The Big Swap - Epilogue 2

 ~EPILOGUE 2~

A/N:

This chapter is REALLY, REALLY long you guys. I'm doing my part by warning you all.

Happy Reading! :)

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Mrs. Gandhi and Meera's parents never looked eye to eye again. But Kanan's Mother didn't just stop at that, she made it a point to pitch at least a line or two of insults for the Modis' careless upbringing of their children in every social gathering she went to. Grapevine networks worked like that, and you ended up hearing the gossip about yourself via someone else who's already been sworn to secrecy.

Nobody cared to know about what had truly happened. As far as they were concerned,

Amaro handsome Dr. Gandhi ane studious Meera nu shaadi cancel thayi gayu. (Kanan and Meera's wedding has been called off.)

When Mrs. Gandhi made it a point to be a no show for Rishi's engagement ceremony eight months later and Kanan walked in early in the morning all by himself, nobody bothered to ask him about the reason for her absence. Kanan on the other hand, had been welcomed back with open arms. He was after all, Rishi's childhood best friend. And Meera was glad, that their own personal drama hadn't affected that equation between Rishi and Kanan.

She sat at the farthest end of the living room quietly, taking in the commotion for all the preparations. The engagement was to be held at their house, because the wedding ceremony was being organized by the Brides' side of the family.

Her particular focus was on her Father at that point, who had probably spoken a total of eight syllables to her ever since he'd found out about the relationship she'd been hiding for all these years. He also didn't ever bring up her marriage talks.

Meera didn't know why, but at this point, she really wanted to open up to her father about Vedant. But him being her father, he'd already entered his own shell that he refused to get out of. She never tried to initiate any further conversations either.

"Um...Rishi's calling you." Meera looked up to meet Kanan's eyes. She hated the awkwardness between them with every fibre of her being, but had never quite understood what to say to him for an ice breaker. He'd practically pushed her towards her extremely negative reaction for their rishta despite the number of times she'd made it imminently clear for him that if she ever were to settle down, it would only be with Vedant.

"His room?" she questioned, already up on her feet.

Kanan nodded, looking a little uncomfortable in her presence. She wished they could go back to being kids. Life was so much more sorted back then. She knew perfectly well, that if it were for when they were little, somewhere amidst playing house and cricket, they would find a way to apologize to each other.

Meera started to make her way for Rishi's bedroom, but then, taking a small pause and turning around she sighed, "Just for the record, I didn't want things to come to this. I miss being friends with you."

If she would've stayed an extra second, she'd be able to catch Kanan's features soften in response.

Rishi swung open his door at her very first knock. Standing in a loose T shirt and pyjamas, he flashed her his iPhone. Meera's brows drew together, as his fiancée came into view.

"Thank God you're here Meera!" she all but exclaimed.

Despite the awkwardness of it all, Meera offered her a tight-lipped smile. "All okay?"

"No! My dress was supposed to be delivered two days ago Meera! But some measurement problems happened and now I am stuck with this outfit. It's lilac. And Rishi had promised he'd wear a matching kurta! But now he's wearing the same saffron colour from my previous outfit and that defeats the whole purpose!"

Meera let all the frantic shouting sink in. Eyes widened, the only thing she could think of was,

Wow. Talk about First World problems!

And then, she immediately chastised herself. Just because she wasn't capable of thinking about anything but her career every waking minute of every waking day, didn't mean every woman had to be like that. Dhruvi was a nice girl overall. In her own way, she was actually kind of perfect for Rishi. Precisely why Meera knew, she too had a soft spot for her.

"Show me your...um...dress."

Dhruvi broke into a million-watt smile and scurried towards a different direction. And then, she returned with a rather tacky; but definitely not the worst; engagement outfit Meera had witnessed before.

"Do you like it?" she asked softly. There was an innocence about her twenty-three year old self, so enthusiastic about it all, that Meera didn't have it in her to throw a sarcastic response to it.

"It's stunning."

Dhruvi grinned. "I was so worried that you wouldn't like it. I literally designed the whole thing from scratch-"

"-Dhruvi Dhruvi." Meera cut gently, "Let's focus on the problem okay? I promise we'll chat as much as you want after the ceremony."

She nodded eagerly, focussing the camera of her phone on the colour of the dress.

"I don't have a kurta of that colour." Rishi piped in, his first words the whole time.

"He refuses to cooperate Meera!"

Meera felt a smile escape her lips, before nodding, "Let me see what I can do."

"You're a saviour Meera! Thank you."

She shrugged for response, before walking past Rishi towards Dadi's room a.k.a the unofficial balcony of the house, which after Dadi's passing away had become more of a guest room that she used. She grabbed her purse and walked back up to him.

"Give me another one of your kurtas for a size reference."

Rishi looked confused. "Bro, are you going to a buy a new kurta six hours before the ceremony?"

"What else can we do?"

"But...but Ma knows what I was supposed to wear. What will she say?"

