Long Chapter Ahead...Enjoy 😉

Love Love ❤️
Srinidhi

HER
✨

His eyes didn't blink at once. It's like they were trying to look into my heart. My soul. I couldn't handle that gaze but neither could I look elsewhere. It's like the very first time when I saw Ray. He had simply hyponotized me. The same black tuxedo. He has a dozen of them but he still buys more in black. Even that day he was wearing that tuxedo. I still couldn't forget that day

Flashback begins...

'Riyaaaaa make it quick!!! Come on Maria and Vidya are already waiting for us. Make it quick come on!!!' saying Tisha began dragging me along with her.

'Ahhhh Tisha this is heavier than expected ...girl please...' I almost screamed at her. I regretted volunteering to be a backstage help for the college fest. Looks like Xavier's my college organized and hosted one of the best intercollegiate fests in town. I was a first year student who was an absolute introvert. I loved my books, loved singing in my church choir and play piano in my home for every Christmas.

I loved my studies but seems like Xavier's believed in extra curricular activities as well and being an autonomous institute they also had extra numbers that I could gather if I joined these stupid events. And being the reputed topper of my batch ever since my lower kindergarten days, how could I let go that opportunity. Let's say I was obsessed with being the topper of the batch. The reason why I decided to volunteer for this fest. Noticing the fact that if I be the tag along buddy like my other friends volunteered, I had to spend time with all the team members assigned to me. I couldn't do that talking, so I silently decided to help my seniors.

But looks like it has backfired. Some Ray D'Cruz was assigned to do the transportation from the parking area to the amphe theatre where the stage for cultural programmes were set up but he was missing and I was made the scape goat. To add on my mother always believed I was short where as I was a decent 5.3 but she always thought girls must be a minimum of 5.5 resulting in me wearing those stupid ass heels. My legs were hurting like a bitch wearing a 4 inch pointed heels wearing which I was running around for the 5th time, this time carrying a stupid cardboard drawn tree because my seniors were performing an act on the stage and they remember this stupid prop at the nth minute. I hate my life. You should never be a junior, directly join third year graduation. Sucks!!!

Finally when I reached the stage Tisha got a call who shouted

'Rayyyyy you idiot... dumbass...idiot... crackpot...how the F did you leave me with this tiny little creature here...you even know how tough it was to carry this stupid cardboard thingy and this girl here is so slow!!! I will kill you!!!' but right at that moment, I wanted to kill her. I carried that crap of a cardboard on my head along with her and what should I do if my heels are painful. Stupid woman, she was wearing comfy sneakers. I was jealous of her.

But then suddenly I felt no weight but I couldn't see what happened because the cardboard was still on my head and my view was blocked.

'Jesus!!! Thank god you are here...Next time you ditch me-' I heard Tisha speaking but then I heard a strong manly voice that said

'Tish relax babe! Joy's throat is blocked, he couldn't sing and Daman Sir had announced of a cultural programme...soooo'

'So you played your guitar?' Tisha asked and he said

'I played the guitar!!!' and they both chuckled. I wanted to scream on top of my voice because these besties were praising each other and talking their happy go lucky things and here I was loosing balance as I was holding the cardboard all alone and suddenly my heel tripped and I almost fell and I closed my eyes out of fear but suddenly I felt a be strong grip on my waist and suddenly the cardboard felt weightless.

I opened my eyes to see a tall fair man with sea blue eyes stare into my soul and I almost forgot to breathe. He had carried the cardboard on via his hands which no longer was on my head. His other hand had grabbed my waist. My top was slightly ridden up and he was feeling my skin now making my breath hitch. I cleared my throat and he let go off my waist. He grabbed the cardboard tree and placed it straight in the corner of the stage. I was still mesmerized by his eyes. They were so deep, so scary yet to beautiful. I bit my lower lip trying not to gasp as he kept staring into my eyes without blinking.

Suddenly looks like the act on the stage began and someone had played an age old Bollywood classic

Teri Aankhon Ke Siwa Duniya me Rakha kya he...

(What else is left on this planet, other than your eyes)

And I suddenly blinked my eyes looking elsewhere but all this dangerous blue eyed boy did was smirk and whisper

'Ray...Ray D'Cruz!!!' and I rolled my eyes saying

'I dont talk to strangers!!!' and I was about to leave but I felt a sudden grip on my forearm and I was shocked

He simply turned me around and bent to my height and then looked at the badge on the left side of my chest.

'Riya D'Souza!!! Interesting!!!' he smirked and I simply pushed away his hand and called out Tisha who was talking to some organizer that I'm leaving. She nodded.

But on my way I saw the same blue eyed boy who was flashing a full blown smile at me. Idiot!

