Chances At Dreams

This chapter is dedicated to J_Embers for agreeing to beta read this book!! Thank you Jennifer!

"This is so surreal," Nina said.

"What?" I asked.

"You and I discussing about wedding rituals and marriage rather than discussing our next trip together or  discussing about some cute guy." She said like she'd rather discuss the latter than the former.

It really was strange how our conversations had evolved in time. Nina and I were friends from school since the age of ten. We had discussed it all. From our first period, first crush, first date, first boyfriend and now my marriage. We had always joked about marriage and how we'd spill each other's embarrassing secrets to our respective life partners and who'd get married first, stuff like that. But they were just meant to be that. Jokes. And in two months time it'd be my reality and she may go to Mumbai to pursue her dream of becoming a choreographer and I'd be stuck here. We may not meet as often we'd like to.

It was the first time it struck me since my wedding was decided that we wouldn't be able to be in each other's lives as much as we'd like to be. I looked at Nina and replied with a frown, "I know."

"This is cheating okay? You get to have hot sex with your husband and I have to loose my sleep over buddy, my ranting buddy, my 4am buddy, my buddy to watch chick flicks with, all in one," she complained.

"Nina, you're not loosing anything, we still might get to do all those things," I said.

"But you're getting married!You'll be busy living with your in-laws and handling responsibilities!" she said like she'll break down any moment now. And I felt like I might do the same.

"Nina," I said and hugged her."Save some tears for after I get married."

We hugged each other for a while. "I love you, Ninu," I said.

"I love too, idiot."

We pulled away from our hug feeling sad and emotional. It was strange for us to be touchy feely.But it felt good.

"On a serious note though," Nina said,"Are you happy you're getting married to Rithvik?I know, he's good to look at and you both are behaving like an obsessed couple these days, still are you 100% sure? Cause we can elope together on your wedding day together. There's a chance they'd think we are lesbians and although I am not one, I'd sure love the scandal!" she said with a little too much enthusiasm than I'd like.

"You and your freaking crazy ideas. But you don't have to worry about arranging an elopement, I am perfectly happy with Rithvik."

"What about Mayank?" she asked softly, a little unsure if she should ask or not. And that shifted the mood slightly.

"What about him?"

"You don't search for his qualities in Rithvik?" I wasn't surprised she'd observed that was what I did whenever I met a guy I was attracted to.

"Actually, for the first time in my life, I haven't ",I said surprisingly sounding more sure of myself than I'd thought. I continued, "You know Nina, how it was before. I had loved Mayank for so long, no other guy I went on a date with or casually flirted with even matched up to him. But with Rithvik, I didn't even have to compare. And it was an unconscious effort on my part. He's so different from Mayank. And I love the fact that I'm getting married to him. Cause you know, after Mayank, I never hoped for really liking the guy I'd get married to.With my feelings and emotions involved. Cause, I'd thought these emotions were forever lost to me and I'll never feel anything again for anyone. So I just hoped to be with a guy I'm attracted to and share a comfort level with. But Rithvik is you know, Rithvik and I feel like I'm already in too deep with him."