In another life

Dark brown eyes, red lips, black straight hair and white dress showing a hint of cleavage, I stare at my reflection in the restroom mirror of this expensive restaurant to make sure I still look presentable. It's not like I've been to a place like this for the first time. 

No.

In fact, in 28 years of my life the people surrounding me have been a constant reminder that I belong here. But it still doesn't feel right. It always feel too show-y, whereas I like simplicity.

I wash my hands, dry them and head out. On my way out my phone dings with an incoming text. I pick it out from my clutch to check. It's a reminder message about tomorrow's party at my workplace. Party for and from those who got their promotions. And I am one of them, hence here I am. Celebrating my "big achievement" with my husband in this elite place. 

As I'm typing a quick reply suddenly, I bump into someone and almost fall when two strong hands grip my shoulders to steady me. 

"Careful."a deep male voice says.

I raise my eyes and my gaze locks into honey-brown eyes.

I startle.

The man's face is familiar.

The honey brown eyes too familiar.

Oh My—

Is this? Is he..... him?

The shocked expression on his face tells me he is as confused as I am and that confirms that he is.....indeed. Him.

Oh My God.

"Vrinda." he declares, not asks. 

Always so sure.

"Vivaan." I confirm.

Vivaan Patel. My.....first love. 

I can't believe it. He's here. In front of me. In flesh. Real. Un-freaking-believable.

He smiles at me. And dear God, he still gets that dimple. That damn dimple.

His scent hits me, still intoxicating as ever and  all of a sudden realisation drawns me that I'm still in his embrace.

I step back, leaving him a little... Wait, is that disappointment on his face? No. That can't be.

He quickly changes his expression to a cheerful one.

"You've got hotter." is how he starts. Typical Vivaan. Huh.

"Surprised to see you too."I chime.

He chuckles. His voice deeper than I remember.

We stare at each other for what feels like years but are probably seconds.

He definitely has gotten hotter. Taller. Mascular,and not in a bulky but perfect way. In his casual white button-down shirt( top two buttons undone, some things never change), black jeans ,white sneakers and a very expensive looking watch on his wrist he can totally pass for a model.

He clears his throat.

I blink. Returning to reality.

"Hello, after what......ten years?"I ask breaking the ice.

"Hello. After eleven years."he replies.

I smile. He smiles.

"You live in this city?"he inquires.

"Yes. Didn't know you live in this city as well."

"I don't. I just travel. Alot."

"Well, its a coincidence then."

"A pleasant one."he grins.

"You alone here?"he questions.

"No. With my husband actually."

He laughs. Literally laughs.

"Ofcourse. I meet you after eleven freaking years and you're married."he jokes.

I giggle.

"With husband and two children I presume."he continues.

"Three."I joke back.

"No shit?"

It's my time to laugh.

"No, silly. Only my husband."I admit.

"Thank God."he puts a hand on his heart in a dramatic way.

"It's bed time for kids."I say playfully.

He gives me a shocked look."Really?"

"No. We don't have kids. Yet." I answer truthfully.

"So, enjoying weekend here?"he asks.

"Kind of."

"Where's your husband?"

"At our table. Wanna meet him?"

He's quite for a second and I immediately regret asking him that.

"Sure. Let's do this."he finally replies.

I start walking with him following behind.

When I'm close to our table then only I notice Devesh, my husband talking on his phone. As soon as he sees me he stands up and reaches for me. Disconnecting the call he takes my hand in his with a worried expression on his face.

"Hey, what's wrong?"I ask a little frightened .

"Baby, I got a call from hospital. Emergency."he explains.

Devesh is a very successful surgeon with a lot of emergencies. It hurts a little at moments like this but he always makes it up later.

He is a good man. He loves me. 

"Oh, you should go."I tell him.

"But, the food, your big day.... God this sucks"he looks really troubled.

"It's okay Dev. You're a doctor. I'm a doctors wife. I'm used to it. And I totally understand."I reassure him.

