Ashish

I'm lying, my body stretched on a hospital bed. I can heard the continuous bipping sound on my left, somewhere near. My arms attached to a needle, through which some medicine is passing inside my system. My eyes closed, tears flowing down my eyes.

I have been in ICU for almost 48 hours that is two days. This morning they have shifted me in general bed. Adi my son and Darcy my wife, they just now left me. I insisted them to go home and have some rest. Even my doctor suggested them to freshen up and come again. They have been in hospital all stressed, panicked since last 48 hours. Yes I have admitted in hospital in evening the night before the new year. I got a minor attack. Doctor said I have got some blockages in my heart. It happened due to my heavy unhealthy eating habit, I have been practicing since my younger age.

Yes I'm a big foody person, a fan of all those tasty food with lots of spices and oil. Since I got married to Neela she used to make my diet so strict that everytime we ended up fighting on the same topic.
Nonetheless, then I was young, we hardly get sick at that age so secretly I used to skip the diet most of the time.

But it says one day everything comes to an end. And so it happens with me as well. Doc has strictly cut down on all those my favourite food out of my diet and put some tasteless, kinda tasteless food in the list instead.

What remains for a person would want to live if he is not allowed to eat any of his favourite dishes?

However my grief isn't this. It is something else.
IT is about my bachha, my Avni my only daughter. What if I would have died not saying her aleast a sorry, or not seeing her, talking to her for the last moment before I die!

An hour before.

"Dad I think, now Avi should be informed.....it's been 48 hours have passed you are in ICU.
Why you forced me to make that  pointless, nonsensical promise to you, not to tell Avi that you got an attack" Adi rebuked me softly and Darcy left her seat stood beside Adi. She put her hand on her shoulder gesticulated him to keep tranquil while talking to me.

"Because I have already messed up our relationship, neglected her when she needed me the most. I have been always failed as a father.....I didn't want to blemish her happiness she has been going to have with Neil and his family in his hometown..." My voice shook, tedious for being ail. My facade turned to other side. A sob formed in my throat when I felt Adi hold my hand, sat on the stool beside my bed.

"But Dad she deserve it to know about you...about all this...." Adi coaxed touching my hand.

"Maa said how happy my bachha was talking to her, how Neil's Mom is taking care of her, loving her...how could I let you know her Adi about my health and spoil the day she has planned for!... That was the least I can think of doing to her..." The last few words I murmured through my tearful eyes, my lips trembled.

"But dad..." Adi suddenly stopped. And I got the cue to persist.

"I'm absolutely fine Son! It was a minor attack, not a major one...."

"You didn't even let me to inform Nonna!" Adi growled and my contrition grew. I wish I could have seen my Maa.

"She is much older now, far away from us...why trouble her informing her Son's troublesome health!" I reasoned out, turned my head, gazed at Adi calmly.

"Dad Nonna wouldn't..." Adi left his words incomplete stopped seeing me got dewy-eyed. He moved to wipe my eyes when I spoke.

I'm fine now...you leave son, take Mom along, get some rest both of you...

*********

Diya

"How was that!" I plunged on her bed and saw Avni rose and ambled to her dresser, fetched her favourite nail enamel bottle.

Chambor, one of her favourite brands. This brand claim some unique extra shine gel nail Lacquer. Admittedly you will get in very few, such shades as well as finish in any other cosmetics foreign brands in town. Avni buy that shade 351 more often, even I tried it then borrowed it from her several times. And loved it.

"What!" The words came out her mouth nonchalantly, her eyes searching for a pillow to settle on the bed cozily. And I passed it from my side and she slanted her back against the backrest. She settled herself at the other side of the bed edge, opposite me. Shook the little container few times rapidly so that the residue mix in well and then turned the cap, opened it.

"Sex" while gauging her mood the word slipped out of my mouth. I gulped, sensing the audacity have been seeked. My eyes squinted waiting for her reply.

"Shut up D" she preposterously snapped. Her hands stopped the task they were doing; painting her nails. She glared down at me. I smiled, put my chin on the pillow that was pressed under my chest. I had grabbed it when I laid on my chest on her bed. Playfullness travelled back inside me. My eyes danced in amusement looking at her scowled face.

