Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 25

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 25

All three whirled around to encounter the new participant in the commotion. 

Aaji clutched Gael’s hand, that was a very familiar sound and a cherished endearment she had longed for: “Breno, my family…” 

Aaji: “Maya!” 

She swung past Naina and Gael and hugged her dear old best friend!

Aaji: “Maya! You…Maya…I…”

Dadi:  “Where have you been?! Did you forget about us so easily?!”

Aaji: “NO! Never! It was just that…I mean…I couldn’t…”

Dadi: “Oh! Just give me another hug!” 

It was not just Aaji who remembered that voice. Gael was actually overwhelmed and, he, couldn't believe that he even was. Those had been his best days even though they had been shrouded with much deceit and sorrow. He refused to turn around. He hoped she didn’t remember him. He started walking away…

It had been an unfamiliar word but not an unfamiliar sound for Naina

Confused, she asked: “Dadi? What is happening…you know her…”

Aaji: “Dadi?! Naina called you Dadi?! Breno, Naina is Yaya’s grand daughter!” 

Gael froze.  

Dadi looking at Gael’s back: “I can never forget those silver eyes, you know.”

This couldn't be happening. He refused to turn around. 

Naina: “Yaya?? What in the world…”

Dadi: “Breno…” 

He started walking away once again but this time he hoped to get in his car and drive all the way to Rio. 

Dadi: “Where do you think you are going, Mr. Gael Breno Bourgeois?” 

He should have never lied to Naina. 

At that very moment, when his past had already overwhelmed him, his only instinct was to turn to his side only to look at Naina. 

Naina was flabbergasted. First of all, she couldn’t understand why these people knew each other. It seemed like there was a lot of history between them but how was that possible? And why didn’t she know anything about it if it had meant so much to them like it clearly did! 

And then the last question was really…

Naina: “Excuse me?!” 

She had been standing between the two old women and this man…this man who was actually…

Naina: “What…Who did you say he was? What is his name?” 

Aaji: “Naina? Are you all right? It’s Breno…you know that…” 

Naina: “No, I mean what did she say his full name was?” 

He was never one to run away. Although, he had been doing just that a few seconds ago. Well, the only reason he was running away was that he had not wanted her to know that he was Gael Breno Bourgeois, not because of the stupid fiasco on the plane but because he did not want to reveal his negative reality to her which came along with his occupation. But then he had also realized, very recently, that he wanted to make her his woman, his Naina. And the least he could tell her, to start with, was his name, his full name. 

Yes, he figured out all of this as he spoke the next few words. 

Gael: “She said that I am the shuggy duggy quack quack you have been looking for. Sorry.” 

Naina: “Sorry? Sorry! You are the one who made me rush to the airport to catch that early flight, you are the one because of whom I had to skip all the ‘to-dos’ in my planner for before the flight, you are the one because of whom I couldn’t even go to the parlor…”

She agitatedly stabbed her pointed finger at him with every accusation she made against him. 

Gael: “Perdoe-me, por favor! I am the one who paid for everyone’s flight and double for those who were inconvenienced, I am also the one who LET you sit in the First Class and then willingly moved to the Economy because you wanted me to and I am also the one because of whom you could be with your beloved Dadi before the clock struck 12 on her birthday!” 

Naina: “Oh! Forget all of that…you sat there right next to me the whole time and just lied to me?!”

Gael: “Naina, no! I never lied to you!” 

Naina: “You never told me that YOU are Gael Breno Bourgeois, the big fat elephant!”

Gael: “Hang on, I never told you that I WASN’T Gael Breno Bourgeois either. You were just busy talking and I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you that you were talking all rubbish!”

Naina: “…oh, please!”

Gael: “…AND I didn’t tell you that I am the big fat elephant because, hello, look at me! Do I look like one to you?”

It was already quite clear to Naina that Gael looked like the man of her dreams and so she didn’t want to dwell on his looks at this very moment.  

Naina: “Uhhhhhhhhhh….WHAT do you mean you LET me sit in the First class? I was bumped up at the check-in, it had nothing to do with you!” 

Gael: “It had everything to do with me! Those people had no authority to bump anyone to the First Class because there were NO ‘empty’ seats!” 

