All Drama, No Queen by Andaleeb Wajid

Author:Andaleeb Wajid [Wajid, Andaleeb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789390914876
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
Published: 2021-03-17T00:00:00+00:00

20

Maybe it’s because I heard from Irshad that day, or maybe I’m being a masochist, but later at night, I switch on my laptop, open Facebook and go to Shagufta’s profile. What if both Priya and Mini are right? But Irshad is still at fault—he just left me without an explanation or goodbye and then spoke to me rudely when I asked to speak to him on Shagufta’s phone. And now . . . he wants things to go back to how they were before.

I brace myself to see him in any new photos, and yes, there he is. Shagufta has recently uploaded a few pictures of them at dinner a couple of days ago. Well, she might be perfect in many ways, but one thing she doesn’t know is how to take good photos.

The food photos are cringeworthy but the ones of Irshad aren’t any better. Am I just projecting what I want to see in his photos or is he looking unhappy? I’m tempted to call Priya and ask her opinion but I stop myself. I’d heard the front door open and then close. She’s probably at Ajay’s.

I click through the photos and read the captions, despite not wanting to. Shagufta has painted a picture of bliss, and I realize that the dinner is to celebrate the announcement of their wedding date. There are several congratulatory messages from her friends about bagging Mr Right, and I make myself read all of them so I won’t go back to the photos and see his face.

But then I do go back and look at him once more. Then I close the page and try to sleep. His face swims before my eyes. I turn around and punch the pillow.

* * *

In the morning, Ajay is surprised when I offer to pick up Anya from school in the afternoon. He and Anya have dropped by with breakfast.

‘It’s not a problem,’ I insist.

‘But Farida, in the afternoon my mother-in-law . . . I mean, Kirti’s mom, picks her up,’ he says, glancing quickly at Priya. She smiles and shakes her head.

‘It’s okay. She’s always going to be your mother-in-law and Anya’s grandmother,’ Priya says.

‘Awkward,’ I mutter, getting up from the table and clearing the plates.

‘What’s awkward, Farida Aunty?’ Anya asks.

Priya glares at me before smiling at Anya.

‘Nothing, sweetie. Just boring old-people stuff,’ she says, ruffling her hair. I catch a look of amusement passing between Ajay and Priya.

‘Look, Ajay. I literally have nothing to do,’ I tell him earnestly, after a few seconds when I’ve composed myself. ‘Let me be useful, no? And you guys will get busy with the engagement stuff soon. I just want to help.’

Ajay still looks doubtful because it seems unnecessary to him. I take a deep breath.

‘I feel like I need some purpose in life right now,’ I tell him. He looks up at me and seems to understand my pain for some reason and then nods.

‘Okay. Thank you. I’ll feel better knowing that she’s with you.’ I look away guiltily when he says that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.