Someone clears throat and I realise I totally forgot about Vivaan.

Dev notices him too and looks at me with confusion all over his face.

"He is an old friend. From school. I wanted you to meet him." I clarify

Dev lets go of my hand and moves forward to shake hands with Vivaan. They shake hands like men do.

"Hi. Devesh Sharma."

"Vivaan Patel. Nice to meet you."

"Same here. Patel from Patel Empires?"

"Yeah. That one."

Dev looks impressed. And I realise how well known Patel Empires is. I totally forgot about that too. I should really start using my brain.

"I wish we could chat a bit but I'm so sorry man, I gotta rush."Dev apologizes.

"It's alright." Vivaan assures.

"Let's go." I say to my husband and start to talk to bid goodbye to Vivaan when Dev stops me.

"You stay. Catch up with your friend."

"What?"

"Yes. You should. I'll leave the car for you"

"Are you sure?"I ask feeling unsure.

"Yes baby."he leans down to kiss my forehead.

"Okay. But take the car. I'll book a cab my way back home "

"No. It'll be late—"

"Dont worry sir. I'll drop her." Vivaan interrupts .

"It's okay, Vivaan. I'll manage."I say immediately.

"That would be a great help actually. And please call me Devesh. No formalities."Dev insists.

"Noted. Devesh."

Dev returns his attention to me.

"So sorry. Promise I'll make it up to you."

"I know you will. It's okay. Really." I reassure him.

With final byes and another handshake with Vivaan Dev leaves.

Vivaan and I settle into our chairs across each other and the food arrives just in time. 

"I hope you won't mind having Indian food."I ask Vivaan.

"When did I ever?" Vivaan replies and immediately tears naan, dipping it in shahi paneer and stuffing it into his mouth. 

Yes. When did he ever? He may be one of the richest people in the country but he acts like he is just a normal person. Around me.

The thing I loved the most about him.

Around anyone else though?

He makes sure they bow to him.

Suddenly a question pops in my head.

"You married?"

"Nope."

"Girlfriend?"

"Plenty."

He's too busy eating. He can be so annoying.

"Vivaan."

He finally looks at me.

"What? Every information about me is available online."he says wiping his mouth with a napkin.

I send him a look.

"Okay. There is one girl who seems genuinely into me and is not unbearable."he admits casually.

My heart tucks a little. 

Reason? I don't know.

"So?"I ask .

"I don't know, Vrinda. You know me."he sighs.

"I know seventeen years old Vivaan, not twenty-eight years old."

"I'm pretty much the same." He looks me in the eye with so much sincerity that I tear my gaze away and reach for a glass of water which I spill because... Ofcourse.

"Easy there."he chuckles.

I look at him and laugh a little, to which he smile. Assuring me that everything is all right.

Only he can do that. Putting me in a place where I get nervous and immediately making it better.

After eleven years it's still same. Unbelievable.

"You should try their naan. Really soft."he digs into his food again.

And I start eating. A little moan escapes me because the food really is good.

"So, the girl. Does she have a name?"I ask.

"Tina Bhandari." 

I almost choke, reach for water again and swallow the food stuck in my oesophagus.

"Tina Bhandari? The popular actress Tina Bhandari?" I inquire.

"Yeah." he shrugs like it's no big deal.

Well it isn't for him. I try to act normal.

"She's gorgeous." I say

"She has a nice face." Still focused on food.

Idiot.

"You haven't eaten in ages or what?"I ask. Irritated.

"I was really hungry. I was actually here on a date with her. Got into an argument. She left."

"Why did you argued?"

"She asked if she was my girlfriend. I said I'm not sure. She got pissed."he says making a puppy face.

"Are you serious? She is really good Vivaan . Always so generous. I've seen her interviews. She doesn't fake it. Or does she?"I interrogate.

He's quite for so long I wonder if he'll answer.

"No she doesn't. She is nice."he murmurs.

