"You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you'll be with me"

Hey Soul Sister, Train

Neil's POV

I must've been staring at the registration slip a lot longer than I probably should have been, but then, I believe I had zoned out. That has to be it, because I don't know where the time went. One moment I was staring at it, the other moment, my bell rang. There stood Stacie, and her other partner, Luca Bloody Bianchi.

I froze. I could face Stacie, but did she have to bring this bastard along with her too? Did I not have enough mess in my life that I had been sent this pest to be civil to?

I pasted a smile on my face nevertheless, and moved aside to let them in. Stacie held out the file to me as she walked in. Neil Sachdev, read my file, and inside was a report named Case II, saying there was no chance that I was the father. I swallowed hard. I never thought that I would feel this twinge of disappointment at not being a dad.

Your time will come, sang the voice in my head.
Yeah, I answered with conviction, my time will come.

"What's all this?" I looked up from the file to see that Stacie was already at the living room table, holding one of the A4 photographs in her hand.

Shit.

"Nothing" I said immediately, rushing to her, but before I could snatch it from her hand, that bloody Bianchi plucked it right out to peer at it.

"This your wife?" he looked directly at me.

"Fiancée, but it's none of your business" I ground my teeth at his intrusion.

"She went to see a gynaec with Shan?" Stacie's eyes were narrowed critically at me. She shot a look at Luca, and I caught it. I knew what they were thinking, and I hated the implication.

"No, she went to see her psychiatrist" I sighed, holding out my palm, asking for the photo.
Luca shot me a deadpan look, as if I was lying and trying to save face.

"I'll talk to Shan if you want me to" he reassured me, handing me the photo, "He's a sensible boy, he'll understand."

"She. Went. To. See. Her. Psychiatrist." I repeated.

"Shan went to New York, right?" Stacie interrupted, "And your fiancée, she stays in New York?"

"Yes, but so God help me, she went to see her psychiatrist!" I rushed out, starting to get pissed at these two, "Shan happened to accompany her, is all."

"When is he coming back?" Bianchi asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

I glared back speculatively. I could lie to him, but he and Shantanu were the best of buddies, having been housemates for years. He could pick up the phone and ask him anytime.

"He's gone to India" I said abruptly, putting away the envelope that Michael had so mindfully sent me.

"Just like that?" Bianchi sounded startled.

"Yeah, Dhati had some family issue..."

"Hang on, your brother went with your fiancée when she had a family issue?" Stacie looked confused.

"He happened to be there" I shrugged.

They exchanged another look that I caught - and hated.

"I'll talk to the boy, don't worry about it" Bianchi clapped me on the back, "I owe you one anyway, for whatever that happened with you. Don't worry, man, we'll sort it out for you."

"Dude, back off" I plucked his hand from my shoulder, "You are not indebted to me for anything. I am a fool, and I get it, but this is my brother you're talking about. You're friends with him, sure, but just bloody back off, alright? This is my family, and there is no issue here to begin with."

Bianchi stared back blankly at me, but I could see his mind speed up with whatever conclusions he was drawing. Stacie, meanwhile, had taken a seat on the sofa, and was reading the message behind the photograph. I snatched it away when I noticed, but it was evident that it was too late. Raw shock was etched onto her face.

"What the hell is going on, Neil?" her voice shook, and she caught hold of my hand so I couldn't leave.

"Nothing, God!" I huffed, frustration coming to the fore, "there's nothing going on! She was under psychiatric care, that's all!"

There was a pregnant pause after my revelation.

"Are you sure she's...okay?" Stacie sounded skeptical.

"Hey, I know this handwriting!" Bianchi exclaimed, "It's the Early Gray freak, Michael Gray, whose wife ran away all those years back! There's a rumor that he crazed up this third wife. What the hell is this lunatic doing, sending...oh fucking hell, I am so sorry!"

I squeezed my eyes shut. This bastard knew of Lunatic Mike too? Did everyone know that this man was mad except Michael himself?

"How do you know him?" Stacie was asking.

"Business" I heard Bianchi reply as I staggered off to my alcohol cabinet. I needed something strong, and no force on earth was going to stop me today.

"Neil, NO! The doctor told you to not drink!" Stacie rushed at me.

"Stay away" I said calmly, "My life is a disaster zone, and I need my drink."

"Neil, I know we haven't met in the best of circumstances," Bianchi started, and I cut him off, "Dude, don't start. Please."

"No, really" he persisted, "I know...whatever history we've had and all that...but I might be able to help, if you'd like."

"Please" I repeated, "Leave me alone."

"There are rumors that he killed his first wife" Bianchi continued nevertheless, "I can have it looked into, if you want."

I turned the idea once over in my head.

"Do you know that he cheated on my fiancée with a man?" I asked quietly, watching the shock and bewilderment morph on their faces, "She was depressed for years after that. She has a son with him, a son she deeply loves. What do you think is going to happen to her when a case like this comes up again?"

"Just...I can just about dig up some dirt so he would leave you alone..." Bianchi's voice faltered.
"No" I shook my head with conviction, "He's gone into medical care, he can't really bother us now...not after this post anyway. My fiancée will anyway never be able to completely rid of her past, not with her son here. I don't want to see her cry about this bastard again, got it?"

Bianchi thought about it for a few moments, before he nodded once. He understood the man code - Do not look into another man's woman's history.

"Are you going to India, then?" Stacie asked.

"I have to keep my job, Stace" I laughed bitterly.

"Neil" her voice was pained, "You can get a million jobs, but this... this is your life. You cannot be so lackadaisical about it!"

"SO what? I chuck a job and run after her to India? Why?" I burst out, "I trust her, and she knows it! Isn't that enough?"

"Nope" Bianchi cut in, "You work in structures, you know all about how to put up a structure, so why do you detail it out again and again for every building? Every contractor knows how to put up reinforcement in basic cases."

"What's your point?" I turned to face him squarely.

"The contractor knows how to make a shear wall, or a cantilever. Why do you detail it?" he repeated.

"Because there are some cases the contractor can't handle on his own!" I exploded.

"Exactly" he smiled queerly, "This is the case she can't handle alone, no matter how convinced she is about you. Go, and if you lose your job, call me, and I'll get you placed somewhere. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything" I repeated as I placed my alcohol back and decided to start packing.

"You do" he smiled queerly again as he took Stacie's hand and made for the door, "You just don't know it."

**

I know what you're thinking - about why am I rushing the story by using more of dialogues and less of thoughts. Well,I started the story in February, and I hold the distinction of never having completed a novella, although I've been writing for about eight years now.

I think I'm going to wind up this story soon, because my professional life might just succeed in killing me. If it doesn't, I shall return and fix and lengthen the story in round two!

Until the next one, I rest, Ellanie:)

PS: I placed third in the June session of the Wattpad Monthly Showcase! Badge up in banner, till I find time to put it on the cover:)