a twist in the tale; swabhiman (chapter 6)

naina thought this vacation would let her sleep properly, without sharing a bed, without having to sleep on a sofa or the floor. but instead, she found herself sleeping at the very edge of the bed with karan on the other side. naina woke up and went down. after awhile, meghna and kunal woke up and made their way downstairs. karan woke up to an empty room thinking that perhaps naina changed her mind about sharing a room with him and so went around the house looking for her. when he didn’t find her upstairs, he went down and instead, he found meghna and kunal in the living room. meghna saw karan but naina wasn’t with him.

meghna: karan, where’s naina?

karan: i don’t know, bhabhi. she wasn’t in our room when i woke up and so i thought i’d come down and look for her.

kunal: meghna, do you hear that? it’s music.

meghna: it’s not just any music, it’s cool girl by tove lo. it holds a lot of significance in naina’s life – that song.

karan: i think someone’s in the pool.

meghna and kunal made their way to the pool to find naina swimming there listening to cool girl on her speakers. karan decided to stand on the edge of the indoor area where he could still see and listen to whatever was happening outdoors in the pool but not have to get any sunlight.

naina’s swimsuit: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7f/7c/6c/7f7c6c466e1482891ccfa632b07224e5.jpg

meghna: naina, what are you doing?

naina: morning! i’m swimming, di.

kunal: what’s so significant about cool girl?

naina: what?

meghna: i told kunal that cool girl has this significance in your life, he wants to know what exactly is so significant about cool girl.

naina: oh, okay well it’s not just cool girl. there are many songs that hold this significance in my life. i don’t know what it is but it seems like if i hear a song on repeat in this place or time, whenever i hear it again, i kinda go back there.

kunal sat on the floor next to the pool.

kunal: really?

naina: yes.

meghna then sat on one of the bean bags.

meghna: you’ve told me where good for you, kabhi jo badal barse, and even the hanging tree takes you. where does cool girl take you?

naina walked out of the pool.

naina: where i want to be.

meghna looked at naina while she started drying herself before putting on a kimono and sitting on the other bean bag. naina started taking a bite of her french toast.

meghna: where’s that?

naina: it doesn’t matter, i can’t go back. anyways, where are we going today? what are we doing?

kunal: actually, naina, meghna and i were planning to just sit at home today. we’ll maybe go out later tonight?

naina: what? home? but we’re on vacation.

meghna: (amused) we’re on a honeymoon, naina.

naina: oh right, sorry. i forgot. you guys are on your honeymoon, i’m here on the vacation. anyways, i’m going out to check out the city, i’ll be back in the evening then maybe we can do something at night?

meghna: are you going alone?

naina: yes.

kunal: wait, no. karan will go with you.

naina: no, jeeju. it’s okay, i’ll manage.

karan: i’ll come with you.

naina: okay, i’ll go and change.

days went by just like that and before they knew it, it was their last day in greece. they left that night and so decided to go out for brunch, pack, and then leave for the airport.

meghna: naina, hurry up! we still have to pack, we won’t make it to the airport.

meghna’s outfit: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1e/c5/2b/1ec52bb3623b40aae9bd529c582d1bff.jpg

kunal: meghna, relax. our flight’s not taking off now.

naina: (while walking down the stairs) di, we’re leaving at night. we’re not going to take so long to pack and besides we’re only going for brunch. why are you panicking?

naina’s outfit: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/98/c7/bb/98c7bbd498b2d2470d007547ababd06d.jpg

meghna: how long does it take to get ready for brunch, naina?

naina: i’m sorry. can we please leave now, meri ma?

they all left to go for brunch. at the restaurant, they all spoke about going back home.

kunal: i can’t believe six days are up. we’re going back home tonight.

naina: i don’t want to go home.

meghna: you’ve been living in a dream the last six days, naina. it’s time to go back to reality.

naina: i’ve been living in hell for the last seven years and in exchange i get what, six days of heaven? that’s not fair.

karan: hell?

meghna: naina calls reality, hell, karan.

naina: i’m just calling it what it really is, it’s hell.

kunal: i agree, i don’t want to leave either. i have to work again back home, meghna and i won’t see each other as much. it’s hell.

meghna: kunal!

kunal: meghna! naina, what are you planning to do once we get back home?

naina: um, i guess i’ll go back to studying.

they went back home and packed. after awhile, kunal realised they were late for the airport.

kunal: guys, hurry up we’re late we have to leave now!

karan went down and started eating. meghna and naina came down after some time ready to leave.

meghna’s outfit: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/37/92/ff/3792ff18e089bd9f5c74d55ee44fbbc7.jpg

naina’s outfit: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/87/dd/f5/87ddf5749a9ef37f3067e76464eab2f3.jpg

meghna: we’re ready, let’s go.

kunal: took you long enough.

meghna: i was packing your things kunal!

after the little banter between the husband and wife, they left the house to the airport. after checking in and doing all the security checks, they finally sat down at a café.

naina: di, where are you sitting?

meghna: with kunal, why?

naina: no um, it’s raining and that means there’s going to be a lot of turbulence and you know.

kunal: what’s wrong?

meghna: uh, nothing kunal, don’t worry about it. naina, do you want me to sit with you?

naina: ugh no, it’s fine. i’ll manage.

meghna: why are you so worried? i thought you can sleep anywhere, so just sleep on the flight.

naina: i can but i just took a nap at the house.

meghna: why would you do that? you know you can’t stay awake on a flight, especially one that’s sure to have turbulence.

naina: i was tired. i’ll figure something out on the flight, it’s okay.

kunal: we have to board the flight now, come.

once they boarded the flight, naina tried to get some sleep. when she couldn’t get sleep, she started watching a movie. after some time, the seat belt sign went on and turbulence started. whenever a situation like this arises, naina would hold onto the person’s arm next to her. but, she knew she couldn’t do that with karan. karan started to sense her fear and worry.

karan: naina, are you okay?

naina: huh?

there was a thud, a big one and naina immediately held onto karan’s arm. he tried to move away, to say something, but he couldn’t. naina was so scared, she almost started sobbing but luckily, the turbulence stopped and only then, she realised what she had done. naina looked up to see karan looking down at her, she moved away the hair covering her face and quickly apologised.

naina: i’m sorry, i’m really sorry. i didn’t realise,

karan: it’s okay, you were scared.

they didn’t talk the whole way back, not when they landed, not even in the car. once the four of them reached home, it was quite late but everyone had gathered around the hall to meet them. just then, naina got a call.

naina: sorry, that’s my phone.

dadaji: it must be sharda betaji calling to ask if you’ve reached safely.

he was wrong, it was rohit. naina picked up the call. rohit wouldn’t call this late unless it was an emergency and because she knew that, it scared her.

naina: hello, roh. is everything okay?

rohit: naina, your dad.

to be continued.

thank you so much for reading! i hope you enjoyed this chapter. i think you’ve figured it out already, the next chapter is when the big twist unfolds. it might take some time before i upload the next chapter, i’m so sorry! please comment any suggestions or perhaps something you’d like to see in future chapters.