Is Love Enough ??

Chapter 16

"You are not yourself today," a voice said.

And Maan turned around to look in the direction the voice had come from. Recognition dawned in his eyes. Vidyut Nanda. One of his best friends. Solid as a rock. And Maan gave the other man a wan smile. He had come to the party only because it was Vidyut's. Maan had met Vidyut at another common friend's party and they had hit it off right from the get go. Sia, Vidyut's wife was very good friends with Kirti. She had been a bit worried when she had understood the kind of relationship Kirti and he shared but gradually she had accepted it, accepted them wholeheartedly. Maan had always known that people would be skeptical and in reality it wasn't anyone's fault but in his arrogance he always expected people to just accept it as normal. It didn't bother him much, but he knew it bothered Kirti sometimes.

"Hey," he said casually.

"You didn't answer," Vidyut said as he reached Maan. Vidyut had met Maan a few months ago and they were really good friends now. Actually better than just good friends. After Sid if Vidyut had another best friend it was Aryaman Khanna. He had always thought friendships were nurtured, developed over years but with Aryaman, it had developed in no time at all. Maybe because of Maan's brutal honesty about himself, life, people, relationships. Or maybe it was because they both had similar interests. Not the same profession though. And sometimes Vidyut was thankful, Aryaman would have been a ruthless competitor. Sia had told him about Kirti going to Chandigarh to attend her sister's wedding. Of course, Sia was worried. One because Kirti's parents hadn't spoken to her since she had moved in with Maan and she wasn't sure how Kirti would fare. And two because Kirti wasn't here, Sia wasn't sure how Maan would cope. So he had invited Maan this evening for a casual get together at their house. Since the time Maan had come, there had been a strange restlessness about him, something Vidyut had never seen before. Even Sia had sensed it. There was a dark brooding quality today that had an unsettling effect. Was Maan missing Kirti? Or was it because Kirti wasn't around to balance the darkness within Maan? Vidyut wasn't sure. He had seen Maan disengage himself from a couple of other friends and go out in the balcony a little while ago. Sia had wanted to follow and ask him straight out what was the problem but Vidyut had refrained her from doing so. He had given Maan a few minutes but when he hadn't returned, Vidyut had walked out to make sure his friend was alright. He had paused in the doorway for a few seconds watching Maan who had seemed lost in his thoughts. He had a glass of wine in hand but he had yet to taste it. That was when Vidyut had announced his presence.

"I didn't realize it was a question," Maan responded lightly.

"It wasn't," Vidyut said and smiled, "but something is bothering you," he went on, "care to share," he said and raised an eyebrow at Maan.

"Ask a straight question Nanda," Maan said with a faint smile, "maybe I will answer you," he said.

"Okay, you asked for it," Vidyut said as he leaned towards the railing and stood with one ankle crossed over the other, "are you missing Kirti?" he asked. Well, the man had said ask a straight question.

"What makes you say that?" Maan asked as he leaned against the railing too imitating Vidyut's pose.

"You said ask a straight question, however, that is not a straight answer," Vidyut argued.

"I am trying to understand your question, the only way is to ask more," Maan said daring Vidyut to turn and leave or go ahead with the conversation.

Maan saw Vidyut look at him. As if he was considering which way to go. Yup, he was missing Kirti. Way too much. And this was when he knew she had gone for just a few days and will be back soon. The emptiness in the house was screaming at him making him go mad. The feeling of being alone was making him restless. Way too restless than he would have expected. He could feel the darkness engulfing him in its folds. Hell, he had worked all day today and he was sure he was going to do the same when he reached home as well. What was wrong with him? He had been glad for the respite when Vidyut had called him a little late in the afternoon for the casual get together at his place. But when he had arrived he hadn't wanted to interact with anyone. Was he being childish? The way he was behaving was a classic case of borderline psychotic. But even that thought hadn't helped with the intense need to have Kirti with him. When had he become so dependent on another? Why? For the past two years he had been happy. Living in the happy belief that if ever he and Kirti parted ways, he would be alright. But the way he had been feeling all day today he was forced to agree that maybe his happy belief had been nothing but a bubble. Kirti had left just this morning. It was only night now. Only one day. And he felt as if it had been months. He had never been the pining types. Neither had he been the overly romantic types. What was happening to him? And then he had realized that it was more than just missing Kirti. She had called him when she had reached Chandigarh and then again in the evening to ask him how his day had been. He hadn't said much because he had wanted to hear her voice. And he had heard more than she had told him. The sadness, the upset, the emotion she had tried to hide had been more than evident. He hadn't said anything or queried her more on everyone's reaction. Knowing she wouldn't be able to hide her tears and she was trying to do just that. Damn, he had known it would happen. But he had decided her to realize some things all on her own so his telling her he was right or that she should return immediately wouldn't help. Somewhere he was more worried for her than missing her. He wasn't sure how much she would be able to take. Yes, she was strong but was she strong enough? It was worry because he wasn't there with her. She was alone amongst people who had been her family once but not anymore. Hell, none of them had even bothered to call her and ask her if she was alive or dead in the past two years. That was where his thoughts had been all evening when finally, unable to take the gaiety around him he had walked into the balcony to get some form of control over his thoughts. He had always been able to. Keep a tight leash on his emotions, thoughts, actions. He could do it again. That was when Vidyut had disturbed him. But as Maan held his friend's stare he saw a decision being formed in Vidyut's eyes. And if Maan knew Vidyut even a little the man wasn't going to leave him alone. It was as if he would stand there all night if that was what it took to get his answers. Maan wanted to groan out loud. Somewhere though he admired the quality. No wonder they were such good friends. They both had that tenaciousness inside to stick their ground no matter what.