05
TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NONE

April

Aastha couldn't help but smile as she stepped foot in her childhood home. Her mom, opening the door, greeting her baby with a wide smile and Aastha felt like a child again, coming back home after school. Younger Aastha would have hugged her Mom and complained about the entire bad, bad world.

But adult Aastha hugged her mom for a second, pulling away instantly, finding it hard to force a smile on her face for more than a minute. She greeted her Dad, glanced at the photo frame of her Grandma, and she felt at home. Sad, slightly uncomfortable, but at home.

Her parents seemed cheery, talking about the plans they made for the weekend and she sighed in relief. She couldn't go through the experience of her parents being sympathetic, again.

The day went by nicely, as the family went out in the city. To her luck, they didn't run into any acquaintances who'd ask her questions about Abhishek— completely unaware about the real truth. Her parents also never mentioned him, mainly conversing about her work and their extended relatives.

As they returned home that night, Aastha felt lighter, almost smiling every other moment. Currently, her parents and her were in the living room, watching television.

"So, Aastha," her father started and she tilted her head to look at him. "You're going to hate us for saying this, but it needs to be said," he said and she shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"What?" Her voice came meek and he sighed.

"Are you and Abhishek...really done?"

"Yes, Dad. We've filed for a divorce, right?" She replied, swallowing.

"Well, it's just that...both of you, you're quite impulsive and reckless," her mother, Lalita paused. "You got married like that and now you're...separating like that," Aastha scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's not true," she said, "We tried, we tried hard for months...but it never happened," she breathed out, mind flashing back to all the moments she and Abhishek tried to hold onto each other. "I left when we reached our melting point, Mummy Papa,"

"So you don't love him anymore?" Her dad asked and she froze for just a moment, fists clenching in her lap.

"Didn't you guys disapprove of him anyway?" She countered and her father, Aman sighed, shaking his head.

"We never disapproved of him, betu. When we first met him, we thought he's very different for you, that's it. Was there ever a time when we tried to stop your wedding like some jobless tv serial parents?"

"Well yeah, you were right. We were too different to stick-

"No, you are too similar, too similar," her mother said, disappointedly. The tone of her mom's voice made Aastha wince but she managed to mask her emotions. "Reckless, impulsive and on the go. Did you ever sit down and talk about your problems?"

"I— I don't want to talk about any of this. Me and Abhishek are done," she said.

"Aastha," her mom said, voice more gentle now. "We don't want you to stay stuck in a loveless marriage, a toxic marriage...but we also don't want you to live with regrets,"

"The ball's in your and Abhishek's court. If you love each other, you have five months to go back home and if not, that's fine as well," he paused. "You still have time,"

"I— I don't know," she mumbled, getting up. "Good night," she hastily said. Her parents looked each other, sad that their daughter was running away from her problems...and the man she so dearly loved.

_____

"So what? They're not going to talk to me, ever?" Abhishek asked his sister who sighed, shaking her head.

"Of course not, paagal. They're mad at you because you aren't telling them what has happened with your wife," she paused. "Your wife, Abhishek. Their daughter-in-law, a part of their family. Not your girlfriend,"

"Di...it's complicated," he said.

"Or are you just scared that they'll beat you up because you were in the wrong in the entire thing?" She raised her eyebrow and he groaned.

"Aisa nahi hai," (That's not the case) he said. "I...I don't want to talk about it," he confessed, his voice meek.

His sister, Nikita's eyes softened as she looked at her brother, who looked...defeated. And she'd never seen him like that.

"Abhay...if you love her, don't give up," she paused, "Not yet,"

"Di! I never gave up, we tried. We tried a lot, it was...never in our fate I guess," he said, sounding defensive.

"We know you and we know Aastha as well, did you ever just sit down...and talk?" He shut his eyes for a moment, mind flashing to every single time they tried to hold onto each other. Every single time conversations turned into arguments, turned into something it should have never been.

"Abhay...it's been months since I talked to my sister, last time I talked to her she sounded so broken, so...weak. I know there's love, I know there's pain. Is there something that will still hold you together?"

"I...I don't, I don't know," he muttered, an ache spreading in his chest.

