Time Heals Everything...Almost ✓

Kavya, please come back

Rishi was gone. I had realised that long back. Yet, I was not ready to move on. All I could do today, a year after my son had left me was look at old pictures of him. Everyone did oblige to my request and stayed away. I wanted to mourn in peace. What I hadn't expected was a call from Amit. It wasn't just one call, he kept on calling since I wouldn't pick up.

"Don't you get the message that I don't want to talk to you?" I asked my phone as if it was Amit.

After hours of solitude I was ready to face the world again. Not at the moment, but yes I was.

I took my painting kit and set the canvas. I had drawn an outline of what I wanted when my phone rang. My facing the world began by answering Maya's call. It was unexpected since she had said she wouldn't call.

"Amit, he is here again." She said as I answered the call.

"Oh."

"I am sorry, I wouldn't have called. But, I was worried and that guy doesn't have a bit of remorse. I couldn't control myself." Maya could be temperamental at times

"It is fine Maya. I am better now; I think I am ready to move on."

"Are you? Then I would suggest you come here and give your ex-husband a piece of your mind."

"What would that get me Maya? Nothing, but I do have something in my mind."

"At least will you tell Gaurav the reason you aren't here? He is not in a good mood."

"I think I will." Well, she had to tell him someday so that he would keep his distance knowing she wasn't ready.

Just then, Maya's office phone rang.

"Hold on a sec Kavya." She said before she attended the call on the landline.

"Sure Gaurav." She had said.

"I think Amit left, I am going to Gaurav's cabin now. Hold on a minute."

"It is okay, I can call you later." I tried to tell her. I don't think she heard me, I could make out she was walking to his cabin. I put the phone on speaker and kept it on the table while I continued painting.

"Great, I want you to type out Kavya's termination letter." It came as a shock for Maya and to me. Well not really, Gaurav's tone was dead serious when he told me he would fire me yesterday.

"What Gaurav, what did you say?"

"You heard me Maya."

"But, you cannot do that, it isn't fair." She argued for me. I knew I shouldn't listen to this, but something told me to keep listening.

"Believe me Maya, I can. Her recent behaviour is unacceptable, be it from her, from you or anyone else. She has been taking this for granted. Well, you might not know, I warned her yesterday when she asked for leave. I told her if she wouldn't show up today i would fire her." Gaurav seemed agitated as he spoke those words.

"I am sorry to do this Kavya, but I have to now. After all this, Gaurav, you deserve to know the truth."

Was she going to tell him, was she? It turns out she was.

"She should have told you this long back, but she chose not to. So let me tell you, Gaurav the guy who left your office a few minutes ago, he is Kavya's ex-husband, Amit Mehra. Last week she didn't attend the meeting, it was because she saw Amit and didn't want to face him. She told you she wasn't well and went home, well was with me when she called you. She saw Amit and rushed to my desk."

I hoped she would stop, but, I was in no luck. Gaurav started to say something but Maya didn't even give him a window to speak.

"And today, you are mad at her because she didn't show up for work, let me tell you, it is her son's first death anniversary today. She is mourning. I think that is a good enough reason to ask for a leave. And about the last week, she probably wasn't feeling good. Who would in such a situation?"