Amor Fati - Our Love, Our Fates [COMPLETE]

Part 17 - Introspection

Part 17

Two days later, Rohini's Office

Rohini stared outside her office window as the rain picked up pace. It was only 10 in the morning, but the sky was overcast and gloomy.

She picked up the tea cup and sipped delicately, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, as her mind flipped back to that night. The mother of all nights when Nikhil had opened up and shared his private grief, his anger, his emotions and the accompanying heartbreak. Rohini had been stunned in return; not that she hadn't come across people who cheated on others or who had been cheated, but to imagine something like this happening to an acquaintance was mind boggling. And it unnerved her.

Nikhil had stayed behind for some time more that night, both of them wrapped in their thoughts - she bereft of words, he stripped off feelings.

After a while, she had whispered "Didn't she try to reach out?"

"Oh hell, she did" he was edgy. "She mentioned it had been a momentary lapse; not aware of the fact that I had already seen those photos. I had maintained my stand then - I had understood that there was no love from her side. She had then raved and ranted about how I had not given her a chance, of how we were a perfect fit and should stick together. And when I persisted, she had spat at me saying that I was a fool for expecting any woman to practice fidelity in the present times."

"God" Nikhil rubbed his eyes. "How wrong I had been about her, about women, about what they want. And need. I had been so naive."

The rain had stopped after a while. Rohini had insisted that Nikhil take her car home; there were no Uber or Ola available then.

Nikhil had hesitated but then relented. And had smiled a bit when Rohini had packed the remaining of the pudding for him.

His chauffeur had returned the car the next morning, along with the container, two notes and a huge assortment of mokara orchids, in stunning shades of raspberry, cherry red and mango.

And two accompanying notes.

One simply stated, enunciated with a smiling face - To the Sunshine 

The other note was a short apology for sending the empty container, promising that dinner was on him, one of these days.

Rohini had in return sent a yellow Post It Note, with only a smiley etched in red.

Rohini thought of the flowers now sitting pretty at home, and smiled. Her favourite flowers. She wondered how he guessed, but was happy that he was slowly opening up. It had been a difficult experience for him no doubt, and she realised that deep within, he was still hurting. She wondered if it was just plain male ego? Or just plain, old love trying to make meaning of life lessons?

Rohini turned slightly to stare at the Note now pinned on the cork board. "He really does have a squiggly handwriting."

...

"That's from Nikhil?" her Father's booming baritone made Rohini nearly jump up from her seat. She was glad that she had not spilled any tea. Her desk was after all strewn with draft sketches for a bungalow, that one of her colleagues had shared some time back.

She found herself a bit upset that her Father had intruded upon a private moment. She immediately chastised herself for feeling so. He was after all the only person in the world who loved her unconditionally.

"Yes Dad" she replied, apparently bored. "He came to return my car Sunday evening and I packed some pudding for him. Hence this note. And also a bouquet which I took home last evening. You were not there yesterday"

"Interesting" Madhukar Nayak quipped, as he settled down. His eyes twinkled.

"Flowers for food. Hmmm. In our heydays, we got slippers"

"Oh Dad, you are so dramatic" Rohini laughed out aloud. "I am just being a good person. That's what you always talk about - kindness and compassion. You wouldn't want me to fail you"

Madhukar Nayak's laughter echoed across the small cabin, making the glass partition quiver slightly.

"You were spying on me?" Rohini asked in a playful tone, a bit accusatory.

"I came to see if you have reviewed the sketches. You were supposed to come over to my cabin half an hour ago" her Father replied. "But you are in your own La La Land, I see"

Rohini was instantly serious

"I am sorry Dad. I was kind of enjoying the rains, thinking of all kinds of fried stuff. The sketches need to be reworked a bit over here. And there ..."

The two of them were now completely engrossed in their discussions, their passion for designing and sketching bonding them.

It was soon Lunch time. Rohini joined her Father in his cabin; Dipti had sent food from home.

"Dad, I wanted to ask you about something" Rohini asked as she served food. Madhukar Nayak nodded.

Rohini continued

"You remember I asked you sometime back about your plan to expand the office in Delhi? I would like to work there for some time and gain experience"

Madhukar Nayak looked at his daughter, his shock evident on his face. Rohini explained

"Yesterday on my way back, I had stopped to meet Ritwik. Once he was asleep, I had gone to Dipti's room to tell her that I was leaving. I hadn't expected Amit to be home last night. I heard snatches of their conversation. Amit is not that happy that I am an active part of this office. And your business."

"There I said it" Rohini thought, as she breathed again and looked at her Father, who had a strange look on his face.

"Rohini you know this is not happening. Not because I don't trust you or your talent, but because we need you here"

Rohini sipped some water

"What you need is a happy home, Dad. Less of tension, more of laughter. Ritwik, Amit and Dipti - they love you. I am not saying I want to go now. I am just requesting you to keep this in mind. I don't want to be the reason for further family squabbles. Already so much has happened, all because of me."

Madhukar Nayak reached out and placed his hand on Rohini's shoulder, his eyes bright with unshed tears

"Nothing, I repeat, absolutely nothing has happened because of you. I am so proud of you. So would have been your Mother, if she had been alive today. I let you stay away, in that apartment because I knew you needed space. But I don't know how I feel about a different city. This is a different ballgame altogether"

Rohini smiled sadly - "It could well be a promotion Dad"

"What about Nikhil?" Madhukar Nayak asked suddenly.

Rohini looked at him surprised

"What about him? He needed a confidant. I was there. He will heal, I think. He is blessed to have Roshan and Poorvi in his life."

...

That Night, Nikhil's apartment

Nikhil stared at the Post It for a while, as he sat there on the ground in his bedroom, his legs drawn up halfway.

He was a mess.

While on one hand, there was a deep sense of agitation raising it's ugly head inside him as the past flooded back, with it's sense of dejection and rejection; yet, he found himself flooded with relief, with an accompanying sense of solace, now that he had shared his ignominy with Rohini.

Though he still blamed women for all the woes in the world; yet, he realised and acknowledged how women, like his Ajji, had been such a positive influence in his life.

Friends whom he once cherished had cheated him; while the friends who cherished him had fought back. Roshan and Poorvi had never let him be or left him alone, even when he had been at his stunning worst.

He traced the smiley on the paper and wondered how it would feel to be eternally happy again.

End of Part 17