Saumya was seated on the dining table eating breakfast alone. A few things had changed in the Singhaniya mansion in the past few days. Saumya's parents had left only after the reception. An unsure Gauri had wanted to stay for a bit longer to watch over Saumya, but Sudhir insisted otherwise. Saumya just as all the guests left Singhaniya mansion changed her room. She no longer occupied Rudra's space. No one complained as Rudra's episode on the night of the reception was heard by all. Mira though wanted to talk to Saumya, her husband stopped her saying they shouldn't interfere or say anything to Saumya after Rudra's behavior. If she did not feel comfortable to stay in the same room with him, it was his fault only.

"Good morning, Bhabi!" It was Sonia, Rudra's cousin who greeted her first this morning.

"Good morning." Saumya said with a nod and smile.

"White again! I seriously don't understand your obsession with white. Except for the reception day, I didn't see you wear any colorful clothes. Mira auntie doesn't like it you know." Sonia commented sitting on the opposite side of Saumya and sipping detoxed water.

"Yes, I know." Saumya replied in indifference.

"Okay. Then why do you still wear white clothes?" Sonia asked straightening.

"Isn't it strange Sonia? We love white. We love people with a white heart which means they don't have any deception in them. We love white money which is earned through hard work. We love white colored people too. But I don't understand why when it comes to my clothes, people have such objections!" Saumya said casually.

"But you can wear other colors too. Why only white?" Sonia asked again in curiosity.

"According to science, white absorbs all colors, but black represents the absence of colors. Which means white is the balance of all shades whereas black is blank. Now, according to me, black is easy, but white is challenging. Wearing white, anyone can. But maintaining the white needs meditation." Saumya said putting down her fork.

"Am I suppose to understand that on my own?" Sonia wondered loudly in confusion which made Saumya laugh a little before saying,

"You can skip."

***†***

Rudra puffed out the smoke of the cigarette again. It wasn't a regular occurrence when he could be found with the company of nicotine. But these days, it felt good. His phone vibrated again drawing his attention towards it. He had gotten it on the same night Saumya ruined his old one. But couldn't block the number that made it ring constantly.

He looked at the screen to see another incoming message. He didn't need to read it to know what was written. Mehek had been constantly begging him to talk to her once. And Rudra could neither block her nor could he answer it. The door of his studio opened suddenly. Mehek entered the room with his assistant behind her who was obviously trying to stop her.

"Rudra!" The gasped out name of his from her lips sent a shockwave through his heart. The heart that yearned for her. The heart that had fallen sick in her absence and refused to work properly.

"Sir, I tried ----" The raised hand of Rudra stopped his assistant and she left getting his sign. The door closed behind her and silence resumed. Rudra did not move from his place and Mehek kept staring at him like her eyes had found solace for the first time. She slowly went near him and sat on the floor. Her eyes were red and watery as she watched the man before her. His face which always held a glow of happiness and brightened her world, seemed dull and gloomy. The dark circles beneath his eyes told the story of sleepless nights and the unkempt beard explained his lack of self-care.

Mehek slowly kept her hand on his thigh as he kept his eyes away from her. She rested her head on his leg as tears started to fall freely.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Sobs broke free from within her as she kept repeating those words. Rudra's eyes watered too. But he did not let those fall. He wanted to scream, shout and break everything around. But he sat quietly not even glancing at her.

"Rudra please talk to me. Please!" Mehek pleaded when he didn't respond at all. "I know I have hurt you a lot. But believe me it was never my intention. I need you Rudra. Please!"

"You need me?" Rudra finally looked at her as he asked mockingly. "You need me Mehek? Surprising! Where were you when I needed you? Where? You were never there for me and now you don't need to be anymore."

"Rudra please don't say that!" Mehek pleaded. "I'm here now! And I always will be. You're mine and I am yours. And I will remain so no matter what!"
She held his face between her hands as she said so. Rudra shook his head negatively and tried to remove her hands weakly. But Mehek's grip tightened as she held him and smacked her lips on his. Though Rudra resisted at first, he couldn't refuse to reciprocate the emotions of longing and desperation for long.

And only the grey walls of the soundproof room witnessed the sorrow and helplessness of the two separated souls.

***†***

"Welcome, Dr. Saumya. I'm glad that you finally accepted my offer." Dr. Viraj said as he shook hands with the young lady.

"You were persistent enough." Saumya replied with a smirk. She had come to this reputed hospital of his many times before to do surgeries. But this time after her marriage with Rudra when Dr. Viraj Oberoi, trustee of this hospital and a board member of the medical association asked her again to join their team, she accepted.

"Would you like a tour of the hospital first?" He asked as he showed her the way to her new cabin.

"No. Thanks though." Saumya replied as they stopped before her chamber. Saumya's eyes fell on the nameplate which spelled Dr. Saumya M. Roy in black inscription. Dr. Viraj followed her gaze and found it a little odd that she refused to be called Singhaniya even after her remarriage. But he kept quiet. Dr. Saumya was the youngest surgeon to have conducted so many successful operations. She was on the list of top five best heart surgeons of India. It was enough that she had accepted his offer. They had no business in meddling with her personal affairs.

"Okay then. I will send you the paperworks. And you can start right away. If you need anything, you can directly come to me." He said and left Saumya to it.