Naina: “No empty seats?! Oh for crying out loud…it was just the three of us in the entire First Class!” 

Gael: “I bought out the First Class.” 

Naina: “Oh…”

But as soon he had mentioned his Aaji, Naina was reminded of her surrounding and the others present all around them. She was also reminded of…

Naina: “Dadi! What is happening here?!” She pressed her temple… “I feel like I am going to have a big headache…” 

Dadi: “Well, it seems like this story is quite interesting…”

Naina: “What story?” 

Dadi: “I will get to you later…first, Gael, stop behaving like a brat, turn around and face me. Let Yaya have a look at you.” 

Naina unable to be silent: “What is Yaya!?”

Gael finally conceded and came close to her, Naina followed him.

Gael: “How have you been, Yaya?”

Naina with a grimace: “Yaya!”

While Gael was not done behaving difficult, Dadi couldn’t wait to embrace him.

She scolded him as she hugged him: “‘How have I been?’ he asks! Did you hear that Tai? It has been 15 years since you… 15 years! Look at you Gael! You have grown into such a tall and handsome man! Well, there is no surprise there…”

Naina: “Excuse me? 15 years since what?” 

Dadi: “Naina! Stop with all the questions… don’t ruin the moment! Lata, I told you na, Tai and my Gael will come back home one day…and what better day could they have chosen…” 

Lata came forward: “I can’t believe it…after all these years…I have heard so much about you…both of you…I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be feeling Mayaji…and Tai, it’s such a pleasure to meet you! I absolutely insist you to come and meet my daughter and her fiancee first! They just got engaged you see…It will be an honor!”

Aaji: “Oh! It’s YOUR daughter’s engagement! I would love to meet them!”

As the three ladies turned around and entered the hall, Naina grabbed Gael’s hand as tight as she possibly could, although it was nowhere close to how he had held hers only a few moments ago. She dragged him all the way to her residence building, made him climb all the stairs up…she didn’t stop until she was inside her home…she let go only once she had locked her door. 

As soon as she turned around,

Gael: “Great, I was just thinking about how we were going to deal with all this tension between us…(he made a play of unbuttoning his shirt)…I like the way you think…”

Naina: “Oh please! You just refuse to communicate like an adult!”

Gael: “THAT would have been a VERY adult communication!”

Naina: “Just WHO are you? Or better yet, WHO do you THINK you are!?”

Gael: “Fine! But I don’t know what’s the big deal! My name is Gael Breno Bourgeois and I am still just the stranger you met on the plane! We meet a lot of people…you think everyone you meet in the passing gives you all the correct information? How was I supposed to know we were ever going to meet again?! I am sure when you look back you will find all of this funny! Stop trying to make a big deal about it!”

Naina had opened her mouth to spill out an angry reproach, however, she stopped herself. He was right. He was just a stranger…

Naina: “You know what…you are right…what does it matter to me who you are and what you do…”

With that, Naina turned around and left the room.

Gael: “Wait…I didn’t mean it like that!”

But it was of no use. She had already left the house slamming the door shut behind her. 

Gael slumped on the bed and sighed. Well, that had gone very well. So much for making her his Naina. He had successfully established that they were strangers and that’s how he liked it to be…

He looked around. It was a pretty room. Very pretty. Definitely’s a girl’s bedroom. There were two large suitcases by the window. He definitely remembered the heavy suitcases. 

This was Naina’s room! 

It was an elegant white room with hints of pink and gold dusted here and there. He got up and looked around. There was a large four poster bed in the centre plush with a soft white  comforter and a bunch of white and gold frilly cushions on top of the pillows. There were two large windows adorned with white and pastel pink curtains in the room. One of them even had a comfortable window seat. A large pile of books was on the table next to the window seat. He could already imagine Naina sitting by the window, her hair and the soft curtains slightly moving to the dance of the sweet summer breeze. Reading her favorite book and twirling a few strands of her loose hair…

Naina didn’t even notice that she had already reached the engagement party and was standing by one of the pillars lost in her thought until Jaya called for her. 

Jaya: “Oye! Naina…are you alright?!”

Naina: “Yes..yes…why do you ask?” 

