‘I don’t care! His life or death doesn’t mean anything to me now.’ When Rihana said that, Zara thought it’d be too much to push the conversation any further.
A few hours later, Rihana heard Zara speaking to her mother.
‘Auntie, we will be there at the airport to receive you. I’ll have all the arrangements made . . . Don’t worry about her, Auntie, I’ll handle it . . . I’m sure she is in a better state to deal with it now. See you Auntie.’
Zara turned around and saw Rihana. ‘They’ll be reaching the day after tomorrow, Ri. Their flights will connect them straight to Jodhpur, and uncle will be transferred to the hospital straight away. We have to ensure they don’t face any problem.’
‘I’m scared to face all of it again, Zara.’ Rihana hugged her and cried.
Zara consoled her with sweet nothings and promised to be by her side, no matter what happened. She told her how life had come full circle and had ended up making Rihana the strong girl that she was. Being complimented with love and being warmly nestled in caring arms, Rihana felt much at peace, ready to face whatever came her way.
She asked Zara, ‘Will you be okay if we bump into Shaurya? Or do you want me to break his nose?’
Zara laughed and said, ‘You think I’d care for a spineless creep when I have a loving girl by my side?’ she said and gave Rihana a peck on the forehead.
They made passionate love that night, knowing they would need some of it to sustain them when they left for Jodhpur in the morning.
They were flying business class with the same airline that they had taken the last time around. When they were at the check-in counter, both of them were reminded of Akshay. It was someone else this time, but the memory made them laugh.
When they boarded the flight and took their seats, they were both pleasantly surprised to see Akshay, the same steward that Rihana had made out with attending to passengers.
‘Now, this can definitely not be a coincidence! Are you going to wait for her forever?’ Zara asked the steward, who was pleasantly surprised to see them. He also noticed a sea change in Zara. From the quiet girl who felt embarrassed at a lot of the things Rihana said or did, she was now blooming like a fresh flower.
‘Sorry, buddy, I’m taken! Not this time,’ Rihana said as she watched the steward’s crestfallen face.
‘Love doesn’t demand fidelity,’ Zara said, settling in her seat.
‘Then what does?’ asked Rihana, her concern for Zara’s statement genuine.
‘It’s the insecurity that does. You’re going to get so much love from me that no matter where you go, you’ll return to me only,’ Zara said confidently.
‘So I have a chance to join the Mile High Club today with the steward,’ Rihana chuckled, and Zara hit her lovingly on the head.
They waited at the airport for Rihana’s parents’ flight to arrive. Rihana stood coldly when she saw her mother roll her father out on a wheelchair. He appeared to have almost no life left in him.
‘Karma is a bitch,’ Zara said, looking at them, and held Rihana’s hand to let her know that she was there with her.
They moved forward to receive them and helped Rihana’s father get in the ambulance. There had been no conversations so far—the strong feelings and emotions were just hovering in the air.
Upon reaching the hospital, the media was there, as predicted by Rihana. Zara asked her to play it cool and not get worked up. And instead of Rihana, Zara faced the media herself.
‘The family needs some privacy as they are undergoing a tough time. Rihana’s father is suffering from cancer and needs your prayers. I would request you all to cooperate in such a sensitive situation.’ Zara tried to give them at least some information so they would leave Rihana alone and not hound her for details.
‘Ma’am, we’ve heard that Rihana’s parents live in New York. There are better medical facilities there. Then why did they have to come here?’ a reporter in the contingent asked.
Zara knew the answer, but just kept quiet. ‘Because this cancer institute is one of the best around and Rihana has a lot of faith in it, she called her parents here. Now if you will allow me, I have to join the family.’
‘What is your relation with Rihana?’ another reporter questioned.
Zara froze for a second. Did she have an answer? Rihana and her weren’t sisters, nor were they just friends. They were in a relationship that went against the laws of the country. Now she understood her husband’s predicament more empathetically. She viewed things from his perspective and how the legal situation had worked against his life and hers. And now it was going to affect theirs. She just shook her head and went inside to where Rihana and her family were.
‘What happened?’ Rihana asked Zara, looking at her flushed face.
