Amor Fati - Our Love, Our Fates [COMPLETE]

Part 5 - Sentiment

Bengaluru, Few Days Back

"I hope you are not gonna mess this one up ... please" Roshan was terse, as he handed over an Invitation Card to Nikhil.

Five days had passed since their return to Bengaluru, and Roshan's dark anger had not thawed yet, much to Nikhil's consternation. As buddies, they had sparred and warred, but Nikhil had hardly seen Roshan hold onto his anger for so long. Nikhil knew ... he had messed this up big time.

And he needed this horrible mess to go away. Forever.

"What is this?" he opened the Card, already a bit disinterested.

Roshan walked over to the window

"Madhukar Uncle has invited us to join his Grand Son's Birthday Party on Saturday. The moppet turns two ..."

Nikhil squirmed. He was ready to make amends, but in his mind, the amendments did not include attending birthday parties. Of kids. 

"And before you start complaining again, please bear in mind that Madhukar Uncle is being pretty magnanimous after your insolence" Roshan walked back to where Nikhil was seated.

Nikhil looked up at Roshan, in resignation, wondering why Roshan was being so insistent about the Nayaks. He sensed that there was more to this than what met his eyes, but Nikhil knew he could not disappoint and insult Roshan once again.

"Ok, I will go for a while" Nikhil stood up "But only because you wish me to"

Roshan smiled as he exited Nikhil's cabin. He knew how soft hearted Nikhil was, despite the grumpy and irritable exterior that he liked to project.

...

Nikhil tossed and turned around in his bed, unable to sleep. He felt wretched, this state of sleeplessness was constantly dragging him down, both in energy and spirits.

Pushing the comforter away, he padded over to the open window of his 15th floor apartment, the cool night air now playing with his errant locks, soothing him. He looked up at the night sky, at the stars dazzling up there, wondering if there was any truth to the childhood stories that the dead find their ways back to heaven and then sparkle all around as stars. Nikhil smiled at the childish thoughts; he missed his parents and his Grandmom immensely; his connection with Abheek, his elder brother was way too formal for any warmth to seep in.

Nikhil paced around in the living area, his steps taking him past the piano. A gift from his Grandmother, the year before she died, it was his cherished possession. At one point of time, he had enjoyed playing the piano daily; now it was just another curio in his spacious apartment.

His fingers itched for the familiar black and white keys, though he knew he would not be able to play anymore.

The power light of his MacBook flickered; he had forgotten to switch off his laptop before he went to bed. The bluish tinge drew his attention and he flipped the laptop open. His eyes fell on the sheets of paper beside the MacBook. Notes that Madhukar Nayak had sent on his return to Bangalore; detailed, exclusive notes about what the old bungalow could be turned into. Some part of the notes were typed, while the remaining were handwritten. Nikhil remembered the writing; it was the same as the one on the initial brief that Roshan had shared with him earlier following his visit to the Nayak residence. The one that Nikhil had skipped of course.

Rohini ...

Nikhil went through the notes once again. He sighed as he remembered Madhukar Uncle's mail. His daughter had excused herself off the project; a guy called Santhanam would now lead it.