Nishant Naik, billionaire MD of Naik Builders gets engaged but without love. Disillusioned, he gives up when a chance encounter leaves him intrigued and confused. For him, loving someone is giving your soul to her. Will he ever find someone to love...
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"How is he, who? Nishant Sir?" Madhu asked looking at Aparna trying to gauge her reaction.
Aparna just nodded and then turned her face away.
"He hasn't been keeping well. He hasn't come to the office for the past couple of days."
Just as she heard her, Aparna back straightened in attention and her heart started to beat at an alarming rate.
"Why? What's happened?"
"Fever, at least that's what I have heard," Madhu replied taking a sip from her cup.
Hearing her, Aparna got up and rushed towards the bedside table where her phone was kept. She picked it up and then suddenly kept it back on the table. As she sat down on the bed, Madhu came and sat next to her.
"Do you want to call him?"
"I can't. Not after what happened."
Madhu just shook her head not knowing how to make her understand. Leaving Aparna to her woes, she got up and went out.
Aparna was still sitting in the bed with the phone in her hand thinking. Then suddenly she shook her and shoved the phone on the bed and got up.
What's the point of calling him? What will she say?
A lot of words and anger has already been exchanged between them. There was no need of anymore.
Let it just be like it is.
***************
Nishant was sitting on the sofa trying to figure out the emails he had to reply when he heard the main door opening. Thinking it was Dhruv, he was about to call out when he saw his mother and sister-in-law walk in.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were not well?" he heard his mother ask as she came and placed her palm against his forehead.
"Ma, I am fine. It's just normal fever. I have taken the medicines. It will be okay. You don't need to worry."
"Shhhhh!" Meera Naik hushed him up as she placed her finger on his lips.
"Shefanjali, heat this soup up."
Nishant looked at his sister-in-law with gaping eyes and she just smiled back and left. His mother pulled out a thermometer from her bag and shoved it in his mouth.
"Ma......"
"Shhhhh!"
Shaking his head, he just gave in knowing well that his mother wouldn't let go. As Meera Naik took out the thermometer and checked the temperature, Nishant saw Shefanjali walk in the room with a big bowl in her hand.
The moment his mother handed him the bowl, he shook his head in denial.
"Ma, seriously I can't eat that much."
"You will eat it and no arguments. Now, come on start or I will start feeding you."
Helpless, Nishant started sipping the soup little by little. No doubt it was delicious and it really silenced the growling in his stomach but he was not at all ready for all of this. The moment Meera Naik went out of the room, he put the bowl down and pulled Shefanjali next to him.
"What's all this?"
"Come on, she is your mother. She is concerned."
"Okay, but she didn't need to do all this."
"Come on, Nishant let her do it. It's her way of showing her love," Shefanjali said smiling.
Nishant sighed and picked up the bowl again.
"Have you spoken to Aparna? Shefanjali asked looking at him.
Nishant winced hearing the name and instantly his jaw hardened with effort. It had been a long time since he had heard that name. Though it had never left him even for a minute but hearing it outright was completely different. He kept the bowl down and looked the other way wishing his sister-in-law hadn't asked the question.
Shefanjali kept on looking at him and realised that he was trying not to show his emotions but inside he was burning like hell. She was about to ask him again when her mother-in-law came inside.
"Nishu, why are you sleeping on the sofa?" Meera Naik asked him looking at the well-made bed.
Gulping down, Nishant first opened his mouth to say something then closed it knowing he won't be able to lie.
"Mom, he is more comfortable here on the sofa," Shefanjali replied coming to his rescue.
"When are you going to meet her?" Meera Naik asked sitting down on the chair in front of him.
Nishant looked at her questioningly taking another sip of the soup.
"Aparna, obviously."
The bowl froze in midair as her question stumped him completely. Shefanjali he could understand but he had not expected this from his mother.
Keeping the bowl down on the side table, he wiped his mouth off and then said in a grave tone, "Never."
"But......"
"No buts, Ma. I don't want to talk about this at all. Please."
"I know she is not angry with you anymore. I am a woman, Nishant, I know."
"Ma, please. I said I don't want to discuss this."
"Okay, I understand you don't want to go then let us. After all, it was us who did all the damage."
"Ma, please for the last time, just stop blaming yourself. You guys did nothing, how many times do I have to say this? And, I don't want to discuss this anymore, please," Nishant said in an irritated tone getting up from the sofa.
He staggered a little and Shefanjali was beside him along with his mother.
"But you are suffering alone."
Nishant turned and placed his hands on his mother's shoulders and said in a soft tone, "I am not suffering alone. She is in more pain than me. I have you guys with me. Who does she have, Ma? Think about that."
Meera Naik looked at her son and suddenly realised that Nishant's pain was not his weakness but a source of his strength: a kind of strength that gave him the power to go on even with her not being there.
That night, Nishant wrapped the shawl around him and went out to the balcony. As he looked at the night sky with all the twinkling stars, he remembered their nights together at Tosh. He closed his eyes and saw her standing near the horizon smiling.
You will come back to me if you have to.
But just don't come back because I am your weakness, come back because I am your only strength.
