Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

[ 47 ] Not How It's Supposed to be ■

'Sir, someone called Gauri has come to meet you,' a new constable informs, standing at the cabin door.

Amarnath stiffens and stares at the file in his hand. 'I'm busy. I can't meet anyone today,' he says and immediately regrets it. As if this was going to solve everything.

The constable nods and leaves. A few seconds later, Amarnath can hear loud voices.

'Madam, madam! You can't come in like that! Saab is busy! Madam, we will get suspended if you do like this!'

Amarnath gets up from his chair and edges towards the door, trying to hear better.

'God, nobody's gonna be suspended. Just let me in!' Gauri's voice is on the brink of frustration.

'No ma'am, please understand ... '

'Kya chal raha hain?' Murali walks out of his own cabin, a smaller one of the few lined next to the Amarnath's.

Amarnath screws his eyes shut and steps backwards. 

'Let her in,' Murali tells the constables.

'But Saab ... DCP Saab said he won't meet anyone ... '

'Really?' Gauri crosses her arms.

'Let her in. If he says something, tell my name,' Murali says.

There is silence for a few seconds. Amarnath stands beside his table, unsure of what to do when the door slaps open against the wall and shuts as Gauri storms in like a thundercloud, eyeing him coldly. Amarnath stiffens again.

'What is this?' she deposits her handbag on one of the chairs across his table and holds out a folded note. 'You've been totally out of reach ever since you came home for dinner. And now, what is this letter you've posted to me?'

He glances at it, trying to look impassive. Gauri flares her nostrils.

'Forgot? I'll remind you,' she says scornfully, unfolds the paper and reads it out loud.

'"Gauri, I had a doubt about this since the start; now I know it is true. We are not correct for each other. We cannot get married. So I think we should stop this right now. I will not trouble you by trying to see you or talk to you again. I wish you all the best for your future"' She looks up. 'What the hell is this, Amar?'

Amarnath was expecting this situation. It's Gauri, after all. And he had thought of a few things to say. But now, he can neither speak nor remember. If only there was a way to just disappear ...

'Is this supposed to be a prank?' she demands.

Amarnath's eyes wander to his table. It is only going to get more difficult from here.

'Look, I'm cool with pranks, alright? But pranks only last for a few minutes. Not for days. So you can stop pranking me now,' she smiles, breathing nervously. 'J-Just say it's a prank, and I won't ask anything else.'

And when Amarnath doesn't reply even now, she is sure that her stomach is turning to stone. Tears prick her eyes. 'Amar, what's wrong? Is this not the right place to talk? Do you wanna talk about it at home? I can come. Please say something. I can't take this silence. Don't make me cry.'

Amarnath turns towards his table, focusing on his chair now. It's better; anything is better than seeing her cry. But there's no escaping this either. He needs to say something.

'Whatever I've ... written,' he says, steeling his heart. ' ... in that letter ... it is ... true.'

'No, it's not,' She says, tears jabbing her eyes. 

Amarnath doesn't reply.

'I know it's not true,' she holds his hand. 

He retracts his hand instantly, swallowing. 'I-It ... it is ... true.'