The cafe was lively that afternoon. People strode in and out in a quest to get a quick cup of coffee, while others huddled in small groups, lost in animated conversations.
Kartik sat silently in the corner with Rutuja and Meera. The tension surrounding him was so palpable, it could suffocate, and he winced uncomfortably, wondering what can break the silence.
As her nature was the cheerful one, Rutuja was trying to lighten the mood. She kept talking to him about her projects as an engineer and even cracked some jokes. Yet no one else listened to her words.
Meera, usually the voice of reason and serenity, hadn’t said much. She had nodded only sporadically; her mind elsewhere.
The shyness was crushing for Kartik. The hug he had shared with Rutuja earlier—meant to be a simple, comforting gesture—now felt like something much more complicated. Meera hadn’t said a word about it, but her eyes had noticed. Kartik couldn’t blame her for wondering.
The un-sipped coffee between them remained on the table. Meera idly traced the rim of her cup, staring off into space lost in thoughts. After what seemed to be an eternity, she finally spoke up, this time directing her soft voice.
“How’s your mom?”
Kartik could feel this knotty sense forming inside his chest. His mother was slowly responding to the medical treatment, and it still felt like fragile progress. It was the first bit of good news he’d had for a while; even now, it was hard to speak about.
“She’s. getting better,” Kartik said, not looking up from the table. “The doctors say she’s improving slowly but at least it’s something.”
Meera nodded, her expression softening. “That’s really good to hear. Lately I’ve been thinking about her and about you.”
Guilt washed over Kartik. He hadn’t called Meera in months-not since he left college or so called break from studies. She’s in her second year of medical school, and he’s catching up on being a first-year student at college. They haven’t really had a real conversation since his world began imploding and now they sound like strangers. He hadn't planned for that. That was the way things panned out.
“I’m sorry,” Kartik muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know I’ve been distant.”
“It’s all right, I guess; it would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little sad,” said Meera, still smiling in such a way that sadness hovered still in her eyes. “After all, a lot to deal with.”
Rutuja shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes darting from one to the other. She had been Kartik’s rock through it all-helping him fetch snacks and checks, making sure he didn’t shut down completely.
And now, with Meera sitting right there, Kartik couldn’t help but wonder if all that support from Rutuja had been misinterpreted.
As if she were reading his wavelength, Meera’s voice came, sounding both cautious and inquiring.
“Kartik, is something going on between you and Rutuja?”
Kartik’s face clearly showed surprise. He hadn’t even considered how things may look from the other side. To him, Rutuja was a very good friend-though one who happened to have stood by his side when he really needed someone there. But from Meera’s point of view, it probably looked like something more.
“No way,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Rutuja’s just been an awesome friend, nothing more than that.”
Meera nodded, but the glint of doubt still sparkled in her eyes. After that drop year, everything had changed between them. Kartik hadn’t been deliberately letting their friendship drift like sandcastles in a storm; with his mom’s accident and his emotional turbulence, it had happened anyway.
YOU ARE READING
Blueprints Of The Destiny
RomanceKartik, a bright and talented medical student whose life takes turns he never expected. Trauma caused in his life makes him sail through the most unexpected life he had ever imagined as a merit-list student. His struggle to cope with academics, rela...
