Next morning
“What the hell, I am on fucking leave. Don’t you get that? Manage by yourself”, Arush yelled. He is on the call.
“Then contact to Mr. Gupta. That’s his department. Not mine.”, Arush took his bag and put on the bed.
Dev said to Anu, he is standing at the door and observing Aarush, “My friend is in pain, and I can’t do anything to help him. I am a useless fellow”.
“Don’t worry dear, he is in pain but, more on that he is missing her girl – Aksha. Don’t you know that? He can’t leave without her.”, Anu said.
When you love someone badly when you are totally depending on them. When you can’t imagine a single moment without them. When they become an undividable part of your life. At that time, the single moment without them feels like, you are lost – lost in the world; lost in the middle of sea and you can’t find a way. Although you are surrounded by lots of people but then after. You feel that you are the only person on this earth. Loneliness gulf you. That pain is not easy to bear .
His beg is open on his bed. His stuff is spread all over in the room. Room looks like a huge cyclone is just passed through his room. He is standing facing his beg, starring at his belongings. He put hand on his waist and another on his head.
“Why? Why you do this to me, Ashu? I told you, if you are not ready to go for Reunion then we can plan for another holiday. I did not force you to come. Even I reserved tickets. You are the one who told me for reunion together, last night. Then how can you whim at the last moment? Why you put me in a condition, from where I don’t have any option. You shouldn’t do this to me”, he vowed.
One day before.
“Hey, babs!!! How long you will take? We have a flight for 4 pm. You remember, right?” Aarush just from the meeting. He dialed to Aksha directly.
“yes, darling! Just a few minutes more”, Aksha replied. He nodded her colleagues to handover her files to Mr. Shah.
“ How’s your conference?”, She asked.
“Too good men!!! Just leaving for the airport.
“ I will be at your place in fifteen minutes. Be ready”, he said.
“No, listen! I may not be free. Don’t worry about me. You go directly, I will catch you there.”, She announced.
“ No, I can wait for you”, he said.
“Mr. Perfect. Thanks for concern, but I can drive safely. So don’t you worry”, She said.
“Mrs. Perfect, our trip to the airport will be better, together”, he said.
“ It’s my order”, she ordered.
“ I give up!!! Ok, see you at airport”, he giggled.
“You better to be”, she pulled his leg together.
“I love you”, he said.
“ I love you 2”, she responded.
On the way to the airport, he dialed her number several times. She did not receive his call. Finally, she peaks up, “ C' mon babes!! Where are you? Why you are not receiving my call? Did you leave for the airport? When will you reach? It’s time to check-in dear”, he questioned in a single breath.
“ Take a breath, men. There is a note in the front pocket of your bag. Take it and read it, you will find your answers”, she said.
“I didn’t get what you are trying to say. I am waiting here, please come soon.”, he said.
“First, you read the note”, she request.
“Stop bullying around the bush. Tell me straight what’s in your mind?”, He pursed his lips.
“ I can’t explain so that I wrote a note for you. Have a safe journey, call me when you reached, I love you. I will miss you”, she said and disconnect the call.
He does multiple aborted attempts to contact her.
He found a note in the very first pocket of his bag. He took it and read it.
“Sorry…….sorry……sorry….. 100 times sorry. I love you, baby. I will miss you, but I can’t come with you to the reunion. I thought a lot about it. I tried a lot but my heart can’t win to my mind. I realized how selfish I am. I didn’t think about anyone and stick at my point only. Distance in ninjas is not because of her, it’s because of me. I could have been to save ninja, but I don’t. I know you love me. And for my love, you have to go for a reunion. I didn’t have the potential to face others. I don’t have enough courage to face others.
Sorry,
I love you😍😍😍. Jan! I will always.”
She didn’t leave any choice for him. He folded note again and put back in the bag. Reluctantly he checked in.
At present.
Aarush rummages his stuff. He is searching for something, but he can’t. He is disturbed. He is tensed for Aksha. He is present here physically but not mentally. His all stuff is spread all over the room. He let himself throw on the bed and covered his face with palm.
“ What’s wrong with you, men? Can I help you?”, Dev entered the room. Anu is still standing at the door observing both of them.