It's my day off and Avni is going to reach the location around noon. So I thought to chat with her this morning. It's been few weeks passed we had some great time together. Last couple of days I was sick and she took a good care of me which I wouldn't deny something expected from her. We are not anymore roomies, we are a family now. Nothing considerate for granted, rather it's all the compassion, care we have, being there always for eachother when needed.

"I told him" she looked away bashfully, her cheeks turned red. She resumed smoothly stroking the brush on her nails. My one brow scooted upward sensing some hot news.

"Told him what!" My forehead formed a deep frown instantly.

"That I love him" she didn't look at me but her hands paused. And I sat upright, brusque.

What! When! My head squealed being exultant.

"And still you are virgin! Is he straight?" These are the words snapped out of my mouth before I could have stopped them not to be out.

"What the hell you think of everyone!!" She barked and next moment I got a pillow hit my face and I laughed out hard falling back on the bed mattress.

**********

Avni

Diya somehow managed to rescued herself from my wrath. I succumbed, completed doing my nails. Meanwhile her horrible giggle got faded, turned into an indulgent smile. Diya leaned to the backrest beside me, grabbed the pillow I have hit her, put it on her lap before she persisted. "It was my first ever job....I got attracted to my boss"

My gaze snapped at her, freezed. She has never shared something like this. I'm a bit taken aback, confounded, then waited for her to continue.

"He was breathtakingly irresistible. Calling him handsome would be understatement if I describe his features. I had never seen a guy like him. Not only that he was rare. Truly rare" Emphasizing those last few words she let out a melancholy chuckle as if there is something hidden in that comment of her. And I felt eerie in my chest.

"He was the CEO in that event farm, 6years elder than me. He was so caring, sensible, so humble at the same time highly talented and hardworking, that I couldn't resist his effect over me. It kept growing intense every single day, that I could hardly breath whenever he used to around me. My heart beat escalated everytime he used to pass by me or instruct me anything when me and him in his room. I was appointed as his personal assistant. Soon he got fond of my hardwork and started introducing me with all his associates and that was where I met Priya Mam my current boss. That's the another story, nothing to do with this, what I'm going to say you next..." Diya stated in a single breath, her lips perched a wretched smile.

Why I'm feeling there is a sad story she is going to reveal. My curiosity oddly grew.

She sucked a deep breath before she resumed "Within few days I discovered we are in same boat, floating to some unknown land of possibilities...." Diya looked at me, gulped, her eyes deep and my heart went taut anticipating. I wet my lips nervously.

"We made love...In his penthouse...I was 22" Diya bit her lips then smiled pensively. I got numb, lost words. What!

And later that asshole cheated on my bestie. My fist clenched, face tightened. A bile rose in my throat with aversion at the thought.

"Few times more" she mewled, added. Her voice not clearly audible, neither I felt strained to hear her, the spot I was next to her. We were in an arm distance. She looked away.

Diya spoke wistfully as if talking to herself not me. I turned to face her , now my shoulder and the side of my head leaning against the backrest. My entire focus was on her face.

"I was falling for him.. I had it discovered soon, within some days passed working with him" Her eyes shone enuntiating those words. I kept my hand over her, squeezed slightly in support. I have never seen her this venerable before.

This is the repercussion people pay when someone falls in love. And it happen always with good people like Diya.Heart break. Who truly love someone but that someone never does.

"I'm sorry" I said quietly, ducked my face.

I felt twinge in my heart feeling her agony. She still loves him. She still loves him. I inwardly repeated and my subconscious glowered saying me I'm not her. I want to believe her.

"Don't be...you have nothing to do with any of this happened to me" she assured sweetly. I looked up.

"And he..." I mumbled, couldn't complete.

"And he did too..." She replied and my eyes grew creased at the same time grave in imprecise.

"Then what made you both parted!!" I couldn't control my curious head not to ask her this. A frown grew on my face and she let out a small chuckle. Must be looking at my bewildered facade.

