It was 4:30 pm in the evening. Thabal's room was a mess. Her bed was filled with clothes scattered around and jewellery pieces laying on it.
She stood infront of the mirror. Running a matte lipstick over her lips. As she put back her lipstick, she gently pat on her cheeks, satisfied with her look. She looked at herself in the mirror. She kept her makeup as minimum as possible, as heavy one doesn't really suit with her facial structure.
Wearing a pink phanek with a pink top and pink inafhi. She was all pink today. Thabal giggled at the thought. Her neck, ears and wrist were decorated with gold jewellery. A dark pink flower sticked in her hair, adding to her beauty.
For once she felt she didn't look that bad. Maybe better. She wondered his reaction over her attire. It would be his first time seeing her in her traditional attire. The thought itself reddened her blush coated cheeks. One thing was sure. If he happen to see her, he will shower compliments and flirtings upon her.
She bite her lower lip at the thought of it. A soft chuckle coming out of her lips. She looked at the mirror again and tucked a hair behind her ear. Her eyes fall upon her phone laying carelessly with her makeup products.
She pick it up and opened the camera. Taking a mirror selfie of herself. With a few more clicks and selfies. She didn't wait much before sending it to him.
Her lips forming into an exciting grin. Wondering his reaction.
Just then Nungshi entered in. She smiled slyly and whistled lowly in a teasing manner.
"Oho! Mi amadi ngashi neidori ne" she hooted. Thabal giggled hearing her.
(Someone's going to fire up today)
"Che ng sidi bo" she felt embarrassed hearing the compliment.
(Stop it sister)
"Aare! I am not even lying. You look fire. As soon as you enter Sanu's mandap. Oh My God. Everyone's gonna call for fire brigade" Nungshi fan herself with her hand dramatically. Making Thabal burst at her acting.
"Ng su yam fhajei che. Colour se ngonda yam suit tawi" Thabal genuinely commented, as she admired Nungshi's outfit carefully. She wore a green fhanek with white blouse and a green pairing inafhi.
(You look beautiful too sister. The colour really suits you well)
"Umm! Fhajadra? Eie su se pambana bo. This is my current favourite" Nungshi smiled widely, her eyes glinting with happiness as she twirled around and looked at her attire.
(Umm! Isn't it? I also love this so much!)
"La photo ama kapsi" she suddenly exclaimed and opened her phone. Taking a quick selfie of the two of them.
(Come let's take a picture)
"Che, chatnaba tawrasi. Loishanba su loire. Konna amuk thengnarani nattradi" Thabal suggested, when her eyes fall upon the wall clock.
(Sister, we should go. We have dressed up too. If we stay more we will be late)
Nungshi nodded. She walked out of the room before informing that she would be waiting for her outside. Thabal nodded and grabbed her belongings. As she clutched her phone, her eyes checked for any notification from him. But found none. Disappointing her slightly. He has never taken time in replying her back. It was always quick.
But maybe who knows he was busy? He wasn't a normal person. He was an officer afterall. With a slightly heavy heart, she left the room, heading towards the car to ride through their destination.
🦋🦋🦋--------------
They arrived at the wedding hall precisely at 5:10 PM. The place was buzzing with folks music. Mridangam beated in a tune. A middle aged woman dressed beautifully, singing God's words for the bride and groom. The scent of jasmine and incense lingering in the air.
Thabal walked in with Nungshi, but quickly became a shadow to her sister. Soon she started seeing different faces. And a small sigh escape her lips without her permission. Oh! Here comes now. The taunts and mocks.
A middle aged pale woman approached Nungshi, rushing over.
"Nungshi! Ng kyam chawramme sana. Khrani udabada masak ka amuk henna fhajathokre" The woman complimented with a sweet laugh. Few other laughs followed by.
(Nungshi! You have grown up so much child. It's just been few months I haven't seen you and look at you, you have become more beautiful)
They approached her too. Surrounding her in the centre, praising her and asking her whereabouts. Behind them Thabal stood idly. She felt lost and too small, not knowing what to do and where to go.
A moment later, an elder man approached. He bypassed Nungshi only to focus his attention entirely on Thabal.
"Ah, Thabal. Ng di lyrik kamai tawri?" He asked with a raised brow, as if taunting her silently. Thabal smiled faintly at him.
(How's your studies going on?)
"Dum fhajana tawri mamo. Eie medical practical tawri houjik. MBBS 1st year da ni" she answered politely. The man just scowled a bit. As if feeling distaste by just hearing her.
(It's going well uncle. I am practicing medical right now. I am in MBBS 1st year)
"Ebema. Napa napu na chatliba lambi duga chatladi fhaba. Napa dusu harawjani dana. Houjik ti kei kanari. Napa na su nama na su hanna yengbidana leiri" He simply said it as if it was her fault. As if trying to say that she had it coming. Thabal gulped her anger down. She looked away from him. Saying nothing. Because saying anything won't result to anything good for her. Instead she will get herself in trouble.
(Little girl. It would have been better if you would have walked to the path where your grandfather and father have walked upon. Your father would have been happy then. Now see the condition, neither your mother nor your father isn't even glancing a look towards you)
The man looked at her for a second or more before walking away as he didn't recieve any reply from the other side. Thabal looked infront of her blankly. She felt too tired. Emotionally and mentally. Her heart was heavy with all the emotions she was carrying. It felt full.
She glanced towards Nungshi to see her talking with the elders with a bright and beautiful smile on her face. She laughed as one of them said something to her, brushing her hand over her shoulder in a proud pat.