Saumya got comfortable in her cabin and started studying the files of different patients. She was due to attend patients from the next day. She was busy in frowning at a particular patient file when there was a knock on the door. The peon came inside after taking her permission carrying a big gift box. He told her that someone had left it for her. Saumya dismissed him and looked at the box with curiosity. This was the very first day of hers at this hospital. Who could possibly send her a gift here?

Saumya opened the wrapping paper to find a black box with gold designs on the borders. She had not found any note or address so far and it only made her more curious to open the box.

As Saumya opened the box, she took a step back as a sudden jolt of fear ran through her. Her mouth fell open a little in shock. There, inside the box among ice, rested a heart. A real human heart that had once pumped blood and beat inside a living being. On top of it rested a flower. A beautiful red rose with its thrones attached. Saumya reached out and picked the flower with shakey hand. She stared at it in horror for some time.

She hurriedly put the flower back on the box and closed the lid. It took her a few minutes to calm herself and as she did so something occurred to her. She opened the lid again and saw there actually was a message inscribed on it.

"O, the soul of my enemy,
Is it a lie, or an illusion?
But you have surpassed my expectation,

This is the game and you're the charm,
Now it's finally time for him to come."

~~~~~~~~~~

"What's so funny?"

"(Mana tune kiya lekin bhari yoh pad gaya tujhpe.)
You refused him, but he is the one who weighed heavily on you."

Saumya continued staring at her friend, Kavya with a frown. But her eyes narrowed further as it fell on the man standing a few feet away from her.

"Wait! What's he doing here?"

"Who?"

"That defense dude. Look!"

Kavya turned to see who it was that her friend had become infatuated with.

"He is handsome indeed."

"Told you. But all the guys are same. See! He was talking so big that day at the restaurant. But here he is, following me."

"Have you considered he may have some work here and he's not here to follow you?"

"I know that is the case only."

"Then why do you want to confront him?" Kavya asked in confusion but Saumya only passed her a mischievous look which she knew too well.

"(Yaar, army wale se to panga maat le. Uthake le jayega tujhe.)
At least don't mess with the army dude. He will kidnap you."

"Maybe I want to get kidnapped too."
Saumya replied with a wink. Kavya only shook her head as Saumya took off.

"Hello again Mr. Defense dude!"

Mrityunjay rolled his eyes hearing her voice again and turned to find a smiling Saumya standing there.

"So, what are you doing here? In my campus?"

"I came here to meet someone."

"Meet 'someone'? Let me think about who that 'someone' might be!"

Saumya arched an eyebrow and pretended to think. Mrityunjay thought something before a smirk came to his lips. He took a step closer to her. Saumya stilled watching him advancing.

"'Someone' very special. Someone who is very close to my heart."
Saumya's breath paused as he got nearer and said that with an intensity that couldn't be missed.
"Someone whose name starts with S"

Saumya stared at him dumbly. He was handsome all right, but up close he was devastating. Or was it just her who got mesmerized in those eyes.

"S?" Saumya repeated questioningly to which Mrityunjay only nodded.

"Jay?"

Their eye contact was broken by the voice interrupting them.

"What's happening?"
Dr. Smita asked looking between the two of them.

"Nothing. Are you ready to leave Di?"
Mrityunjay spoke up and Saumya understood he was only messing with her. He came here for his sister which happened to be none other than the strictest professor of hers.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am." Saumya greeted with a nervous smile as Dr. Smita kept staring at her. She didn't know what blunder Saumya had caused at her house, did she?

"Why are you still in campus Saumya? The classes have been suspended today, haven't they?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I was just leaving."

"You should have left hours ago. If you did so and studied a bit, then maybe in the next exam your marks wouldn't be so poor."

Saumya closed her eyes in mortification and remained silent as she heard Mrityunjay giving a fake cough.

As the two of them left, Saumya found Kavya with tears in eyes. She was laughing so hard that her eyes had teared up.

"(Maja lene gayi thi, khud majak ban gayi.)
She went to joke, but became a joke herself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***†***

Darkness had once again engulfed the earth where ruled the shadows. The hustle and bustle of the day had decreased and most people were in the process of returning to their families. At least those who had them wanted to. But some didn't care to hurry. Like the man lurking in the shadows outside Saumya's hospital.

His hoodie didn't allow the onlookers to see his sharp features. Only his naturally red lips could be seen as he started whistling a tune. He started moving lazily while whistling. Suddenly he felt a pair of hands grabbing his feet. He stopped and looked at the owner of that hand.

An old woman with dirty torn clothes and weak features stared at him from below.

"I'm hungry from the past three days. Please give me something to eat." The woman begged.

The man's mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed at her. Whether his displeasure was for her or at her, couldn't be said for sure. He though pulled a few notes from his pocket and offered it to her. The woman's eyes sparkled seeing the money. So much money was enough to keep her fed for an entire week. She hurriedly snatched it from his hand and caressed the notes. Only a printed paper it was to some, but for the rest those papers were their ticket to survival.

"May God bless you son!"

The woman said whole heartedly. But the man's eyebrow rose hearing her.

"What did you say?" He asked. The woman thought he didn't hear properly. So she spoke out the words more loudly with extra enthusiasm. The man however stared at her for a while before he started laughing. The woman became confused.

"Why are you laughing son?" She asked him with curiosity. The man kept laughing for a little longer before he controlled himself and answered.

"Because if your God blesses me, then a lot of people's lives would get cursed."

*********

How was the chapter guys?

Please comment as it motivates me a lot!