Blood And Blossoms

Chapter XXVI

On a call:
"Task accomplished. Take care further."
"I will. Just keep your mouth close."
Call ended.

After Anaya headed off, her words were echoing in Ahaan's head. This is you problem. You keep on guessing and make theories. You made up your mind that I'm the killer and you started adding things to it to prove your ideologies.       Death of a stranger in my hands who smiled to me a moment before passing when he was covered in blood.  He marched his steps towards his office to look at the case file of Ayaan and Anaya again. When he entered the office, he saw a man wearing the black shawl on his head jumping out from the window. "Stop there!" He screamed. "What were you doing here? Come back I said." Still screaming and ran behind to chase him. His eyes were on the black shawl that kept running away, but he wasn't going to leave him. They crossed roads and gullies and buildings and parks. But while crossing the road, the traffic signal turned green and all the vehicles started moving. The black shawl was covered by thr black car and later the man disappeared as if he never existed or was just component of the air.

Viciously, he went to his office again. He is really well maintained and fit. Because even after chasing him for so long, approximately 5 kilometers, he wasn't out of breathe.

He picked up the file, which by now was memorized by him. He knew the file had 7 photos and 15 pages which he can recite word by word.

2 photos were of 26/03/23: Anaya holding Ayaan while he was covered in blood. One of Anaya and Ayaan coincidentally at the same party (nothing was coincidence). One of Anaya and Ayaan at the ice cream parlor and one was of Anaya handling or taking some cash from the ugly-tattooed man.

4 papers were of her novel which she'd sent to him. The psychotic traits of Olive circled with red marker. 5 of her therapy sessions. And others were a xerox copy from her personal diary where she admitted that she wants to kill Mr. D'Souza and Nishi and the new watchman. Only the waiter was never mentioned. (Also Ayaan). She was suggested by her therapist after Ayaan's death to start writing her feelings in a personal diary.

He went through all of these once again, trying to find a clue if he had missed something. Nothing. Nothing. Nothi- ... this photo! He picked up a magnifying glass and looked carefully to the third photo. How could I miss this!? Howw? Anayaa!" He winced.

This was the longest day for all of them. Ahaan went to 402/Shelter Heights for the last time. He achieved him aim for which he came here. It was time to go back to his own house and complete the rest of his target. He came to pick up his belongings and also to take Joy and Arjun with him. They were still waiting for him to return.

When he came, Joy and Arjun knew that he wasn't in mood of any conversation especially about this topic. They knew the plan from the start. Also supported Ahaan, afterall Ayaan was their best friend too. The four of them shared such a good time together. Laughters used to echo in the room whenever they were together. There was not even 0.001% of getting bored when all four of them were together. Small pranks one day or the other. The car game on the TV with remote controller, which Arjun used to hide from others so that he can be the first one to play. The badminton matches. The volleyball that was thrown on Ahaan's face everytime Joy got a chance. Ayaan taking out ice cubes from the fridge only to put them inside Joy's T-shirt that he was wearing at the moment. Ayaan showing predictable magic tricks to the trio amd Joy and Arjun still used to cheer him while Ahaan would sit there watching him with narrowed eyes. Watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and sideline Joy to make up the perfect trio to fit in the roles, and teasing Joy that he could take up the role of Laila if he wants. And then sing Diamond biscuit diamond biscuit song simultaneously as the movie goes on. Then flip the coin to decide whether it's Ayaan's or Ahaan's turn to wash the dishes while Arjun danced on the opposite side. All of that was gone. It ended on 26th March. It ended with Ayaan. Now, only dullness dwelled.

Ahaan ordered them to help him in packing. He still has that right of a friend. And ofcourse, they didn't deny. After packing half of the house's stuffs, Ahaan's eyes fell on the painting which Anaya gifted him today,a few hours ago, his birthday present. It seems like an eternity went after that, isn't it? He was staring at the painting with twinkling eyes. Him and Anaya in the flower garden at midnight and the moon shining brightly. The perfect romantic weather and their favorite too. (Or in Anaya's head, it was him and Ayaan. Afterall she thought Ahaan was Ayaan.)

Joy saw Ahaan mortified in front of the painting. Pain in his eyes. He called Arjun silently and they went to him.
"You know that you can always talk your heart out to us right?"
"There's nothing. It's empty."
"Oh really? An empty heart with eyes full of tears in front of a fully metaphorical painting?"
"Cut this out."
"You cut this out and talk to us! Now!"
"Okay listen... I fell in love with her... With whom I was never supposed to... If love was something that was based on logic... I would have never fallen in love with her as I was never bound to... Because I never wanted to... Love makes a person weak and insane...And I was supposed to fight with her .... To make her life miserable...To make her cry....But I didn't realise when her smile became my reason of happiness... I didn't realise when I started looking for only her in a crowded place... I didn't realise when my eyes started looking into hers to find my destination...I didn't realise when I started writing her name with my surname on the last page of my notebook instead of my target list... I didn't realise when I started wishing for that last page to become front page of our wedding card instead of case solved file... I never understood how I slowly fell in love with her presence, Her existence, HER... But I really used to like the tingling in my heart when I used to hear her name... I used to like when butterflies fluttered in my stomach on her thought ... And slowly slowly, gradually I fell in love with her." His voice was breaking after every sentence. As if each of this words were hard to digest even for him. As if he didn't want to admit it out loud. Not even to himself. He wanted to stay in the darkness of ignorance. Not to get hit by the light of reality. But here, it is in front of him. He continued "When she said her side of story to me today, I wanted to believe her. I could sense truth in her story. But then I saw this photo and I realised she's a good writer. A great story teller. I want to hate her for what she did. And I guess I do. But is it possible to love and hate the same person simultaneously? To wish for her happiness while determined to take it away? To want her well being while trying to destroy it? To take care of her while wanting to hurt her? I don't know! What she did IS unforgivable. She has to pay for it. No matter what. My feelings for her would never come in between justice, my duty and especially Ayaan."
Anaya heard his confession on the phone call that was placed by Ahaan by mistake. She ended the call from her side after this, and Ahaan too never realised that he unintentionally confessed his feelings to Anaya.

Some people say, 'Right person, wrong time.' Maybe this was their case.

Yaad hai mujhko... tune kaha tha
Tumse nahi ruthenge kabhi
Dil ki tarah se... hath mile hai
Kaise bhala chutenge kabhi
Teri baaho me beeti har shaam
Bewafa ye bhi kya yaad nhi?
Kya hua tera wada?
Wo kasam wo iraada?
Bhulega dil... jis din tumhe
Wo din zindagi ka aakhri din hoga..