To Love Again !!!

Chapter - 64

It was Tuesday morning and Abhay had received a call from Harpreet to come meet him urgently at the hospital. Not sure what was wrong as his friend had sounded worried. He knew it was not related to Jassi because Amrit had told him she had spoken to her last evening and everything was fine. Then what was the reason? He had gone anyway. He knocked on the door that led to Harpreet's office and heard a 'come in'.

"Hey," Abhay said as he walked inside.

"Hi," Harpreet said as he looked up from a report he had been studying then lifted his wrist and looked at his watch, "on time," he commented.

"I mostly am," Abhay responded as he sat on the chair across from his friend, "but you know that. So what is the problem?" he asked.

"Tea?" Harpreet asked his voice bordering on worry and tension.

Abhay didn't know what to make of his friend. He seemed to be in a weird mood. But he kept his patience. Harpreet was never one to make idle talk. Abhay nodded his assent for tea and studied Harpreet. He seemed on edge for some reason. Abhay knew him very well and he couldn't help but wonder the reason. He watched as Harpreet called up the hospital canteen for two teas.

"How was the engagement party?" Harpreet asked trying to sound casual.

"It was good," Abhay replied. He could sense Harpreet was stalling the real issue but he kept up. "Amrit and I spoke at lengths about her broken engagement and it seems all is in the clear now," he told him.

"So you know her better than you did before," Harpreet pointed out.

"Yes," Abhay said and smiled, "and her family too," he said.

"Good," Harpreet said, "at least one hurdle is out of the way," he murmured.

"What?" Abhay asked confused.

"Nothing," Harpreet said as he frowned. Before Abhay could ask why Harpreet was in a mysterious mood the tea arrived. They kept quiet while the tea was served but the moment the server left Abhay couldn't contain himself.

"Will you spit it out?" he barked.

He knew Harpreet would never mind whatever tone he used. They knew each other that well.

"I..." Harpreet started then paused.

"Oh, for God's sake man," Abhay said impatiently, "you have never tried my patience with small talk before so get to the point. What is the matter?" he asked.

"Abhay I don't know if you have heard but," Harpreet started then paused, then took in a deep breath, "there is news that Raheja might be transferred here," he said and looked at his friend.

Abhay didn't know how to react. He felt as if someone had just punched him straight in his gut. Kapil Raheja was to be transferred here? What the hell was Harpreet talking about? How come he hadn't known anything about this? All the old memories he shared with that man started sifting through his mind. They had been friends. Once. But that was a long time ago. Now they were just...they were nothing.

"When did you hear?" Abhay asked. His voice sounded strangulated and Harpreet winced.

He knew how Abhay felt or he could guess. They had been best friends since their NDA days and there was not much Harpreet didn't know about Abhay. In fact he knew Kapil too. They had formed a trio back then. A handsome devil Kapil had been and a rake too. Girls fell all over him and he had basked at the attention he had always got. Not that Abhay was less good looking but he had always maintained his respect for women never engaging in any dillydally relationships. The only time he had entered one was with Natasha his ex-wife and he had married her too. He had been that serious. Though otherwise he had been a fun loving chap. The three of them had been very different from each other but they had still been friends watching each other's backs and then the trio had broken. Kapil had been the one to do that, betraying them in a manner where all rules of friendship had taken a backseat. When he had heard two days ago that he might be transferred here Harpreet had seen it as a bad omen. He hadn't told Jassi yet but he was sure she would find out soon too. Abhay hadn't been here he had been at Ambala. But before someone else told him Harpreet had thought about talking to him on his own. It was better to have him prepared than have him receive the shock of his life.