Cute though...but still an idiot.

While passing by his side he whispered

'Ray n Riya...has a ring to it!!!'

And I simply shot him a look and said

'Yep...sounds like names of twin siblings!!!' and his facial colour changed and it was my time to smirk now but then he said something very interesting

'Hmmmm siblings I don't know...But Riya D'Cruz... Sounds like a thing!!!' and I was shocked.

I mean I know I was pretty but no one had flirting with me on this level in the very first meeting. This man was on some other tangent altogether.

'Get a life!!! Jerk!!!' saying I walked away when he suddenly sang the line from the song playing on the stage loudly

'Mera jeena Mera marna inhi palkon ke tale. (My life and my death is just at the mercy of these eyelashes)'

And I rolled my eyes running away from there.

Such a creep.

Flashback ends...

He didn't even turn around. I simply walked inside the room when Uncle Al excused himself and said

'Ummm I have to check up on the guests. Ray...Riya...will wait for you both!' and Ray nodded. I smiled and he left from there. Suddenly there was pin drop silence in the room. I took a few steps closer to him when he said

'Stop!!! What is it?' he asked. I was taken back by the sudden obstructing nature he had begun to show me. A weird bitterness. Shouldn't I be the one showing him this behaviour. Shouldn't I be the one throwing him this attitude. How is it only fair that he cheats upon me, breaks my heart, my trust and be the first one to move on as well. Yes I told him to but why did he have to agree to my suggestion?

Wait a minute! What is wrong with me? I persuaded him to move on and now when he is...I don't want him to? I'm not liking it when he's not giving me the attention. I'm sick. I can't be this way. This is so bad. Good lord! I can't be this deceiving to my own self. I should be happy for Ray. I shouldn't be acting like this.

Woman up Riya. You are here to congratulate Ray for his new beginnings. You must only wish good for him. The best for him.

'Why are you here Riya?' his words pricked me. But I managed to calm my insides and said

'To tell you that you are doing the right thing Ray. Ivory is such a wonderful lady and you are so luck-' but suddenly he turned around and snapped at me at once and said

'Done congratulating me? Ohhh these flowers are for me? Thank you! Keep it on that table there...and please enjoy the party. Leave now!!!' saying he turned around and began correcting his bow and I couldn't help but tears swarmed in my eyes. I nodded helplessly and started walking away when suddenly Lydia came running into the room and said

'Mummmaaaaa...howz Lydia looking today? Neha Moushi dressed me up...Pretty na?' she flaunted her black gown and I chuckled smiling and asked 'But black??? It's Dadda's engagement ceremony baby!!!' to which she said

'Its my Wednesday look Mumma!!! All black and look at this matching black hairband...isn't this perfect?' she asked excitedly and I smiled through my tears hiding them at the best and nodded but what she said next shook me from within

'Ivy Mumma gifted it to me!!!' and suddenly I felt like my heart dropped into my stomach. My lips parted and I was left speechless. Just like I was shocked even Ray turned around listening to Lydia's words. My anger was on cloud nine, my daughter was calling someone else as her mother while I was alive. I grit my teeth and swallowed my anger and looked at Ray and managed to ask

'You told her to-' but he spat back angrily gritting his teeth whisper yelling at me

'Are you crazy? You think I will ever stoop so low Riya? You have blamed me enough and I took all of it with a pinch of salt but not when it comes to my child's future and her upbringing. My daughter will never call anyone else her mother!!!' he said shooting his blue eyes into mine and I don't know why I suddenly felt a weird assurance in those eyes but suddenly I averted the gaze. Whom are we kidding? He's getting engaged in next few minutes.

He took a step closer to Lydia and asked
'Who told you to call Aunt Ivy like that sugarplum?' he slowly caressed her cheek and she smiled saying 'Ivy Mumma!!!' and we both were shocked. Ivory knew that Lydia is still a child and she needed her time to understand and accept things, the reason why both Ray and I never shoved anything into her. But Ivy had crossed her boundaries. And this had pissed Ray clearly.

He slowly cupped Lydia's cheeks and said
'Aunt Ivy was just playing a game with you baby. A name game. You only have one Mumma okay and she is here...Your Riya Mumma...' to which Lydia innocently nodded but asked another question countering us

'But Dadda...I was told by many aunties and uncles in the party that when a boy marries a girl they become Mumma and Papa' she said and I looked at Ray who looked angry yet he calmed down and explained Lydia...

