THE MAN HELP - By Ocean Singh

- CHAPTER 22 -

- CHAPTER 22 -

THE LOOP

After a while when Tushar gets into the driver's seat and Vaani takes his place, not just the day-time takes a change but the weather also starts getting changing. Little raindrops start falling and the front window wipers gets in action. Vaani looks at Tushar in some thought. Tushar reads her face but stays quiet.

A few hours later, they reach the destination.

Tushar stops the car – "I'll just go first and check if the way is safe and clear." - Vaani gulps and nods. Tushar putting a hand on Vaani's hand opens the car door. – "Come on, Akshay!"

Akshay follows him. A few minutes later, Tushar calls Vaani and tells her to come. Vaani listening to the instruction, cuts the call with a shaking thumb and turns her head back to Gautam.

"It's time Gautam."

Gautam, afraid and sighing deep – "I don't know, Vaani. I was not ready for this!"

"But this is what you always wanted Gautam, Right!?" - Gautam looks at her having a few tears in his eyes. Vaani grabs his hand. – "Things can't be forever, but they can be lived, even if for a single moment."

With deep breathes and heavy heart-beats, Gautam nods and puts his hand on the door knob.

Vaani smiles. – "I'll be there with you, just a few steps behind."

Gautam nodding - "I can't think of another moment to thank you, Vaani!" – He says crying.

Vaani shaking her head. – "This is no time for doing this, Gautam. Go ahead. And here," - She takes out the pendant and puts it into his hand." - "Keep it with you." Gautam breaks a little seeing the pendant and finally opens the door.

Stepping into rainwater, brings a little familiar feeling to him. Except the sounds, which were loud and could be heard across the streets at that time, those sounds are shut now. The whole building seems like a peaceful construction. The corridors, lobbies everything is empty and just filled with splashes of water footsteps, which are somewhere in-between of getting dry. No one would disagree that the same splashes were unstable when he was in the building the last time and almost turning into little floods. Crying and asking for his mother, when he was getting taken from his house to the police van, he saw many things with those watery eyes but all he wanted at that moment was to hug his family and come out of the nightmare which was still happening to him. This day also, he's having running tears in the eyes. He is looking around and asking the obvious questions to the people which only he can see. Knowing that Vaani is walking behind him at a distance, he gathers energy for every next step putting forward and whenever he feels like falling under the load of emotions, he takes the support of the side wall, which is walking with him, somewhere welcoming and waiting for a hug.

Keeping his head down and still proceeding ahead, unknown to his action or reaction when stepping in front of his house, he fights with the strange gazes coming into the way. Although the count is very less but every single gaze is like telling him to leave, now!

The distance from the entrance of the building to his house, seems like a long mile, no matter of the fact that the both are just on the same ground. Finally about to reach the door, as just one more house is there to cross in-between, Gautam's whole body turns into a heavy rock which he could not lift further. Vaani senses it but does not get into his space. Standing in some dilemma, Gautam gets numb when someone comes out of the house, he was standing in front of.

A face he saw almost eleven years back has changed not even a bit. The same confused, shining eyes. The same moving lips, without the words. Same messy, hair flicks. And the same longing to speak-out each-other's name.

"Gautam.."

"Kriti."

Kritika breaks down and the next moment Gautam too as both take each-other in their arms and completes a hug.

"What are you do.." – Before Kritika could ask. Gautam answers.

"I don't know. What are you doing here? You.. live here?"

"No Gautam, I left years ago. I'm just visiting my parents and.. Yours.. Actually. I heard about you and.."

Gautam lightly nods – "I.. How are they?"

"They're.. They wish for you every day." – Kritika tells him with all affection.

"I wish them too." - Gautam smiles with tear in the eyes. Both cries and smiles, still holding the hands. – "I.. I need to leave Kriti."

Kritika looks at him in confusion and he leaves her hands, stepping and turning back. Kritika stands there, blank but still sobbing.

Gautam walking back to exit, meets the gaze with Vaani and walks straight to get into the car.

Vaani with tears and with no expectation stands in the hallway for a moment. She looks at Kritika and also walks outside.

Tushar and Akshay already sitting and waiting in the car, gets into active motion now when Vaani steps in after Gautam. Tushar puts the gear and hits the race.

Another journey hits the road at the end of these serene hours. No one takes the initiative to speak this time except the activities and the call of duties out-side the running car. Half of the day later, almost at the hour of eight in the evening, the four gets out of the car.

Tushar and Akshay is speaking to one of their associates who's gonna help Gautam across the border. Gautam is standing at the car, all quiet. Vaani finally asks him.

"What happened.. Gautam..?"

"Nothing." - Gautam tells after a sigh. – "I played the part for which I was taken back there."

Vaani stunned asks – "and you're with peace?"

"I finally am at peace, Vaani. Actually. Hope the boys tell this guy to help me like you all did.. And I get to start a new life."

Vaani smiles – "They'll do. And don't worry about the family, I.."

"I know." – Nodding he says. – "I know, you will." He smiles now. Vaani chuckles happily and they both hug.

******