Drawn Together: KFAR

Chapter-9: Realisation

Realisation

The restaurant was thronged with people, eating late lunch, busy in conversations, elder people, and younger ones. It was a perfect setting for an outdoor lunching; the ambience and the weather were lovely and bright. In the midst of this, Radhika was sitting opposite Sam, there said corner table, always a place reserved for only them. Her hands played nervously with the Sari end, it was white and pink in combination. She had to wear this, because of the insistence of her mother, as they attended a family function in the morning.

Sam happily twirled the pasta from her plate and around the fork, she pushed it in her mouth and glanced up at her. She was as usual wearing a white tank top, and a long blue middy, matching the blue scarf around her neck, with blue and white sea shell loops as the earrings, that dangled when she slid her hair off her shoulders time and again. A habit that wouldn't go and that told Radhika that her best friend is in a happy mood. The gold-coloured rustic bangles slid down her hand and gave Radhika a click of fingers shake to lead her to put off the haze of uncertainty.

"What's up with you?" She asked frowning.

Radhika smiled weakly in response.

"It's nothing." She replied.

Sam's eyes looked on strained at her response, but she shook her head.

"I hope you've packed everything." She rubbed her together excitedly. "God, I think there is a lot of stuff still that I don't remember, but mostly it's the warm clothes and shoes, lots of them, and you know what..." Her eyes sparkled up, making Radhika squirm in her chair, feeling immense guilt eat at her conscience.

But, Radhika maintained a false smile, gulping hard to not blurt out everything.

"What?" She asked.

"I have noted down all the phone numbers and contact information, of the art connoisseurs in New York, with the help of our friend, Dev. I had emailed our works to them and they are very much interested to work with us on the project if...." She went on enthusiastically, her face lighting up, a warm wide smile playing on her lips, eyes sparkling and all.

Radhika felt like kicking herself, extreme pain hit her heart. What should she say to her? How should she say that she wasn't or can't accompany her to New York, all the hard work behind in making their plan a success had tanked down into a failure, and also reveal that she was getting married, because her father had forced her to, and if she doesn't agree, her mother is going to pay heavily for her refusal.

Oh god, she couldn't hear more of her dream breaking into pieces. Into their both dream breaking into pieces.

"Sam!" She cried abruptly.

That did get her the needed attention, as the dreamy look broke from Sam's face, and her eyes snapped to hers in a surprised stare.

"What? What is it? Oh, I know I'm too excited. Did I forget something?" She asked, her eyes sliding all over her face in worry.

Radhika sighed heavily.

"You did not forget anything.... It's actually...I..." She started out feeling breathless already.

God, why is it so hard to talk now? She had to, though it's going to rip her heart, to see Sam's face after it.

She shook her head and looked up and stared straight into Sam's worry-filled gaze.

"I can't come to New York with you." She said weakly and all in a small voice.

Sam stared back at her for a second, she put down the fork and leaned back on the chair.