A/N THIS IS A REALLY LONG CHAPTER. THE LONGEST ONE I HAVE DONE I GUESS. ENJOY AND LEAVE REVIEWS.
Ch-3 The Reunion
I'm in a room filled with curious eyes, watching each and every one of my moves as I hack my way through the smoke filled corridor. Suddenly water starts seeping into the corridor I'm waking in and I panic. I start moving faster in this endless labyrinth to get away from the smoke and water. The smoke starts to fog up my view. I reach my hands up and rub my eyes.
Once my line of sight is clear, I start running but I slow down as I see a portrait of a young girl with the familiar, striking blue eyes.
I see her eyes move and the portrait springs to life as she starts singing a song, and to my surprise the song sounds oddly familiar.
Once the song finishes, she starts to sing it all over again.
"I that am lost oh who will find me?
Deep down below the old beech tree
Help succour me now the east winds blow
Sixteen by six brother and under we go!
Be not afraid to walk in the shade
Save one save all come try
My steps -five by seven
Life is closer to heaven
Look down with dark gaze from on high
Before he was gone right back over my hill
Who now will find him?
Why nobody will
Doom shall I bring to him that am queen
Lost forever nine by nineteen
Without your love he will be gone before
Save pity for strangers, show love the door.
My soul seek the shade of my Willow's bloom
Inside, brother mine -
Let death make a room."
Something flashes past me. Ghost of a young boy. A voice screams behind me, "You could have saved me Anne, but you didn't! You did not! Why didn't you save me Anny? Why?" the boy says, no, screeches.
The water starts rising up faster than ever and I realize that I'm going to drown. My water soaked clothes are weighing me down and my feet feel like they are made of lead. I latch at the Chandelier, but to no avail. I'm soon engulfed by the heavy flow of water and I drown and float away. The young boy and the girl start laughing at my despair.
My eyes close and I float away, the loud ringing of the laughter of the children fading away.
Last night's dream and past weeks' events have taken a huge toll on me. Adri and Adi seem really tense. After my dream, no nightmare, had ended I had started screaming like crazy. Luckily we were sharing a Penthouse, so they had come running to me.
Such a thing has never happened to me before and my body is suffering adversely because of these disturbing dreams. I have dark-circles, under-eye bags and my skin is dry and dehydrated.
"This is it! We are going back to India. I'm gonna ask my dad to send his Private Jet as soon as possible and we are going to see a doctor right now!" Adri screams at us, she had been asking us to go back to India for a while now.
But I don't wish to cause a halt in our vacation. Things went downhill after our trip to The London Eye and that's not what we had anticipated at all.
Also, Adrika met a guy named George Hudson in a bar on the night of when this had started and he has been around ever since. They have been together for weeks. I bet-no, I know- she's in love, she just won't admit it. But Adi and I know better. Adri has had a bad luck with love in the past, I guess that's why she's refraining and is refusing to admit the fact that she is in love. But finally things are working out for her and I just want her to be happy.
"I'm not going to India, but I am willing to go to the doctor. Some sort of treatment will help me I guess, I am probably just sick and nothing serious. I think I've caught a flu or something. It's still pretty early in the morning though, when shall we go? Have you taken an appointment?" I ask Adrika getting out of my comfy bed.
Adrika doesn't answer she's looking at her phone, smiling. Probably George's message.
"Have you taken an appointment Adri? Anny is ready to go," Aditi asks Adri waving her hands in front of her face.
Adrika bites her lips and says, "Actually that won't be necessary. George's mother is the landlord of the house in which Doc and his flatmate used to live. He now lives with his fiancé nearby, but his flatmate still lives there. We'll be meeting the doctor there."
"Oooh! That's why you aren't rushing about looking for an appointment, that's really out of character for ya! Dear Georgie arranged a doctor for his other half! How romantic," Aditi says smirking and wagging her brows.
"That's not something very flattering, I just told him about Anny's ill health and he told me that he used to live with a doctor. So I naturally I asked him if he was any good and the answer to that was satisfactory so I asked him to fix an appointment. It's more like a visit actually, George wants me to meet his mother," Adrika says going into the bath.
"You're meeting his mother? That's huge. Why are you acting like it's nothing? It's a huge, huge thing. Just admit it that you love him already. We are here, boo! Whatever this is, it's good for you. And I can see that in your face when you look at him and in his when he looks at you. Both of you are smitten," I say to Adrika, meaning every word of it. I just want her to be happy, and I'll do everything possible to make her feel good. She means so much to me.
"When do we leave, now that we are not time bound? I'm so glad George is your boyfriend," Aditi says with a smirk.
"Actually we are time bound. It's about 8, so I say we'll leave at 11 to reach our destination by 12. Is that okay with the two of you? I'll call George and tell him if you guys have no problem," We silently nod our heads, she takes the cue and leaves to make a call.
She comes back after 5 minutes looking happy as hell.