Jaya: “Just…what kind of a girl friend are you? Don’t you want to look at my ring…and be jealous?!” 

Naina laughed: “Of course!” She grabbed her hand and made a big show of ogling Jaya’s ring.

Naina: “It’s a gorgeous ring! Honest! I am so happy for you! I love you!” 

Jaya: “Awww! I love you too!”

Aaji came over to the two girls. She had already been introduced to Jaya but congratulated her once again. 

Aaji: “Naina beta, have you seen Breno? I don’t see him around…Maya has been asking for him and this man I tell you… sometimes he gets so lost in his own world, he doesn’t notice people or things around him…”

Jaya laughed: “I just met him and even I acknowledge that part of his!”

Naina faked a smile. What had just happened between them was still too fresh…not between them! Nothing had happened between them! It was just her…SHE was the one so lost in her own world…

Aaji: “ Oh, there he is!”

The girls turned around and saw him approaching them. He had a very grim expression and his eyes…they had turned the unnerving grey yet again. 

Breno: “I am leaving now. I will send another car for you for whenever you are ready to come back to the hotel.” 

Aaji: “Breno, Maya wanted to spend some time with…” 

Breno: “Later. Convey my apologies.” 

With that, he left the place. He had not even acknowledged Naina’s presence let alone look at her. 

Jaya: “What happened to him?!” 

Aaji: “It’s his work. It’s…” 

Maya: “Wasn’t that Gael? Where is he going?” 

Aaji: “He will be back, Maya…come, I would like to have some tea…” 

As soon as the two ladies left…

Jaya: “Naina, did you see that?” 

Naina: “Huh?” 

Jaya: “What was with the attitude?” 

Naina just shook her head: “Forget it, Jaya! It’s your big day! Let’s concentrate on that!” 

Gael got in the car and slammed the door shut.

Gael on the phone: “John, is it true?”

John: “Unfortunately, yes. They have caught him and they now also have a price on you…” 

Gael: “They ALWAYS had a price on me…”

John: “India should be OK, right?” 

Gael: “Should be. For now.” 

John: “We are so close. All our assets are in the right place.”

Gael: “Good. Tell them the mission is a go.” 

John: “Perfect but you need to make some ripples in the sea.” 

Gael: “It's time for Gael Bourgeois to come out to play.”

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 24

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 24

A domineering black SUV pulled up in front of the community center. 

Aaji: “Are we there? Let me see, move!” 

Gael just shook his head. He pulled on his shades and got out of the car.  

Aaji quickly got out of the car and gasped: “OH MY GOD!! Breno! I don’t recognize this place!”

Gael simply leaned against the car with his legs crossed. Neither did he. He had spent a significant time of his childhood here when he was forced to be away from his home; when he was under the care of his Aaji and her friends who lived in this neighborhood. He had fond memories of that place and of the people but this place before him with the same address looked nothing like the one cherished in his past. He was not affected like his Aaji was looking at the reality. He had learnt a while ago that attachments to people and things only made one weaker and he already knew the cost of being weak. 

Aaji turned around but she couldn't even look him in the eye! Not only was he towering above her, the prick had covered his eyes with his shades! Oh how she knew he was enjoying this moment…

Aaji: “Now before you say…”

Gael: “…I told you so…”

Aaji: “…DON’T SAY IT! Breno, my home, my…” 

Gael: “Don’t worry about it. We can make some changes and this community centre can be turned into a good house in no time. THAT is why I told you to hang tight at the Hotel.”

Aaji: “I am not worried about the house! I knew it had been turned into a community center! It’s my people! I wanted to meet the people I left behind! Where will I find them?! This place looks nothing like what I remember!” 

Gael: “What? You didn't tell me anything about the people. You wanted to go back to your house. THAT is why all of us have moved to India from Brazil AND purchased this land practically overnight and now you…”

Aaji: “Bricks don’t make a home! Loved ones do! I want to meet my people!” 

Gael straightened himself and stood towering over her. That was it. He had lost his patience and he had no time nor any inclination toward finding her long lost friends. He had already had enough of all this sentimental overload. He removed his shades and after giving her the death stare until he was satisfied with its outcome, he opened the door and signaled her to get inside the car. 

