He never believed the concept of fate but he stood there, cursing his fate. "I love you but as a friend," the statement that broke many hearts broke his heart too.
"I don't want to ruin our friendship; You're still my best and the closest friend," she said as she left. He didn't know how long he stood there staring blankly in the direction she had gone, waiting for her to come back. He did not even know when the rain began and started covering his tears. He came into this world to the sound of a thunder that struck somewhere nearby and walked home slowly.
"Sruthi rejected me." Sri wrote in his diary and that was the last time he would write of her.
*****
Sri sat on the edge of the bed, struggling to wear shoes. He knew he was already late but the shoes that fit easily daily were rebelling. He packed his bag and strode into the kitchen to collect his lunchbox.
"I am not going today," he heard a voice from behind. He turned to see Veda glaring at him. "I'm late because of you and I can't face that monster," she said angrily.
Her anger melted his heart right away. He went to her, kissed on her cheek and lifted her. "Who's the monster? Your class teacher?" he asked smiling.
She nodded. "I'll talk to her today. It'll be okay," he assured her.
"No, I'm not going. She talks to you nicely but after you leave she's giving me twice the homework compared to others," she said, her expression turning sad.
"Dad will get you an ice-cream if you go to school," her mom said emerging from the kitchen.
*****
Sri liked challenges. That was the reason he was into investigative journalism. He had to move around the country quite a lot. He moved into creative journalism to restrain himself from travelling after marriage. He finally settled in a more comfortable editorial job. His work usually extended from 9 am to 5 pm. Sometimes he needed to extend it till 10 pm but he felt it was worth the effort when he received compliments for his work.
There was a knock on the glass part of the editor's room as Sri was immersed in editing an article about an ex-minister. He involuntarily shouted "Come in." A man entered the room holding a cover and took a seat without waiting for Sri's permission. He sat patiently until Sri took his head out of the notes he was working on.
Siddarth 'Sid' and Sri were friends from college days and needed no formalities. Though they had been friends for ages, the only thing he never understood about Sid was his weird choice of colours. That was his first thought when he saw Sid today in his office wearing gaudy red spectacles.
"How have you been Sid? It has been long since we last met and there had not been many letters from you since", Sri spoke as he rang the bell for attender.
"I'm totally fine", Sid said. "Yeah, it has been a very long time indeed, 3 years I think" he said thoughtfully, cleaning his glasses. "That's the reason I'm here". He took out an envelope which seemed to be a wedding invitation and handed it over to Sri and said "My brother's marriage is fixed to be held on August 24th. Not to mention your attendance with your family is mandatory."
Sri and Sid were laughing as the attender knocked the door and came in. He was holding a cover and handed it over to Sri stating it was sent by Madhu, and it was related to the article he was editing. Sri unconsciously put the envelope aside and instantly forgot about it; he asked the attender to bring two coffees.
*****
The talk over a coffee lasted for over an hour and over various topics starting from politics and hovering over sports, technology, science, human nature, family and relations. The discussion finally came to their college days. Both of them knew that their talks would be incomplete without brushing their college memories.
"I haven't been in touch with most of our classmates", Sid said slowly playing with a paperweight. "Ravi, Anusha, Bipin and of course you are the only ones I'm in touch with" he added.
"Have you tried contacting Sruthi?" Sid asked the obvious. Sri was silenced at the thought of Sruthi. Though he missed her at the beginning, he got used to it. That was the prime reason for him to take up this job and move around trying to forget her. It was only after Veda came into his life he became normal.
"I tried a few years back and not one of our classmates is in touch with her or her family. I sent some letters to her mother asking her contact; but no reply came back" he said.
Sid stared blankly at him and stated, "This is the same story you've told me last time. You promised that you'd try again. Anyway it is up to you."
That was right indeed. He did not give her his address when he moved into job. A few days after that he got to know that his parents received a wedding card from her. He was devastated. Later, he tried contacting her to invite her to his marriage but she was not in touch with any of their classmates. But all that is past. He happened to be leading a happy and peaceful life. He did not want to disturb it with her memories.
That marked the end of their discussion. Sid looked at his watch and said "It's already one and half hour I've been here. I need to invite some other relatives". He got up from the chair and walked out. Just when Sri thought he went away and took his seat, Sid opened the door partially and through the gap peeped in. "Don't forget the marriage" he winked at him and disappeared.
Sri knew he'd need to work late to finish off the article and got immersed in work.
*****
Sri finished editing the article and looked at the watch; it was already half past eight. He got up to go home but felt something under his feet. It was the envelope related to the case that the attender gave him. He forgot it was even there. He opened the envelope and pulled out the material for article. A photo was attached to the article. It was that of Sruthi and her husband. He stood there gazing at the photo for a minute. Then he put it aside and started reading the material.
"Eight and a half years ago the ex-minister gave permission to a factory. According to his press statement, the project intended to provide employment to over 1200 people of the neighbouring villages. But there's a dark side to it. The land intended for the factory was snatched from the farmers.
'We were given very meagre amount for the fields. I received twenty thousand rupees for my field which was valued around five lakh rupees,' said Rajaih, a local farmer.'
The farmers went to local authorities demanding fair prices for the fields but were constantly ignored. It was proved during the minister's trial last month along with numerous other charges that he gained two hundred crore rupees for the factory deal to be done.
A news reporter named Sruthi has done extensive investigation regarding the scam. But it never came out as Sruthi and her family that included her husband, her mother and her in-laws all died mysteriously in an accident. It is said that the minister was responsible for the accident and never let the news come out."
The last line has been a shocker to him. He did not move for a few minutes. Slowly a tear rolled down his left cheek and dropped on to his hand. He could not read any further. He decided to go home and was putting the material in the envelope when a photo fell from it.
It was of his daughter, Veda. He turned the photo around and words were written in ink.
"The child of the condemned reporter that went missing after the accident"
*****
It was at that moment he started believing in fate.
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