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?

Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 22

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 22

Kushal: “Where is Naina??”

Aaji: “Calm down, boy. Naina is fine. We are no strangers to her.” 

Kushal: “But…Who are you?”

Aaji: “Here are the car keys, she is sleeping right now and so I would suggest…”

Kushal: “Where is she? First, I want to see her!”

Aaji: “How do you know her?”

Kushal: “I asked you a question first!”

Gael entered the room: “That is enough! She has given you all the information you need. Now take your keys and leave!” 

Kushal faltered facing Gael’s personality and voice: “I…I can’t..WONT…leave until I can take Naina with me!” 

Aaji: “Breno! Let me handle this!”

But Gael didn't move…he was eyeing Kushal who had already looked down unable to hold Gael’s gaze. Gael smirked. The Cuckoo was easily intimidated. 

Aaji realized that Gael wasn't going to move and so she stood in between the two men. 

Aaji: “Come with me.” 

Kushal nervously looked at Gael as he quickly followed the old lady. Gael chuckled and followed both of them to his room. 

Aaji signalled them to be quiet. She opened the door to allow Kushal to have a peek inside to see that Naina was safe and fast asleep. 

They all looked inside to see Naina stretched diagonally across the bed, her hair a mess and her arms stretched in the opposite directions. She was absolutely not an elegant sleeper. Gael stepped forward and closed the door wanting to give her privacy. 

Kushal cleared his throat: “So it seems like she knows you?” 

Gael: “Yes.”

Aaji: “Son, I think you are staying in this hotel? Just give me your room number and I will let her know once she is up in the morning. She is safe here and so there is no need for us to…uhhh…disturb her now.” 

Both of them looked at Gael and once he nodded, Kushal gave them the information needed. He wished them a good night and left. 

Aaji sighed: “Well, that was taken care…”

But Gael wasn't listening to her, he was leaning on his bedroom door his eyes closed. Aaji smiled and left him alone. She trusted him enough to leave him on his own. 

***

Naina was murmuring something whilst hugging her pillow tightly. She was so comfortable that…she woke up with a start. Her memory was a bit foggy for the first few seconds and then it all came crashing back to her! She swiftly pushed away the bed covers and stood up. Fighting the curls of her hair away from her eyes she opened her bedroom door…her? Whose was it? The last thing she remembered…Breno! She opened the bedroom door and stepped out. 

Well, the last memory of the night AND him stretched out on the futon in the semi-living room…wow…she stepped back once again as she realized where she was! In a super expensive suite at the Taj…Kuku! Jaya! Dadi! Oh god! What had she done?! 

Naina looked around…it was very early in the morning. The sun was about to rise and no one was up and about in the house…no, suite…she could slip out unnoticed…She started walking away but decided at the last minute that it would be incredibly rude (not to him, he deserved it for leaving her handcuffed to the steering wheel, but to Nani) She should at least leave a note before she left. She went back inside the bedroom and looked for some stationary…She walked over to the study area in his room and grabbing a hotel notepad on the desk, she started searching for a pen…

Naina opened the first drawer and closed it unable to find any. She pulled the chair back to reach for the drawer on the other side. She was in a rush as she wanted to leave before anyone woke up and hopefully before her Dadi back home woke up and realized that she had been out the whole night! It didn't even occur to her that she shouldn't be going through somebody else’s possessions until…she stopped.

She knew those pills. They were used to alleviate the pain of persistent coughing and wheezing that often leads to coughing up blood. While coughing and wheezing may be a symptom of common flu or even asthma, this particular medicine was especially prescribed for a certain illness. Why did she know this? Well, she had her good share of breathing problems to deal with. But what shocked her the most was that these pills were right next to a box of cigars! Naina frantically checked the information on the pills dispenser to confirm her fear. She was right! 

Gael: “Weren’t you taught not to snoop?” 

Naina looked up with tears in her eyes which startled Gael…He quickly made a mental note. Had she found out who he was? No, his passport was in his laptop bag. Besides, even if she had, she would have been spitting fire right now and not…

Gael: “Naina…why are you crying…?”