Aaji could see it in his eyes; she knew that there was not going to be any conversation let alone negotiation with him at the moment. Quietly, she got inside the car. 

Naina escaped the community center swiftly and burst out of the main door. Fortunately, the function was held in the community center which was big enough for her to slip out for a while without getting noticed. 

A gust of wind blew past both of them unknowingly alerting them of each other’s presence. Involuntarily, she started looking for him. He, on the other hand, had already felt her, he had spotted her and was waiting for her to lock her gaze with his.

It all happened in a rush! While she was going through the process of looking for someone or something, she had figured out what had been amiss earlier. Even amongst everybody inside the community center, she had felt lonely and as her gaze locked with his, she felt like she had acquired the company she most desired. 

Gael: “Naina…”

There she stood in a vibrant green saree with delicate jewelry and of course her bangles! The loose end of the saree was pinned to her shoulder partly baring the sensual curve of her midriff…

Surprised that her door was still open, Aaji looked up to see Gael walking away from her. 

Aaji: “Naina!”

She quickly got out of the car and practically ran toward Naina. Although Gael had reached Naina before her, Aaji spoke to her even before he could figure out what to say to her. It seemed he was lost for words, again, in front of her. 

Aaji: “Naina! I didn’t expect to see you here! Naina? Naina?” 

Naina snapped out of the trance that she hadn’t realized she had entered. She smiled naturally:  “Nani! I am surprised to see you here! This is my home!”

Gael: “You live in a community center?”

Naina: “No, my home is in the building on the right.” But she avoided looking at him. 

Aaji: “What is happening here?” Aaji was anticipating the bad news from the horse’s mouth. How she hoped to get these two married right away. 

Naina: “The engagement…we didn’t expect it to happen today…” 

Gael: “What engagement?”

Aaji knew the revelation would hurt him even though he wouldn’t accept it. She tried to make it easier for him. She wasn’t going to let Naina go without a fight. 

Aaji: “It’s just an engagement…” 

Naina: “Yes but then there will be the marriage which, from the looks of it, is going to be next week! I just need to prepare myself for…”

THERE! No wonder she was feeling lonely all of a sudden! She was going to miss her friend! There was nothing more to it, especially not Breno!

Gael was already sweating: “Engagement…Marriage?! Next week!”

Aaji was getting scared too: “Nothing is fixed, things can change…”

Naina: “No and I want this. Everyone is happy! This is the right thing to do! I am very happy for…”

Gael: “No!” 

Naina: “No?” 

Gael: “Wait, the marriage?! Engagement? Who is this guy?” 

Naina: “It’s Kuku, of course!” 

Gael: “Mother of…it’s that bird again!”

He was going to roast that bird once and for all. He grabbed Naina’s wrist and stormed inside the community center pulling her along with him. 

Aaji: “Breno!”

He turned around but only briefly. 

Gael: “You, stay right where you are. If you don’t, I swear to God…”

He left that part unfinished…he did not want this old lady to witness what he didn’t know was going to happen inside. All he knew was that his Naina was not getting engaged, let alone married, not to that bird turd and not to anyone! 

His Aaji knew him well enough and did not dare go against his command.

Naina: “Breno! You are hurting me! Ahh!”

Gael loosened his grip on her as he rushed inside but only enough to make it less painful. 

Everybody was staring at the two. Naina was feeling utterly embarrassed because of the scene that was enfolding as Gael dragged her all the way up to Kushal pushing his way through the crowd. He was a stranger, a tall foreigner and he did not go unnoticed as he marched all the way to the centre.  

He stopped and swung Naina towards him as he stood towering over Kushal.

The whole community centre was covered with a pin drop silence. All that could be heard was the sound of Naina’s bangles as she tried to pull her hand out of Gael’s tight grip. 

Gael: “This marriage cannot happen, I object.” 

He did not shout but the acoustic of the hall and the silence of the crowd allowed his stern voice to travel throughout the room. 

Naina froze and so did everyone else. Kushal was the first one to regain his composure. 

Kushal: “What?! WHY?!” 

Well his composure…not quite. 

Gael: “What do you mean ‘why’? You are not right for her. Can’t you see? Won’t anybody see?”

