Fortuitously Yours (Previously known as Accidentally Yours)

Coming Home

Rohit picked up the phone reluctantly and after waiting for a moment or two...started himself, coldly…

Rohit - "Hello…"

Mohit - "Hello...Ro...Is it you?"

Rohit - "Waah!... Forgot my voice too?" (Sarcastically)

Mohit - (Hurt) "It's you who forgot us... (speaking slowly at a low voice, as if defeated)

...Forget it, I didn't call to fight with you"

Rohit - "Then why did you call? May I ask?"

Mohit - "I called you to inform that dad had a severe brain stroke last evening, he is in hospital and his condition is critical. (After pausing for a few seconds) Don't think that I called you to ask for money or beg you to come back. I called you because I thought as a son you deserve to know about it. That's it, nothing more to speak. Have a nice day."

(Mohit cut the call instantly without waiting for Rohit's reply.)

Though he didn't express it to Mohit on call, Rohit's heart had stopped beating as soon as he heard about his Papa's stroke, and what Mohit said next had hit him like a poisonous arrow, right in the middle of his heart. It gave him a strange feeling of disownment, as if his father, whom he loved the most, didn't want to meet him anymore. Unconsciously, drops of tears started rolling down his cheek, and he felt his legs had lost the power to move.

He has been sitting there on the couch, motionless, for almost an hour now, when his iPhone rang to bring him back to reality. He checked the caller ID, and a faint smile covered his lips seeing Alex's name. He picked up the call, but his voice didn't show much enthusiasm…

Rohit - "Hi baby! What's going on?"

Alex - "What's going on there?... I mean..

 you sound different!"

Rohit - "Why?... Is it?.... Don't worry I am fine."

Alex - "Ok then, I just called you to inform you that I am going to the US for a week on a business trip."

Rohit - "And Tina?....(Rohit bit his lips realising what he had unconsciously asked…)

Alex - "She is obviously staying over here…Ok then, take care, will see you later"

Rohit knew it was coming as Alex had a tendency to cut the call whenever he asked for Tina. Alex and Tina have been married for five years now, and though Rohit loves Alex a lot, what he doesn't like about him is his behavior towards Tina. Alex had married Tina five years back, when he knew that he was gay, just to inherit her father's property. Rohit had protested, not because he felt jealous of her, but because he felt this was unethical, to inherit one's property by marrying his daughter. 

Rohit had met Tina soon after their marriage when Alex had confessed to her that he was gay, but Rohit and Tina's friendship had got clicked instantly. Because she was of Indian origin and was a wonderful chef. Rohit used to hop in their place whenever he had time for two reasons. Firstly, he wanted to spend some quality time with Alex, and secondly, he couldn't resist drooling over the delicious Indian food Tina prepared for them. 

Tina also didn't protest over his visits. Though sometimes she would feel jealous of Rohit because he was the one who took her husband, but then Rohit had grown a lot closer to Tina during these five years and now he was just like Tina's own brother, whom she would talk her heart out to. Rohit had also saved Tina from Alex a lot of time when he was angry, and hence Tina had a feeling of gratitude towards Rohit. 

Rohit was thinking about all these when someone clicked his doorbell. He went downstairs to open the door and was surprised to see Tina waiting for him with two hands full of lunch-boxes. As soon as she saw him, a warm smile swept through her lips.

Tina - "Happy Happy 24th Birthday Ro..!!!"

Rohit - "Haaa...As always...Thanks a ton, dear."

Rohit's lips curved through a faint smile and Tina knew instantly that something was wrong. She picked up the two heavy lunch boxes that she had brought with her and started towards the kitchen. Rohit shut the door behind her and followed her towards the kitchen. 

Tina - "Alex forgot again…?"

Tina asked slowly as Rohit settled on a dining chair.

Rohit gave a smile before replying "As Usual...I don't mind it anymore".

Tina - "Really…?? But you are looking so dull"

Rohit stopped for a moment, then replied abruptly, "That's nothing to do with Alex".

"Then..?" Tina asked hesitantly. But Rohit didn't reply. After breakfast, as Tina left and Rohit sat alone at his study table, going through the files for his today's appointments, he felt that he was having a slight headache and was feeling a bit dizzy. And, as he didn't have any important appointments today, he decided to call his new PA Rashmi to inform her that he would not be going to the office today and request her to postpone the appointments.

 He picked up his iPhone to call, and then he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to save his new PA's phone number. He got up and ran towards the book shelf to fetch his diary. As he was in a hurry, he pulled his diary from the self which was packed with many old diaries along with his current one, a dark red diary accidentally fell over his toes, slightly hurting him. He bent to examine his hurt foot, but his eyes were dragged to the dark red diary, lying a little away from his foot on the floor. 

Volcano of emotions erupted within himself, as he kept staring at his blood-red coloured diary...His first diary. He still remembers the day when the courier boy had handed over the yellow package to him, along with a letter from his brother, and he had opened the packet and the letter in this room itself, sitting on his study ...exactly six years ago...that was his 18th birthday.

His brother was always the first one to wish him on his birthday, from childhood till his 22nd birthday two years back, his brother had never missed the first wishes a single time. But, in these two years, that part was somewhat taken up by Tina, who, just like an adorable elder sister, would come to meet and wish him on his birthday.

And he wouldn't deny that when he first saw his brother's call today morning, he had half expected to hear those two sweet words from him when he picked it up, not what he had actually heard. Realization drew on him as if someone had thrown a bucket full of ice water over him. He just couldn't believe that his brother had forgotten his birthday, because he knew that it was never possible. But then, the fact that he didn't wish him even once, made his heart wrench.

He got up, determining something strongly in his mind, and then hurriedly started packing his backpack. Even he himself couldn't believe what he was doing, but he knew that he had decided to do it this time…Yes...He was going home ...after two long years…!