Were We Written in the Sand
...FLASHBACK:
"Tarika."
Abhijeet called behind her back who was closing the door of her car after arriving at the Bureau. She paused and took a long time to turn around.
Abhijeet's heart skipped a beat seeing her appearance. The always in formals for office Tarika was glowing in after marriage beauty in plain blackish red colour saree with a black sleeveless blouse. Her hair was opened. Abhijeet's eyes were stuck over her neck, on the wedding chain. The look he always imagined her to be his only. He suddenly feel suffocated. A different kind of rag strated to grow inside him. The kind of rag which wanted to destroy everything around him. He calmed himself down with great difficulty.
Tarika touched the wedding chain, uncomfortable with his staring making him look away. But he didn't talk. He didn't know what to talk. He wanted to grab her by her shoulders and shout at the top of his voice, demanding explanation. But mostly, he wanted her to initiate. He was afraid his rag would destroy the little chance he had. The chance he thought he had.
But she stayed quiet too, for a long time.
"How.. how are you?" Finally she asked. May be giving up, accepting she had to face his rags anyway.
"How am I looking?" Abhijeet asked, helpless.
"You.. look pale."
"I am broken Tarika " Abhijeet urged, a drop of tear rolled down his cheek.
Tarika looked down, trying to hide her own tears, but her sobs were loud enough to hear.
"I am sorry Abhijeet." She managed to say.
"Sorry? Its all you have to say?" Abhijeet demanded.
Tarika stayed quiet.
"Answer me Tarika " His voice was loud.
She didn't budge.
"I do have the right to know why you have done this to me, don't I?" Abhijeet was getting ragged.
"It doesn't matter. Nothing matters now. NOTHING." Tarika cried. "So its better if you move-"
"Don't." Abhijeet stopped her to say the next word.
"Why not? I am someone's wife now." Tarika shouted.
"I dont care." Abhijeet said firmly.
Tarika looked at him with a jerk, shocked on his response. This was the last thing she would have wanted him to say. She would have ever wanted him to say.
"What?" She asked, with a feeble voice.
"I said I don't care."
"Abhijeet..."
"Just say that you want to and I..."
"Shut up Abhijeet..."
"I know its not going to be easy for you but..."
"I said SHUT UP. Shut up before I slap you." Tarika shouted. "Is this all joke to you? Huh?"
Abhijeet looked at her blank as his hopes were getting crushed for one more time.
"You didn't even ask me Abhijeet that how am I? Why have I done this? If I am forced? If forced then why? You could have asked me to move on."
"I dont want you to move on ever." Abhijeet held her by her shoulders.
"Abhijeet leave me." She struggled.
"Say, you don't love me?" He shook her.
"Abhijeet..."
"Tell me Tarika. Look into my eyes."
"Abhijeet."
"I will fix everything."
Tarika freed herself from his grip and looked at him with hatred.
"The best thing you can do for me is, stay away from me." She said firmly and ran away.
Abhijeet stood there. What had he done. It wasn't what he planned. Damn with his anger. Damn with his emotions.
FLASHBACK ENDS...
Abhijeet came out of past. The night seemed long. Longer than those agonizing painfilled night he had passed during those days. He tried to sleep.
0_0_0
On the other hand at Mumbai Daya was trying Abhijeet's phone from a long time but his phone was switched off. He was curious to know if his friend had met Tarika, the girl who ruled his heart even now, after so many years. He wanted to know if she's okay. He wanted to know if she's happy. Like, actual happy.
Abhijeet had always been his best friend but with Tarika he had a different bond. Apart from friendship they had a bond indescribable. And the reason of that amazing bond was Abhijeet. They both were the closest persons of Abhijeet and somehow that bonded them. Somewhere they both had come into the conclusion that they would be okay if someday Abhijeet had to chose one of them above the other one. They would understand. They used to prank Abhijeet together, irritate him, rule him and were very demanding. They were a family.
He was ragged when he received the invitation of Tarika's marriage. Burning like a volcano he demanded an explanation from her but seeing her broken state he backed off. Later he suggested her if he could even kidnap her to delay the dates. The situation didn't permit. Tarika did postpone the marriage as long as she could manage. But it wasn't enough.
Daya had always been inclined towards Abhijeet in whole matter but in some occasions Tarika did have a greater influence on him. She was broken and in pain too, just like Abhijeet and she didn't have anyone to support her. And just like she said at hospital she even had lost the rights to mourn over their relationship.
Lying on his bed Daya remembered the day when he found Tarika crying her heart out in the store room of bureau.
FLASHBACK:
Daya was anxious. He couldn't find Abhijeet anywhere. He had come to Bureau with him and then excused himself. After that he was nowhere to be seen. Daya wanted to accompany him when he met Tarika and that's why he was keeping a close eye on him. But he escaped anyways. He decided to go and check the lab.
On the way he heard some feeble sobs coming from the store room and opened the door. He found Tarika sitting on floor, hiding her face in between her knees.
"Tarika!" Daya called out.
But she didn't response. She was crying hard.
"Tarika." This time he touched his shoulder.
She looked at him with her swollen eyes.
Daya felt helpless. He sat on his one knee automatically, realising the damage had been done. That they had met each other and it certainly didn't go well. He pressed her shoulder lightly, trying to console her. But she broke down into another fits of cries.
Daya waited for her to calm down.
"He wants me to hate him Daya." She cried.
"What did he do?" Daya asked.
"You don't know?"
Daya looked down, ashamed. Ofcourse, he did.
"He is not in his right mind." Daya gave excuse.
"I know." Tarika wiped away her tears.