Of course. The perfect child. She thought to herself and smiled slightly. A humourous smile. Filled with bitterness. She couldn't stand there for long. Hence she moved her legs to the left. In the food counter. Where chairs and tables were arranged beautifully. People were sitting together, eating with their friends and family.
She took a sit in an empty table and adjust her dress. Just then a young boy came towards her with a tray filled with food. He smiled a little and served her the food. It was kheer, ghugni dal with puri. A glass of juice and crispy pakora with chutney.
The dish was indeed tasty. She liked it all. She wasn't really picky about anything to be specific. But today, her appetite seemed to dimmed down. She glanced at the food and let out a soft exhausting sigh.
Then she grabbed her purse and opened it, taking out her phone. She quickly went to WhatsApp to see the messages. But was disappointed to find none. She wondered what he must be doing right now. Have he returned back from Mumbai? Or he was still stuck over there?
It was selfish of her to demand but she wanted him here right now. Just his presence enough was needed. Just that.
As she was engrossed in her own thought, she didn't see a man approaching towards her.
"Thabal?" She was startled by the sudden call. She looked up quickly to see a unfamiliar face looking at her with a smile.
"Nungairibo?" He asked, making her taken aback. She didn't recognise him at all. Who was he? She wondered.
(Are you well?)
"Umm" she mumbled in confusion. The man chuckled seeing her confused self. He took a seat infront of her and placed his hands on the table, near her hands.
"Ng change oiramdri ne. Same like before. Hanna su wa yam ngangde. Houjik su ollamdri" he smirked a little, a teasing tone lingering in his voice.
(You haven't changed any. Same like before. You were quiet before. Still now the same)
"Amm. Eie ng khang ngamdre. Sorry" she said awkwardly. The man laughed a little at her reply.
(I can't recognise you)
"Cute" he muttered as he leaned forward towards her.
"Eie Chingkhei ni. Khangdrabo?" He reminded her softly. Thabal took a pause as if trying to grasp the name. And then suddenly her eyes widened slightly in recognition. And Chingkhei seeing her reaction immediately smiled.
(I am Chingkhei. Don't you remember?)
"Class 8?" She asked earning an eager nod from him.
"Ohh. Ningjhang nge" she smiled a little remembering the new comer in their high school time. Just then a boy came with the food to serve him.
(Yeah i remember)
Silently reminding Thabal to eat her own. She looked at her plate and slowly nibble on it.
Chingkhei started eating slowly, occasionally glancing up at her with a soft smile tugging at his lips. His eyes lingered a little too long on her face ,the eyeliner lining her eyes, the faint pink tint on her cheeks, the flower resting delicately in her hair.
"You haven't change at all" he said after a pause, his voice softer this time.
Thabal smiled faintly, her spoon tracing slow circles in the kheer.
"Some things don't change" she murmured, her tone light but distant. Not really understanding the motive behind the words he said.
He chuckled, leaning forward a little.
"Still the same as before. Quiet, serious. Just more prettier than before"
Thabal's hand froze for a second before she placed her spoon down gently. Compliments had always made her uncomfortable. She wasn't really used to it. She forced a polite smile.
"Thank you" she said, her tone deliberately neutral. Chingkhei's eyes softened, as if reading the distance in her voice but choosing to ignore it. Because somehow he always knew that she has been always like this since childhood.
"You know i would be completing my bachelor's this year. I was thinking to do P.H.D after my masters further" he smiled faintly, sharing about his life.
Thabal blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise.
"Oh" That was all she could say. Her heart wasn't in the conversation, her mind was far away, somewhere between Mumbai and the faint echo of Vikram's voice.
"Ng di kei tawrige houjik?" He asked, taking interest in the topic. His eyes sparkling with happiness. Thabal paused for a moment, hesitating a bit before saying.
(What are you doing now?)
"M.B.B.S course tawri. First year ni" she replied quietly, digging into her meal. Chingkhei's eyes widened slightly before smiling wide.
(I am doing M.B.B.S course. In first year)
"Ohh. Yam fhei ne. I will be your first patient when you officially become a doctor" he laughed lightly. Thabal not knowing what to say just smiled at him politely as a silent answer.
(It's so good.)
She fiddled with the edge of her phanek, feeling suddenly trapped under the bright wedding lights and chatter around them. Chingkhei kept talking about their old classmates, about how fate had 'somehow brought them together again.'
But his words barely reached her. Her eyes drifted toward the food, half-expecting her phone to buzz, half-hoping to hear that one voice that made everything else fade.
"Thabal?" Chingkhei called softly when he noticed her zoning out. She blinked back into the moment and offered a weak smile.
"I'm so sorry" she said gently.
"I- umm. Eie esa se khra nungaite. Swaida efhun fhulli. I will just go out for a moment" she made up an excuse for the time being.
(I am not feeling well. It's kind of suffocating here)
Chingkhei looked momentarily disappointed, though he covered it up with a quick nod.
"Hoii. It was nice talking to you... after so long."
(Yeah)
"Same here" she replied politely, already gathering her purse. And with that, she stood up, her pink inafhi rustling softly as she walked away.
Outside, the cool evening breeze brushed against her skin. She exhaled slowly, relief washing over her as she stepped away from the hall's chaos. Pulling her phone out, she glanced at the screen. Still no message.
She sighed and walked away from the marriage area. Moving away from the crowded place, she entered a small park like place. A bench kept in it. She inched towards it and sat over it. Relaxing herself.
She took a moment for herself as she closed her eyes and leaned her back against the bench.
Suddenly, a presence shifted near a flowering bush. Thabal didn't gave a heed towards it, assuming it to be some cat or dog.
Suddenly she heard a voice. A familiar one.
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Hope you enjoyed it
Stay safe sweeties🐖🍓
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