FALSAFA

CHAPTER 17 - Where are You?

The next morning Kriti woke up late. She quickly went to the washroom to get fresh. After a while she got ready and came out of her room.

As she was passing by the hall way, her eyes fell on Dhruv's room. The door was half opened.

She peeked in to see if he was still in.

Dhruv was not in his room. Kriti went down to the living room, where her maa was busy preparing breakfast. She went upto her and asked–

Kriti: Maa, have you seen Dhruv? He is not in his room.

Maa: Umm yes he went outside.

Kriti: Where?

Maa: He didn't say that.

Kriti: Did he say when will he return?

Maa: No. But he seemed a little lost. I asked him to have breakfast, but he said he was not hungry.

Kriti didn't reply to that.

She sat down to eat. Her maa looked at her and said softly –

Maa: I never knew that you and your boss are good friends.

Kriti: I didn't get the chance to tell you maa. Before I could tell you, nani fell ill and you came here.

Maa: Hmm... He seemed a good guy. I mean he came to drop you all the way, here. It's really nice of him.

Kriti blushed a little on her approval for Dhruv. Her maa noticed that but kept quiet.

After that more relatives started to come in and everyone got busy.

It was almost evening but Dhruv didn't return.

Kriti got tensed. She remembered that Dhruv's mother words, and now he was missing.

Nobody knew where he was. He was not answering his phone.

Kriti started to panic. She was continuously walking around like a pendulum, waiting for Dhruv. She waited for more 30 mins and then decided to call his parents and inform them everything.

She dialed the numbers and was about to press the call button when she hear some footsteps.

She rushed to the main gate.

It was him...Dhruv.

She ran to him and hugged him at once.

Dhruv was not surprised. He was expecting such a reaction. He hugged her tight, as if he was desperately in need of it.

Kriti released her arms and hit his chest hardly.

Dhruv: Auch! What are you doing?

Kriti: Shut up! Where were you? Are you mad? You just left without saying anything to anyone. Don't you know that I will be tensed! What do you think of yourself huhh? (angry and emotional at the same time)

Dhruv: Sorry! Ummm....Actually.....I went to meet a friend.

Kriti: Stop lying to me Dhruv! I know you don't have any friends here. You are hiding something big. You have your odds with Shimla....

Dhruv was stunned to hear this from her. He thought Kriti was unaware of everything. But her forcing him to say , was totally unexpected.

Dhruv: What are you saying! I don't.....

Kriti didn't let him finish his line and screamed.

Kriti: Don't act as if you don't understand my words....It's high time I need to know the truth Dhruv! WHAT HAPPENED 4 YEARS AGO?

Dhruv knew that there was no other way to escape her except to tell the truth.

He held her hand and said – "You want to know the truth! Fine...I'll tell you, but not here. Come with me."

Dhruv pulled her to his room and locked the door.

Kriti was confused.

Dhruv: Kriti I wanted to tell you everything long back, but I couldn't! Now since you have figured out somehow, I have to tell you everything. But you have to promise that you won't react before hearing the full story.

Dhruv was serious, more than Kriti ever saw.

She whispered "I promise".

Dhruv went and stood by the wall and started to narrate his past.

(Flashback in Dhruv's POV)