“Thanks!! I am alright”, he lied.
“you are such. Big liar, but your face is too transparent”, Dev mock- chided.
“Hahaha…., good one”, he said facing his face toward the ground.
“I guess, you are searching for something”, Dev assumed.
“ Ya, I am looking for some papers, but I forgot where I kept”, he lied again as he doesn’t want to reveal that he is looking for his passport, as he wants to leave.
“papers and here, you are on vacation men. Did you forgot that?”, Dev said.
Dev hugs him. He tilted Aarush chin with the help of his hand to look directly look into his eyes. He said, “ Look, man, we are separated by distance, not by hearts. Right? You can share anything with me. Please tell me. What is bothering you? Ca mon. Tell me. May I can help you.
Aarush can’t control himself anymore. He brushed out. He wants to tell everything that he wants to share from the last five years. He has been funding such a shoulder on which he can put his head and can relax. No doubt, Aksha is always there for him. He adores her. She is his friend first and then better half. He discusses his good and bad experience. He shares his joy and sorrow moments with her. She is the only one who knows everything about him. Maybe she knows, that Aarush himself doesn’t. But now he need his friends. He want to cry. He wants to share his feelings. He wants to free his mind.
Aarush make a grip on Dev's shoulder and said, “ I lost her men! I lost her!
“What stupid men! Be relax. She didn’t join us that doesn’t mean that she left you”, Dev makes to seat him on the bed and he seat beside him.
“ No, I didn’t mean that. I know he loves me, I love her. She will never leave. We will be always together.”, Aarush said.
Then what’s the issue?”, Dev questioned.
“Aksha does not remain the same, as she was before. She changed totally.”, Aarush said.
“How?”, Dev questioned.
“ On that day, Aahana was not the only person who left us. But she takes my Aksha with her. I married her but she is not the same as the one to whom I love. Her thought occupied with Aahana. Her life centralized with Aahana. Aahana is only one to whom she can called her family, her life line. I must admit it, if we both are together now, if I and Aksha tie holly note is only because of Aahana. She loves her most, even more than me. She trust her, more than anyone else. She didn’t think even in her nightmares that Aahana will leave her unexpectedly, at unusual moment. She can’t imagine life without her. Aahana’s absence hurts her. She can’t bear this pain”, Aarush saying continuously. He said everything that bothering him. Whatever he is telling, he is not aware about anything.
Anu stepped in. She takes glass and a water the bottle that kept on the table at the bedside. She filled a glass with water, offered it to Aarush. She pulled a chair and settled in front of Dev and Aarush.
“Relax man, everything will be alright”, Anu said.
Dev thanked Anu with his blinking eyes as he didn’t know how to console him.
“A
“A true friend is the one who always knows, when and where their friend is in need, and make a perfect entry at the perfect time.”
“she pretends to like, she hates her, she hates her most but deep inside she still loves her. She still waits for her to come back.”, Aarush said.
“Don’t worry, everything will be alright. I won’t say that it would not pain. But yes everything will be settled, definitely”, Anu tries to console him.
“Yes! Someone shows dare to gather all ninja’s together. We will gather some more and will bring our Aksha back”, Dev adds up.
“Correction, Aarush’s Aksha”, Anu said and giggled. She tries to ease the situation.
“Aksha will be back if Aahana will back”, Aarush nodded.
“I am not sure about Aahana, but Aksha will be for sure. Right, Anu?”, Dev asked and looked toward Anu for her agreement.
“Yes definitely”, She nodded. Just chill out man.
“So, what’s the planning for today”, asked Dev.
“Not really”, Anu said.
“What about you Aarush”, she shrugged.
“Nothing, but….”, he shuddered.
“But what?”, Dev remark.
“I am leaving now, I can’t be here without Ashu. Please forgive me.”, He collects his stuffed and gets busy to settled it in his bag.
“Anu seems disappointed, Dev looks at her and consoles her through his eye moment. He signed her, “ Don’t worry, everything will be alright. I will take care of it”, Anu feels relaxed.
“Toughest task becomes easy when you get support from your best buddy’s”.
“What are you cooking without me”, a strange voice headed over them.
