Page 44 of Since You Came Along

Before Kusha could respond, raised voices from inside interrupted them.

‘I know you stole my body wash! Why don’t you just drown in the water?’ Kashvi banged at the bathroom door, her dramatic accusation echoing through the house.

‘How the hell can I drown under a shower?’ Siya said, her reply muffled but sharp.

‘Oh, just give me a chance, and I’ll push your head into a bucket full of water!’

‘Since when do you ask for permission, Kashu?’ Siya retorted, her laughter ringing out like a victory bell.

Kusha turned to Meera, who was smiling at the ordeal. ‘They’ll never grow up,’ Meera remarked.

Kusha let out a short laugh. ‘Siblings never do. You’ve seen Luv’s charming side, not the annoying big-brother version.’

Meera leaned back and sighed, ‘Kashvi doubles down on annoying Siya whenever she’s upset, so brace yourself for tonight. You’ll get used to it with time.’

There was something in the way Meera said that, so casual yet certain, that made her pause. It was as if Meera believed Kusha belonged here, that she was already part of the group. For the first time, Kusha realised maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try.

But first, she had to make things right with Meera.

Kusha shifted in her seat, her fingers brushing against the edge of her chair as she mustered the courage to speak. ‘I’m sorry, Meera,’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Meera looked up, surprised by the sudden apology. ‘For what?’ she asked, careful not to push too hard.

‘For the other night,’ she admitted. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’

‘It’s okay,’ Meera replied.

‘Siya told me to give you a chance,’ Kusha confessed.

‘Did she?’ Meera tilted her head. Siya wasn’t one to meddle in other people’s affairs, so this revelation caught her off guard.

Kusha nodded, fiddling with her bracelet. ‘It’s not about giving you a chance, though.’

Meera stayed quiet, letting her gather her thoughts.

She ran a hand through her hair and continued, ‘Veronica was my first friend. My only friend, for a long time. I’ve made peace with you being Raghav’s wife because I can see he’s happy,but... I can’t be your friend. It feels like I’d be betraying her. Like I’d be replacing her. And I can’t do that.’

Her voice cracked on the last sentence, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Meera tried to see it from her perspective. She couldn’t imagine losing Siya, let alone having to replace her. ‘I get it,’ Meera said, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder.

Kusha blinked, startled by the simple gesture of comfort.

‘We don’t have to figure everything out today. Let’s take it one step at a time. For now, how about you accept me as Raghav’s wife, and we’ll see where it goes from there?’

‘That sounds fair,’ Kusha said, nodding. Then she asked, ‘Why are you so nice to everyone, Meera?’

‘You say that as if it’s a bad thing,’ Meera chuckled.

Kusha shook her head and clarified, ‘I don’t mean it like that. I just want to know why.’

‘I suppose because that’s who I am and because that’s who I choose to be. I’ve met and known some terrible people in my life who intentionally hurt others, as if it’s second nature to them. But I’ve also met some incredible people. I’m lucky enough to have many of them in my life right now. Somewhere along the way, I realised I can’t control who I meet or who stays in my life. But if you can’t find good people, or if life doesn’t hand them to you, you can choose to become one.’

It struck Kusha, in that moment, why Raghav had chosen Meera to be his life partner. ‘I get it,’ she said.

Kusha stood up and gave her a nod. Meera watched her disappear into the house, but she stayed seated.

For the first time, Meera felt a pang of envy for Veronica. She’d had their love, friendship, and fierce loyalty. Even in her absence, Veronica’s presence loomed large, her mark on their lives indelible.

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