ANOTHER CHANCE

CHAPTER TWO

FOUR YEARS LATER...........

3:07 AM, Tuesday

Villa di Mare, Apt. #441

Miami, FL., United States

Bani wakes up in the middle of the night in a puddle of cold sweat. She breathes hard, panting as if she had been running a long mile' but perhaps she was running' running from a terrible nightmare'.from a ghastly past.

It has been four years since that uneventful night, but still she remains scared'unsafe'as if any moment he will appear and bring harm to her. It is ridiculous to think, actually, considering that she is a long way from him'. a full ocean apart, as a matter of fact. There is no way he will reach her'find her' not when she has been successfully hiding for the past years.

But why is she unable to shake off these fears that do not quit following her everywhere she goes? Why does she feel that at any moment her life will take a disastrous fall? That disaster linked to the one person whom she loathes the most in this world? She would have felt sympathy for him if not for his animalistic behavior with her; his intent on taking her dignity away from her. He too had been equally betrayed as she was'.thrown into a sham of a marriage planned by two conniving men.

3:37 PM, Tuesday

Breach Candy Hospital

Mumbai, India

 "What are we going to do?" he hears his best friend question him grimly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed against his chest. He, on the other hand, remains seated down onto the bench in the waiting room which is practically empty at this hour. He hadn't moved from his place since he received the news. Lines of stress adorn his forehead, permanently etched onto there. His face stays rigid, his body absolutely still'.his mind in a state of turmoil.

"What are you going to do?" his friend corrects himself after a moment of pause.

Aditya Bali scrutinizes his friend's silent stance, having remained like this for the past hour since the Doctor had called him specifically into his office. He digs a hand into his trouser pocket and gives out a tired sigh. He too is distressed from all that is going on right now at present'.and what will happen in the near future' that is, if his friend decides to do anything about it.

"Jai' I am speaking to you' not the wall behind you," Aditya grouchily snaps at him, hoping at least the raise of his voice will gather his lost attention.

Jai Walia throws him a vicious look, his eyes bloodshot red from spending hours in the hospital the past three days.

"Well what do you expect I should say? I just find out that my aunt's condition is worse than expected so forgive me if I'm finding it a little hard to take it all in'.," he finishes haughtily in his deep throaty voice.

Breaking his reserve, Aditya uncrosses his arms and walks toward the bench with purpose, seating himself down next to his best friend, who appears more distraught then he has ever seen him in his entire life. His previous tense features soften gradually as he places a hand onto Jai's shoulder'

"Jai, I do realize what kind of predicament you are in'. and I know this is a lot to take in, but now is not the time to sit and wallow' We have to take action' You need to take action'"

"What do you suppose I should do, Aditya? The situation isn't exactly in my hands, if you haven't noticed' There isn't anything I can do to make my aunt any better'," he grudgingly replies.

"'. She's asking for her'. If you bring here her''," whatever Aditya planned on saying further isn't able to be put through words when Jai Walia roughly shrugs Aditya's hand aside and stares at him with strong disapproval brewing in his stormy eyes.

"Don't even say it," he warns sternly. Aditya, however, is unmoved by the sudden harshness appearing in Jai's behavior.

"Well you cannot ignore the facts here, Jai'. It's a miracle that your aunt even survived that brutal accident'. but unfortunately due to her present condition we are going to have to resort to drastic measures'.," he heatedly attempts in explaining and restrains the urge to groan from frustration when Jai jumps from his seat, pacing back and forth anxiously with his brows in a deep furrow.

"No, we don't. Not that drastic, Aditya' I am not about to go muddling into my past'. And I don't want you to either'. It's the past for a reason'. It's not supposed to be a part of the present."

"Jai, she's a person for heaven's sake' Do not speak about her as if she isn't' She deserves at least that much respect after you have taken everything from her," Aditya grunts with resentment.

"I did no such thing," Jai bites back callously. He halts in his pacing and rubs against his temple, the beginning of a headache building in the back of his head.

"And why are we even discussing about this? It's completely irrelevant'," he argues hotly.

"No, it is relevant' More relevant than you know it, Jai'. Your aunt Jaya wants her here and it is your task to do so' for your aunt's sake' your aunt who has been more than a mother to you'. I'd have thought you'd do at least that much for her'.," Aditya remarks bitterly before stalking off, leaving Jai behind in a tangle of thoughts'.

9:12 AM, Tuesday

Sunshine Enterprise, 751 Collins Ave.

Miami, FL., United States

"Hey Bani, A.D. was looking for you' ," her good friend, Raashi Sharma, says first thing that morning just as Bani sets her bag onto her desk and sits down into her chair. She leans against it and releases a long sigh. She had a restless night, tossing back and forth in her bed, unable to sleep' unable to get rid of the vivid memories that continuously attacked her' not letting her forget what she desperately did not want to remember.

"When is he not looking for me?" Bani drearily replies.

"True' If you ask me, he's completely smitten by you'," Raashi teases with a wink. "You should ask him out for coffee sometime' I bet he'd be thrilled," she adds.

Bani sits up in her seat and turns on her computer monitor. She becomes stiff by her friend's suggestion.

"I'm not looking for a relationship right now' Besides, I'm too busy finding a new place now that Rano will graduate and be moving back in with me' ,"she offers lamely, knowing her excuse isn't justifiable enough. Raashi rolls her eyes at her.

"Yes, I bet that must be so straining on you' Come on, Bani' Live it up, will you? When are you going to go back into the dating field? You can't be single forever, you know'," she points out.

"I've been on plenty dates," Bani defensively says.

"Yeah, not since like over a year ago. And you've never had any really serious relationships'. You need to get back on the market' Good looking men are all around but you hardly give a damn to notice' A.D. for an example' Now he is the office's best looking male and he is interested in you. But you've had that poor guy work for your attention for the past three years'. Give him a chance, will you?"

"Raash, please'"

"I'm just saying' for your best interest."

"' I'll think about it. Now can we drop the subject? To be honest, I'm not in the mood to think about A.D. or anything else for the matter'"

"Why? What's up?"

"Nothing' Just a blast from the past is all," she murmurs quietly to herself before starting on her work for the day'.