Naina: “No…no…this can’t be happening…”

Gael: “Wait…what…” 

Naina: “I don’t know who you think you are but you cannot die!” 

Gael: “What?” 

Naina pulled out a box from the drawer.

Naina: “You can’t! What is wrong with you?! This is the reason!! And you continue…and to think you keep them together! What is wrong with you?!!” 

She walked over to him with the box in her hand. She threw the box on the floor, the box burst open and his cigars rolled out of the box. She was crying, she was angry…she pulled on the front of his shirt and screamed…

Naina: “I may not know your full name, I may not understand the language you speak, I may not know who you are but I know that life is too precious to just throw it away! Have you thought about the people around you?! Your family? Your mother? Your father? What about your brothers and what about your grandmother! You cant just meet them one day and leave the next! You can’t…you just cannot!” 

Naina pushed him away and started stomping on the cigars crushing them…

Gael was just frozen. He hadn't figured it out yet. But he felt her emotions. Whatever it was, she was hurt, she was scared, and most important, she was scared that he was leaving HER!

He grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him, fiercely hugging her. 

Gael: “Shhhhh!!” 

Naina hugged him back and timidly looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

Naina: “Breno, what stage is it?” 

And THAT’S when it hit him. 

Cancer. She thought he was dying. Little did she know that it was not him, rather, somebody much more important…And all of a sudden he was overwhelmed. SHE was going to leave him! She was going to LEAVE him! And there was nothing he could do about it! He, GAEL BRENO BOURGEOIS, could do absolutely nothing but wait and watch, just wait and watch her wither away. She was his grandmother because he gave her that respect but that did not mean it was her time! She had sacrificed her life, her family all for nothing! He wanted to give her the world to make up for it and he could give her everything she wanted right now except for the one thing that was needed…

Unbeknownst to him, he pushed Naina away without answering her question. 

He couldn't think straight, he needed to get out…he stormed toward the desk and opened one of the drawers. Pulling out another cigar box, Gael mechanically cut one of the cigars with a guillotine, grabbed a lighter and lit the cigar on his way out to the balcony of his bedroom. 

Naina stood shell shocked. After a couple of minutes, she realized what had happened. What had she done? Wasn't it enough that life had….NO!

She stormed towards him to find him smoking the cigar like there was no tomorrow. 

She grabbed the cigar from him: “Well, if you keep at it, there will be no tomorrow! Why don't you just jump of this building?! At least this way you won’t be polluting the air!” 

Gael: “Naina! Be careful!” 

But it was too late. Naina screamed as the lit part of the cigar burned her palm. Gael quickly grabbed the cigar from her and extinguished it. 

He took her hand in his and gently blew on it. 

Gael: “Naina…Naina…Naina…I…”

He loved saying her name. It was very soothing... 

Naina pushed him away: “You have one life! One life! And you want to throw it away…” 

Gael: “What’s the point?! She didn't smoke, she didn't use tobacco and yet SHE is dying of lung cancer! And there is nothing I can do about it!”

Naina: “What?”

Gael: “Yes, Naina! Aaji is dying! She is dying and I…”

Naina: “Aaji?”

Gael: “I have tried everything! She is going to leave me, Naina…she is going to leave me…Naina, I don't want to be alone…Naina, I am scared…I can’t…all of this…everything I have done…she is the only one…she is the only one who connects me to my mother…and him!”

Naina finally figured it out. It was not Breno…it was his grandmother…

She pulled him close to her and hugged him…

Naina: “Shhhh! It will be alright. Sometimes things just…”

It did not go unnoticed to Naina that just a few seconds ago she had felt like SHE was dying but now that she knew that he wasn’t, HE was not going to leave her…she really felt sad that Aaji was unwell but her grief came nowhere close to what she had felt but a few seconds ago…She looked into his eyes and he looked so vulnerable, his eyes were no longer the steel grey…

Gael accepted her comfort. He hadn't realized until then just how much he had needed it. It felt much better than what his cigars or alcohol had managed to do so far. 