At this, Meera felt a dramatic eye roll emerge on her features. "That you're a good husband for your to-be wife? Besides, I'm beginning to realize that it is these small things that really count in a relationship."

Up until this point, Meera hadn't paid attention to the sound of a shower being used from the bedroom. She turned towards the bathroom door, now realizing someone had been within hearing range the entire time.

Two seconds later, the bathroom door got unlocked, and out walked someone she'd least expected in her brother's bathroom.

Vedant stopped short, his hair still very wet from the shower and mind you, equally surprised at seeing her. Which was weird. Considering he was in her brother's room without her knowledge.

Meera gulped, seeing him this up close after almost two years. She wasn't counting the numerous times they'd walked past each other in their locality with horrendously formal smiles exchanged.

"Hi." He was first to greet, and Meera failed to ignore the flatness in that single word, almost like he was exchanging pleasantries because of a situation he couldn't avoid. It hurt, even if it shouldn't have.

"Hi." She replied softly, already gazing at Rishi, demanding an explanation.

"I...called him over early morning. Kanan, Vedant, Jai and Nikhil are planning my bachelor's party for me." He explained with a shrug, like it was something she should've understood without any explanation on his part.

Meera didn't respond, still quite irked at how Vedant had now resorted to gaping into his phone. Almost like her standing in front of him made no difference.

"Well...it is your wedding." At this, she started for the exit when Rishi called back,

"Um...can you...maybe...take Vedant along?"

Meera turned back with surprise, now rather angry at how oblivious he was behaving as to her history with Vedant.

"Meera yaar. You know I don't want to make this awkward for you but...your sense of fashion is way ...way too subtle." She raised her brows at him with challenge, "It's...it's my wedding after all. I want to wear something more...dhinchak you know? I know Vedant will be able to help!"

She didn't believe this guy sometimes!

Did he just say her sense of fashion was subtle? It was he who looked like a well-lit Christmas tree for most weddings!

"It's okay if she doesn't want to go. I can go by myself." Vedant piped in, his eyes testily trained away from Meera.

"I'm sorry, but this is my brother's wedding and Dhruvi wanted to talk to me."

Rishi eyed the two of them quietly, and shook his head in disbelief at how juvenile Meera was sounding. Anybody could tell that she was dying to talk to Vedant. Why couldn't she just keep her inhibitions aside for once and tell him she missed him?

Meera's thoughts were elsewhere though. Vedant still wasn't looking at her. The nerve of this guy!

"That's what I'm saying guys. Go together!" Rishi chipped in.

Meera looked away, "I'll take Kanan if you insist on taking a guy's opinion."

Vedant audibly scoffed.

"Is there a problem?" she retorted equally coldly.

Vedant didn't respond to her question. Instead, he turned to Rishi and sighed, "Just let me know what you want me to do man."

Fifteen minutes later, Meera found herself walking down the flight of stairs with Vedant in tow. He was being abnormally quiet around her, and she knew in her subconscious, Rishi was sure to receive a thrashing from her for creating such an awkward scene between them if not for his wedding.

"Should we take a taxi?" Meera posed, even if it took every ounce of her strength to be the first one to speak.

For the first time since the entire morning, Vedant properly gazed her way. Not like she was just an object standing before him but a living, human being. It caused a wave of conscious heat rush up to her face.

"I'm taking my scooty. You can decide how you want to travel."

He didn't even wait for a reply, already making way for his building. It felt like a tight slap on her face. Meera couldn't take it anymore.

"What's your problem?"

Vedant paused, consciously aware of the volume of her tone that had already made an elderly couple with a gift box eye them questioningly. He turned back to face her, trying his best to maintain his calm,

"I said I'm taking my scooty. You can come with me if you want or take a taxi if you don't want to travel with me."

"Did I say I don't want to travel with you?"

Vedant sighed, "I'm sorry. Can we please not create a scene here right now?"

Meera gaped at him with a mild state of shock. Was this really Vedant? So cold and distant? Her eyes began to sting.

"Do you not want me to come with you?"

He looked away, now clearly ticked. "It doesn't matter what I want, Meera. As far as we are concerned, it's always going to be about what you think is right."

Meera gulped, fully aware of what he was insinuating, "It was right for us Vedant-"

"-and WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE THAT FOR THE BOTH OF US?"

Two passers-by slowed their pace, eyeing the two with a judgemental gaze. Meera turned towards them with one of her classic, leave us alone looks, and the strangers immediately walked away.

"You were ruining your life Vedant."

Vedant looked like he was about to explode with anger any minute. But he pressed his eyes shut, as if using every last bit of his patience as he neared where she stood, "You know what your problem is Meera? Everything always has to be about you. You didn't break up with me because you felt bad for me and my career. You broke up with me because you couldn't handle your feeling of guilt.

Because if it were about me, you'd want to know my opinion too."

"Your opinion!?" she spat, "You'd give up on everything if I left it up to you!"

"Damn right I would! Tell me why it's wrong!"