I shifted a bit, felt a little ashamed of my naivety. What the crap made me act so stupid, go all curious at this sensitive moment! My subconscious gave me a hopeless, distasteful glare and I squirmed.

"He was an ambisexual....." She specified.

What! that was surprising, even grave shocking. Before my mouth could utter something stupid my eyes blinked rapidly few times registering her words in my brain.

"He never hid but I could never trust him with other guy.... because as well as girls, guys did get attracted to him...I had noticed it several times been out with him during office our meetings or to the parties. Guys approach him.... anticipating of some future adultery I backed off" my eyes widened in shock with such revelation, I have least expected this could be a reason behind someone's calling off their intimate relationship. Shit.
I was stunned, numbed for second time in a day.

"He tried convincing me to trust him but I was insane...I wasn't ready to take such risk in my life where my whole life could be in stake, being in a relationship with a person who I know he could get attracted to other gender...I was overly practical, I heard to my brain instead of my heart...I was heart break..he was my first love Avi..." Her voice trailed. She completed painfully. I blankly stared at her wet cheeks. She was crying.

"Had he loved you!" I asked sombrely, broke the silence.

"He was overly sweet hidding his pain beneath his charming face when I handed him the resignation letter...he gave me a huge teddy as a farewell and a note wishing me good luck, on my last day in his office...." her face delighted mentioning the teddy, Diya wiped her tears strained cheeks. I smiled joining her contentment.

"Do you miss him" I asked, my gaze softened.

In response she just made a click sound with her mouth, shrugged her head abruptly.

I considered it as a 'no' but her eyes rendered me the opposite. Poor Adi. God knows what would he feel if he get to know her story! He must be heart break.

Adi has crush on her. Nothing close to Diya had experienced. My subconscious tried to put some sense in my overly concerned sister head and I relaxed a bit in agreement. Yes she is right, nothing compared to what Diya went through.

"Where he is now!" I couldn't suppress the urge to query about the guy my bestie regret breaking up with. Because it was quite evident she regret her action long back.

And that man didn't ditch her. It was your friend, who had no trust in her instinct and let go that man who truly loved her. My subconscious scowled with venom in her voice. I blinked twice ignoring her but inwardly I felt pity for Diya for the first time I had met her until now. Silly Diya.

"He is settled in Capetown...His brother look after the business here....and he there" Diya's voice no more anguish. She looked despondent, shifted a bit.

I released a breath I was holding since long, I have just now noticed.
Not moving into further detail being nosy I dropped the conversation there. I shifted, rest my back on the cushion behind and stared straight, ruminating on the nature of existence. So was she. For some more than a minute we kept staring through the window at the far away up the blue sky.

It's was 10 o'clock around. I just had my shower before Diya had barged in my room with her those stupid questions about my stay in Neil's house.

"You know what, I knew it. Neil is head over heels on you. I have seen in his eyes the way he was staring at you while talking to me at the mall. I know that smile. And what does it mean, when such smile appears in someone's face. Especially if it a guy." She beamed turned her gaze to me, made me turned to her. My lips curved a confused grin.

"Did you!" I blew a soft chuckle, my eyes shone in equanimity.

Thank god she is no more in that painful mood. I so hated throughout the conversation in that breaking point. My heart almost shattered seeing her this broken.

"He is searing hot" she mouthed, winked with a razzed grin on her lips. I glared, smacked on her shoulder and in response earned her chest shaking laughter. I watched her, my lips curved a broad grin.

She looked so pure, so childish.
A soul doesn't deserve to be walked through such broken path.

"I'm so happy for you Avi...Neil is a nice guy. I like him. You deserve this love" She said and my daze broke. I sighed, moved closer to her, leaning put my head on her shoulder. I looped my arm around hers, heard her blew out a deep sigh.

Diya put her hand over mine. My heart bloated up in response to her homely touch.

Who says now days we can't find good people! I got few.

Neil, Raj Sir, Diya.

Raj Sir, OMG this name is enough to cause be jerked away all my lethargies.