"Girls, get ready. Wear your best attires that are appropriate for this meeting, I want to put my best foot forward because I really like George. Can you guys do that for me?" Adri asks and we bob our heads up and down. She laughs at the two of us. And we smile at her, if us acting like children makes her smile then I can do that for the rest of my life.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Aditi, your dad had called this morning. He said he wanted you to go over the final details of your wedding. So you need to go back to India soon. I'm so happy for you and Ranveer. You guys are seriously relationship goals." Adrika says with a broad smile.
"I mean, you guys started in 8th grade. It's been like 12 years and now you guys are gonna marry. If that's not commitment, I don't know what is. And..." But I don't get to complete my words because Adi leaps at the two of us and binds us into a bone-crushing hug.
"I'm so sorry you guys, but I'll have to go sooner than I had anticipated. Today is Monday I guess, so I'm guessing I'll be gone by Saturday. I'll miss this time with you guys, for it won't ever repeat. I'll be married by the time we come back. This trip is etched in my heart forevermore." Aditi says with tears in her eyes.
"Now don't go all saddy-saddy on me. I don't want to cry," I say to Adi, my voice faltering by the end.
I get up and move towards the bath to take a shower and also to hide my tears, I'm not in a mood for crying in a group right now. I take my time and slowly untie all the knots in my body-I didn't realize that there were knots in my body until right now- working the lather up and down my body leisurely. If someone were to come in right now, I bet you anything they'll think I was touching myself. I quickly shave my arms after my latest revelation, not wanting to be seen like that and get out.
Adrika asked me to wear my best attire, so I think of wearing my Sequinned Peplum Silver gown which I got custom made by Oscar De La Renta, but that's definitely a bit too heavy for this afternoon and I think it's an evening gown, not a day dress. I had to ask my dad multiple number of times before he finally relented and let me get it made. I wore it on my birthday last summer, but not once after that so I decided to bring it along.
I rule out wearing my Stella McCartney dress shirt with thigh high boots because I wanted to be a bit dressier.
I finally decide upon my Temperley Stardust sequinned jumpsuit. It is a tulle jumpsuit with ruffled sleeves, and an open back. I pair it with my Gianvito Rossi Vires black stretch-knit ankle boots which I love dearly. It's a match made it heaven because they go together really well.
I decide to go a bit heavy on my skin and do a full face makeup. I prime 'n' prep my face and neck region with my Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer, then apply my L'Oreal Paris' Infallible 24 Hour Matte Foundation. I then conceal and illuminate my with Chanel Correcteur Perfection. The most flattering way to apply concealer is to draw a triangle with the base under our eyes and the point toward our shape not only conceals dark circles, but it also instantly creates the illusion that our face is lifted. Then apply my Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour to my cheeks. I contour my face next then let it bake using M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder.
Next I move to my eyes. To prevent my eye shadow from falling off my lids and settling in the creases, I prime my eyelids first with a dab of concealer. I use my Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette to create a perfect Smokey eye. I leave out the eyeliner.
I use Huda Beauty lip liner and liquid lipstick. And the final masterstroke is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminator.
At the very end, I use my setting spray and I'm done for the day. My dad used to say makeup was a shallow girl's sport, but it's not. It's armor. I love the confidence that makeup gives me.
I click a few selfies and belfies on Snapchat and upload the best one on Instagram. "Only the best one goes to Instagram" is the golden rule Adi, Adri and I have been following for years. I don't get it why some girls upload very single Snap on Instagram. Like Dude, it isn't supposed to be that way!
"You guys are taking forever to get ready! Adrika and Anny! Do you hear me? Get out right now, the two of you! I've been ready for 15 minutes now and you guys went in before me," Aditi yells on top of her lungs. She's looking so pretty in her H&M sundress and Balmain Ankle Length Boots.
"It's not even 10:45 yet. Atleast let me apply my highlighter," Adrika says, she looks so bomb in her Peplum shaped jewel encrusted Fendi jumpsuit. She has paired it with sky-high heels from Dior.
"Hey girl! Do you have an ace wrap? 'Coz I just sprained my ankle falling for ya," Aditi says to me and I blush.
"I think I've fallen for you!" Aditi says to Adrika and Adri goes, "Then fucking get up 'coz I'm taken." Aditi dramatically places her hand on her heart and we all start laughing.
Clicking selfies, we make our way to the lobby then get into the car, a Mercedes S-Class. Classic.
The outside weather is nice so we decide to lower our windows and risk spoiling our makeup. But because of our excellent setting sprays and primers, our makeup stays on without a single smudge.
We arrive at 221B Baker Street sooner than we had anticipated. We still have half an hour to kill so we go into the cafe near the house.
The three of us had entered with intentions to have coffee and bacon but we ended up ordering milk shake and coffee cakes instead.
As we were eating the delicious coffee cakes, a man in his late 30s came out of the kitchen area and handed a package to a teenage girl.
"Allison! Go deliver this to Martha, she is having some guests over and needs this urgently," the man says to the girl.
"Oh, no! Can't Daniel go? Sherlock has insulted me 5 times in the last week and the last burn was pretty bad. I cannot take it anymore. I want out, I am leaving this cursed job! This is my last delivery ever! Pay me when I come back. I seriously can't take it anymore," Allison says and walks out.
