Swaraaj : The Devil

CHAPTER FIVE

"Ok, what the hell was that?" SK asked, she ordered one burger and one sandwich for herself and one medium size pizza for Karan, they both sat in the left corner of the cafeteria... it was table for two... they both sat here for like 10 minutes but both of them waited for their food before starting their conversation.... 

"What the hell was what?" Karan asked mouth full of bite.... 

"The thing with Panchhi.... I mean how could you force her to go somewhere against her will? And why in the hell did she agree?" SK lashed out...... 

"Ok.... Umm... True, she didn't want to go.... But Dada Sahib doesn't want her to stay here alone.... And she agreed because she only had one good choice.... To go with him..." Karan said.... 

"Then why Dada Sahib didn't say anything, He didn't seem to take your side...." SK's curiosity piqued.... 

"He had tried already, but he cannot force her to do anything.... So he asked me....." Karan said explaining.... 

"And you agreed, even after knowing that it would be against her will, you forced her...." SK exclaimed.... Karan nodded to her remark... SK thought about something for minute.... 

"But why'd she agree with you? I mean, her grandfather's wish would have meant more to her than yours, don't you think? Obviously Dada Sahib means more to her than you do, right?" Karan was chewing her bite, but after listening this he stopped and memories of his past flashed in front of him.... But he shook them off... and swallowed his bite.... 

"Of course, I'm just a guy who used to work for Dada sahib.... Of course, Dada Sahib should mean to her more than I do...." Karan said, but it was obvious that he trying to convince himself than SK.... And this didn't go unnoticed in SK's eyes too.... But looking at Karan's lost face, she didn't think it would be better to stretch this topic... 

"So were you planning on telling me?" SK asked taking him by surprise, 

"Tell you what?" Karan was surprised, 

"About Panchhi.... I've known you for five years... but you never said anything about her...." SK said sounding little upset.... Karan sensed her upset voice... but he didn't know how to react... 

"Honestly, I wasn't gonna tell you till now..." Karan teased her, SK got furious, "WHY not?" she asked fuming, 

"Because, Panchhi is not a special discussion that we need to have.... It's not like I have to sit you and Nitu down and tell you all about Panchhi.... She's just a person, who knows me only because I used to work for her grandfather...." Karan gave an explanation that could not even convince a 10 year old... "Now can we please stop this Panchhi chapter and focus on matter at hand...." Karan said.... 

"What matter?" SK asked absentmindedly.... Karan looked straight at her and spoke, 

"Kairav Shah......"

 ◆◆◆

It was next week after Dada sahib came to hospital.... Karan was in hospital, Nitu's condition has improved drastically.... Doctors had said that she can go home in a week, but she still have to be in bed for another two months... Doctors have reduce the percentage of morphine in her medication, so she was able to be awake more than last four days without pain.... 

Karan was in cafeteria of hospital, he wanted some coffee.... For last two days Karan was doing all of his office work from hospital.... He completed one conference call just ten minutes ago and needed a coffee to clear his mind.... It was past 1 o' clock.... Karan took his coffee, and went back to Nitu's room.... Karan took the coffee and his laptop and sat on his regular seat on sofa.... Nitu's only time pass was TV in hospital, or talking with SK or Karan whenever they're free.... Nitu watched TV as usual, While Karan was working on his laptop...