Naina snapped back: “Why do you say that!? I know in my heart that it is mean to be…”

Gael glared at her. She knew in her heart?! How dare she?! How dare she betray him?! 

Gael: “YOU don’t know anything! You are making a big mistake!”

Jaya looked at the tall man and his death-like grip on Naina’s wrist. She was not the least bit worried. He was not angry that she, Jaya, was making a mistake rather, he was worried that Naina was the one making a mistake…She realized that he hadn’t even noticed her next to Kushal. His behavior was so obvious. Why didn't Kushal or Naina see it?

She smiled and stood up. 

Jaya: “YOU are the one making a mistake.” 

Gael looked to his right and noticed, for the first time, a beautiful lady, probably the same age as Naina’s. Her head covered in a red veil. She was beautiful but not as beautiful as his Naina, he thought, and further tightened his grip over Naina’s wrist. He looked at Jaya trying to intimidate her into submission and then further tried dismissing her altogether with a few sharp words. 

Gael: “You are forcing her into something that is not right for her. Just because she doesn’t know any better…I only just met her but I know that…and you are saying I am the one making a mistake?!” 

Kushal: “Hang on a minute…what are you…doing here…what are you…saying?!” 

Jaya: “If I were the one making a mistake, I would be able to accept my mistake for I know that I am not incapable of making mistakes…”

Gael froze. Those words were familiar...wait a minute! Those were his words! He went back to the conversation he had had with Naina...how did she know? Who was she?!

Naina looked up and started shaking her head. She had realized that Jaya had figured out that the man who had dragged her here was the same man she had met on the plane. But she didn’t want her to know. He was supposed to remain a fantasy so that she could move on with her life but the more he interacted with her life and the people in it…

Jaya took the initiative and shook his hand, his free hand. 

Jaya: “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Jaya Bakshi, Naina’s best friend and this is Kushal Ahuja, Naina’s colleague and another very good FRIEND of hers. Oh yes, and I am so glad that you could make it to MY engagement WITH Kushal! I know it means a lot to Naina so it means a lot to me. After all, Kushal and I would have never met had it not been for Naina!”

Hammerschlagen! 

Jaya studied his face as realization struck and his bombastic behavior dawned upon him. 

Naina had still no clue why he was behaving the way he was. She was busy trying to clear the whole fiasco and get him out of there. She did not want to highlight who he was or rather who he was to her! 

Naina: “I am sorry Jaya…I did not invite him. I just met him…He was just leaving…Didn’t you just want to CONGRATULATE them and leave?”

Jaya smiled at Gael as she patted Kushal’s shoulder to calm him. 

Gael looked at Jaya and for the life of him coudn’t stop himself from laughing. 

Naina faked a laugh along with him: “I see…we are laughing now…yes, this is very funny…Kuku, isn’t it?” She turned around to face the guests although her hand was still lodged in his, “We all go a long way back…this was just a joke…please don’t mind us… we play tricks like these on each other all the time,” She playfully punched Gael…still trying to fake her laugh… “You are incredibly funny, Mister, you are…please laugh, all of you…laugh…this is funny!” 

The crowd responded with an awkward laughter only to appease Naina and consequently burst into a gossip laden murmur engulfed by their own imagination of what was happening amongst the so-called “friends.” It had provided them all quite the entertainment during the engagement party! That they were all friends and this was a joke was eventually largely accepted by all and the incident was brushed aside. The focus off them, Naina turned back around to face Kushal and Jaya.

Naina: “Jaya, Kuku, I am so sorry, I had no idea this guy would turn up and behave like this…” 

She looked at Gael who had, thankfully, stopped laughing but was still smiling. 

She touched his forehead.

Naina: “Breno, are you OK? Do you have a fever? Are you feeling cold?”

The smile on his face was swiftly replaced by a frown. He turned his face away so that she would stop touching his forehead. 

What in the world had happened to him? He hated weddings, engagement parties…ceremonies or anything that involved happy people herding in one place…and here he was, in a stranger’s engagement party, had been the very centre of attention and all because he had thought Naina was getting engaged to this bird standing in front of him! 

Why?!

Kushal unbuttoned the top of his kurta and signaled one of the waiters to give him a glass of water.

