C-9|DESTINATION

"Indeed you lost, Nihu", his words broke my trance and brought me back to reality. No, this can't be happening not now when I have tried my best to move on from him. I wanted to touch him to see if this is real or am I dreaming again? but I can't do so. Seeing him standing here like this, it felt like no time has passed, it felt like just yesterday when he proposed me, but we both knew that nothing can ever be same. Memories started to flood my mind, memories of all the time we spent together, all the happiness we shared and with that all the pain we suffered. Tears started brimming in my eyes, but I can't let them fall, I can't show him I am weak that I still feel for him and also for my Gauree, I don't want her to see me in this state. I took few steps back controlling myself. The atmosphere was filled with awkward nervousness and tensions. As if sensing the change of atmosphere, Gauree came running towards me and hugged my legs, "Mamma, who is this guy?" she said pointing towards Garv with a pout visible on her face. I took her in my arms and then looked towards Garv. It seemed like he wanted to say something but was interrupted by voices coming from behind.

"Dada, why have you left me and mumma alone again?", a boy nearly the age of Gauree came running towards Garv and following him was a beautiful woman, with long silky hairs, deep brown eyes and black saree (an indian attire) which was highlighting her milky white skin, the lady with whom I left the love of my life forever, Aparna or should I say Mrs Aparna Garv Jha. She was shouting for the boy, who was probably her son to slow down. The boy came running towards Garv and jumped on his arms. "Sorry champ, but you too should not run like this, what if you tripped and fell?" Garv said a little stern but still a little smile formed on his lips. "Sorry dada!". The boy was exact copy of Garv with eyes of his mother, a perfect combination. I was still looking at the father son duo when Aparna  entered the scene scolding his son, " You, Mr. Apurva Jha, you little rascal, can you and your father give me a five minutes break ever?" 

By then all my friends gathered around me. I was really happy for Garv, he deserved all the happiness but still I felt numbness taking over my body. I was feeling hurt and something was breaking inside me, as if feeling my desperate state, Sameera held my hands and started to draw circles on it to calm me down. I looked at her with grateful eyes. As if becoming aware of her audiences, Aparna turned her focus on us with a huge smile plastered on her face, which unfortunately I was unable to return, "Surprise", she said "I know you must have been surprised to see us here. Remember last time we met on our wedding five years ago." Hearing the words regarding that wedding, I felt the gaze of my friends on me. It was Shritija who spoke out, "Sorry, if it seems rude but may I know who invited you?" " Oh, for that sorry, but your soon to be husband is my cousin Ms. Shritija and he wanted me to come here to help you with the wedding, and since I knew you all so I asked him to keep it a secret so I could surprise you, if you want!" she added slowly at the end. "Yaa, more of a shock than surprise", I heard Vaishali muttering and was shut by Adhya. I looked towards Garv who was looking, more like staring towards me and Gauree who was in my arms looking everything with curiosity. I turned to look away towards Shritija who looked like she was going to refuse, but it may not end good for hers and Tanav's future so i decided to intervene, "It would be great Aparna to have you and your family to stay with us" I replied with a fake smile and gave others a assuring nod.

"Thanks a lot! I am really excited for this wedding. You must be Niharika the wedding planner of our marriage right? Have you planned this wedding as well or what?" she asked but Sameera intervened, "Sorry but she is not any wedding planner. She is Dr. Niharika Raj, a renowned cardiologist, and if you please excuse us now". She pulled me and Gauree out of there and took us to my room. Understanding my state, she knew I need some alone time, so she took Gauree with her for which I was really thankful. As soon as I locked the door, I fell on my knees and bursted into tears, all the emotions I had bottled up outside came streaming down. I wanted to scream to let out all the pain out of my system.

"Why the fate has to be to this cruel to me? Why does he have to come again in my life? Why when I struggling to move on from him, he needed to come to break me again?" This world for the first time seemed so small to me. There were so many Whys but there were no answer to them and with them no answer to all my pains and struggles which were drowning me.

PS- Launching something after a very long gap. Had lost my inspiration and still trying to find it. Hope you like this part!