Chance Connection

Part 10

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Manik, Cabir and Nandini got down from one bus and they had to get on another bus to reach their final destination.

        When Manik had gone to freshen up, Nandini asked Cabir the question that had popped up in her mind.

        Nandini : "How did that raeez zada (meaning : son of a rich parent) become friends with you?"

        Cabir remembered her mentioning about wealthy people earlier too.

        Cabir : "It appears that you don't have a good opinion when it comes to rich people."

        Nandini : "You are right, I don't."

        Cabir : "Why?"

        Nandini : "Because they don't have consideration for others feelings. They can't see anything beyond their wealth and status."

        Cabir : "Did you have an unpleasant experience with someone rich before?"

        Nandini : "Not just unpleasant, my life turned upside down. From the time I figured out that, I have always tried to stay as far away as possible from rich people."

        Manik, who had returned to take something from his bag and was behind her at that time, also heard her.

        Cabir : "What happened that your life turned upside down?"

        Nandini : "I lost a lot because of someone's pride and insensitivity. .. I don't want to talk about it."

        Nandini became sad thinking about the past.

        Cabir : "Don't lose heart. It may take time, but what's lost can be regained too."

        Nandini : "Unfortunately, I can't get back what I lost, and I have come to terms with it."

        Nandini didn't want to talk about it further, so she changed the topic.

        Nandini : "Do you think we will find a telephone booth here? I have to call home if possible, they might be worried."

        Cabir : "We might. Let's look for one after having lunch. I am feeling hungry."

        Manik joined them. They had lunch and then they called home before getting on to the next bus.

        It was night by the time they reached Silgiri. They had dinner and went to their rooms. Cabir was watching tv and he dozed off soon. Manik hadn't touched his laptop since they left the train, so he started looking into his work.

        Cabir's phone started ringing and since Cabir was fast asleep, Manik received the call. It was from Abhi. He hadn't started from home yet since the trains to Silgiri had been cancelled because of the landslide and they were yet to be resumed.

        Abhi : "Cabir.."

        Manik : "Cabir is sleeping.."

        Abhi : "Oh.. Can u do me a favor? Can you please check on Nandini? Her uncle tried calling her and she didn't receive the call, so he wanted to make sure that she is doing ok. She has never been away from home before on her own, so uncle is worried."

        Manik : "Ok, I will check and call back."

        Nandini had called Abhi as soon as she had reached the hotel. Abhi had told her that her uncle was trying to get her aunt to eat something, so she decided to call him later.