“ and I chase it down
with a shot of truth
dancing through our house
with the ghost of you ”
•
8 MONTHS LATER.
Krishna Kunj
New York City, USA.
"I am hoping for a better reply than we are trying our best, Fred."
Sumedh sat at the head of the table picking up a sandwich from his plate, looking at it in front distaste but proceeding to eat it anyways.
There was a strange silence that hung in the mansion.
He hung up the call as Diwan appeared.
"Sir, the deal with Johnsons has been sanctioned.", He said as Sumedh nodded, sighing.
There were three sandwiches on the plate.
He consumed two with much effort.
And then he pushed the plate away.
"Mat kijiye. Woh aakhri wala bhi khatam hona chahiye.", He heard her voice sharply as she appeared out of nowhere, looking at him skeptically.
"Dimple, yeh nainsafi hai. Ek toh yeh ghatiya se sandwich.. upar se teen?", He said immediately on rebellion.
The mansion had a wall length photograph hung right at the living room.
The names gleamed under it, carved on metal.
Anupamaa Joshi Shah
&
Vanraj Shah
Yet, there was a strange lifelessness about the photoframe.
"Aapke cholestrol ke liye aacha hai.. waise toh bread bhi nehi khaana chahiye—"
Sumedh's phone buzzed.
Half relieved he picked up the call, signalled Dimpy it was important and rushed out.
"Sumedh bhai?", Pakhi asked over the phone.
"Ha.. bas woh tumhari hone wali bhabhi se bachke bhaag raha tha. Kaho.", He said as he got into a car.
Pakhi drew in a deep breath.
"Aapki Papa se baat hui?"
A silence fell between both of them.
Sumedh visibly stiffened.
"Meri Kinjal bhabhi se bhi baat hui.. unhone kaha Papa calls pick nehi kar rahe. Toshu bhai aur Winter toh khud calls pick nehi karte. Nandini ne bhi bataya ki Papa ne uske calls bhi receive nehi kiye. Aapke kiye?"
Sumedh inhaled deeply as he forced his gaze towards the window.
It all came back before his eyes like the worst nightmare.
"Nehi.", His voice broke.
Pakhi gulped.
"Wahan sab theek hai?"
"Almost."
"Aapne suna? Bapuji ne ghar chod diya.. Baa ne bataya.", She said.
Sumedh said "hmm".
His eyes abruptly welled up with tears, as he looked down.
"Mai tumhe baad mein call back karta hu.", He said as the call was hung up.
•
Delhi, India
Pakhi stared at her phone.
"Kabhi call back nehi karenge.", She said finally.
"Pakhi.. yeh dekho na.. Ishu ko kal fancy dress mein tamatar banke jaana hai!", She heard from the other room.
YOU ARE READING
Raat Akeli Hai | 𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒋
Romance❝ nafrat ki aadh mein ishq karna bhi ek hunar hai ❞ • Anupamaa almost indifferent to the aches of the world, or maybe she has drowned too deep to feel anything anymore. When she's finally at her dream destination thanks to a friend, hoping to live...