The man just gapes at the spot Allison was a moment ago.
"She's the 6th one to leave the job in the last 3 months, Sherlock is giving me a hard time. And this job really is cursed," the man says to us and we just sympathetically smile at him.
The name Sherlock sounds alarmingly familiar though. However, I am not able to place my finger on it, so I decide to let it go.
"Come on girls! Let us go, George must be waiting. I can't wait to meet Mrs. Hudson," Adrika says gathering her stuff.
"George invited you to meet his Mother?" the man says. We all nod.
"Whew! That is a first; George has never had a girlfriend. I am happy for him. You're his girlfriend, right?'' the man asks and we nod again.
"Well, good luck with Martha! Don't worry, she's a nice woman and you guys will get along just fine," he says and we come out of the cafe.
We ring the doorbell and the gate opens almost immediately and out comes a woman in her 70s.
"Oh, you must be Adrika," she says pointing at Adrika, her pronunciation of Adri's name is funny.
"You're right and these are my friends- Anya and Aditi," she says motioning to us.
"Namaste girls! Oh, do come in my dears, those heels must be killing you!" Mrs. Hudson says and we get in.
"Make yourselves comfortable, I'm going to get John. He will be consulting, uh, Anya, was it? Ah, yes, Anya," she says and goes out of the room.
I analyze the room, it is pretty well maintained. Nut-brown and white marbles paves the floor, and the wall is painted in a soft orange colour. These colours make the room brighter and smoother. It has two doors and two windows with soft yellow curtains. The window is open to welcome the sunshine. It is the most wonderful thing about this room. In the middle of the room, there are two long sofas and a short sofa with a black glass table. White neat pillows adorn the sofas and a white tablecloth is placed intricately on the table besides, there are some pictures on the wall and there is a vase of fresh flower on the table.
"Hello, you must be Anya, Adrika and Aditi. Adrika, what have you done to my dear George?" says a man in his mid-30s entering the room. Shock is evident on Adri's face and I instinctly move closer to her.
"He's been chattering about you the entire morning! And he's all smiles," the man says and we relax.
"You must be Anya? I'm Dr. John Watson. Let's go to my old room for the consultation, shall we?" John asks, I nod and move along.
After about half an hour, I come down, feeling much better.
"And do you what he did then?" I hear a familiar female voice chattering.
Mary.
OhMyGod!
Mary! My best friend. We had connected instantly, but unfortunately I had to go back. Oh, I have missed her terribly, I thought I had lost her. I was so stupid, why did I have to lose her number? But I've found her again, destiny wants us to be with each other.
I run headlong in the direction of the sound, shouting her name.
"Anne? What on earth are..." but I don't let her finish and hug her tight.
"God I missed you so much! Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you tell me you were coming to London?" she asks.
"I had lost your number," I say sheepishly.
"I had asked you to save it the first thing when you went back. Oh, but no worries. You're here now. And that brings me to ask this-what are you doing in here Baker Street though, looking like a hot mess?" she asks me, winking.
"I was here with Adri to see Dr. Watson. I've been having a hard time. Nightmares and stuff. But what are you doing here?" I ask her.
"I'm here with my fiancé that happens to be John. He used to live in this house. George had invited a girl for the first time, so we came here to meet her. She's a lovely girl. By the way, John and I are getting married next week," she says with a cheeky smile.
"What?! How? When? Where? But most importantly, who's your Maid of Honour?" I ask her anticipating her answer.
"No one! I remember you had promised that you'll be my Maid of Honour and I'll be yours. So how can anyone else be that? I just could not bring myself up to do that, you are the person who is most suitable, actually you are the only person who is suitable. And now you are going to take that position," she says and I go silent.
"You alright? You'll be my Maid Of Honor, won't you?" she asks, tension evident in her expression.
"YAYYYY! I'm going to be your Maid of Honour! La-la-la-lala!" I start humming and jumping.
But I go silent the next second for I have come face-to-face with a frightening revelation.
"What happened, Anne? Why are you looking so tense all of a sudden?" Mary asks me, worried again.
"I don't have a dress! I don't have a friggin' dress! I'll have to get a matching outfit! And the bridesmaids! We'll have to color coordinate their dresses and shoes and accessories with mine! There's such a little time and so much to do Mar! What will I do? What will we do?" I ask and this time everyone starts laughing.
"What? Why are you all laughing?" I ask.
"Don't worry you li'l rabbit, we'll get this done in no time. You just calm down, but first give me your phone. I'll save my number myself." she says, and we laugh.
"What's the pa..." she starts to ask, but I cut her off by saying,"Oh, the usual!"
''Still the same?" she asks with tears pooling in her eyes.
"Of course! You are etched and embarked in my heart Mar, nothing's changed," I say.
She smiles and enters the pass code; MaryAnne.
I can't believe my Mary is getting married.
REVIEW AND GOD WILL BLESS YA!
XOXO,
BibliophilicBlunder