Kushal: “Nainai, this man is cuckoo!” 

And Gael burst into a fit of laughter once again. Jaya, Naina and Kushal looked at him perplexed…

Before he could make any more of a scene…

Naina: “Jaya, Kuku, excuse us, please.” 

She tired to pull her hand out of his hold one more time. He didn't budge and so she used the same hand to drag him out of the community centre. 

Once outside, she turned around and looked at him. 

Naina: “What is wrong with you?” 

Gael had by now stopped laughing and had withdrawn back to his old self. He was getting angrier by the second for his new unpredictable behavior. 

He looked down and finally realized that he was still holding her hand. He immediately let go. 

Naina rubbed her wrist. It had already turned pink! “Thank you!”

Gael: “That thing inside…”

Naina: “Yes! What was that?!” 

Gael lashed out: “Why didn’t you tell me about your friend and that bird?!”

Naina: “Excuse me? What bird?” 

Gael was getting frustrated. He didn’t know whether it was with him or with her: “I mean that guy…Cuckoo or something…”

Naina through gritted teeth: “It’s Kuku NOT Cuckoo! You are the one…”

Gael: “Well, why didn’t you tell me FIRST that it was THOSE two who were getting engaged and married?!”

Naina: “I did!” 

Gael: “Nuh-uh! Não, você não fez! Isso é culpa sua ! Eu não teria ido para dentro e fez uma cena, se eu sabia que você não estava me deixando … você não estava me deixando…”

She was not going to leave him! 

Naina: “Whaa….oh my god! And even if I didn’t tell you, what does it matter? Who did you think was getting married?!”

Aaji: “You are NOT getting married?!” 

She had heard everything…

Gael: “NO ONE is getting married!”

Naina: “…yet!”

Gael: “Please, can we stop talking about your friends and their marriage for a second?” 

Naina: “But…what is your problem?! It's their marriage! Whose marriage are we talking about?!” 

“Tai?” 

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 23

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 23

Gael was sitting on one of the stools around the extended kitchen island staring at the glass of Frooti in front of him. Aaji was sitting on a plush sofa in the living area across from him. She was pretending to read the newspaper but they both knew she wanted to ask him what had transpired between Naina and him before she stormed out of the suite. It was never quite simple between the two, was it?

Leo walked into the living area followed by Davi. Both of them were yawning with their mouths wide open and scratching their tummy as they sat on the stools, each on either side of Gael. They sure were identical in their looks and they also were identical in some of their very peculiar habits. 

The bottle of Frooti was right next to Leo and so he poured a glass for himself and Davi. He then skillfully pushed the glass toward Davi so that it stopped right in front of Davi’s hand. 

Leo: “Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllll1” 

Davi: “Yeahhh! Up top!”

Gael: “Silêncio! Por favor!” 

Leo and Davi looked at Gael, although, they did keep silent. 

Aaji just looked at them and chuckled. 

Davi: “Thank you for the Frooti Aaji. Cannot imagine a day without it.” 

Aaji: “Well, how can you?! You guys import this juice even though you are probably the only ones who drink it in Brazil! I cannot believe you would stay without it in India.” 

Gael: “It's nothing but sugar.”

Leo: “Hey! Then let me take care of your sugar for you, honey buns.” Winking at Gael, Leo downed Gael’s glass after having already finished his. 

Gael smirked at him and before Leo could reach for the bottle, Gael grabbed the bottle and downed all of it. 

Davi: “That’s not cool, irmão, what did I do to you?!” 

Gael: “Sorry, Davi, it’s each against the other when it comes to Frooti.” 

Aaji was looking at the brothers fondly and could not hide her smile. Their bond was so precious. No matter what, they would always have each other. But she needed to interrupt this because there were other things she had to take care of, more precisely, clear up Gael’s love life which was practically non-existent at the moment. She had no doubt that the other two could take care of themselves. Not because they were wise when it came to the matters of the heart, rather, they knew when and how to ask for help if needed and they had no qualms about doing the same. When it came to Gael, well, it was just difficult to say what was going on in that complicated mind of his. 

Aaji: “Breno, when do we move?” 

Gael: “Where?” 

Aaji: “Breno! To my home!” 

