Were We Written in the Sand
...Abhijeet was sitting on passenger seat of his new colleague Raj. Raj was driving him to his another colleague's house.
"Raj, I could have stayed at hotel for a few days till I manage my accomodation." Abhijeet said again.
"No Abhijeet. The fault is mine. I was asked to take care of it by ACP sir. And I just screwed it. So, now it's my responsibility to make your accomodation arrangements. I am really sorry for the inconvenience."
"It's fine. Our job is very hectic I know."
"Sure you do." Raj smiled.
"Where do you live?"
"Ah.. not so far from here. I could have asked you to stay with me but I live with my brother and his wife. And plus we are having some guests over. Its all so noisy. You will like the place where I am taking you. The view from the house is magnificent."
"Shimla is magnificent."
"Yeah. True. So you have been here before?"
"Umm.. yeah. For cases you know."
"I see." Raj nodded. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah sure."
"You look off. Is something bothering you?"
Abhijeet chuckled on his fate hearing Raj's questing. His entire life was bothering him.
"Just memories." Abhijeet replied shortly.
"Shimla is beautiful but it does bring back memories. And I know even beautiful memories can be hurtful." Raj stated and concentrated on driving.
Abhijeet looked outside the car. The night was dark. Even the stars weren't twinkling in the sky so much. He filled his lungs with air. Every moment was passing like a year. His patient was breaking. He wanted to run to her, to see her. But he didn't want to make a scene and create trouble for her. He had done it enough with her.
He closed his eyes and her face flashed. Her that specific emotionless face that had broken his heart into million pieces. The night was just as dark as this. But unlike today he was having a gut feeling that day. They had numerous meets after that, he had seen her many emotions and many expressions following that day but that face had stuck on his mind forever. He couldn't ever get rid of that gaze of her. Even after so many years. That was the moment he realized he had lost her. Though he accepted it way later.
0
FLASHBACK...
Abhijeet was driving towards Tarika's house restless. He had returned from a month long mission just a few hours ago. He had been calling her since then but she wasn't picking up her damn phone. He was worried. In the middle of the mission he had called her for the first time in his life. Usually he never risked. But throughout the mission she never left his mind. It was impossible to focus. So, when Tarika received his call she did sounded surprised. Abhijeet could tell she was sobbing but she dismissed his quarry by saying that's because she was missing him. He promised her to come back quickly but its been two damn weeks since then. Everything was so bothersome and on the top of that Daya was even out of town in those days. He had returned before him though. But he wasn't responding to his calls either. What's wrong with everyone.
Among all of the places in Mumbai his heart chose to chase Tarika's destination. And here he was.
He was standing at the entrance of her house and he found if beautifully decorated with lights, curtains and flowers. His breath caught in his mouth. It was suffocating. He felt like slipping away in darkness. He licked his dried lips with his dry tongue and gulped down the fear. Jerking off the negative thoughts he entered into the hall room. The first thing his eyes caught was the sight of the freshly used marriage stage. He felt numb. His soul almost left his body as he stood there at threshold. His almost lifeless body tried to gather some courage and his eyes looked around still with hopes in his eyes. They found the face he was looking for. There she was standing at a corner in royal pink avatar. Her eyes were already stuck on him.
He left out his held breath and his shoulders shrunk down as if a king has been defeated in the most important war of his life. Her eyes were teary and asking for forgiveness. But he couldn't assure her. He couldn't.
For the first time in his life he felt what's it like to be a looser.
...FB END...0-0-0
"Here we are!" Raj stoped the car before the small house at the outskirt of the city. Abhijeet got down following Raj. The house had a medium size garden in front of it. There was a table and a few chairs arranged there. Different kind of flowers were blooming in the garden spreading the fresh fragrance all over the neighbourhood. Abhijeet liked the house instantly. The house owner surely had a good test in gardening and also in decoration.
Raj lead him towards the main gate through the garden. Abhijeet stayed at the threshold of the stairs. Raj took the two steps of stairs and reached the gate. He rang the calling bell and waited.
Abhijeet's heart was feeling light all on a sudden. He found the environment very calming and decided he would love to stay here if the house owner permitted. Lately, he wasn't sure about it.
A lady in his late 50 opened the door.
"Namastey Aunty." Raj greeted her.
"Arey Raj! Come come inside."
"No Aunty. I am in hurry. I have brought my friend and my new colleague to your house. You wanted to rent away your outside room right? Because you get so bored and you need a company."
In between the talk Raj indicated towards a door which was adjacent to the house at the end of the small veranda. Abhijeet looked at the door as well.
"Yes, I told you I need a company and you brought me your colleague? Seriously? Will he even stay or rent the room just for keeping his stuff? "
That made Abhijeet chuckle. He instantly liked the lady.
"Arey Aunty. Just meet him na. I am sure you will like him."
The lady rolled her eyes. Raj indicated Abhijeet to come closer to them. Abhijeet took the steps and reached near them.
"Namastey." Abhijeet greeted with a smile but there was no response from the lady. She was shocked and in a trance. Abhijeet was confused.
"Aunty.. Meet my friend.."
"Abhijeet!" The lady whispered.
Both Raj and Abhijeet were surprised and looked at each other in confusion.
"Who is it Maa?" Came another lady's voice from inside which instantly took Abhijeet's heart beats away.
Before he could process his desire wether to stay or run away on his mind the slightly ajar door got opened fully and the woman his eyes had been searching the whole day stood next to the old lady.
He started to get numb all over again. His body felt lifeless. He thought it would be a bliss to see her again but she brought the same amount of pain just like that dark night. Like that day she was also wearing pink today. A simple saree though. Though it took time for her to realize what was happening and who was standing in front of her, when she did it was the same face all over again. Same pain filled eyes, with pinch of hatredness, thousands of complains but also somewhere that pleading of forgiveness. The only difference was she wasn't looking royal or appealing. He found her simplicity disturbing may be for the first time in his life. His subconscious mind was telling him there's something missing, something off about her. But his mind was all occupied with the thought of seeing her after 6 years. He concentrated. He wanted to last the moment forever, without even caring if her eyes were getting warmer for him. He just wanted to hold on the moment.
But nothing lasts forever. Neither the feelings nor the moment.
KK: Hola! Quick update? Well, in my case it is a quick update right?
So the story is taking a turn and also turning out to be far away from your imagination? I hope so! But I would like to request if you are finding the concept disturbing please hold on and give it a try anyways. I wont disappoint you probably. Baki apki marzi. I cant force anyone to read my stories, can I?
Now about reviews! When i posted the prologue I was really happy seeing the responses. And in next chapter the review number fell down so drastically! I am hurt! You know if you read my stories please please please let me know about your views. It helps a writer lot. And I need a lot of inspiration to go on right now. You guys must have noticed I have deleted my Insta account and also all the videos from YT. I have my reasons and I am sorry for disappointing you but trust me its for myself. I needed to do that. So here I am from where I started my journey in this fandom, right from this FF. So I will probably end it from here too. I am no longer a teenager or in early 20s who would delete her stories out of emotional rag. But yeah, life changes. People changes and sometimes we have to take hard decisions. No one from my old folks write here on FF anymore. Its only me. And i dont even belong here may be. So pardon me if its my last story. Its not a threat or anything sort like this. Usually I have tons of concepts in my mind even before finishing a story. But right now I am blank. May be when I am at the verge of ending this story things can change. I really do hope that. Abhirika n this site is very dear to me. I myself dont want to leave it. So I am carrying myself pretty forcefully. Your reviews can inspire me a lot.
Take care.
Will try to update soon.