"What's wrong Vivaan?"he's scaring me now.

"I don't know,Laila. I can't trust anyone. I always feel they'll eventually leave me."

Laila. Laila. He used to call me that when we were.... 

I used to call him Majnu. How ironic. 

I swear my heart skips a beat. He's expression says he realises it too. And all the memories come flooding back. 

I was in fifth class when I got a crush on him. He was forced to sit with me, the most "studious" girl. Him being ofcourse, the  mischievous one. He never acknowledged me though. Not in that class or the next five classes. Not until eleventh class, when our english teacher paired us for an assignment. I was on cloud nine. Him though? Terribly bored. I was always nervous whenever he used to be around but it was like he didn't even know I existed. Our english teacher was quite strict and made herself clear that each and every student have to participate in the given assignment. Hence, he started talking to me and then we never stopped. I realised one thing then, I was madly in love with this boy. And the good part? He felt the same. One day he sneaked me into an empty classroom closing the door behind us and kissed me. For the first time. He was my first kiss. I still remember how my heart hammered in my chest. Screw butterflies, I had flock of birds in my stomach. But unfortunately we got caught. It was a disaster. Everyone was disappointed in me. No one questioned him though. It might be because of his fathers fifty percent funding to the school but he got away. Tried his best to make everything better for me, but he was still a kid, he didn't have much in his hands. Eventually my father transferred me to a different school and I never saw him again. I was heartbroken. Really had bad for the guy. But I moved on. For good.

"Vrinda."he whispers bringing me out of my reverie.

"Vivaan. You have to give her a chance."I insist.

"You're right. Maybe I'm too hard on her."he agrees.

My heart aches a bit. Stupid stupid heart.

"I had it really bad for you, you know. I was broken."he confess.

"Not as bad as I had and not as broken as I was."

"Give me a break, you might have fell first,but I fell harder."he smirks.

I actually laugh on that.

"Cliche?"here he seems embarrassed.

"Cliche."I confirm and we both burst into laughter.

"I wish we met few years ago."he says suddenly serious.

Heart beating fast. Again.

"Yeah, I guess."

Things would've been really different if we met a few years ago. Maybe we could've actually ended up together. But our fate had other plans.

I am happy with my life though. I love my husband, luckily he loves me just as much and maybe even more. I have a stable career. Life is good.  

Vivaan seems happy too. He might be unsure about his partner but he'll figure it out. I know he will. He always does.

"Shall we leave then?"he asks breaking the silence.

We were both in our own heads I guess.

"I'll book a cab."

"I can totally drop yo—"Vivaan starts.

"Vivaan. Please."I interrupt him.

I can't. I just.... Can't.

I look in his eyes and tell him without saying the words out loud.

His eyes turns glassy and I am trying my best to hold back my tears.

He nods. Understanding.

We both get up. He reaches for me and by the time I understand what he's doing I'm in his arms. I startle and try to pull away when he tightens his hold a little.

"Just five sec. I promise."he breaths in my hair.

Like old times.

Oh God.

I give in. Wrap my hands around him.

Just five seconds. I tell myself inhaling his scent.

He's the first one to pull back and I immediately miss his embrace.

But he have to. We have to.

He looks down at me. Both of us staring into each others eyes. His eyes are sad and my eyes instantly fill with tears.

He sighs.

"Maybe I'll see you again sometime."he sounds hopeful.

"Maybe."

"Goodbye Majnu." I add taking several steps back.

"Goodbye Laila."he smiles and steps back too.

I muster all my strength and turn back. A single tear running down my right cheek.

I move forward trying to speed my steps.

"Vrinda."his voice stops me midsteps.

I take a deep breath and turn around to look at him. His hair is disheveled as if he has run his hand several times through them. 

My heart breaks. 

He still has a smile on his face though. 

"In another life."he says.

And that brings a smile on my face too.

"In another life."I promise. 

And turn around.