Gael: “You tell me when and we will charter the flight back home.” 

Aaji: “GAEL BRENO BOURGEOIS!” 

Gael: “Fine! I have spoken to John already. He will be leaving for the place soon.”

Davi: “He? I mean…won’t you go?” 

Gael: “As promised, I have already taken care of the matter. It’s mere formalities now and John can take care of it.”

Davi and Aaji looked at each other. They understood just how much of a pull Gael might have used in order to get the “matter” solved overnight!

Leo: “So then when are we moving?” 

Gael: “WE are not moving anywhere. Aaji will be allowed to visit the place and spend a few hours over there during the day but her nights will be spent here in the hotel where I think she will be better cared for…”

Aaji: “But…” 

Gael: “This is non-negotiable. Take it or leave it. I am not the one running out of time.” 

Leo and Davi were looking at Aaji and Gael shocked. Only Gael could talk like this. Well, if it were them, they would take it, no matter what Gael was dangling as a bait before them. The look on Gael’s face at the moment was enough to get them to agree to anything. 

Aaji: “Fine! BUT while I am there, I want YOU to be with me. Breno, you will stay with me there and I do not want your office to follow you there. And we go there NOW! Do we have a deal?”

Gael: “It’s not ready yet…It’s a community centre for God’s sake!”

Aaji: “I want to go over there regardless! Do we have a deal?!”

Gael looked at her. He knew he could bully her out of it but he also knew that this meant a lot to her. It was difficult but Gael agreed. It would be hard for him to withdraw himself from the office for a couple of hours especially since he was physically absent there but then he was proud of his multi-tasking skills, he was sure he would find a way to get around it. 

Davi smiled knowingly. Aaji was one smart women. She had just extracted the perfect bargain from Gael Bourgeois!

***

Naina and Jaya finally reached home. Kushal had insisted to drop them home but Naina had been successful in convincing him that if Jaya’s mother found out what Naina had been up to the whole night, that she had had an asthma attack and that Kushal and Jaya had ended up meeting each other in such circumstances, she would lose it.

The two girls were able to sneak all the way up to Naina’s room. Naina quickly pulled the door shut behind them.  

Naina: “Oh thank god! Thank god your mom is going crazy with all the preparation that we could make our way here unnoticed…”

Jaya tapped on Naina’s shoulder so that Naina could turn around and look in the direction Jaya was facing. 

Naina whirled around. 

Dadi: “It’s about time. I know there is a 12 hour difference between here and where you came from and it explains why you weren’t asleep the whole night BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN’T EXPLAIN WHY AND WHERE YOU WERE OUT THE WHOLE NIGHT! Jaya, out with it!”

Jaya: “Dadi…I…we….”

Naina: “Dadi, Jaya must go and get ready. Kuku will be on his way and we don't want our Jaya to…you know…I…let me explain…”

Dadi: “Absolutely not! Jaya will tell me the truth. You have spent enough time in the service to know how to give answers without telling me anything!”

Lataji: “Jaya! Beta, are you here?” 

Naina: “Great! Dadi, that’s aunty. We best not keep her waiting…Sexy! We are in here!”

Naina quickly opened the door and pulled Jaya out of the room. 

Dadi had no choice but to follow the two girls out. 

Lataji: “LOOK AT YOU TWO! OH MY GOD! THESE TWO GIRLS WILL KILL ME ONE DAY! Jaya, I sent you to get ready more than an hour ago! What…why aren’t you ready yet??”

Jaya: “Ma…I…”

Naina: “She was trying to wake me up for the past hour! You see I had promised her that I would help her get ready, besides, we still have a lot of time…what’s the point in getting ready so early?! We want her to look fresh, no?”

Lataji smiled and hugged both the girls: “You two have always been so inseparable! I am so sorry…I am just so emotional today! Somehow, I feel that everything is going to change! That today it will be a happy day for BOTH of you!”

Dadi had tears in her eyes too: “I still remember when the two of you would dress each other up in sarees and pretend you are getting married…don’t you remember?” 

Lataji nodded but the girls simply shrugged. 

Dadi: “Oh, hang on!”

Dadi opened one of her old closets in the living room and pulled out a very old photo album: “I hope they are here…lately I don’t seem to find my stuff!” 