Aaji: “I… I heard all the noise…Breno, are you okay? Naina?” 

Naina pulled away: “Nani…

But Gael looked at her and shook his head. Naina understood that he didn't want her to mention Aaji’s sickness.

Aaji: “Why are all of your cigars…” 

Naina: “I…I don’t think he should smoke anymore…and I told him so.” 

Aaji smiled: “Well, considering the condition of his cigars, you certainly did much more than that. I have always wanted him to stop…”

Gael: “She must leave now.” 

Naina looked at him. He was pushing her out again and this time quite literally. His cement grey eyes made it difficult for her to connect with him. In fact, she couldn't even believe that she had connected with him only a few seconds ago! 

Aaji: “Breno, why don’t you take her…” 

Gael: “John will take care of it.” 

Naina: “Thank you very much but no, thank you! This is my city and I am a big girl…I can take myself home!”

Without glancing back at him, Naina walked over to Aaji. She knew she shouldn't say anything but she couldn't hold herself back. She gave Nani a fierce hug. 

Aaji hugged her back: “Oh my dear child, is everything alright?”

Naina wiped her tears away before Aaji could notice anything: “Yes, Nani. I…I just wanted to say thank you for…for last night. I…I must leave now…”

Aaji realized that something was not quite right: “Will I see you again?” 

Naina: “Yes, of course! Now that I know where you are staying I will definitely come by to spend some more time with you!” 

Aaji: “Oh but we wont be staying here for long! In fact, we will be…”

Gael: “That is enough! Naina, it was a pleasure seeing you again. Now, I would escort you to the door but I imagine, big girl that you are, you can manage it on your own.” 

Without turning around to give him the pleasure of seeing just how worked up that had made her, Naina stormed out of the balcony, out of his bedroom and out of his suite!

As soon the door shut behind her, Naina leaned on the door facing the elaborate and private hallway for the rich in the Taj Hotel. 

“Excuse me, Sir! You cannot just call on them without…” 

Kushal: “Oh let me go! They are expecting me!” 

“No, Sir, if they were, John would have been here to escort you…”

Kushal: “Escort me?!”

Naina: “Kuku?” 

Kushal turned around: “Naina! Oh thank God! Are you OK?” 

Naina felt the hotel walls closing in on her. And to add to that, the hotel staff didn't have to remind her anymore than HE had that she didn't belong here and was no longer needed! 

Naina: “Let’s just get out of here…I…I can’t breathe…” 

Kushal: “OK..OK..” 

Naina and Kushal got into the elevator. But as soon as they were on the ground floor and entered the main foyer, Naina practically ran outside gasping for breath and beginning to wheeze. 

Kushal: “Naina?!”

As soon as Naina was outside on street, she collapsed out of breath. The smoke, the stress, the confusion…

Kushal: “Naina!” 

Naina: “Kuku, I need an inhaler…”

Kushal: “What? Why?”

Naina: “Kuku, please. Now. Go to the medical store, ask for a blue inhaler…now…please!” 

Kushal: “OK…OK…stay right there…and don’t die!” 

Naina managed to smile in between the coughing, wheezing and the attack that was slowly but surely building up…

Kushal quickly ran to the medical store and got her the inhaler she needed. As soon as she took a puff, she was much better. She took the bottle of water Kushal offered to rinse her mouth after the puff. 

Naina: “OK. Let’s go.”

Kushal: “NO! We are not going anywhere! You are coming with me.” 

He helped her walk over to the benches by the Gateway of India and made her sit down. 

Naina: “Kuku, I am fine…absolutely fine…” 

Kushal: “No! And I did not know you have asthma! And why don't you have an inhaler with you! Aren't you always supposed to have one…” 

Naina: “Uhhmm, its not a big deal! I only have an attack once a month…believe me, sometimes even I forget that I have it.” 

Kushal: “And you thought it was a good idea to walk around in India, of all places, without an inhaler!” 

Naina: “Kuku, right now I don't even know where my cell phone is!” 

