"Lieutenant Madav, your leave for six months has been approved by the headquarters and you shall leave home soon" said Colonel Andrew, Madav's senior.

"Thank you sir"

"I'll expect you to come back with the news of your wedding, Lieutenant." Andrew tapped his shoulder and nodded before he left. Almost everyone on-board knew Madav's ten years long love story and every time Madav leaves for home, they wish him nothing but to bring back the news of his marriage.

It's been a long wait for Madav and Padmini, this time Madav was determined to speak to her parents about their relationship. Though her parents aren't happy about them being in relationship, Madav hoped they would agree for their marriage.

As usual Madav had requested the taxi driver to tune in to BigWheel FM, Padmini's morning show used to be first thing he listens but this time it wasn't she who was hosting the morning show. Madav was surprised, 'why isn't she doing the morning show? It used to be her slot for the past three years. Maybe there is change of time slot' he questioned and answered himself.

He headed straight to home.

"Maa! Maa! Maa... Madav called his mother knocking the front door as he kept looking at Padmini's quiet house.

"Oh dear, you are home!" Durga was elated to see her son finally back home after a year, she couldn't stop herself from crying.

The day went on spending time with his mother and occasionally peeking through the window to see any movement in her house. Being alone most of the time in the year, Madav decided to be with Durga for the day and meet Padmini the next day.

Padmini's house was unusually different than it used to be. Very quiet, empty and contrasting to what it was before he left. The door was locked, Padmini's number wasn't going through and even the radio station she worked told Padmini had left the job.

That was something Madav couldn't digest. BigWheel FM is Padmini's dream place to work and that she left the job surprised him. "What made her quit her dream job?" Madav asked their mutual friend who Madav called over to his house.

Unfortunately, their mutual friend did not have any idea about Padmini either. Just then their other friend who knew Madav was enquiring about Padmini called him.

Madav headed to the shopping mall his friends informed where Padmini was. Walking around the shopping mall, Madav finally found her inside a clothing store.

He walked behind her slowly not gaining her attention, he covered her eyes as he waited for her to guess who. Startled, Padmini begin to panic but she managed to control herself from screaming.

"Shh... try to guess..." he whispered confidently as he knew she would guess who he is even though it's has been a year since they met.

"Kishore, please stop playing. I don't like it!" Madav's heart sunk as she called him with some other name, he slowly removed his hands from her. "Kishore, don't you..." Padmini who thought it was Kishore stood mum as she turned to face Madav.

Even though he was upset with Padmini for not recognising him, Madav couldn't be angry with her for long.

She looked more beautiful than the last time he saw her but she looked different as well.

"Excuse me! Who are you?" she asked, shattering his heart, he stood perplexed to her sudden question. That question.

"What do you mean who am I? It's Madav"

"Who Madav? I'm sorry I don't know any Madav. You must have mistaken me... for someone else" Padmini turned to walk away when Madav grabbed her hand.

"What do you mean you don't know? Are you trying to play around! If yes than it's not funny" he pulled her close gazing her into her orbs that no longer had the love, the longingness as before. Her silence only angered him more as she tries to release her hand from his tight grip.

"Leave me before my fiancé comes and beats you" she said gritting her teeth.

His hands instantly lost its strength to hold her at the mention of fiancé. "You are engaged?" he asked almost inaudible while trying to fight his tears from falling.

"Yes" she firmly answered and left the store without even turning to look at him. Madav stood there and his feet failed to even move an inch. 

Those words were sharp it hurts him even now as he thinks about it. Madav kept reading her last e-mail eight months ago, nothing seemed to be wrong in hers or even in his reply. Than what could be the reason.

'Are her parents forcing her into this marriage and that she doesn't want him to know about it? Why will she wants to hide it from him? What's stopping her?' Too many questions but he had answers for none and she had answers for all his questions. 

At the most devastating time, devil works best. The fragile mind of Madav had become a playground for the devil to work ita skills, as a voice in him kept asking him question that he will never even think of. 'Was her love to shallow that she left me so easily for another guy?' 

The question kept repeating itself as much as he wanted to avoid thinking about it. Frustrated with himself Madav started to behave wild, throwing and breaking things and hurting himself not for what Padmini has done but for those question that kept repeating in his head. He could never imagine doubting Padmini's love for him. Never. 

"Padmini would never cheat her Sailor Man. Never." Madav mumbled as he watched her house from his room window. A room he had begged his mother so he could occupy it and see her anytime.

***********

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~~Deva~~