She sat on the sofa and opened the album. The two girls and Lataji huddled around her on the sofa. 

Jaya: “Oh my God! We look sooo…”

Naina: “…stupid!”

Lataji: “…cute!”

Jaya: “I cant believe we did this!”

Naina: “That doesn't even look like a saree! If this is how you dressed me, you are so not coming near me when I am getting married!”

Lataji’s phone started ringing.

Lataji: “Hello?’

Dadi continued to flip through the photos. 

Naina: “Wait a minute, who is that?? Who is that lady and that little boy? I don’t think I recognize them…I have never seen these photos…”

Dadi took the photo out of it’s casing and brought it closer to inspect it. 

Dadi: “Oh My God! I have been looking for this! I didn’t think they would be here with your childhood photos…” 

Lataji: “JAYA! NAINA! QUICK! That was samdhanji! They are on their way!” 

Jaya: “OH NO!”

Naina grabbed Jaya’s hand and they quickly ran to her room to get Jaya ready. 

Meanwhile, Dadi was fondly looking at the photo still in her hand as a lone tear dropped on her cheek. 

Dadi: “Tai…a mere thought of her’s still makes me smile…”

***

Gael: “Davi, Leo, I want you to make sure the doctors and healthcare over here is all good to go, alright? Also, can you find out when Mãe plans to come here and please coordinate with her accordingly…”

Aaji: “I am ready…”

The three men turned around. They all smiled. 

The excitement and happiness that reflected on her face made her look ten years younger, and healthier, after all, home is where the heart is and even though she loved her Brazilian family, and she did love them all fiercely, her heart truly belonged to her motherland, her home. 

Leo whistled: “Hot stuff!” 

Davi: “What a beauty!” 

Aaji: “Oh, shut up!” But she blushed and didn’t really want them to stop…

Gael: “Let’s take you home, Aaji.”

***

Lataji: “Jaya, beta, you look so beautiful!”

Jaya blushed: “Ma, it’s all Naina’s magic!” 

Naina: “You know that I am shameless and will take any credit you give me! Yup, it’s all me! I am the reason why your daughter is looking like a Goddess!” 

Lataji swiped off a bit of her kajal and dabbed it behind Jaya’s ear. She looked at Jaya and wanted to capture this image of her’s in her mind forever. Jaya was wearing a simple and elegant baby pink sari with delicate gold design all over it.

Jaya hugged her mother and both of them started to cry and laugh at the same time. 

Naina was looking at them and before she could start her waterworks, Jaya pulled her into their group hug.

Lataji: “Naina! What are you wearing?! I can’t have my other daughter dressed like this! What will they think?! I want you to be dressed up just as well. What if he comes along with a friend…”

Naina: “I am his friend!”

Lataji: “…or may be his mother might be looking for another girl for one of his cousins…you never know…whenever there is one wedding in the house, another one is always right around the corner!” 

Jaya: “You are right! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Naina also finds her knight in shinning armour along with me?!” 

Dadi: “I absolutely agree! In fact, I was going to suggest that we make Naina meet any and all prospective grooms who would be attending the ceremonies…” 

Naina simply rolled her eyes but she knew she couldn’t deny it.

Naina: “Oh alright, alright! I will get ready!”

***

The “function” was well on its way and had already moved beyond both the families accepting the proposal to discussing the dates for the wedding. Naina was ecstatic, sad, excited and a whole bunch of emotions she couldn’t quite figure out. She was so happy for Jaya, that part she was sure of, but there was still something unsettling…

Dadi: “Naina, bring over some of the laddoos here!” 

Naina: “Yes, Dadi, coming!” 

Naina skillfully maneuvered two loaded plates of food and after delivering them to their destination: a table full of hungry people; she ran to do her grandmother’s bidding.

The entire floor was full of commotion. Everybody was so happy! After all, their beloved was getting married! 

Naina looked back and surveyed the room. Both her friends were lost in their own world, she smiled when she saw them try to discretely steal a romantic glance. She looked around and spotted her Dadi and Lataji. Both of them were surrounded by a lot of people and were hugging and laughing and reveling the good news….

Naina gasped. All of a sudden she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Was it another attack already?