Hey you all, here’s the first chapter for the fiction. I’m not sure how the response on the introduction must be judged, but I’d love to know all your opinions for me to continue writing. To those who commented, thank you so much. Happy Reading!
EK TUKDA PYAAR – EPISODE 1
“Please tell me you’ve reached home, Twinkle. It’s too late, and Aarohi has been waiting for you,” Yuvraj talked over the phone, his voice echoing inside the space of her car.
Twinkle looked outside at the city, observing the darkness of the city while anxiously pressing the gas pedal to reach home earlier.
Twinkle: I am nearby. There was work that required to be finished up by tonight.
Yuvraj (in an exasperated voice): You shouldn’t have had promised her then. Your inability to fulfil promises really affects her, and being a mother, you should know that.
Twinkle (sighing): I know, I know. If I had known from before, I would’ve never promised her, either. It was just something important that popped up at the last minute.
Yuvraj: Really? (raking a rough hand through his hair) Can you, for once, prioritise your daughter, Twinkle? I do not want my daughter to feel left-out despite having both her parents. We’re already putting her through enough.
Twinkle clutched the edge of the steering harder, and tried to control the temper within herself which continued building due to the accusatory remarks. She was at fault and the knowledge was ingrained within her; She did not require timely reminders.
Twinkle (inhaling deeper): I am not doing it deliberately, if you think. There really was some work that needed to be finished and I am really trying hard to manage between everything. (pausing for a brief moment, before continuing) And moreover, it is very easy to blame me. If she stayed with you during the weekdays, what would you have had prioritised? Your work of your daughter?
Yuvraj: Can you please stop talking like Aarohi is one another of your signed-up cases? It was a mutual decision we took together, so stop blaming me all the time.
The words hurt Twinkle, dissolving her in the pang of guilt that resided within her before. When she took a turn in the neighbourhood and pulled up in the driveway of her premises, she exhaled a deep breath and moved her hand, her finger lingering close to the phone display.
Twinkle (tiredly): I’ve reached home. I’ll talk to you later.
She disconnected the call without waiting for a reply from him and walked inside the house hurriedly. The lights inside the house were dimmed and Twinkle cautiously walked inside the house. She looked at her mother, who tiredly held Aarohi and caressed her hair. She checked the clock once more, and heaved a breath in relief; She was just in time.
Twinkle (in a soft voice): We’ll go have dinner?
Twinkle saw how Aarohi’s vision darted towards and a gleam of happiness swept past her features. Aarohi detangled herself from her grandma’s embrace and jumped towards Twinkle.
Aarohi (in a chirpy voice): I thought you’d have forgotten your promise, Maa.
Twinkle (bending down at her daughter’s height and wrapping her arms around her): Maa does make mistakes, but not all the time. (she pecked her forehead) We’ll have dinner now, come.
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Twinkle murmured a good night to Aarohi and after tucking her to bed, she walked downstairs to sit with her mother. It wasn’t always that she had the time, but the knowledge of the non-existent court meetings the next day relieved her. She didn’t have a lot planned for the entire of her day, but she planned to spend some of her time with her daughter. She sat down on the swing in the porch of their house and embraced herself against the cold wind of the night. The stars in the sky shone brighter with the darkness slowly increasing and engulfing the city in its serenity.
Leela handed her a cup of coffee and sat down next to her. Twinkle wrapped her arms around the cup, feeling the warmth of the cup and looked at her mother, who sipped from the mug.
Leela: I’m glad you were able to make it on time. I was scared that I’d have to tuck her to bed and she would be very disappointed.
Twinkle (sipping her coffee): I am, too. I wanted to return earlier, but there was some work that couldn’t be left unattended.
Leela: It is fine. As long as you were able to fulfil your promise and Aarohi went back to bed happy, I’m satisfied. (she paused for a minute of hesitation) She kept calling Yuvraj, too, wanting to know if he knew something about your return.
Twinkle: I know; He called me.
Twinkle looked away and blinked away her tears. She had fallen out of love, but she still respected her ex-husband, and that is why the remarks he directed at her earlier in the evening, hurt her. The words stung her and despite wanting to be ignorant, her mind reeled back to his words. She cared for her daughter, too, and she knew what they’d been putting an eight-year-old through wasn’t apt, but that was their present. She knew the flaws of their marriage and she didn’t, for once, ever blame Yuvraj solely.
Leela placed a warm hand on Twinkle’s thigh and softly whispered, “He told you something?”
Twinkle (brushing away the tears): Nothing, as such. He was just telling me about Aarohi calling and asking for me.
Leela (in a comforting voice): It’s fine, you don’t have to tell me. That’s between the two of you. But you need to understand, Twinkle, the future isn’t going to be the best this way.
Twinkle: I know. Yuvraj has told me, and time and again, he proposes to get back together, too. But I don’t see him in my life anymore, Maa.
Leela: I know. But you need to move on. I want you to settle down again, and may be with the right person this time!
Twinkle wasn’t expecting her mother to delve into that dimension of her life. The thought had occurred to her several times, but she knew the complications, and she did not know if she was ready to brace her insecurities and inabilities after a failed marriage again. This time, she knew she’d have other complications that would need to be addressed primarily, in addition to her flaws.
Twinkle: It is not so easy, Maa. Aarohi needs to be accepted, and more importantly, Aarohi needs to accept the person I settle down with. She loves Yuvraj and still believes the two of us can have a potential future together.
Leela: I know the complexities, and I can understand Aarohi’s standpoint too, but this is probably the best time, Twinkle. It’d be tougher for her to accept in the future when she grows up. At least now, we are all there with you, and we can all try convincing her.
Twinkle looked down at the grass and rubbed her barefoot against the grass, feeling the comfort reeling within her. She leaned back and relaxed in the serenity of the night.
Leela: Mrs. Sarna had called a few days ago, asking for your hand for her son.
Twinkle (blinking her eyes open): And what did you say?
Leela (a smile curved her lips): I told that you’d meet him, perhaps. But that is only if you want to. I wouldn’t force any decision on you. Yuvraj was also my choice, and you never complained, but look where you stand now because of me. This time, I want you to take a decision for yourself.
Twinkle (grasping her mother’s hands between hers): I don’t blame you, Maa. Yuvraj was a nice guy, and I did love him. Our marriage didn’t fail because we didn’t love each other. We had compatibility issues and both of us had flaws and we couldn’t accept them like we should have, that’s why the marriage failed. No one, but us, are to be blamed for our divorce, Maa.
Leela (finishing the last sip of coffee): I’ll say yes to Mrs. Sarna, then?
Twinkle: I am not yet convinced about settling down, Maa, but if you want, I’ll meet him and would want to talk to him about everything and see how he reacts to it, first. If possible, alone?
Leela (nodding her head): I’ll let her know then. Since you are free tomorrow, will you meet him tomorrow, if he’s available?
Twinkle contemplated for a brief period, torn apart in her dilemma. She wasn’t sure if she was ready yet, but her mother was right. She did need to settle down and provide the home that Aarohi so dearly yearned for. She nodded her head in a yes as her mother took the empty cup from her hand and walked inside. But she stayed there, looking out at the sky, while confusion crept within her, and uncertainty embraced her tightly.
That’s all for this episode, I’d love to know your thoughts.