Kushal: “You don't have it on you?” 

Naina: “It was in the car…oh my God, Kuku, the car!” 

Kushal: “Its back in the hotel. We can go back and ask the staff to check if there was a mobile…”

Naina: “Later. I just need to not move at the moment, please.”

Kushal: “OK.”

Naina: “You don't need to sit here. I know you have to go to ‘see’ Jaya and your family might be…”

Kushal: “I am not leaving you.”

They were silent for a while. Naina rested her head on his shoulder her eyes closed. They were very close friends ever since they started together at the academy and she trusted him. He was just like a brother to her and there was no one happier than her that her two best friends were going to start, what she knew would be, a blissful life together. She knew that they were meant to be together. 

But then her thoughts drew her to what had happened between her and Breno. She couldn't understand the emotional roller coaster she had been through from believing that he was extremely sick to finding out that it was his grandmother who was ill. There were so many questions to be answered. When she thought Breno was ill…why was she so scared…why did it terrify her that she would be all alone without him? What was he to her? And who was he and why did he affect her so?! Did it make her a bad person that she didn't react in a similar manner when she found out that his grandmother was unwell? Wasn't she fond of his grandmother more than she was fond of him?! Was she even fond of him? Damn right, she wasn't! Then why did she behave the way she did! She couldn't justify her behavior at all and that scared her more than anything else. She had realized that when she was with him, she just lost control over herself, her mind…and her heart?

She opened her eyes and saw Kushal staring at something to their right. She looked straight ahead at the majestic Gateway of India in the morning glory. Since it was still early morning, there was nobody around and the hustle bustle of the street vendors and tourists was yet to begin. 

Naina: “It’s beautiful, na?” 

She closed her eyes again as a cool breeze blew across her face. 

Kushal: “Very…”

Jaya: “Naina!”

Startled, Naina opened her eyes to see Jaya standing right in front of them. She looked at Kushal with a knowing smile. Clearly he had not been referring to the Gateway of India. 

Naina stood up and was immediately engulfed into a hug by Jaya.  

Jaya: “Naina, are you okay? What have you been unto, woman! But wait, first, here, take this.” 

Jaya gave Naina a few tablets. “I am sorry, I forgot to bring some water…I was in a rush…” 

Kushal: “Here you go.” 

It’s not that Jaya had not noticed that Kushal was right there. She was just too shy to even look at him! It was the first time they were meeting each other in person! She didn't know what to say to him and she was just too shy and nervous. When he had called her in the morning while he was buying the inhaler, she had panicked and left the house immediately, grabbing Naina’s medicines and without even looking at herself in the mirror. She chided herself for doing that. She knew that the inhaler would soothe Naina’s pain and that she could have spared sometime to at least brush her hair let alone put her makeup on before leaving home! If her mother found out…

Jaya: “Th..thank you.” 

Naina was looking at both of them with a smile plastered on her face. She took the bottle of water from Kushal and took the tablets. 

Naina: “THERE! Now, both of you can at least look at each other! Oh my god! Isn’t this the first time you are seeing each other!?” 

Jaya turned around embarrassed and Kushal wanted to throw Naina into the sea. 

Naina wriggled her eyebrows at Kushal: “Well, don't just stand there. You are less likely to have alone time with her henceforth and until all of the wedding is done!”

Jaya still had her back to Naina and Kushal: “Naina, stop it! He is only coming with his family to meet mine. It’s not like he has said…” 

Kushal: “Yes!” 

Jaya whirled around surprised. 

Naina: “Well, there you go!” 

Kushal: “I just wanted to say that ever since I have spoken to you and this is even before I saw you…”

Naina slowly walked away giving them the privacy they deserved. She walked towards the water and smiled as she heard the waves gently hitting the rocks. She was so happy for them. No matter the uncertainty in her life, the ultimatum her Dadi had given her…and that mysterious man and the ever so more mysterious effect he had on her, Naina had taught herself to live for the little happiness wherever she found it and she was really happy for her two best friends.