'That is not the case with everyone my sweetheart. God plans differently for everyone. And God's special children deserve special treatment. Now see Mumma and Dadda...Are we both married?' and she nodded a no. Ray smiled and carried her in his arms and asked

'But aren't we your Mumma and Dadda?' and she nodded but quickly said

'But Alice Gammy said that you and Mumma were once married but you both didn't like it so you both ended it' and Ray mumbled some curses and said

'See baby it's like...hmmm... remember your Physical education teacher asked you to team up with Jovita your classmate for shuttle but you were not comfortable with her so remember you both found different partners to play right?' and she bobbed her head like a doll

'Exactly!!! Mumma and I didn't like to play this marriage game together so we stopped playing together!!!' and she smiled and then quickly asked

'Dadda...now you like Aunt Ivy so you and she will play this marriage game? If so who will play with Mumma? Won't she be alone?' and suddenly my throat filled up. My eyes started getting damp and Ray looked at me at once. For once we didn't have an answer to our little ones questions but I had to distract her

'Ly...do you know today at the dinner Menu there is your favorite hot chocolate sundae...' and her eyes glimmered with happiness and she jumped from Ray's arms into mine saying

'Wooow Mumma...Lydia is hungry' and I smiled saying 'Come...let's go...even Mumma is hungry' and I carried my little one in my arms and left the room. I could still see the pain, anger and helplessness in Ray's eyes. It's the first time we realised, how much ever we try...it's never enough to explain our special relationship arrangement to our growing daughter. It's only going to get tougher.

✨

I was feeding ice cream to Lydia when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Alice Mumma who smiled looking at me.

'Mummaaa...Missed you' saying I hugged her and she hugged me for a little too longer. I could feel the tension. I slowly got out of her embrace and looked at her asking 'Mumma you ok?' and she smiled holding my chin with her index finger and asked 'I must be asking you that Riya...' and I gulped and smiled. But she kept looking into my eyes and asked 'Sure?' and I nodded.

Ray had come downstairs however he looked pissed with Ivy. They were asked to dance together however Ray denied and everyone else continued dancing. Soon there was time for ring exchange ceremony and somehow I was feeling constricted in my throat. I didn't think this would be so tough. Ivory held Ray's hand and inserted a ring into his index finger. Everyone clapped. Next Ray was about to insert a ring into Ivy's index finger. However he looked at me once before he did that. My heart was ready to explode. Does he feel the same? But soon I realised he was looking at our daughter who was waving at him. Soon Ray inserted the ring into Ivy's finger. And boom Ray and Ivy were now engaged. I blinked through my tears. Suddenly I heard Alice Mumma say in my ears 'One down..now it's your turn Bala (child)...If Ray can move on...you can as well!!!' and I smiled at it, although I was clear, remarriage wasn't my thing. I am done with love and this marriage mess.

Once the engagement was done everyone forced the couple to dance and Ray was still persistently hesitant. While suddenly Ivory came to me and said

'Hey Riya...why don't you sing? Please please... come on!!!' and I was pissed. Is she serious? What is this? Some bollywood movie? I'll sing a Channa mereya at my ex's wedding? But I didn't want to be harsh. I politely denied but when everyone started cheering for me, including the insensitive crowd I settled for a piano. My only talent other than singing.

The piano was brought to the living room and I sat down and began playing a few notes when I was asked to play something nice. So I chose to play Bekhayali by Sachet Tandon. Suddenly Ray took Ivy along and stepped on the dance floor and suddenly it started getting difficult for me to continue. I could hardly see the notes on the tablet as my eyes were continuously getting moist. This was a torture and I stopped at once. Suddenly the room went silently. I couldn't continue. I couldn't lift my head to look up and I knew I was going to be either a butt of jokes or going to be a scene of sympathy.

But suddenly I heard a high of guitar play. It was the very first note of the song and I quickly look up to see if it was Ray. But it wasn't him. I suddenly turn around to look at the stage and notice someone with Ray's guitar on the stage.

And suddenly we listen someone singing along with the guitar notes play along

✨
Bekhayali main bhi tera hi khayal aaye
Kyun bichadna hai zaroori ye sawal aye
Teri nazdikiyon ki khushi behisaab thi
Hisse me faasle bhi tere beihisaab aye
Mein jo tumse door hu
kyu door main rahu...Tera guroor hu
Aa tu faasla Mita tu khwaab sa Mila
Kyun khwaab tod dun...
✨

And we all are shocked. The song continues along with the guitar and we notice a man in a three piece suit, a pair of black framed glasses and a small pony tail.

And then we see the spotlight falling on him. First thing that I notice is blue eyes.

And next I hear Ray say...'What the F is he doing here'

And listening to the irritation in his voice I turn around and look at him walking closer and that's when I realise...

It was him. My ex husband's one and only

Competition...Rival...Yet...Sibling...

Younger brother....to be precise...

Roy!!!

Roy Sherman Mascarenhas!!!