‘Nothing! Is Uncle comfortable?’ Zara asked, avoiding Rihana’s question.
‘He can barely talk. So I really don’t know.’
Rihana’s mother came out of the room and called her daughter. ‘Your father wants to speak to you.’
Rihana was hesitant, but when Zara kept her hand on her shoulder, she went inside, her heart beating like a boom box. Zara stayed outside to give them some privacy. She wanted the father and daughter to talk alone. It was a subject that couldn’t be discussed in front of any other.
‘I’m sorry, my child.’ That’s all her father could say, that too with a lot of gasps in between. Tears ran down his face—tears of pain and guilt. His crime could not be forgiven, not even in the eyes of God. But seeing him remorseful and lying broken like that moved something inside Rihana.
‘I forgive you,’ Rihana said and held his withered hand. The gesture was even more painful for him. She cried with him for some time and came out of the room. She was unable to take the pain any more. But at least her father was relieved.
When she came out, her mother held her tight in her arms, thanking her profusely for what she had just done. She also asked for forgiveness for not being there for her when she had needed her the most.
She held her mother lightly and said it was okay, that she had moved on and found love.
‘I forgive him, Zara. Because if I don’t, I’ll keep punishing myself by hating him,’ Rihana said, sobbing.
Zara welcomed Rihana into her arms. ‘I know it’s not easy to let go of hate or guilt, but once you do, it only lessens your pain,’ said Zara, assuring her that she had done the right thing.
It was just two days later that they had to put Rihana’s father on a ventilator. And on the fourth day, he passed away—hopefully, a little more at peace.
After the last rites were performed, Rihana’s mother left for New York, having extracted a promise from Rihana that she would stay in touch.
The Maharani sent her condolences as she was away travelling in England at that time. But Shaurya was nowhere to be seen. It was just as well.
And Zara and Rihana returned to Delhi, back to their lives.
It was the morning after they had got back from Jodhpur, and Rihana was sitting in the backyard of Cupid. She watched their new pup play outside . . . near Tiger’s grave. She called out for Zara, who came running.
‘Why did you get a female dog?’ Rihana asked curiously.
‘So that she gets attached to the whole family and not just you. Men are selfish at times. They take what they want. All that Tiger wanted was your love, and he died for it,’ said Zara with a heavy voice.
‘I’m sure she will love everyone,’ Zara said.
‘Let’s call her Aphrodite then,’ Rihana suggested.
‘What does it mean?’ Zara asked.
‘It is the name of the Greek goddess of love.’ Rihana looked at Zara with love and kissed her.
Then they both sat down to watch Aphrodite play. When she got tired, she slept on Tiger’s grave, as if fondly hugging her father.
Love is like the truth—everyone has their own version. The heart has its own justification for love, especially the one the world denies. Rihana and Zara had fallen in lo
ve, and they were now each other’s truth.
When a heart seeks love, the world cannot stop it, as no higher principle should govern it. Rihana was once a lock that had lost its key—but now that Zara’s love had come to her like the coolest breeze, life was beautiful. Would the world be kind to their love?
Acknowledgements
As you tread along the path called life, your memory soaks in various experiences—some beautiful, others even more. I want to thank each and every person who has crossed my path and made me richer with the moments I spent with them.
I want to take this opportunity to thank a very special friend who has been with me from the time I started writing. Thank you for understanding me and my work.
Thank you, Radha Kantamani, for bearing with my deadlines during the edits.
Milee, thank you for believing in my work.
Roshini and Rachita, you were great.
Deepti Auntie, thanks for being a second mother to me. I’m fortunate.
Divya Mallya Auntie, your blessings are always needed.
As always, this book would not have been possible without my inspiration, Prof. Surindra Lal.
And last but not least, Mom, I love you!
THE BEGINNING
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Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
This collection published 2016
Copyright © Bhaavna Arora 2016
The moral right of the author has been asserted
Jacket images © Mallikarjun Katakol
ISBN: 978-0-143-42529-8
This digital edition published in 2016.
e-ISBN: 978-9-386-05792-1
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Love Bi the Way Page 20