"I'm going to meet her soon, sorry if it hurts you in any way,"

"It...it doesn't," he said truthfully. "It'll be nice if...if she talks to you, or uhm...finds some comfort with you, it's nice. Just check on her, you know?"

"Okay," Nikita mumbled, "See you soon,"

As the line disconnected, Abhishek's eyes landed on his phone's wallpaper. A picture of him and Aastha from their honeymoon in Switzerland. It was a picture from the Lindt factory, she looking at the chocolates with a childlike excitement, and he looking at her. The picture was clicked by just one of the many Indian tourists at the spot.

An involuntary smile made its way on his face.

But something else caught his eye. The date. It felt...oddly familiar. 6 April. Did something happen on sixth April?

_____

Aastha lay in her childhood bed, gazing at the ceiling. Remnants of the princess stickers she had her father put on it were still there, reminding her of the time she dreamt of her own fairy tale. She got it, but her heart was disappointed for fate to snatch it away so quickly. Maybe, if she had known they weren't endgame, she would have...lived every moment more cautiously, found happiness even in the most mundane days.

Abhishek and her were a fairy tale alright, because who else would meet in October and be married by the next one? Aastha and Abhishek were textbook fairytale— marrying a beloved cricketer, backbencher marrying the topper, meeting at a vacation, almost falling in love at first sight, the list was endless. They were just...a little too realistic to live a fairytale.

"Stop thinking," Aastha reprimanded herself, talking to herself in a hushed voice. She turned over, taking her phone to check if she had set the alarm. As she kept it away, the date displayed on the left corner felt oddly familiar...but she couldn't remember why.

_____

3 years ago,

"I can't believe we're seeing a sky full of stars in Mumbai," Aastha mumbled as she nuzzled closer to Abhishek.

"Well, I brought you here after a lot of research, Aastha," he replied, smiling and wrapping his arm around her. The two were just done with dinner and were sitting by each other as they gazed at the stars from the rooftop restaurant.

"You know," she started, "You've stopped calling me Priye," she said. "Goofy nickname, but I've gotten used to it,"

"First it's not goofy, Priye literally means someone close to your heart, have you never watched period films?" Aastha chuckled, shaking her head. "Also, I still use the name, see, I've saved it as your contact," he said, showing his phone to her.

"My god," she quickly mumbled, squinting her eyes.

"But since we are at the topic of discussing nicknames, I've been meaning to ask-

"No, I will not stop randomly calling you Jake, because you-

"No no," he cut her off, "I'm fine being called Jake. I love it...actually," Abhishek's heart thudded in his chest as he nervously spoke. "It's...Uhm, will you...let me, let me call you Priye for our entire lives?"

Aastha squinted her eyes, scanning the man.

"Weird request, but-

Before she could complete her sentence, he removed his arm off her, getting up from the sofa. Aastha gasped, as he went down on one knee, holding out a diamond ring. It was simple, an oval cut set on a golden band, but it was also the most beautiful piece of jewellery Aastha had laid her eyes on. But, for Aastha, in the exact moment, nothing was more captivating than the twinkle in Abhishek's eyes, which outshone that of the diamond and the stars.

"Aastha Chopra— I've fallen for you, bad. I'm so in love and I know that you are the girl for me. My dream girl. I hope you have similar feelings for me, I really do because...what I'm asking of you, would require you to-

"You're going off track," she quickly mumbled and he nodded his head vigorously, correcting himself.

"Aastha Chopra—

"Don't start again!" She hissed and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not, I was saying something else entirely!" He shot and she just nodded, gesturing that she was 'zipping' her lips. Abhishek inhaled sharply, "Aastha Chopra— will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?" He asked and she nodded instantly, throwing her arms around him.

"Yes yes yes, a thousand times yes,"

"I love you, Aastha,"

"I love you, Abhay," she said. "You know, I'm never going to forget today- sixth of April. Used to be a random day but now..."

"It will stay with us as one of the best days of our life," his voice was soft and she nodded as they kissed.

"Best day ever," Aastha whispered as they pulled away, scanning his face for a moment to engrave the memory on her heart.

they forgot i want to smash their heads.