"Don't cry then. Try to understand him. Talk to him. Make him understand."
Tarika rested her head against the wall.
"He doesn't want to understand. He doesn't want to listen. He doesn't even want to know why I have taken this step. All he care is, why I am not with him. He want me to be with him. How can it be possible now? "
"I will talk to him."
"I don't think that will help."
"I suppose. That's why I didn't try."
"Hmm.."
"So, you would talk to him?"
"Only if he asks and tries to listen to me."
"Give him some time. Don't be so harsh on him."
"It's hard to behave when he disbehaves. But I will try Daya." Tarika said with a broken voice.
Daya looked down.
"What happened?" Tarika asked, surprised.
"It's not like i don't understand your pain but I have to be on Abhijeet's side."
"And I want you to be on his side too."
"But I promise I will never let him do anything wrong."
"I know."
"I wish I could lessen your pain a bit."
Tarika chuckled with tears in her eyes and when she talked she choked.
"You listen to me Daya. You don't have any idea how much this helps."
"I wish you two were together." Daya cried.
Tarika sighed but didn't say anything. The wish was just a dream which could never be fulfilled.
"I have to go and find Abhijeet." He stood up.
Tarika was in a trance looking in front of her.
"You should go to lab too."
"I want to stay here for sometimes. Lock the door when you leave."
Daya looked at her for a moment and then left slowly. He asked Purvi to check on her and left Bureau to find Abhijeet.
FLASHBACK ENDS...
That day he couldn't find him. He returned home late at night, drunk and slept on couch. At morning he had a strong hangover and skipped Bureau. His headache got worse by evening. Daya did scold him but he was reluctant. At one point Abhijeet was on verge of losing consciousness but still refused to go to hospital. Seeing no other way Daya had to call Abhinash.
FLASHBACK:
"Thanks for coming." Daya greeted Abhinash inside the house.
"No problem. What's the matter?"
"Abhijeet..."
"What's with him?" Abhinash asked calmly, as if it was not a big deal.
"He's having a terrible headache. He was about to faint. Last night he drank too much I guess."
"Is he taking his medicines?"
"I... I don't know if he took them yesterday."
Abhinash looked upset suddenly. Daya understood he was matching the dots. Tarika must had been very upset yesterday.
"Did Tarika tell you something?" Daya asked, hesitated.
"I am here to see my patient." Abhinash was little harsh this time.
"Tarika is my friend. A very good one."
It looked like Abhinash wanted to say a lot but he stayed quiet.
There's some noise in Abhijeet's room and both of them headed towards the room. Abhijeet was trying to hold the glass but it slipped from his hand.
Abhinash stopped in his track again seeing Abhijeet's condition.
"Who's he?" Abhijeet asked.
"He's.."
"I am your Doctor." Abhinash was quick to answer.
Abhijeet looked at both of them, suspicious.
"Lie down. Let me check you."
Daya helped Abhijeet to lie down. Abhinash checked him.
"You aren't having your medicines." Abhinash commented.
Abhijeet stayed quiet.
"I am prescribing you some more medicines and some tests. But the best you can do for yourself is not to stress out." Abhinash said.
Abhijeet chuckled but didn't say anything.
Abhinash stood up to leave but he stopped and looked at Abhijeet for a moment who was sitting on his spot oblivious to his surroundings, lost in his own world. His words didn't have any impact on him he knew. He left the room.
Daya followed him.
"Thanks Abhinash."
"It's my duty."
"How's your mother?"
"Daya, you don't have to do this." Abhinash chuckled.
"Do what?"
"Exchange unwanted pleasentries. I know you don't like me very much."
"There's nothing like that. I do not like the situation we are going through. Nobody is at fault in here."
"Not even your friend?" Abhinash asked, a bit demanding.
"Can you blame him totally?"
"I don't know. I guess, I want to protect my wife. I wouldn't like my wife coming from work looking all pale and broken."
"Did she say you something?"
"I didn't even need to ask to know."
"Abhinash..."
"Can you blame me Daya?"
"No, I can't. But I can assure you Abhijeet will never harm Tarika."
"That I know."
"Then?"
"I am more concern of the reputations."
"Do you not trust Tarika?"
"I trust her with all my life."
"Then just keep trusting her."
"I will. But Abhijeet..."
"He will stay away from her..."
"Daya, I don't want to take Tarika away from this city, away from her family, from her colleagues."
"Abhinash... They both need time." Daya begged.
"I know. But Abhijeet..."
"He will behave himself."
Abhinash sighed.
"It's not like I do not have any empathy for him." Abhinash said. "You know that if not me Tarika would have been married to another person. I had always loved her. I can wait for her even more. I know she probably wont love me the way i want her to love me ever. But still I married her. But she's not happy. No one's happy. Tarika said she believes in rituals and marriage and she will fulfill the marriage. I can't dare to ask her if she wants to leave me and start a new life. I cant do this to my family, her family and also to myself."
"I am not blaming you for anything Abhinash. And neither does Tarika "
"You sure about it?"
"Hundred percent."
"Will Abhijeet ever be okay with it?"
"You don't have to worry about him. Just take care of Tarika."
"I will."
"You are a very nice person Abhinash."
"Not so nice. I feel terrible."
"Everything will be alright."
"Take care of your friend. And call me anytime"
"Thanks."
Abhinash left. Daya sighed. At least Abhinash was a nice person. He would keep Tarika happy.
FLASHBACK ENDS..
KK: Flashback filled chapter. Well, to keep the trills i have to add more falshbacks before moving to the actual story. Sorry for the late update. Life has been very busy recently. Please do review.