Today I would put all my efforts to sort out things between us. I pulled my head straight, away her shoulder to take a glance at the time. It's10:45am.

" Relax, your call time is1o'clock." Diya giggled gazing at my panicked face staring at my ph screen, watching me calculating the time I need to get ready. And she again spoke. "Let's have the breakfast Avi...I'm famished.."

Diya hurried, grasped my hand, hauled me down the bed.

We walked out of my bedroom.

*********

Neil

"Debolina, where is Avni! I have asked you to call her!" I looked up away my script by Raj Sir's reprimanding voice. I have heard him sent Debolina the production team intern girl to call Avni few minutes ago. And she returned without her. Where is she! Even I didn't see her when I reached the floor around 2:30 in the evening. Like every other day more often today our timing didn't match. She reached half an hour earlier than me.

"Actually Sir" the girl hesitated, and my gaze frowned staring at her reluctant.

"Yes. Where is she! You didn't find her. This Avni. god knows where she get vanish everytime I decide to give her some genuine work" Raj Sir muttered upbraiding and my frown grew deeper. I shifted on my seat.

"Sir. Avni is in washroom. I heard her..." She paused and my back straightened, unease. One quick glance at Sir and my focus back to that girl.

"And"
"What!" We both spoke together, but different word.

"I heard her sobbing" she stated wheezing.

"What do you mean by that!" I put the script aside. I rose up my seat, blanched. I didn't notice I castigated that poor girl, she flinched.

Following me Raj Sir also left his seat. My breath safocated in consternation. And then I saw Raj Sir glaring at me in furry.

"What! Don't stare at me like that Sir" I snapped, warned him with my dreadful glare before not wasting a single second urging with my director I moved passed that girl and barreled out of the spot to the direction in search of the washroom.

********

"Avni! Avni!" I called out her name, knocked on the washroom room she was inside.

"Bachha!" I cajoled, leaned to the locked door when I heard Avni sniffed. It was silent inside, no movement.

"Can you please leave!" I requested Raj Sir who was standing in all worry beside me.

"Let me handle this. Please." I said.

"So what I thought it's the actual scenario! You fought with her" Raj Sir barked venomously, his chest swelled cursing me in his head I can confirm it.

"Like seriously Sir" I scowled and he tightened his jaw.

"Okay fine" He sighed, pulled his rancorous gape away me.

"Thanks. Now please leave. let me talk to her" I beseeched with all my heart. There is nothing to grow egoistic at the moment not pleading to Raj Sir as far as my Avni is concerned.

Waiting there some few seconds Raj Sir decided to leave. One last look at the closed door he is gone.

"Neil I'm fine. You go" Her heavy voice due to cry along with some sniffs, caused my head turned back to the direction that locked door.

"Love, you are scaring me. Please open the door or I'll crash it down right now" Hearing her voice for the first time in between the scene I gained back my tough demeanor.

"Avni! I swear to god" I asserted, my voice appeared intimidating.

I heard her let out a harsh sigh, as if capitulating some deal. I waited for few seconds without any word, waited for her to speak.

And my state of being disquiet finally came to a halt. With a small unlocked sound the door clicked opened. Avni stepped out of the cubic little restroom. I took a step backward to give her room to halt at the spot. My heart squeezed gaping at her face.

She looked devasted, her cotton top all crumpled over her chest. Her blood shot eyes, tears strained cheeks have come face to face with me. She looked away, avoided my gaze on her. I forwarded a step closer to her, tentatively my hand moved to cup her face.

My fingers touched her face Avni looked up right into my eyes. I said nothing, my eyes searched her. My face etched with concern.

Instead asking her anything, I hugged her and she instantly, responded wrapping her arms around my waist tightly, pressed her head on my chest.

Her shoulder shook. Then when I realised she ended up again sobbing.

Hush...My bachha.

•••••••••••••••••••••••

The teaser part will appeared presumably within two more chapters.

So those who are eagerly waiting for the teaser part scenes to be happened soon, let me tell you guys_ the waiting is going to be ending soon.

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Love MoN ❤️.