19 Dates

Chapter 23

Next morning when Dev woke up he felt different, it was not the same feeling of happiness that he used to have always where in his reason of happiness was he himself. This was because of his social acceptance from his new friends, in very simple words Dev had his emotional satisfaction depended on another person for the very first time in his life ever. He checked his phone to see if there was any message from Kriti, but there was nothing, so he sent her a message to which she did not reply until evening. He had the thoughts running in his mind all the time, why was she not responding. When finally he was not able to hold himself back, he called her.

Dev (after the phone ringing for a few seconds), "Hey Kriti, what's up?"

Kriti, "Hey Dev, nothing much. I am kind of occupied at the moment, do you mind if I call you back later."

Dev, "of course not, call me when you are free."

Kriti, "sure thing buddy, TC."

Dev, "yeah bye."

He did feel strange about such a cold response coming from her but then he let it pass thinking it must be due to work stress. That evening he had nothing much to do & like before he did not want to play his video games or watch a movie. He thought of Vanessa, much like giving her a surprise. He went to her hotel & asked for her at the reception. He was informed that she had checkout yesterday & left, but then she had left a note for him, which the person at the front office handed over to Dev. It was quite a surprise for him that without informing him she had just left. He left from the hotel room & reached his place. Headed to his room straight & pulled out the note to read it.

Vanessa's note, "Dear Dev, I read those very beautiful & special words you wrote to tell me how special our friendship is for you. It surprises me to see how soon we connected & spent such a good time together, something like this has never happened with me before & it did now because you are such a pure soul. I have never met a person like you before who is pure at heart & hold no malice. Above all Dev you are an honest guy, a quality which you cannot find in people so easily. What you wrote in that note you left for me, to tell me how my story gave you the strength to fight your own battles, makes me feel good. I was so lost in telling you what I had been through that I never noticed how much pain from a broken relation with your mother you were carrying in your eyes. Sweetheart our pain makes us, better or worst we can choose that & I chose to rise above it. One thing I am trying but failing each day is to forgive my father but I want to, if you ever find in your heart to forgive your mother do write to me & tell me how because you are the only person in my life I find who can help me do this.

About the night I truly apologize, I was so drunk but then it was really sweet of you to take care of me in such a special way. I read in your note that nothing happened that night between us about which I am happy because if something had to happen, I would had want it to in my consciousness J

I am leaving for Australia Dev & I am sharing my email ID with you: I will share my number soon when I have one. Keep in touch & you know how much I love you as a person. Take care & you will hear from me soon."