, bhuk lagi hai," I whined like a small kid, to which she chuckled.

[Maa, I am hungry.]

It feels good to see her happy. Baba is most of the time busy at work, or when he will be free I would be fully occupied with work, making maa feel alone.

I know how alone she feels! Her gloomy face and dark circles below her eyes tell it all.

"I have made your favorite food today with Rosh Gulla," she told me, to which I kissed her cheeks.

"Love you, maa," I told her.

"Love you too, bacha," she told me.

"Acha, now I am going to change. Serve all my favorite dishes on the table fast." I told her, to which she laughed and nodded.

____________

I went to my room and changed my clothes.

When I went to keep my watch in its place, my eyes came in contact with my laptop.

I took my laptop and started writing an email to Naisha.

It has been a while since I have emailed her. I remember when we were leaving for London, I had asked her to mail me daily so that we won't lose our contact. I even thought about asking Priya, but she wasn't so keen on learning computers, so I pushed the idea away.

I typed the mail.

.......

Dear Naisha,

How are you? Awesome as always, I know! 

So, how's life going?

You must be thinking about what I am writing today as it's been a long time since I have written the last mail. Hahaha! Thinking? I am telling... 

Guess what! I am coming to Dehra again.

When? Day after tomorrow. Please, like a good Indian friend, wait for me with a plate in hand. You will, right?

Also, I wanted to ask you, Have you listened to the gazals I asked you to listen to?

I know, I said so much, I think it's enough for today. 

Meet you soon.

Yours, Avi. 

.....

Email sent!

As soon as the notification popped up on the laptop screen, I kept the laptop on the table and went to eat dinner.

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

•Priya•

After coming from the walk, I started surfing through the internet to find some good art exhibit centers when Avinash's email popped up.

I opened the email and saw the message and replied.

........

Dear Avi,

I am more than fine.. life is good, surrounded by nature and children all around.

Wow, you are finally coming, can't wait to see Mr. Chubby Banerjee.

I will wait with thali for you, but you have to buy some good chocolates for me in return.

The gazals you said to listen to, were just mind-blowing!

Waiting to meet you soon...

Yours, Priya.

......

After reading the message, I saw I have written Priya. I quickly used the backspace button and changed it to Naishu and sent the mail.

After sending the message, I closed the laptop and lay on my bed. I closed my eyes and old memories started flooding my mind.

.

.

.

"Priya?" Avinash questioned me and I looked at him with my glossy eyes. 

He was leaving for London in some minutes and it was the last time talking to him and his family.

"Hmm," I said and he took something from his pocket and put it over my hand. I looked at him confused to which he grinned widely. 

"Give it to Naisha, it has my yahoo address and if you can, then do message me sometime in the future. I would love to hear your and Naisha's crazy banters," He said with a grin.

I looked at the piece of paper and remembered Naisha's pouty face to stop her mother from sending her to school as it was her final dance practice today. 

Her face made me chuckle and I tightened my hold on the piece of paper while nodding at Avi. He then waved at me for the last time before sitting in the car.

.

.

.

I said Naisha about it later the day when she came from practice but her mood was too grumpy to listen to my words. Then days changed to months, she sometimes did email him but after two years she got busy in her life so much that she forgot about this. 

But being the mad soul I am, I emailed Avinash's monthly or bi-monthly but never got the guts to tell him it's Priya. Blame it to my shy nature for this!

Even if I was not interested in learning how to use computers, I learned it for him but my courage would give out the moment he would email something. 

Even if seeing his messages for her always broke my heart.

That's why I never talked about myself or Naisha specifically. Sometimes, I wish I could tell him that the messages are sent by his Priya and not Naisha. But that might hurt both of them for putting both in dark, which I can't see, so it is better if I keep it to myself.

I don't know how he will react when he will get to know about this, but let's hope for the best...

I closed my eyes imagining the worst situations and after some time sleep engulfed me.

Words - 2300 😅

Sorry to all for not updating it.

I have reasons.

1st reason I was blank no ideas
2nd week I had headache
3rd week guest came.

4rd week means last week the whole part got deleted.

I am telling it now itself I will update this book once or twice a week.

****
Lots of love
Shradha