A Promise : To You For You

Chapter 30

The construction of an over bridge awarded Ahana and Rheyan with the opportunity of having a meal at the river bank under twilight. A table was set at some distance away from the river bank under a large umbrella with two chairs surrounding it. A waiter was appointed at their service who stood near the table waiting for instructions. Dismissing the manager Rheyan asked waiter to serve them their food. He sat himself in one chair while waiter pulled out other for Ahana. They started devouring their food in silence.

Labour men had started leaving after wounding up their work for next day. They both were also done with their work and would leave after having their meal.

Sitting under twilight at the river bank Ahana felt herself relaxing in the calming atmosphere. The cool breeze coming from river caused her nerves to ease and the food in her stomach also did its magic in uplifting her sour mood. In that moment she only wished if all of her problems could vanish in thin air. Then she would be able to live a peaceful life in which she wasn't deprived of her parent's love, wasn't labelled with the tag of a murderer and could reconcile with her childhood friend, the one who had unknowingly developed an enmity with her. She could only wish. Its grant was God's choice.

Rheyan kept eating silently not a least bit bothered by his surroundings. He had arranged for the meal when they were leaving their company for the board meeting at Ahuja's. He had wanted to talk to Ahana about the issues between them. For the first time decently. In a civil manner.
The mystery that came along with her and the questions he had for her, he intended to ask them away to have a clear picture of what was going on. That was the way he could give some peace to his messed up mind which was strangled by his past and now his present was doing no good to it as well. Maybe that civil conversation could have helped him resolve the conflicts or issues or misunderstandings that existed between them.

All his plans went down the road the moment he had his heated argument with Nikhil. The scene from afternoon replayed in his mind. One thing he knew for sure that Ahana and Nikhil were close to each other. More than he would have expected.

It was possible he might have misinterpreted their closeness for something else. Had he? Seeing them holding hands in comfort had snapped something inside him which made him lose his temper in that moment. He remembered how Ahana had threatened him the previous night to sue him for invading her personal space without her consent. Then there she was comfortably holding hands with Nikhil in his office.

Why the difference?
His mind questioned.

They were halfway through the meal when Rheyan chose to speak. His voice piercing through the thick blanket of silence which had enveloped their surrounding.

"How come you are so close to Nikhil?" He asked slowly. His steady eyes trained on her.

Ahana had looked up at him from her half finished food upon hearing his voice. His question caught her by surprise. She might have seen it coming but not this soon. She had not been expecting him to set his giant ego aside to break the silence which prevailed between them since afternoon.

Recovering from the surprise, she was caught in, she answered him honestly. "He is a brother to me."

She could have chosen to ignore him. She was not obliged to him to answer any of his questions regarding her personal life. Regardless she didn't ignore because she found it necessary to make him stop doubting her relationship with Nikhil. For some weird reason he believed that she was having an affair with Nikhil. His comment from afternoon made it clear to it.

Hell! It made her cringe everytime she thought about that.

Irated with her cryptic answer Rheyan sighed heavily trying not lose his temper. Not again. "That's not what I asked Miss Ahana." He countered. "How. do you two. Came close. to each other?" He asked again emphasizing on each word whilst maintaining the eye contact with her. He watched her expressions change into one those of discomfort. Though she masked them instantly.