WRAPPED WITH LOVE

chapter 33

They reach Thames after sunset. Abhi parks the car and walks on the footway. Karthik walks beside her. They steal glances every now and then!

Karthik notices the ring (gifted by secret admirer) on Abhi's hand.

Karthik( pointing to the ring): You still retained it?

Abhi: yeah. I loved it.

And , they remained silent.

Abhi: You like the view?

Karthik:Its beautiful here.. I wish, I could stay here all my life.

Abhi: Here? Beside Thames, in London!

Karthik: yes...

Abhi: So mean! How can you think of leaving your Homeland Karthik?

Karthik: I said.....

Abhi: It might not have given you everything you asked for. But, it's your responsibility to look after your Homeland and your parents. They have given you everything. It's time for you to give them your love inturn.

Karthik: Abhi, I said I wish.....I will never settle down in a foreign land. I can't let my love life down.

Abhi: What? Are you talking about your girlfriend? She doesn't like to stay away from Homeland?

Karthik thinks for a while and answers back.

Karthik: Yes.

Abhi feels dejected. Karthik tries to talk to her . But, her phone rings. It's Rahul.

Abhi: Hey Rahul. It's been weeks since we spoke.

Rahul: How are you Abhi?(low tone)

Abhi: Rahul, is everything fine? You sound dull.

Rahul starts crying. Abhi understands that something went terribly wrong as Rahul is a kind of person who conceals all the sorrows and smiles always just to make the people around him smile.

Abhi: Rahul? What happened? Please stop crying.

Abhi breaks into tears !

Seeing this, Karthik takes her phone and walks a few meters away from Abhi so that she can't overhear what he is speaking.

Karthik: Rahul, this is Karthik. Tell me what happened. I promise, I will solve it if I can!

Rahul: You can't Karthik. I can't. No one can't solve it...

Karthik: Just speak out what's troubling you. It will be far better if you do that.

Rahul: Karthik, there is a girl, Veda. We have been good friends from childhood. After completing her plus 2, she went abroad to continue her studies there. I love her . She is the only girl I fell for. I thought she will be my forever. I thought of proposing her after returning here. She will be coming after 5 months and I started dreaming my future with her! We  frequently speak on Skype . I can't stay away from her. But, I am just waiting for the right time. But.....But.....

Karthik: But?  Say it Rahul.

Rahul: Yesterday she called me and said that she loved a fellow student there. They might have been classmates for 3 years, but I was always beside her for 18 years! How can she do this ? She even wants to marry him. She called me up to ask me if that is okay. He wants me to talk to her parents.(crying)

Karthik keeps silent for a while.

Karthik: Rahul, your parents,your friends and your girl thinks that you both are best friends. How will she know that you love her ? You should have expressed your feelings for her. You thought to confess after waiting for 4 years. But, didn't you think about someone else loving her or she loving some other guy in these four years?