Meera blinked, "I...I can't be taking away your happine-"

"-It physically pains me to ask you this Meera. But if the roles were reversed today, and you were the man, and I were the woman in this relationship, would you have reacted the same way to my compromise?"

Silence ensued, as she gazed at him without an answer.

"You say you want gender equality, then when a man is trying to make a relationship work with compromises a woman often makes why are you people making such a big deal out of it?"

Meera paused, "It's not about that-"

"-then what is it?"

She didn't have an immediate response.

Vedant let out an exasperated sigh, "It's like talking to a wall! Forget it Meera." With that, he picked up his pace again, walking towards his building.

This woman appalled him!

He was angry with her, so, so angry he....he...he missed her. And as much as he hated to admit it to himself, he missed her so much more than he was mad at her.

Before he knew it, he was walking back to her, his voice gentler and his thoughts more collected, "Meera." She gazed his way quietly, clearly surprised to see him before her again. She'd assumed he'd left without sparing her a second glance.

"Just...just hear me out once, okay?"

Despite herself, she nodded softly.

"I truly believe that for a relationship to work out, you need one person with a stable and rigid career and you need another fairly....flexible person who can take care of aspects the former is not able to. Now, for whatever reason, women have generally been the ones to compromise.

But I don't mind being the flexible one in our case. I don't mind weaving my life decisions around yours. That doesn't make me any less of a man than I am!"

At this point, Meera's arms folded before her chest, her gaze faraway, "You sound like every woman's dream right now Vedant. Believe me you do." She paused, "But you're going to regret your decision eventually."

"Why? I was equally firm on my resolve then, and I'm equally firm on it today. I've always said this Meera! You are my first priority. I'm ready to adjust every other aspect of my life."

"You don't know how honoured I am Vedant. But this isn't right."

Vedant studied her face quietly, "You said no to marrying Kanan. Why?"

She shrugged, "Why are you asking something the answer to which you already know?"

He took a step closer to her, his eyes holding her gaze, "You refuse to be with me, and you refuse to move on with a guy as decent as Kanan. What are you doing with your life Meera?"

Meera looked away, clearly tongue tied.

"Don't turn into the selfish woman you've always been scared of becoming. You're not only ruining your life but even punishing your parents for something that is not even their fault."

She laughed sarcastically, her head shaking in disbelief, "Now you sound like everybody else. But just for my sake, say it to me once, in so many words. Look me in the eye and tell me ki ek baar kisi aur se shaadi ho jaye meri, life ki saari problems khatam ho jaen-"

"-no." his voice was a bare whisper, "Marry me."

As a child, she'd laughed at women who shed tears upon being proposed marriage. The thought had always seemed too ridiculous. Which is why, when her own eyes began to sting, she felt a weird heat of embarrassment take over her skin.

"I can't believe you still want to."

Vedant sighed, "Yeah, I'm a sucker like that. Precisely why I'm so perfect for you."

"But what about your ACCA?"

He paused, his eyes shining in earnest, "I uh...I cleared the final exam a month ago."

Meera's eyes widened, "You what?"

Vedant shrugged, "I should be receiving my letter of acknowledgement soon."

"Why didn't you tell me bef-"

"-shhh." His index finger had landed on her lips. Meera gulped nervously, now conscious of how close they were standing, in front of their parents' houses!

"I promise to never bother you again Meera."

She tried to mumble a 'what?' against his fingers when he completed, "Will you?" he paused, "Marry me?"

At this, he moved his finger away, allowing her to speak. "Your...your mother won't be okay with this. She-"

"-will be convinced, if we are convinced."

Vedant eyed the clear look of indecision in her eyes, she was beginning to forget her stand in the argument.

"I..." her voice cracked.

He had not intended for this to happen, but his palm had landed on her shoulder in consolation.

"Vedant...ever since I've known you, I've loved the ambitious, over-achiever in you. You're changing your basic way of functioning for me."

"I haven't forced this change upon myself. It happened, on its own, over all the years I was with you. The same way I know you have changed too."

The back of his palm had now found its way to wipe a tear drop from her face.

"But what if I want the two of us to figure out a midway for this? We win some, we lose some."

For the first time, in the whole, entire, day, Vedant broke into a small smile, "That sounds like a plan."

She blinked, her eyes not once leaving his. "How are you so sure about us?"

"I'm not. I just know, that no matter what I do, I end up finding my way back to you." He paused, "Ms. Meera Modi, are you saying yes to my proposal?"

Even her own ears didn't seem to believe it when she nodded vehemently, and her mouth uttered an overenthusiastic, "Yes."

He gaped at her wide-eyed, "Wait. You're really convinced?"

Meera laughed. "You have a way with words."

Vedant pulled her in for a hug immediately, while she mumbled against his chest, "I'm sorry for breaking up with you."

He kissed the top of her head gently, "Apology accepted."

From the corner window on the third floor of Meera's building, Rishi grinned at the sight before him. For once, he'd played cupid right!

A/N:

Okay, I should stop now. Until the last part of the epilogue which wraps everything up.

Cheers.

...continued Epilogue 3